Are you feeling confident and clear about your fertility journey?
Navigating the process of IVF and a treatment cycle can be complicated but building the right toolbox with the most effective strategies for your needs and personality can make a difference in how strong you feel going into your cycle.
In this blog post we will talk about several elements you can implement to feel confident about your next treatment cycle and ensuring you are taking care of your overall health and wellbeing at the same time.
An Organization Process
Fertility treatments are complicated and confusing. Managing the appointments, medications and therapies could be a full-time job. Finding a process that works for you to stay organized will help you feel in control of the process and confident that you are doing all you can to ensure success.
Decide what methods are most effective for you to stay organized – writing down notes in a planner, using an app on your phone, or setting daily reminders to make sure you stay on schedule with you calendar.
Find a dedicated space, drawer, or caddy – check out these cute ones from MyVitro.com – to keep all your materials together including copies of your instructions and contact information for your clinic in case you have questions about your medications.
Related Read: 6 Tips For Managing Your Fertility Meds
Journal
A dedicated journal for your fertility journey is an important tool with many uses. It doesn’t have to be fancy, a standard notebook will do (although there are some adorable options online) but having one place to collect your thoughts, make notes, write down instructions and have a place for free writing can be extremely valuable. This is a great place to jot down questions in between clinic visits and phone calls, keeping track of your medication schedule and journaling for mindset. Spend 10 minutes each day freely writing about how your feeling, what you are struggling with and anything that’s on your mind. Save a couple of minutes at the end to focus exclusively on gratitude.
Community
Struggling to conceive can be brutally lonely and isolating. Finding a safe space to connect with others who can relate to your pain can be a stress-relieving practice as you navigate your treatment. There are support groups, both online and in-person, for anyone struggling with fertility challenges and often groups are available for particular diagnoses or treatment – for example, PCOS groups, donor conception groups, and surrogacy groups.
Side note: Sometimes support groups can open you up to comparison. Don’t forget that everyone’s experience and treatment plan is different.
Related Read: Benefits of Acupuncture During An IVF Cycle
Self-Care Plan
Self-care is an essential part of any wellness plan, but it looks different for each individual. Identify a few strategies that will be most effective for you and prioritize them leading up to your treatment cycle. To narrow down what might be a good self-care plan for you, spend some time thinking about what activities in your life bring you joy and calm. If you are looking for physical activities try a gentle yoga class, or an outdoor walk. If you think stillness might offer you some peace, consider meditation, pleasure reading, or journaling.
When in a treatment cycle you may also want to consider self-care therapies such as acupuncture, reiki, getting a facial or a massage.
Having a balance of the right self-care tools and the knowledge of what works best for you is helpful when starting a cycle so you can be pro-active in having a calming activity ready when emotions are running high or you are finding your treatment stressful.
Utilizing A Fertility Coach
Having a fertility coach on your care team can make each step of navigating the process much easier. Together you can strategize methods to keep you organized, calm and confident throughout your cycle. They are also they for you when you are struggling, just need to be heard, and craving a safe space to vent some of the tougher feelings you may experience with a highly emotional situation like fertility treatment.
Many coaches in the fertility space have personal experience with fertility treatment and can relate to complicated emotions and mindsets. Find a coaching program that resonates with you and take advantage of any offers for a discovery call or initial consult to confirm that you connect with the coach.
Related Read: Working With a Fertility Coach
Each person’s toolbox will always look a little different based on their needs, their challenges, and what offers them the most calm and joy. Take some time to identify what tools would be most helpful for you to feel confident about your treatment cycle and give you the best chance at success. Reach out for ideas on how to find these strategies and consider private coaching to help put it all together. You can find all the details on my Private Coaching Package here.
I would love to help you navigate this challenging road and make the journey more positive. Schedule a chat today and follow Positive Fertility on Instagram for daily support and inspiration!
