IVF or In vitro fertilization is a popular fertility treatment that helps couples conceive a child. In the past few years, there has been a significant increase in the success rates of IVF treatments.
Researchers and health experts have suggested that proper prenatal care plays a crucial role in the success of IVF treatment. In this article, we will discuss how IVF success rates increase with proper prenatal care.
Understanding IVF Treatment
Before we dive into how prenatal care can impact the success of IVF treatment, let us understand what IVF treatment is all about. IVF is a fertility treatment that involves fertilizing an egg with sperm outside the woman’s body.
The fertilized egg or embryo is then transferred back to the woman’s uterus to aid a healthy pregnancy. IVF is an intricate process and requires several steps to ensure its success.
The Role of Prenatal Care in Increasing IVF Success Rates
Proper prenatal care plays a vital role in enhancing the chances of a successful pregnancy. It is crucial to note that IVF treatment is not a one-time procedure but requires multiple rounds of treatments in most cases.
Every round of IVF treatment can be emotionally and psychologically draining for the couple. Therefore, undergoing appropriate prenatal care before IVF treatment can help mitigate the physical and emotional impact of the treatment.
Pre-IVF Prenatal Care
Pre-IVF prenatal care involves getting regular check-ups, ensuring proper nutrition, and making necessary lifestyle changes. Let’s take a look at some of the ways that pre-IVF prenatal care can contribute to improving success rates:.
1. Nutritious Diet and Supplements
A healthy diet that is rich in nutrients can improve the quality of eggs and sperm during IVF treatment. Studies show that women who consume a nutritious diet before IVF treatment have a higher success rate than women who do not.
A balanced diet that includes leafy greens, protein, fiber, and healthy fats can help improve the quality of eggs and increase the thickness of the uterine wall.
2. Reduce Stress Levels
IVF treatmentcan be a stressful and emotionally challenging time for the couple. Incorporating stress-reducing activities into your daily routine like meditating, yoga, mindfulness, and deep breathing exercises can help reduce stress levels.
Studies have shown that high-stress levels can negatively impact pregnancy outcomes and reduce IVF success rates.
3. Quit Smoking and Drinking
Smoking and drinking during IVF treatment can negatively impact fertility and reduce the efficacy of the treatment. Women who smoke or consume alcohol have a comparatively lower live birth rate than those who do not.
Therefore, pre-IVF prenatal care requires quitting smoking and drinking, which can help significantly improve IVF success rates.
Prenatal Care During IVF Treatment
Prenatal care during IVF treatment is just as crucial as pre-IVF treatment. Listed below are some of the things that you need to keep in mind during the IVF treatment:.
1. Regular Check-Ups
Regular check-ups during IVF treatment ensure that everything is going as planned. Your fertility specialist will monitor the growth and development of follicles in your ovaries and plan the egg retrieval accordingly.
Regular check-ups will also ensure that the necessary hormones and medications are working well and adjust the dose as required.
2. Proper Medication and Hormone Treatment
IVF treatment requires women to take specific medications and hormones to stimulate the ovaries to produce multiple eggs, which will then get fertilized during the IVF process.
Your fertility specialist will be monitoring your hormone levels and instruct you to adjust the medication and hormone treatment accordingly.
3. Emotional Support
IVF treatment can be emotionally and mentally draining. It is crucial to have adequate emotional support during the treatment.
Talking to your partner, friends, family, and a mental health professional can help alleviate stress and anxiety related to IVF.
Post-IVF Prenatal Care
Prenatal care post-IVF treatment requires as much attention as pre-IVF and during the treatment. Listed below are some of the essential things that need to be done post-IVF treatment:.
1. Bedrest During Embryo Transfer
Bed rest during embryo transfer can help improve IVF success rates. Women who undergo bedrest for an hour or two after the embryo transfer have a higher chance of successful embryo implantation.
Resting during embryo transfer ensures that the embryo remains undisturbed and has a better chance of developing into a healthy pregnancy.
2. Medication and Hormonal Treatment Post-IVF
Post-IVF prenatal care requires specific medication and hormone treatment as prescribed by your fertility specialist. These medications ensure that the embryo implants correctly and help in the development of a healthy pregnancy.
3. Proper Nutrition and Exercise
A well-balanced diet and moderate exercise can help maintain a healthy pregnancy post-IVF. Your fertility specialist will prescribe specific guidelines and dietary requirements to ensure that the pregnancy is healthy and successful.
Conclusion
IVF success rates significantly depend on proper prenatal care before, during, and post-treatment.
Pre-IVF prenatal care involves nutritious diet, reducing stress levels, quitting smoking and drinking, and preparing for emotionally and psychologically draining situations. During IVF treatment, it is essential to have regular check-ups, proper medication, and hormone treatment. Post-IVF prenatal care includes bedrest after embryo transfer, medication and hormonal treatment, and proper nutrition and exercise.
With proper prenatal care, we can help increase IVF success rates and make the pregnancy journey healthy and successful.