What to Do and Not to Do After an IVF Transfer

Post Implantation – What to do and what not to do after an IVF transfer 

The IVF process has many important milestones and hurdles and certainly the day of embryo transfer is one of those important dates. If you had your transfer or will be having your transfer, congratulations!! My intention for this blog is to help you establish a healthy pregnancy by setting the optimal uterine environment for implantation.

I have been in practice since 2000 and have been offering onsite IVF acupuncture since 2002 and it never gets old. Providing transfer day support is still one of my favorite parts of my practice. 

This day is important and special for you and I know how highly charged with emotions and anticipation it is for most of you, whether it is your very first transfer or if you have had multiple. I truly enjoy being part of your IVF support team by providing IVF acupuncture (laser and traditional) onsite at Olive Fertility Center in Vancouver, to not only help you find a state of calm and peace but also to increase your chances of IVF success.

There are many things you can do leading up to your transfer to help with your success. I share ideas below on what you can do to support the implantation process in the days leading up to your transfer, on the day of transfer, and on the days after your transfer.

The goal is to set the uterine environment for implantation to establish a healthy pregnancy. I invite you to watch the video below where I describe what to avoid after your transfer and what you can do following your embryo transfer to support implantation. 



Leading up to Embryo Transfer Day:

Leading up to your embryo transfer, a series of acupuncture treatments has demonstrated an increase in implantation. I suggest twice a week when you start Estrace and aim to receive a minimum of 3 treatments before your transfer day and aim for 6- acupuncture sessions in the 3 weeks leading up to your FET. At Acubalance, we can include photobiomodulation (low-level laser therapy) with your acupuncture to support uterine receptivity. 

On the Day of Embryo Transfer:

You have already done so much to get to this day by the mere fact you are having an IVF/FET transfer. Here are some recommendations for the day of your transfer:

  • IVF acupuncture onsite at your IVF clinic, immediately before and after embryo transfer. Acubalance provides onsite acupuncture at Olive Fertility Centre
  • Meditate, box breathing, or listen to guided imagery
  • Bring comfortable warm socks and a sweater so you can stay warm and cozy.
  • I prepared a 3-minute video for you on what to expect on your transfer day. WHAT TO EXPECT ON IVF TRANSFER DAY – ACUPUNCTURE ORIENTATION

After Transfer: Hours, Days, and Weeks Post Embryo Transfer:

Reminder, the goal is to set the environment for implantation to establish a healthy pregnancy. Although many of these suggestions may not have evidence to support them, they are reasonable suggestions to support implantation for someone who has just gone through the time and expense to have an IVF transfer who is wanting to support the implantation process.

Things to AVOID:

  1. Swimming / hot tubs / baths for 48 hours
  2. Heavy lifting or strenuous exercise (running tennis, aerobics, skiing, strenuous hiking, hot yoga until after the pregnancy test 
  3. Bed rest is not necessary, and some papers suggest can negatively impact implantation
  4. Avoid new physical activities
  5. Douching or use of tampons unless your pregnancy test is negative, and you have a bleed 
  6. If you bleed (common in IVF cycles) before your blood pregnancy test. You are assumed pregnant until the blood test says otherwise, even if you bleed.
  7. Avoid intercourse or orgasm until the fetal heartbeat is seen on ultrasound  
  8. Do not take ibuprofen or naproxen 
  9. No new supplements or medications before checking with your pharmacist, or fertility team (IVF or wellness clinic)

 What you can do:

  1. Acupuncture – before and after transfer onsite at the IVF clinic. Additionally, we suggest weekly acupuncture treatments until you are 10-12 weeks pregnant until your placenta is fully formed.
  2. Laughter
  3. Light walk – circulation / Qi flow
  4. Eat for pregnancy. Follow the Acubalance fertility diet as it is a whole foods diet that is also good in pregnancy. Avoid raw cheeses (feta in greek salads), raw fish (sushi) and raw eggs (caesar salad), and raw honey. Basically, you want it pasteurized. We can discuss more diet and supplements at your follow-up Acubalance acupuncture treatments or discuss with your healthcare provider if we are not seeing you.
  5. Take your medications as instructed 
  6. Take a prenatal vitamin

Wishing you good luck on this very important day. It is still amazing to me that when I see you on-site at Olive from pre-treatment to post-transfer treatment that you are now pregnant with your embryo and yet only 15 minutes have passed between pre and post-IVF acupuncture! I am grateful this advanced technology exists, and I get to be a part of the process to help make it a positive experience and success for you.

More videos and resources: