Fertility

TTC – New Year Fertility Resolutions

Eloise Edington | 28 Dec 2020

Big celebrations and events can be hard when you’re trying to conceive, but in the midst of the pandemic, the dawn of 2021 shouldn’t be seeing any of the normal socialising in vast swathes of the world. A new year often provides an opportunity for a fresh start or at least the chance to do things a little differently than the year before. Let’s face it, 2020 definitely hasn’t been what we anticipated or hoped for on any level.

So, whether you’re just starting out trying to conceive or you’re dealing with infertility, our eight New Year’s Resolutions are here to guide you through a happier, healthy fertility journey in 2021. We have a BIG opportunity being announced for our readers later this month, to help those whom we can #restartthejourney. To be the first to hear how this could benefit you, subscribe to our newsletter here.

We asked our followers on an Instagram poll what New Year’s resolutions they will be setting for 2021 and the many responses came back from people saying: they want to lose weight for IVF, try holistic fertility support such as fertility yoga, acupuncture and womb massage, as well as others stating they will take their fertility journey day by day and try not to stress about it the whole time. Another big one was staying away from Google!

Words by Holly McElroy

Talk to Your Partner About Infertility

Sharing your worries, feeling and concerns with your partner can be a difficult task, but it is a very important step in your fertility journey. Not only will this help you talk through and process your emotions, but it can bring you closer together. After all, there are two of you trying to conceive (TTC) and let’s not forget, baby making is a team sport. Our Instagram poll showed that people want to take more time with their partner to enjoy life again.

2. Stay Healthy

Eating a proper diet, rich in complex carbohydrates, fruits and vegetables can improve your overall health and fertility, as well as boosting energy levels. Similarly, moderate exercise will help you lose weight, reduce stress, and feel good. It can be as simple as walking for 30 minutes a day or going to your favourite exercise class a few times a week (when we’re not in lockdown of course). It is also recommended that individuals avoid cigarettes and excessive alcohol when trying to conceive, as they can have an adverse effect on fertility. As mentioned above, many of our followers want to lose weight, so doing this in a controlled and healthy way is a great resolution.

3. Ask for Fertility Help

There is no shame in seeking professional help from a fertility specialist if you’re struggling to conceive. If you’re under 35 and have been unable to conceive for a year, or you’re over 35 and have been trying to conceive for six months without success, it is probably time to consult a fertility specialist or visit a fertility clinic.

It can also be helpful to join support groups and online infertility communities where people on fertility journeys share their experiences and feel less alone as well as making lifelong friends. You can join our free and supportive Fertility Squad app here.

4. Spend Less Time on Social Media

Newsfeeds filled with pregnancy announcements and other milestones can be hard to see when you’re TTC and it can feel like a struggle not to compare your life to that of others. It’s important to remember that your fertility journey is unique and your own. It can be helpful to unplug for a few hours or days a week and concentrate on your own thoughts and feelings. Whatever helps you.

5. Don’t Blame Yourself

Many hopeful parents blame themselves or feel shame when they are facing infertility. There are so many causes of fertility issues and it’s important to realise that infertility is not your fault. Be gentle with yourself and know that you are not alone in your fertility struggles and there are other options and holistic fertility help / support available out there.

6. Stay Busy During the Two-Week Wait.

The two-week wait (2WW) is a highly stressful and worrying time for those trying to conceive, especially following fertility treatment and it can feel like it’s impossible to concentrate on or enjoy anything else. A recent poll showed that those struggling with infertility think about their fertility journey a whopping 90-100% of the time. To tackle this, try and plan some regular activities into your 2WW to help limit your time to obsess. It can be as simple as a dinner date with your partner, coffee with a friend or going to the cinema (when restrictions lift), taking your mind off things will only make the time pass quicker and more comfortably. We recently did an interview with leading fertility specialist, Dr Samantha Pfeifer from Weill Cornell in New York, who shares her thoughts on what to do and what to avoid during the two-week wait following IVF. Watch it back here. Similarly to this, many of those who took our poll felt that they wanted to learn coping strategies for negative pregnancy tests and setting new goals, with less pressure.

7. Don’t Set Deadlines

When you’re struggling to conceive, it’s common to try and plan things and set goals such as “I need to be pregnant by Easter” or “Christmas”. But the truth is, getting pregnant is not an exact science and unfortunately, no one knows how long the journey will take. By creating deadlines, you are not only setting yourself up for disappointment, but a sense of failure that could leave you feeling hopeless about the whole thing. Instead, it’s important to understand that there is only so much you can control on your fertility journey – have patience and maintain hope. For some people, this might be having a back-up plan ready.

8. Make Time for Yourself

It’s important to take time out for yourself, to enjoy new hobbies and to focus on wellbeing. This doesn’t mean you have to stop being a good friend or partner, but it does mean you need some time to focus on yourself. Do things you love or find new activities to boost your mental well-being, whether that is reading a good book, meditating, fertility yoga or just having a soak in nice long bath, surrounded by scented candles.

When readers join our Fertility Squad community, one of the first things we say is that a fertility struggle doesn’t define us – what do you like to do when you’re not trying to conceive? Join our free community, to meet others who get it.