24 hour bedrest after IVF - would love feedback on if you did it

[Anonymous]

I'm doing my first round of IVF and am unfortunately in a new job. So, taking time off is hard and a bit stressful. I'm wondering if all took 2 days off work for the transfer.... Or whether there are some fellow rogue folks out there who will admit to me that it they did not (and thus alleviate some of the guilt I have about considering ditching this recommendation!)

Thanks for any and all input!

[Anonymous]

I went home the day of the transfer and rested on the couch, but I was still making dinner that night and walking around. I was back at work the next day. And I'm pregnant, too!

[Anonymous]

I know this isn't what you want to hear but I did the two days of bedrest for both of my successful IVF cycles.

If you don't do it and the cycle fails you will likely blame yourself for not doing it.

I personally think the stakes are way too high for IVF just suck it up and lay in bed for two days. If you have a laptop you could work from home.

On the other hand I've heard that some doctors don't see any value in the bedrest. I personally wouldn't take the chance though.

[Anonymous]

OP here -- thanks so much for your feedback 9:56. It sounds like you just took that 1 day off for transfer -- not the additional day afterwards. I'm fully planning on taking 1 for the retrieval and 1 for the transfer (but have been told I should take 2 full days off for transfer).

[Anonymous]

OP again -- to 10:00 - no worries, I wanted honest opinions. Many thanks.

[Anonymous]

I have had two cycles - one positive and one negative. For both, I took it easy for a few days but definitely no bed rest. (I had a three year old in the picture too so I was looking after her also.) Good luck!

[Anonymous]

This is pretty basic research, and the research pretty conclusively shows that bedrest does not positively influence success rates (might negatively influence them). I did not do bedrest, and am due shortly.

[Anonymous]

I was in the same scenario. I really did not want to have "the conversation" at work. This was actually the biggest stress for me - more than the needles!! I just called in sick the one day of ER and slept it off, next day went back to work, was vague about the symptoms and just said "I'm still not 100%" and did not leave my chair all day. It was not that bad at all. I was a little tired and took it slow in the commute but otherwise no problems.

[Anonymous]

I did 24 hours strict bedrest with IVF #1, followed by 2 days of limited activity (it fell on a weekend). BFP. For second IVF (many years later, for DC#2), I did limited activity for 3 days (no strict bedrest), and had a CP. Third IVF, did limited activity for 2 days - BFP.

I've looked into this question, and the medical research showed that there were no benefits to bedrest. In fact, there was a slightly higher pregnancy rate for people who immediately returned to normal activities after the transfer. I only did bedrest because it "felt" like it might be helpful to limit activity. I really have no idea whether that actually did help or not. The scientific data would seem to suggest that it didn't...

[Anonymous]

9:56 again. My doctor told me just to take it easy the day of the transfer, but that I didn't need to be confined to bed rest. I actually drove myself home from the transfer! He also said that it was no problem to go back to work on the second day.

[Anonymous]

I went to work after the retrieval (but took it easy while I was there) and drove myself home after transfer, I'll find out on Friday my results. RE said it was fine - but no exercise or anything strenuos.

[Anonymous]

I did IVF at Cornell (one of the top clinics in the country) and they do NOT recommend bedrest. In fact, we were staying in a 4th floor walk-up and Dr Davis there said it was fine to go up the 4 flights of stairs (although he said not to run up the stairs or go up them multiple times if I could avoid it). BTW, that cycle worked (I transferred two embryos and now have twins) and the cycles I did at SG where I stayed in bed for 24 hours were all miserable failures. So I wouldn't sweat it if you have to go back to work (as long as your job mainly involves sitting at a desk). Good luck to you!!!