IVF Calculations: How To Calculate Pregnancy Weeks After IVF

One of the first questions a parent-to-be will ask after discovering they are pregnant is ‘when is my baby due?’ And this is the same for IVF parents as it is for those who fall pregnant naturally. But while the due date for a natural pregnancy is based on the menstrual cycle, for IVF it is normally based on what is known as the ‘embryonic age’. 

Here’s all you need to know about IVF calculations and how to calculate pregnancy weeks after IVF. 

Due date based on menstrual age

The average gestation for a pregnancy is generally taken to be 280 days, or 40 weeks. For a natural pregnancy, the pregnancy weeks are taken from the start of a woman’s last period, assuming she ovulated 14 days later. This gives an estimated due date for the baby based on the menstrual age and is the guide most obstetricians work to. 

Due date based on embryonic age

However, when it comes to calculating the due date for a pregnancy that is the result of IVF treatment, things need to be done a little differently as you don’t always know the date of your last period. But what you do have is a more organised calendar in terms of ovulation, egg retrieval and implantation. And it is all of this information, plus the general recognition of a 280-day pregnancy gestation, that is used. 

Calculating a due date after IVF

As IVF – or in vitro fertilisation – occurs outside of the body and in a lab, it is actually possible to know exactly when the egg was fertilised, which can also be translated as the date a woman conceived. However, this is not the start date when calculating the due date of an IVF pregnancy.

Due dates for an IVF pregnancy are actually based on the date the embryo was transferred back into the uterus.  So, working with the 280-day gestation period, plus the 14-day ovulation period and the day you had the embryo transferred, you can work out your baby’s expected due date.

Here is an example: your embryo was transferred on day 5 after IVF, which means your baby’s due date will be 261 days later. 

There are also numerous online calculators which can help you work out your IVF pregnancy calendar. 

Due dates are not set in stone

As well as doing the calculations based on the embryonic age to work out your expected IVF pregnancy due date, your fertility clinic will also closely monitor your pregnancy to ensure the foetus is developing as it should and is reaching its key gestation phases.

However, when it comes to any pregnancy, the anticipated due date is not set in stone, and this also applies to IVF. Premature labour is also a risk of an IVF-assisted conception, particularly with a multiple pregnancy. And more sluggish levels of the hormone progesterone can also mean you may give birth earlier than your calculated due date. 

So, the take-away on IVF calculations is that they are intended as a formulated guide, and your fertility specialist will also work closely with you to assess and monitor your pregnancy’s progress, right up to the birth.

Self Grooming tips during Pregnancy

As your belly grows bigger during pregnancy, your movement becomes a bit limited and it gets harder to see some areas of your body. For example, you can barely see your toes because your belly gets on the way. In addition, you cannot do the usual things you like such as sleeping on your belly as it is just not possible. Not only that, pregnancy brings another challenge that some women are not comfortable bringing up, like grooming your private part. However, others are really bold enough to talk about how to shave their pubic hair when pregnant. If this is the same dilemma you’re facing, these tips we gathered might help you. 

 

Keep it moisturized.

 

Never shave on a dry skin. Any dry surface has some friction including our skin. Just imagine how the blade would glide smoothly if your skin down there is dry. Apart from being more sensitive, it is prone to irritation and razor burn. Use a clean razor and shaving cream or unscented conditioner. The conditioner softens the hair for an effortless shaving. 

 

However, make sure to use a paraben-free and organic conditioner for safety reasons. Some conditioners and shaving creams are too harsh on the skin or may negatively affect your pregnancy. Glide your razor downward for an easy hair removal and avoid razor burns. 

 

Use scissors if necessary. 

 

You might need the help of a pair of scissors if your pubic hair is too thick. Hair grows twice faster because of the hormonal changes when pregnant. If there’s thicker hair, the harder it is to shave. Use a pair of scissors with rounded tips to trim it first. Then you can start shaving the rest when it’s thinner. 

 

Use a mirror.

 

Actually this is where the challenge is. It might not be a big issue for some people but others are just having difficulty shaving without seeing it. If you don’t have a full-size body mirror you can use a handy one. It shouldn’t be hard for you to use it while removing all those hair down there. 

 

If you’re not in front of the mirror, you can use your fingers as a guide while your other hand is on the shaver trimming your hair. Feel and locate the areas that need to be shaved. Be careful not to run the shaver on your fingers though. Or better yet, use a hair removal cream. 

 

Use depilatory creams.

 

Hair removal creams are also good options as this is the easiest self-grooming method. You don’t have to worry about possible painful cuts because there’s no razor involved. But you have to consult your doctor first prior to opting for this method as they might contain chemicals that is threatening to your baby. 

 

Choose the right shaver.

 

First, select the right length of the comb on your shaver. The shaver’s comb holds the hair and keeps it in place while the blades cut it. So the comb’s length should be enough to hold your pubic hair to avoid the risk of getting cut. 

 

Don’t forget to check the blades. They should be clean and sharp enough for the process. Replace an old blade with a new one.  If there’s a lubrication strip, be sure it’s not faded. 

 

If you’re using an electric shaver then it should be waterproof. Even if you don’t plan using it with water, you’ll never know when will you drop it on a wet area. 

 

The perfect shaver gets the job done really fast and easy. There are many things to consider in choosing the best one. The reviews on https://www.hairclippersclub.com/6-best-pubic-hair-trimmers-for-men-women/ will help you determine what’s right for you. 

 

5 ways to prepare your body for pregnancy

Preparing to get pregnant is a pivotal time in a woman’s life. There are often times unforeseen stresses that women have about getting pregnant and as time goes on these stressors increase. If you and your partner are preparing to have a baby in the next year or so, there are some things that you can do to prepare your body to be healthy enough to conceive and carry a child to full-term. This article will identify 5 ways in which you can prepare your body for pregnancy.

  1. Pay attention to your diet and if you consume fatty foods or foods with preservatives on a regular basis, it is a good idea to start to prepare and eat more nutritious meals. Remove unhealthy foods from your diet and be diligent about eating healthier. This will help your body rid itself of unnecessary food related toxins and clean itself up so that it is ready for baby.
  2. Visit your primary care doctor or OBGYN and have a conversation with him or her about your desire to have a baby and the timeline in which you hope to do so. Your doctor will most likely want to perform an examination to make sure that you are healthy on the inside. Some things your doctor will check for include sexually transmitted diseases as stds have a variety of symptoms, some that are even undetectable by common symptoms. The reason that this is important is that if you do have an STD, it could be passed on to the baby. Your doctor will also make sure that you are up to date on all vaccinations and will talk to you about going off of birth control and the process in which to do so.
  3. Ask yourself if your current lifestyle is conducive to a pregnancy. If you are a smoker or drink alcohol on a regular basis, you may want to consider decreasing or completely eliminating these activities for the time being. While pregnant, it is healthiest for you and the baby to be smoke and alcohol free. It may take some time to do this so it is best to prepare before getting pregnant.
  4. Age. As you age, infertility rates also go up. Pregnancy related complications such as gestational diabetes, preterm labor, or even premature birth defects could occur. Again, consult with your doctor to discuss age and if it is an issue for you.
  5. Don’t stress if you do not get pregnant right away. Stress can deter this from happening. If you do not get pregnant right away, continue to eat healthy, live a healthy lifestyle, take your vitamins, get the proper amount of sleep, and relax. Trust that you will have a child and think positive thoughts. Before you know it, you will be with child.

There are many more tips to preparing your body to get pregnant, however these five ideas are ones that have been recommended by doctors and specialists for years. If you are pregnant and you did not do these steps before conceiving, start doing them now. The healthier you are while carrying your child, the healthier your child will be.

Mattel is looking for expecting Moms to join their exclusive online community!

Disclosure- This post is sponsored. All opinions are my own and honest. For more information, see “I Disclose”.

pregnant

Are you currently expecting? Join other expecting Moms in a private online community to discuss the joys and challenges of motherhood, as well as advise Mattel Fisher Price about their toys and games.

Fisher Price cares about what Moms have to say when it comes to expecting a new baby. They rely on their exclusive group of over 300 Moms to help them gain a greater understanding of the lifestyle and needs of their consumers as it relates back to the world of play, and is opening up this invitation to you.

If you want to impact the future products your new coming child will use, sign up to interact with other expecting moms, answer surveys, participate in discussions and more. Your answers will help shape the future of Fisher Price as well as lend a hand to and inspire other pregnant Moms like you going through the same journey. Sharing your opinions will also help earn you rewards each month, as well as fun prizes along the way.

When it comes to rewards, in addition to the opportunity to impact the brand, members will receive a $5 Amazon gift code just for joining and an additional $10 Amazon gift code each month for their participation.

Spots are limited, so be sure to sign up today – the community is currently letting in just over 100 new members! See if you qualify here:  http://bit.ly/2bWQZHw

The Most Common Myths About Pregnancy

pregnancy

It seems that people come out of the woodworks when a woman is pregnant to offer tips, advice, warnings, blessings and more. While some of these tips and blessings can be helpful, motivating, and encouraging, some of them are just flat wrong. Over the years there have been many old wives tales, some which date back hundreds of years that warn women of all the different dangers that they can be exposed to while they are carrying a child. Some of the advice might be helpful and some myths that sound too good to be true actually aren’t. For instance, the placenta, if you are not going to donate it to a number of the cord blood banks that can help with stem cell research, can be eaten and has proven to be an excellent source of protein. Here are some of the most common myths about pregnancy.

  1. One of the most classic myths is that a pregnant woman is eating for two. This is only sort of true, but it doesn’t mean that a woman should be eating two heaping adult sized servings for each meal, especially desert. A woman will typically gain up to 35 pounds during pregnancy, but some women, often because of this myth, think that they need to eat more to sustain their child. It can actually be harmful if you eat too much during pregnancy and you can even put on more weight if you do. It is most import to eat more healthily, than eat in larger quantities.
  2. [Read more…]