Good luck. The most important thing I can advise is to relax as much as possible. The retrieval is fairly easy. You get a little IV and wake up a few minutes later. The hardest part is waiting to see how many embryos you have and how well they develop. The transfer is a little more uncomfortable in my opinion. You wait on a full bladder then the do it. It's not any more uncomfortable than an iui or pap. I watched mine on the u/s and it was awesome to think my baby was right there! Then you hang out for about 30 minutes on that full bladder. Ugh! I did 2 days of bed rest after my second try and that seemed to help. Really the most important thing for me was relaxing and staying positive and calm. I did IVF meditation cd I found on Amazon. When it is all said and done this isn't a big deal compared to the next 9 months of your life and then everything gets totally amazing! Keeping you in my thoughts and prayers.

Both were pretty simple to me, although transfer is easier than retrieval. They want you to have a full bladder on day of retrieval. They tell you to start drinking when you arrive. I suggest you follow that. I started drinking wanter early because I hate water and kept having to go to the bathroom. I think if you start drinking water when you arrive you should be okay by surgery time.

You are put under for the retreival, and you stay in recovery an hour or two. I guess they put you in recovery to monitory how you tolerated the anesthesia--so far I have never had a problem with anethestia. Anyway you take someone with you because you cannot drive home.

My dr provides 2 valium take one 45 minutes before the procedure and you can ask for the other while you are in recovery if you need it. Again, I have never had a problem so I just took valium. I think they tell you you can wait 15-30 minutes before. Then you have a full bladder, but not in a tight).

You are awake for transfer. They let you lie there for a moment then you go home. I was not in any pain, but they tell you to take it easy for 3 days. I got pregnant, but lost the baby after about a month. I just wanted you to know it can work the first time!

I guess you are asking for tips on reducing bloating, or ovarian hyper stimulaion syndrome(OHSS). This is in the information my doctor provided (I hope this helps):


Mild symptoms= bloated, nausea, diarrhea, and slight weight gain.

Remedy=no intercourse, reduce activity; avoid heavy lifting, straining or exercise; rest in reclining position; and limit fluid intake.

Moderate symptoms= weight gain > 2 lbs a day; tight clothes; vomiting and diarrhea
Remedy=call the nurse; weigh yourself daily; record fluid intake and expulsion; may warrant a doctor's visit.

Severe symptoms=shrotness of breath; little or no urine; sever bloating; and lower abdominal pain.
Remedy=call the dr's office immediately; sometimes you are hospitalized; rest in bed; place 2 or 3 pillows under your head and shoulders to help with shortness of breath; take 1 or2 tylenols for abdomial pain; and drink Gatorade or Ensure to correct the fluid imbalance.

(Forgive any misspellings--I am tired).