Let's Talk Bloat

katekat8721 · August 2013

I have a work conference to go to and am using this as an opportunity to go buy new clothes. I'm just wondering how much bloat/weight you all gained when doing IVF? Was it mostly the stims that put it on? Did you go buy new clothes or just wear dresses/skirts, etc?

TIA

sunflowermama42212 · August 2013

I didn't need to buy new clothes just felt bloated but not noticeable to anyone else. Well I also don't wear tight clothes, they are still form fitting though but i had room in my clothes to begin with. The only thing i did notice was my tummy felt hard and heavy versus getting bigger if that makes sense. I would say just buy something your size but that the style is a little forgiving. I only gained 3lbs last ivf cycle. hope that helps lol good luck! (I hate shopping for clothes when I don't feel my best)

LooneyLife · August 2013

I did not have any bloat until the day after the ET. And that was gone the next day.

katekat8721 · August 2013

Thanks guys! I think I was overthinking this bloat thing... sounds like it shouldn't be too bad!

sunflowermama42212 · September 2013

Well everyone is different but I heard some ladies saying to drink a lot of water and to lean towards proteins V.s carbs

ttc23 · September 2013

Yes keep the fluids up! I have to say I did bloat quite a bit but I just wore my looser clothing rather than anything with a tight waist band. I found coconut water great for keeping my fluids and electrolytes up

RosyGlow · September 2013

Wow, I am so surprised that you ladies didn't need different clothes! Oman average height/weight (5'8" and 150ish) and I bloated noticeably. I inherited a pain of maternity leggings and lived in those with forgiving dresses and empire waist tops during my march IVF. For my may IVF, I bought a pair of Capri maternity leggings to match my others. Lived in them through the second half of stunning and the week to two weeks following ER. If I could go back, I would wear loose leggings and tunic style tops and tees throughout for work and casual time.

RosyGlow · September 2013

Oh, and other gals here have used a Bella band to get through it. I could NOT wear my jeans again until 3 weeks after ER. My RE said that's normal.

katekat8721 · September 2013

@RosyGlow - oh wow, ok that is what I am talking about! I don't want to spend a fortune right now on clothes (since our fortunes are being spent on IVF!) but I definitely want to be as comfortable as possible! Leggings + tunic tops are a good idea. I don't feel so silly now buying a pair of work pants in the next size up now

poohniki · September 2013

New York & Co. makes a city knit pant that is kinda like work out pants/pj's but are dressy for work. The light colors show off every bump imaginable, but the darker colors are good. I swear by them whenever I am bloated, or after the holidays. I'm pretty curvy all around so no one would notice any extra weight, but I gain weight easily and would say 8-10 lbs per cycle is my average. (I gained 3 lbs from stress eating during my no drug IVF- so who knows how much hormonal eating occurred in the previous cycles)

beachy6 · September 2013

***sig warning***

Oh heavens! I wish I was like some of you who didn't bloat! I was HUGE in my gut from about day 6 of stims until a week after ET. It was an ugly sight! The bruises made the bloat that much more lovely. I did my stims in the Summer since I teach, so I lived in sweats. Sexy, huh? But, I could have never in a million years buttoned regular pants. I was at least 1-2 sizes bigger in my belly. I didn't actually gain weight, just bloat. I even drank loads of water. Your ovaries go from the size of golf balls to the size of softballs, so that will show up somewhere. This all being said, I'm only 5'2" tall and have a petite build, so maybe that's why?

Even if you don't (and hopefully you don't!) get bloated, you should definitely use it as an excuse to shop Of course, I'll use anything as an excuse to shop!!

leggs1276 · September 2013

I have struggled with my weight my whole life, but only gained 3-4 lbs stimming. I walked every other day to keep up my physical activity (that was the only approved exercise, but is my favorite anyways). I wore skirts or dresses to hide my belly at work and lived in workout pants (danskin brand, loose fitting style) from Walmart when out of work. You would think 3-4 lbs wouldn't be noticeable. But for a 5'7" girl that is mostly abdomen, every pound in my middle is over-pronounced. If I had gained it in my thighs, it would have been normal for me. Of course, I did discover maxi dresses during stimming...way more comfortable and still professional when done right, and they hide EVERYTHING! I say try a few styles on and make sure you have a little room to spare. Whatever is most comfortable...go for it!

Mimaloo · September 2013

My worst bloating - I mean I was the size of a house - was after my ER. NOTHING fit and it took several days to get back to normal.

Tenyearwait · September 2013

Those NY and CO pants are the bomb for work! IF makes my body crazy. I have gained so much weight and those pants are forgiving. Like @poohniki said, get the darker colors.

delatl · September 2013

I was very bloated AND gained real weight. The most weight I gained was actually on this latest FET cycle. From the Lupron alone, I was up 7 pounds for a little while. I bought some nice knit skirts and dresses, which helped, and actually had a maternity dress from Old Navy. I bought a few pairs of cheap pants a couple sizes bigger than normal. I was so glad that I bought some clothes that fit because I was already really self-conscious about the weight, and wearing tight clothes made me feel worse.

katekat8721 · September 2013

Thank you all for your insight! Sounds like I'm going to have to stock up on some NY&C city knit pants (in dark

) Thanks @poohniki!

My fear is having anyone at my new job ask the dreaded "are you pregnant?!" question due to bloat. Sadly, that happened to me at my old job - belly rub included *facepalm*. I am starting to break out the bloat hiding clothes now so when I do stim/ER/ET then they'll all just be used to seeing me in nice comfy clothes!

mmhopeful · September 2013

katekat8721 said:

I have a work conference to go to and am using this as an opportunity to go buy new clothes. I'm just wondering how much bloat/weight you all gained when doing IVF? Was it mostly the stims that put it on? Did you go buy new clothes or just wear dresses/skirts, etc?

TIA

I understand your thoughts. I was thinking the same thing when I shopped yesterday. I found 75 - 80% off clothing at Talbots for work and was able to get elastic band skirts and a few tailored tops but in the next size up. I wanted to look professional for work and have some room to spare should "the bloat" be as difficult as others have mentioned. Here's hoping it's minimal for you.....and for others here incluing myself. What do they say? Expect/prepare for the worst and hopefully we'll be pleasantly surprised.

50feet · September 2013

Mimaloo said:
My worst bloating - I mean I was the size of a house - was after my ER. NOTHING fit and it took several days to get back to normal.

I am the same. Day 3 after ER and I look 5 months pregnant. Nothing fits and I'm uncomfortable. Have some non-form fitting pants and dresses around. I'm normally a size zero and can't fit into anything..But it will go down..

katekat8721 · September 2013

@mmhopeful - exactly! hopefully our bloat won't be too bad! FX for us

@50feet - oh man! I just keep repeating to myself, it's only temporary, it's only temporary!

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