You tracked your ovulation, you did the baby dance and now….you wait.
You find yourself “symptom checking.”
Ohhhh, is that an implantation cramp?
Do I feel slight nausea?
Did my boobs get bigger?
You also can’t help it but hop onto fertility blogs and forums to see if anyone else out there is feeling the same way, and to find comfort in knowing that anything is possible. There is always a chance.
This is known as the Two-Week-Wait (2WW,) the most dreaded period of time for any women trying to get pregnant.
It’s the time between ovulation and taking that pregnancy test. This 2WW seems to pass by as slow as molasses.
A lot of the anxiety comes from the unknown. Not knowing if you’re pregnant or not pregnant. And that gloomy feeling, that if the test turns out be a Big Fat Negative (BFN,) you’re not sure how you would handle the news.
We’ve been through thousands of 2WWs with our patients.
During this time, we coach everyone on self-care, nutrition and lifestyle adjustments to make to make sure the embryo can find a comfy home to implant. We also use certain acupuncture points to give an extra boost of energy flow to the uterus to increase lining quality.
Today, we want to share with you our best tips on how to boost your chances of implantation during the 2WW while maintaining your sanity, and staying positive.
Let’s dive right in!
Make a playlist and keep it light-hearted
Music has the power to change your mood within seconds. Why not create a playlist with your favorite songs, you know the songs that you know by heart and that you shamelessly sing out loud in the shower?
What is your favorite karaoke song? What song takes you back to high school?
Anything goes as long as it reminds you of the great times. Some of our favorites include: “Are you gonna be my girl”by Jet, “ Wanna Be” by the Spice Girls, “Vogue” by Madonna, “Opposites Attract” by Paula Abdul.
You bet that when we’re having a tough day, we close the door to the break room and we sing our hearts out!
If music isn’t your thing, how about listening to a Podcast? Try something funny like “2 Dope Queens” or “My brother, My brother and Me.” After all, laughter is the best medicine.
Treat yourself to a pre-natal massage or Ayurvedic facial
There is no doubt you are likely to experience stress through out your TTC journey, but the anxiety during the 2WW is on a whole different level.
Take some time for yourself and get a prenatal massage (it is important that your massage therapist know you are TTC), to help relax all those tense areas.
But if you are not into the idea of a massage, try an Ayurvedic facial. Unlike traditional facials that can involve the use of chemical-laden products; Ayurvedic facials tend to use mostly herbs, fruits and other natural items. If you can’t find Ayurvedic facials specifically, that’s ok, just find a spa that use all natural products.
Or, how about giving yourself a facial at home? All you need is a good charcoal mask and a face oil to rehydrate afterwards.
Try guided meditation or visualization
Meditation has been shown to have many health benefits including stress relief. However, what we find is that most people resist because they don’t know where to start.
If you have never meditated before, don’t worry. There are thousands of meditation videos on You Tube or on iTunes for FREE.
These sessions don’t need to be an hour long, they can be as short as five minutes. The main purpose of the meditation is to be still for the moment, to collect your thoughts, to breath and to visualize your goals.
De-clutter your home
If you’re not into any of the above tips, and you feel like you still can’t take your mind off of the 2WW, try de-cluttering. This project could easily take up all of your 2WW.
When you walk into a room that is cluttered or messy, perhaps a bedroom with the floor littered with clothes, you probably immediately feel anxious and irritable. Well, that’s because clutter brings on the Qi stagnation where the energy flow is tuck.
The imbalances in the internal environment can cause Qi stagnation but we’re also influenced by the external environment.
De-cluttering not only helps to remove some of the Qi stagnation, it also helps to make space for a new type of energy – A NEW BABY!
So pick one or two rooms to de-clutter. For example, most of us have way ore clothes than we’ll ever need So you can start with your closet; make piles of clothes to keep, clothes to donate and stuff to just get rid of.
Make bone broth (forget the pineapple)
You have heard us mention this before but bone broth is top on our list of fertility foods.
That’s right! Bone broth; not pineapple.
Bone broth is full of healthy fats, minerals and amino acids. It packs a fertility-boosting punch that is unparalleled. For best results, make sure to purchase grass fed, hormone free beef or chicken bones.
We wrote an entire blog on bone broth, you can check it out here: www.ipacupuncture.com/feeding-the-bone-broth-frenzy
Plan a girl’s night
During this TTC journey, so many of you feel alone. And now one seems to get what you’re going through. And sometimes you haven’t opened up to anyone about your struggles, so it’s hard to find a friend to talk about your feelings.
But, sometime just being around people we love and those who love us can bring joy and happiness.
So, take this opportunity to catch up and reconnect with your friends by planning a girls’s night out.
If you feel like staying in, how about hosting a movie night where you watch classic chick flicks like “Sixteen Candles” or “Pretty Woman” or “Practical Magic?”
And don’t worry about it if you feel like having a glass of wine. IT’s OK! We promise. A glass of wine (especially red) sometime can help to boost the blood flow and help to resolve some of the Qi stagnation by relaxing you. The baby is not going to be affected. The placenta doesn’t form until 8 weeks, so there is no exchange of blood between the two of you.
Go on a date with your partner
Finally, while this may seem like a no-brainer, but while on the TTC journey, relationships can lose some sparks especially when ovulation day turns intercourse into an item on your to-do list.
Take some time to reconnect.
Get dressed up and go out to a fancy dinner, watch a movie, get a couples massage, have a picnic under a shady tree, whatever helps you both focus on being a couple.
Regardless of what the pregnancy test at the end of the month reveals, the deed is done, so you can actually enjoy time with each other without ulterior motives.
It takes two-to-tango, you’re in this together, for better or for worse.
We hope you enjoyed this blog post. If you have any questions or would like to find out how we can help you get pregnant, please call us at 704-307-7821 or email us at info@ipacupuncture.com
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