Mindset Reset: Embracing the IVF Journey with Positivity and Preparedness

Embarking on the IVF journey is an emotionally charged experience that requires more than just medical procedures; it demands a resilient mindset and emotional readiness. As women prepare to face IVF, they often carry with them the weight of past struggles and fears. I know I did.

Here are some practical tips I use with my coaching clients to reset your mindset and get IVF ready.

Create a Mantra: Power of Positive Affirmations

A powerful way to slowly reset your mindset is by creating a personal mantra or positive affirmation. A mantra is a short, meaningful phrase that you repeat to yourself daily, helping you develop a positive and focused mindset. Choose a mantra that resonates with you, such as "I am strong, I can do this" or "I trust my body". Mine was something along the lines of ‘My body is strong and healthy, and capable of getting pregnant. I welcome this medical treatment’. Recite your mantra regularly, especially during challenging moments, to reinforce positivity and self-belief. Slowly but surely it will become a belief. One way to come up with a mantra is to identify your beliefs around your fertility, and write down the positive opposite of it.

Focus on What You Can Control

In the midst of the uncertainty that comes with fertility treatment, it's important to identify and concentrate on the aspects within your control. While you might not be able to predict the outcome of IVF, you can control your attitude and prioritise looking after yourself. What else can you control? What will help you feel you have agency?

Develop Your IVF Plan: Prepare and Be Flexible

Similar to a birthing plan, creating an IVF plan can help you organise your thoughts and make informed decisions throughout the process. Discuss the plan with your medical team, and be open to making adjustments along the way. Flexibility is key because the IVF journey is unpredictable, and being adaptable allows you to face unexpected challenges with a calmer mindset. My plan included going to daily blood test appointments as early in the morning as possible, and going alone. I just needed to get the job done. I asked my husband to come every single scan though, and to be on standby if I changed my mind and wanted him to come to other appointments. I also decided I would walk to work after the appointment, even if it meant being late, because I needed that time to decompress. What plans can you put in place to get through this?

Knowledge is Power: Ask Questions

Feeling informed during the IVF process can positively impact your emotional well-being. Make a list of questions you want to ask your consultant, nurse, or clinic receptionist, and take a notebook or us an app on your phone so its always to hand. Nurses at IVF clinics have all sorts of little hacks to help, a different size needle, a method of injecting yourself that may bruise less. Don’t be afraid to talk to them about what you are experiencing and ask for their help.

Find Support and Make Connections

The IVF journey can feel isolating, but you are not alone. Seek support from family, friends, or online communities where you can share experiences and find comfort in the stories of others. Making friends at the clinic can also be valuable, as you can become IVF buddies who offer each other encouragement and understanding. However, it's essential not to tie your emotions solely to someone else's journey; remember that each person's experience is unique. What support do you need right now? Who can give it to you?

Address the past

Facing IVF may bring to the surface past traumas and fears related to conception, miscarriages, or medical procedures. Consider seeking professional support through counselling, complementary therapy or coaching to work through these feelings constructively and make a plan for the future. I was terrified of having intramuscular progesterone injections because the pain took me back to having Anti D injections after my miscarriages. I worked on switching this mindset from one of loss to one or welcoming it into my body to support my pregnancy. 

Remember, resetting your mindset for IVF readiness is a gradual process. Be patient with yourself, and don't hesitate to seek professional help if needed. Creating a more positive outlook and emotional resilience will benefit you during IVF, no matter the outcome. 

A version of this article was originally published in Female Health & Fertility www.femalehealthandfertility.com