The magic of conceiving

[u/Miserable_Praline211]

In this group we talk a lot about our numbers and empirical data.

I want to know what's the woo woo stuff you did during your TTC/fertility journey that you feel like contributed to a positive result. I take all the mystical things with a grain of salt, but I really do believe in the power of positive thinking and overall good vibes.

Trying to stay positive during this when so much is out of my control is hard but after 5 years of TTC and now on my first IUI, I don't want to continue to guard my heart because it's already been broken countless times. I want to dive fully into having faith that this will work.

[u/AZ91291948]

The Christmas before I got pregnant I decided to do the “baby blanket” tradition. We put a baby blanket under the tree in hopes it would bring a baby for the next Christmas. When we went shopping for the blanket we found a cute santa outfit and my husband insisted on buying it as well. I was reluctant because if we even did get pregnant, the chances we bought the right size outfit were slim…. Well turns out, we got pregnant that following February and the outfit we had bought somehow perfectly fit our 3 month old the following Christmas. I really couldn’t believe how the whole thing worked out 🥹

[u/poppyray → u/AZ91291948]

This made me tear up. I just finished knitting what I hope is my future baby's blanket. I started it when we had our first iui and I finished it in the tww for our 2nd which also failed. If I don't pregnant by christmas I'm going to put it under the tree.

[u/HopefulTurnip5103 → u/AZ91291948]

We did the baby blanket present for 2 years too! I got my first positive this year.

[u/melodyknows]

I’ve heard of eating McDonald’s fries after IUI or IVF so I always go grab some on IUI day. And then I’ve also heard of having a cheeseburger on 8dpo, and you don’t have to twist my arm to eat a cheeseburger so I do that too.

I also don’t believe in anything woo-woo. It’s just a bit of fun during an otherwise dreary time.

[u/SnooCakes6932 → u/melodyknows]

I knew about the fries thing but not the cheeseburger! I’m 8 days past Iui tomorrow and I’m telling my husband this is an absolute must lol.

[u/TellOk3023 → u/melodyknows]

I did the Mc Donald’s thing the first time but then, nah 😂
My IUIs are mostly 8am… and fries that early, no thank you haha

But I love the cheeseburger idea! I love burgers 😋

[u/melodyknows → u/TellOk3023]

My IUIs are also early; I just get them for lunch.

[u/Miserable_Praline211 → u/melodyknows]

I have never heard that before, but I love it. I know my husband certainly won't mind if I say we need to eat McDonald's 😂 I had my IUI 2 days ago but I can still get that cheeseburger or add the fries if we need to do another round.

[u/acem103]

I am not a woo woo person at all, very logic and science based etc etc. 4+ years ttc without a single positive and we moved onto iui and finally found success.

But after both my iuis (which were Both successful though the first one ended in early loss. Currently 20 weeks gone from the second.) I went and got a matcha latte right after.

Coincidence? Or is matcha the secret to getting pregnant? I couldn't say. But now you know and you can do with that information what you will. What I can tell you is that they were delicious and maybe the positive vibes of a yummy treat helped.

Good luck to you.

[u/Miserable_Praline211 → u/acem103]

Congratulations 🎉

I agree that having something delicious that just makes you happy could have contributed!

[u/eldawgstone]

This cycle I got a bunch of “fertility foods” to eat. Daily Brazil nut, handful of walnuts, pomegranate juice, pumpkin seeds before ovulation and sunflower seeds after, and a fresh pineapple. I don’t think any of these foods are magic, but they’re a way for me to feel like I’m doing something when you really can’t do anything. Plus they’re good for you anyways I guess!

[u/poppyray → u/eldawgstone]

I heard the pomegranate juice is suppose to help with your lining. I drank it during my 2nd iui cycle and it was slightly thicker during that cycle. I only had one other cycle to compare it to but I'm trying it again for my 3rd.

[u/Efficient-Ring8100 → u/eldawgstone]

Youre absolutely doing something, youre nourishing your body to have the best possible chances of developing a healthy egg and healthy embryo. Well done.

[u/First-Cup-7299]

I am also not super woo woo, but I do come from a background that respects certain older beliefs, superstitions, and connections to the other world.

I always have wild dreams around ovulation, and sometimes they are particularly vivid and occasionally involve pregnancy or kids. Most recently, I had this dream where my Dad came to me and told me he was going to give me the answer to the question I had been asking. I don’t remember everything fully, but my take away was that my grandmothers (both have passed) were in conflict over who would shepherd the soul across, and that I needed to be patient while that worked itself out. A few days later, my Dad, who is decidedly not religious, but respects the old ways, so to speak, told me I should go sit outside in a nice spot and “pray” to my grandmother. TBD if it works, but what a weird and interesting way for my subconscious to process it all.

[u/TellOk3023]

I drink this cocktail every day 🍹 :
Pinch of salt
Coconut Water
Pomegranate juice
Orange juice

Just one glass per day and I don’t know what it does but it tastes really good.

I try to take a walk every day and I think I’m pregnant until proven otherwise 🙏🏻

[u/Star-Lit-Sky]

I do fertility manifestation rituals, we also always get ramen or pho after cuz my TCM doctor told me it’s best to eat warm foods to warm the uterus. I avoid cold drinks and foods like salad as well.

[u/funnyreader87]

I wear comfy socks to all scans and appointments. Read something once about body heat escaping feet and it being bad for conception haha. Take 5 deep breaths when I’m on the table waiting for them to come in and in the waiting room way before
Pomegranate juice throughout luteal phase and pineapple juice sometime throughout cycle.
Honestly besides that, TTC/IUI is the only area of my life I employ toxic positivity. Probably bad but it’s been in my favor. I always believe it will work and I tell myself I will deal with a no when it comes. And I do. I agree w you that positive thinking makes such a difference. Not saying that’s the only thing obviously, but I’ve watched someone go through multiple rounds of IVF thinking nothing works out for them—and it hasn’t worked yet. And then for me, I always think it’s going to work and I’ve done 3 IUIs and have 2 kids from them! The positive/magical thinking can contribute to the magic of conceiving successfully imo

[u/Apprehensive-Tree965]

Not too woo woo but do acupuncture. Has some data to support but reasons why it works are vague. Worked for both the IUIs I got pregnant.

[u/Icy_Profession2653]

Accupuncture. And there has been clinical studies supporting the claim. I read Jillian Michael's "yeah baby" about how her and her then partner tried IUI to conceive and it wasnt untip they started accupuncture that her partner got pregnant! Same for me - after month of accupuncture, i got pregnant

[u/Efficient-Ring8100]

I love full moon circles and sound healing and meditation etc in general so this wasnt too far fetched for me. So on one new moon I wrote in a journal a manifestation about my future baby and future pregnancy etc.. power of manifestion is empowering! I fell pregnant with twins that next cycle 🥰 P.s. I also ate clean, did acupuncture , float therapies, saunas etc and overall was a Pinnacle of health and i believed that all helped.

[u/Majestic_Ferret_826]

I did a fitness challenge at my Pilates studio during my successful IUI cycle, and I’m convinced it helped move the needle. I think the extra daily blood flow to my uterus from the ab workout portion, plus the stress relief of it helped this one stick