My IVF (ICSI) Journey: Introduction

It's taken me awhile to decide if I want to log my IVF journey in more detail. To be honest, I don't remember too much of the finer details about my almost 4 year journey. I wouldn't go to the extent of saying it was traumatic. I just decided at some point that whatever happens, happens, and didn't retain much. For a glass half empty person (at times, glass completely empty person), optimism is not particularly a strong trait of mine, and keeping this level of neutrality was the best way I could cope. 

But obviously I have started Mumming Around because I am finally well into a pregnancy, so something must have gone right in the end. Having this positive result should not mean I bury and discredit this difficult, painful and emotional phase of my life, one that makes me more determined to be a good mother. 

To set some context: 

  1. Started my journey end-2020 at 30 with fertility checks both in private and public healthcare.
  2. Went through one round of IVF at KKH via the referral route where I failed a fresh transfer and ended up with zero frozen embryos.
  3. Continued at a private provider between 2022 and 2023, and eventually got pregnant in August 2023 with my very last frozen embryo. 

I will go into detail for each of those three stages in the week to come. For now,  I wanted to start with this helpful list of foods that was passed around in a small IVF Support Group I joined. I'm not a doctor or an expert, but I do think nourishing the body is a good way to look after yourself, or at least just mentally prep you to start this difficult journey. 

Please don't stress out if you aren't eating all the foods listed. This is just a handy guide backed by some science and a huge sprinkle of anecdotal evidence from fellow IVF warriors! 

What to Eat Before, During and After Your IVF Cycle

Stimulation Period (when you're growing your eggs):

  • Raspberry tea leaf 
  • Eggs - 4 per day 
  • Avocado 
  • Chicken Essence 
  • Daily folic acid 
  • Red date drink 
  • Red bean soup
  • Broccoli
  • 2 Brazil nuts 
  • Electrolytes drink
  • Protein
  • Pomegranate (juice)

Post Retrieval

  • Electrolytes drink
  • Protein

Transfer:

  • Broccoli
  • Cauliflower

Post Transfer and Two Week Wait (2WW):

  • Avocado
  • Chicken Essence
  • Red bean soup
  • 2 Brazil nuts
  • Durian (1 seed a day)
  • 10 - 20 eggs 
  • Folic acid
  • Proteins 
  • Salmon
  • Broccoli
  • Prenatal multivitamin

BFP!

  • Folic acid
  • Prenatal vitamins
  • Egg yolks 
  • milk for pregnant mums
  • Coffee and tea (limit one per cup)
  • other food to avoid is raw food, cooling food & fruits, cold drinks, coffee, tea, alcohol

To Avoid in First Trimester: Dang gui, melons, uncooked/raw food, preserved vegetables, cold food and drinks, long banana, liang teh, starfruit, soursop

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