Five Ways to Handle the Two-Week Wait

Unless you’ve undergone fertility care, the words “two-week wait” might not mean much to you. However, for fertility patients, it means everything. During fertility treatments, such as in vitro fertilization {IVF}, there is typically a two-week waiting period after the procedure has been completed. After this 14-day period has passed, your fertility clinic will contact you to let you know if the procedure was successful. After weeks, if not months of treatment, two weeks might not seem like long from the outside, but when it means the difference between having a baby or not, 14 days is a very long time.

We know that a lot is riding on the results of your care, but we wanted to take a little time to discuss ways to make the two-week wait just a little bit easier.

1) Now is the time to rest

All of the appointments, injections, medication, procedures, organization, calendar edits, phone calls, and emails relating to your fertility care can take a break. Treatment can be very time and energy-consuming, so now that you have some breathing room, why not take the time to take care of yourself? Make self-care a priority over the next two weeks – read the book you’ve been waiting to check out, watch your favorite movies, have dinner with friends, go out in nature – anything that will help you keep your mind occupied and at ease.

2) Try not to stress about symptoms

In the aftermath of fertility care, there can be several symptoms from treatment that can cause patients stress. These can include cramping, bloating, spotting, fatigue, and breast tenderness. You may feel like you’re about to get your period because the symptoms can closely mirror PMS. However, these symptoms are completely normal. Still, if you’re concerned about your symptoms, you can always connect with your fertility care team.

3) Re-consider taking an at-home pregnancy test

We understand how challenging it can be to wait to find out if you are pregnant. However, we do tend to dissuade patients from taking an at-home pregnancy test during this two-week waiting period. Firstly, pregnancy tests that are sold over-the-counter are not 100% accurate. Secondly, pregnancy tests are also subject to outside factors like human error, the time of the day when you take the test, how hydrated you are, etc.

4) Try to reframe intrusive thoughts

Intrusive thoughts are negative thoughts or feelings that can pop into our minds without warning, even during pleasant moments. These thoughts can send us into a spiral of emotions, including anxiety, panic, sadness, depression, and dread. are negative thoughts that have us in a spiral of anxiety, panic, sadness, depression, or dread. Sometimes, they stick around, causing us to only see the worst-case scenario.

Combatting intrusive thoughts with logic and optimism is inherently difficult, especially on your own. If you have anyone in your life you trust to connect with and talk about these thoughts, such as a partner, therapist, good friend, or relative, then definitely allow yourself to lean on them for support.

5) Be as gentle, kind, and patient with yourself and your partner as possible

Infertility and fertility care can be very challenging, especially during the two-week wait period. That’s why it’s important that you and your partner be as gentle, kind, and patient with one another as possible during this time. Do things for yourselves individually and together. Try something new or something that’s guaranteed to be fun. You’ve done everything you can up until this point. It’s okay to let go a little bit for your well-being for the next 14 days.