You are pregnant after infertility, IVF or miscarriage – congratulations.
So is pregnancy following infertility the same as it is if you conceived easily?
For some perhaps but I think for the majority of us that have been through years of investigations, treatment cycles and perhaps miscarriages, pregnancy can bring with it it’s own set of challenges.
Yes you have reached your much longed for goal but may feel more anxious about pregnancy than if you conceived straight away and have more fears regarding loosing the pregnancy.
BFP or BFF
So many of you share that getting that BFP (Big Fat Positive pregnancy test result in forum lingo) does not wipe out all of the months/years of worry and upset. In fact many of you now feel that you have entered the phase of BFF instead – Big Fat Fears!
It is completely normal to feel anxious, surreal and concerned about getting to the 12 week mark. Your job now is to just take one day at a time and stay as mindful as you can/distract yourself as much as you can.
Get the support you need
The first few weeks of pregnancy can be the most difficult when you may not feel comfortable sharing your news with family and friends but need support and advice. Even if you do decide to share it can be difficult for someone to understand why you are not completely overjoyed and this can lead to feeling guilty that you are not dancing in the streets.
If you are pregnant following infertility, IVF or miscarriage I invite you to come and share with me on Instagram. I will understand. You might be feeling wonderful and just want to share your good news rather than needing support that is fine too!
Early Pregnancy Support Pack
I have created this early pregnancy support pack to support you right from the very start of your pregnancy, from test day throughout your pregnancy.
Including powerful visualisations written to support your mind and body during your pregnancy, my top relaxation tracks and an EFT Tapping round written specifically for pregnancy following infertility, IVF or miscarriage.
7 Beautiful Mind-Body Tools For You
“After previous miscarriages, I’ve been a nervous wreck during pregnancy. These pregnancy support meditations and visualisations really help me calm down and focus.
The pregnancy affirmations are a must during those first few weeks.” – Beth
1. Visualisation and hypnosis for pregnancy
A powerful hypnosis and visualisation for pregnancy MP3 in which I guide you into relaxation and invite you to connect with your baby and visualise yourself with a bump and then holding your baby for the first time.
I’ve also packed the MP3 with suggestions about allowing yourself to let go and trust that your body knows how to nourish and nurture your baby.
I end the MP3 by guiding you to enter deep restorative sleep. 20 min MP3.
2. Affirmations for pregnancy
These are also fantastic to listen to right from early pregnancy as I have included a lot about trusting in your body. 5 min MP3.
3. Hypnosis for coping with morning sickness
It may surprise you to learn that many women do not experience nausea in pregnancy and studies have shown that certain variables including how much emotional support you have has a clear influence on if you are affected. Stress in particular has been shown to increase the chance of experiencing it due to the increase in cortisol, your stress hormone, leading to highs and lows in blood sugar levels.
Therefore we can utilise hypnosis to guide you into a deeply relaxed state, counterbalancing stress and cortisol and replacing with feel good endorphins which will also be enjoyed by your baby. 12 min MP3.
4. Coping and Comfort
A hypnosis MP3 that incorporates simple techniques that you can use on a daily basis to bring your body out of stress and into rest and relaxation. This track is suitable at any time you want to bring more balance to your life and allow your body to relax deeply. Also perfect if you’re feeling overwhelmed, anxious or upset.
I will guide you through four techniques within the recording, three of which incorporate holding acupressure points that bring comfort to the body and one that can be used to ease physical discomfort as well as emotional upset. This is a simple trick we can play on the mind to instruct it to relax and unwind. Includes my self soothers guidance video, which demonstrates the techniques used in the MP3s and can be used as stand-alone techniques whenever you feel out of balance. 26 min MP3
5. ‘Self Soothers’ techniques
Acupressure techniques to accompany the track above, to guide your body out of stress response and into relaxation. These points can be used alongside the hypnosis or on their own throughout the day to allow you to feel calm and confident no matter what is going on around you. 7 min video.
6. Supercharge Your Sleep
We all know that lack of sleep is hugely detrimental, not just to our health but to our quality of life. Early pregnancy can be a time where our sleep is impacted.
So what if I told you that in just 15 minutes you can achieve the equivalent of a full hours deep sleep? Interested? I know I was when I first heard about this technique.
Gwyneth Paltrow is a fan and does this before bed to aid a good night’s sleep (1) and the US Army is employing it to help soldiers recover from post traumatic stress disorder(2).
I’ll quit teasing you now I’m talking about Yoga Nidra. Sometimes described as yogic sleep or conscious sleep. You may even have practised it at the end of a yoga class. That bit at the end where you lie down and have a mini nap. 15 min MP3.
7. How to stay calm when pregnant following infertility, IVF or miscarriage
A simple but powerful energy tool for bringing calm and peace. 12 min EFT Tapping Video and 20 minute tutorial video.
