6 Do’s & Don’ts for Surviving the Two-Week Wait
By Keiko Zoll
For most couples, it’s only about a two-minute wait to see those two pink lines to learn that they’re pregnant. For most couples dealing with infertility, that wait can be as long as two weeks, as we have the unique advantage of knowing exactly when conception might have occurred… we schedule those embryo transfers and IUIs, don’t we?
And if you think two minutes is long, try two weeks.
The two-week wait can feel like nothing short of an eternity. With the emotional complexity of coping with infertility, surviving the two-week wait is a careful balancing act of trying not to think about it… while you think about it all the time.
Here’s a list of Do’s and Don’ts to make the two-week wait seem a little less endless and a lot more bearable.
DO call on your support network to keep you distracted. Whether it’s a close friend or perhaps even a peer support group buddy, you’ll want someone you can talk to as much as you need during your two-week wait who will be willing to listen.
DON’T call your doctor’s office every day. They can’t magically make beta results appear before your blood’s even been drawn and won’t have any answers for you until you come in for your beta.
DO start a TV or movie marathon for each night of the week you don’t have something planned in the evenings. TV and/or movie marathons are especially good for the weekend right smack in the middle of your two-week wait. It’s a great way to distract yourself and catch up on some entertainment you’ve been saving for yourself.
DON’T start a TV or movie marathon with such shows and titles as A Baby Story, Birth Day, I Didn’t Know I Was Pregnant, Knocked Up, The Backup Plan, Juno or Baby Mamma. In fact, stay as far away from pregnancy or birth-themed movies and TV shows as possible!
DO get out of the house and treat yourself. You don’t have to plan anything elaborate, fancy or costly to have a good time. Whether it’s with your partner, your friends or even your mom – make sure you get out of the house and get your mind off the big white elephant in the room. Treat yourself to something nice: a little shopping spree, a massage, a nice brunch.
DON’T forget about your partner. They’re just as invested in the success of your cycle as well and are likely going through the same gamut of emotions and may be coping more quietly about it. As your two-week wait approaches, come up with a plan to support and keep each other distracted together.
Nearly everyone has to make it through the two-week wait at some point on their infertility journey, so take solace in knowing you’re not alone in how you feel as you get through each day. Hopefully with these tips, the wait will fly by a little faster.
