IVF with a Toddler

SCRN · February 2013

Hi ladies,

I was hoping I could get some insight from those of you who have LOs who went through IVF or FET to have #2. I currently have a 15 month old from IVF #1 and am in the process of TTC#2 through IVF again. If all goes well and I have any embryos to transfer, my ET will be early next week. I am so worried about caring for my 15 month old after the ET. He is at the extremely needy phase and he only wants me to hold him. Plus he wants to be held all the time!

How did you ladies cope with this? I will be able to have 2 days of constant help, after that I am not sure. My clinic only does 3DT so I will still have days to go before implantation can even take place. I worry that picking him up (he's a little more than 30lbs) is going to impair the outcome of this cycle. I know this is irrational. Fertiles do it all the time!! But you know how you second guess everything with IF. So please, let me know, did you go about life like it was just another day, picking up you child like you normally would, or did you modify your activities in any way? Thanks so much ladies!!

karo112 · February 2013

I know every clinic is different, but I only had to do "bed rest" for one day...then it was back to activities as normal...so I would think after two full days of help, you'd be fine. Have you asked your doctor?

SCRN · February 2013

karo112:
I know every clinic is different, but I only had to do "bed rest" for one day...then it was back to activities as normal...so I would think after two full days of help, you'd be fine. Have you asked your doctor?

No, I was going to ask them later in the week as we get closer to transfer. I know from my previous IVF it was just 1 day of "bed rest". And I'll definitely get that in. Was really just curious to see how others went about caring for their LOs during the process I see you have twins and are expecting again! Congrats!!

RoseHQ12 · February 2013

My old clinic recommended three days bedrest & no lifting above 15lbs until beta. That being said, my RE said that you have to do, what you need to do, to take care of your family. My DH took off work for the three days bedrest & then I had to take care of my LO's as normal after that. GL!

Dragonfly1226 · February 2013

I SAH with DS. He was 19 or 20 months when I had my FET. My embies were day 3 embies. DH stayed home the day of my transfer and did everything so I could stick to the couch. The next day I was alone with DS. I tried to lay down as much as possible but obviously I was up and down with him. The next day we were back to our normal routine. I was mindful of my activity, but I definitely had to pick up DS and run around after him. He is very active and there was no way we could just sit around at home all day. We live in the city and walk everywhere so I was definitely on my feet. Both embies stuck and I am pregnant with twins from the cycle. GL hon!

new+tothis · February 2013

My clinic does 2 full days of bed rest after transfer - doesn't matter if it's 3 or 5 day transfer. I had help for those 2 days then it was back to normal picking up my 35+ lb toddler. There was just no way around picking him up. I'm happily pregnant and expecting twins. I'd just ask your doctor. I do think they told me not to lift anything more than 10 lbs until bed rest was over but I asked and that was because of issues with larger ovaries due to overstimulation and nothing to do the pregnancy success.

LnR70707 · February 2013

I did 2 mini-stim FET cycles (same drugs as a fresh cycle, just lower doses). The first time I had one full day of bedrest and then DH was out of town the next 2 days. I can't be sure if that made a difference but I had no option to take easy and that cycle was a BFN (that embryo also didn't thaw as well). This cycle I had the same 1 day of bedrest, but was more careful to take it easy. I sat down to pick up DS, literally went nowhere for several days after transfer unless DH was with us to get him in and out of the car. I also lay down or napped when DS napped.

oooCarrieB · February 2013

I have been thinking about this a lot too, since I have my ET this week. My clinic does not require bedrest, so when I did my fresh cycle I just rested as much as possible on the day of ET, but I was back to work the following day.

This time around I'm going to try to do the same thing within reason. It will be impossible to never pick up my 21 mos old. I guess I'll ask my re about it after transfer.

kbeach82 · February 2013

My clinic only "requires" 24 hours of strict bed rest and recommends 24 hours of light activites after that. My DS was right around your LO's age when I had my ET after IVF #2. He wanted me to pick him up as soon as I walked in the door, so I sat down on the floor and held him. DH stayed home for the rest of the day, and I was able to stay in bed.

Our nanny was supposed to come the next day, but ended up breaking her ankle (of course). DH stayed home until my mom was able to get to the house (DH played in bed with me until she got there so DH could make some work calls) and then she stayed with him until DH was able to get home early that afternoon.

It was pretty much back to business as usual once my official 24 hours of bed rest were over.

SCRN · February 2013

Thank you all so much for the advice! It has definitely helped to put my mind at ease. I know its impossible to rest when they are this age and you are alone with them, so it is really reassuring to see so many if you with success! The idea of getting on the floor with DS when he wants me to pick him up will be very useful! I think i may even get a little stool for him to step on to help him get up on the couch. Congrats to all of you on your second pregnancies, and CarrieB good luck on your up coming ET!

diego299 · February 2013

I have no advice but wanted to thank you for posting this. DS is 15months old as well and we are starting the process for IVF #2. I have some of the same concerns and questions as you and this post was really helpful. GL!

SCRN · February 2013

Thanks diego! Good luck to you too! I was looking at your siggy and your son is adorable, my DS was born 10/26 at 38 weeks and 2 days! So our due dates were very close

CallMeAl · February 2013

No advice, but I wanted to say good luck! And please pass on any tips that work, since I'll be in your position in a few months.

itsmevkb · February 2013

I had a toddler when I did IVF and it wasn't really a big deal. Of course, I also didn't do any bedrest at all after my transfer. I had a day 3 transfer, went home, watched a little tv, went out to dinner that night with my toddler and then returned to work the next day as normal.

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