You’ve made the leap from timed BD and temperature charting to stimulation drugs (Clomid, injectables, etc.) and perhaps IUI. Along with that leap comes: mood swings, more monitoring by the doctor, excitement that there is a plan coupled with worry that even this won’t be enough.

Even though so much of your cycle is planned, it can feel like you are out of control, your day and life controlled by what point you are at in your cycle.

Stress comes as much from the process (how many vials, on which days, when will I trigger, can I go out of town this weekend or do I need an ultrasound) as from hoping for the desired outcome of pregnancy. Then worry comes as a result of the stress: Is this stress keeping me from getting pregnant?

Mind-Body techniques help to interrupt that cycle of negative thoughts, stress, and worry.  Mind-Body work utilizes the relaxation response, a physiologic response in your body.

This is NOT just “relax and you will get pregnant.”

Regular use of the relaxation response has been scientifically proved to ease depression, bring hormones back into balance, and to stop the stress response. Adding a daily relaxation response session to your regular routine will help give you a sense of control over your body and your cycle. Using relaxation techniques will teach you how to cue your body to release tension during a stressful time so the physical effects don’t build up in your body.

“The Journey of the Heart” series of Imagery and Guided Meditations were developed with the specific needs of each type of fertility cycle in mind.  This series is designed to support you no matter when the feelings of worry or fear strike.

Track 1: The first track is designed to support you during the stimulation phase of your cycle, before ovulation.  During the first half of your cycle these techniques help you: control the emotional ups and downs that come from the extra hormones, cope with daily shots, give you a break from the monitoring of your cycle.

The imagery on this track focuses on the medication begin at just the right levels, healthy egg(s) developing, and lining development.

Track 2: The second track is designed to support you during the second phase of your cycle — after fertilization. Once you have passed ovulation, there’s not much to do but WAIT.  And then WAIT some more as time slowly ticks away towards the day you can finally test. 

Track 3:  The final track of this recording can be used at any time during your cycle.  General relaxation is followed by affirmations that support your fertility.

Using relaxation and guided imagery help to keep you feeling balanced and in control as you wait to see if your hard work has paid off as well as giving you a specific activity to do as you wait.

Imagery for this track focuses on healthy development and implantation.

Each track is approximately 20 minutes long — giving you the gift of peace and control for a short investment of your daily time. 

More benefits that women who have used this recording include:

• Better Sleep
• Confidence
• Hope
• Control of emotions and feelings
• Less frustration, anger, and worry
• A tool they can use in the middle of the night when the fears start to build.

Whether it is your first cycle or your fifth, your cycle is an emotional rollercoaster:

• Daily Shots
• Multiple Ultrasounds
• Blood Draws
• Multiple Medical Procedures
• Family and Friends Who Don’t Understand
• Mood Swings
• Constant Monitoring of the Signs and Symptoms
• Worry About the Possibility of Success of Your IVF Cycle
• Anxiety
• Fear

 And then the waiting, waiting, oh, and more waiting.  

An IVF Cycle is expensive and takes a toll on you both physically and emotionally.  The very process of participating in a cycle can make you feel out of control, fearful, and anxious.  Then, the worry sets in you could be affecting your cycle with these emotions.  That worry creates more fear and anxiety.  This cycle of negative emotions creates an even more difficult emotional environment, which magnifies the physical difficulties of an IVF cycle.

What if you had a tool that could help you feel more in control?

One tool is a guided imagery and meditation recording specifically designed to correspond to each stage of your IVF Cycle: “Imagery and Meditations in Support of an In Vitro Fertilization Cycle.” 

Imagery and Meditations in Support of an In Vitro Fertilization Cycle builds your confidence in your body and in the cycle.  Each track begins with a general relaxation exercise followed by imagery specific to that stage in your cycle:

Track 1: Hitting your Mark! From Shots to Retrieval.

The imagery in this track helps you to envision the development of many follicles and eggs, know the medications are creating just the right balance in your body, see the lining of your uterus developing perfectly, and feel confident about the upcoming retrieval.

Track 2: Rest and Rejuvenate— Between Retrieval and Transfer

Use this track from the time of retrieval to transfer. Or, if you are doing a frozen embryo transfer, start with this track when you start preparing for the transfer.

Track 3: Baby’s Sweet Spot! From Transfer to Implantation (week 1 of the 2WW)

Use this track from the day of transfer through the day of probable implantation.  The imagery in this track allows you to see your embryos are growing and dividing just as they should.  Everything is happening to lead to successful implantation

Track 4: The Waiting Game! From Implantation to Pregnancy Test (week 2)

This final track is for the final week of waiting before you can test.  See the embryo continuing to grow and develop.  Feel your body doing all that it needs to do to support this new life growing within you.

Each track is approximately 20 minutes long — giving you the gift of peace and control for a short investment of your daily time. 

Use Imagery and Meditations in Support of an  IVF Cycle to help you take control of your emotions throughout your cycle and physically the support the work your body is doing to create a new life.