12 Gifts for a Friend Going Through IVF
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Odds are you know someone who’s going through or has gone through in vitro fertilization (IVF). It can be an invasive, all-encompassing procedure that’s part of an already long journey to conceive a child.
Each IVF cycle generally takes about 2 weeks. It requires daily injections, frequent ultrasounds, blood work visits with a fertility specialist, and, for many people, sitting in the same waiting room as people who are currently pregnant … yeah, it can be tough.
“The process of IVF, while significantly improving efficiency to pregnancy, can be fraught with physical and mental stress, anxiety, and uncertainty,” says Dr. Anate Brauer, a reproductive endocrinologist and IVF director at Shady Grove Fertility in New York City.
“Physically, many women experience bloating and discomfort as a result of the ovaries growing larger,” she adds. “They are often asked to stop [certain types of exercise], which can have a significant impact both physically and emotionally.”
Managing these side effects alone and the almost-daily appointments can be hugely taxing.
Then there’s the egg retrieval process, which is a short surgery performed under anesthesia to retrieve the eggs.
Even though no cutting or stitches are necessary for this fast procedure, cramping and dull pain can be common side effects. Resting afterward is a good idea.
“On this day, the patient must take the day off [work], which can also be extremely stressful as questions mount about work and social event absences,” Brauer says.
IVF isn’t guaranteed to work, so people going through this process may often feel like they’re riding an “emotional roller coaster.”
It can also cause financial hardship. Needless to say, the experience of undergoing IVF can be anything but easy — and can affect nearly every aspect of a person’s life.
What you can do to help
If you have a friend or loved one going through IVF, one of the best things you can do is offer yourself to them as an outlet of support.
Infertility can take a toll, and people may often lose friends during this time. The emotional strain and lifestyle changes that happen when a friend easily gets pregnant and another doesn’t get pregnant can be too painful to handle alone.
People who easily get pregnant may not always understand how agonizing infertility can be, so they might simply withdraw. Letting your friend know you won’t desert them can be the best gift you can give.
“It is a beautiful thing when an IVF patient has a strong support system consisting of a partner, family members, and/or friends that they can lean on during the trials and tribulations of the process,” says Dr. Mark Trolice, director of The IVF Center and a professor of obstetrics and gynecology at the University of Central Florida College of Medicine.
And while you can’t take away the stress, anxiety, and frustration that can often come along with the IVF experience, you can send a care package that may be helpful during this difficult time in your friend’s life. We’ve got a dozen ideas to get you started.
Pricing guide
Our picks for building an IVF care package
A calming candle
Project 62 Lavender + Eucalyptus Candle
Price: $$
After a long day of medical treatments, it’s nice to come home to a peaceful environment made more relaxing by candlelight. Not only does this lidded, three-wick candle smell ah-may-zing, but it’s also lavender-scented, which some research links to reducing anxiety and depression.
You may have heard that scented candles are bad for fertility. While not definitively proven, avoiding scented candles made from paraffin wax may make your friend feel more comfortable since petroleum-based paraffin releases volatile organic compounds into the air.
This candle contains plant wax instead of paraffin, so no worries there.
The candle’s flickering light could help ease the stress of the day, and the stylish jar may make a nice addition to your friend’s living room or bedroom decor.
Shop now at TargetAn acupressure mat
ProsourceFit Acupressure Mat and Pillow Set
Price: $$$
These cushioned mats, which work similarly to an acupressure massage, can help relieve the aches and pains associated with IVF treatments, Trolice notes.
The mat’s surface is covered in spiky pressure points, which, yes, look terrifying. Still, reviewers sing its praises. One describes it as “clearly evil, but extremely effective,” while another says that this “bizarre fire torture mat provides great relief!”
To use, you simply lay back on the pressure points to help release tight muscles. It’s a great gift, but it couldn’t hurt to get your friend something else more obviously comforting, too.
Shop now at AmazonA humorous mug
‘I Like My Eggs Fertilized’ Mug
Price: $
The experience of undergoing IVF may not be for the faint of heart — emotions can be high, days can be long, and the whole process can feel very serious, to say the least.
That’s why giving your friend something that could make them smile and lift their spirits, like this sassy mug, might be a great idea.
Shop now at AmazonA meal subscription service
Sunbasket
Price: $$$
Trust us — your friend might feel too tired to think about food, let alone shop and chop. Takeout food can be less than healthy and contain more sodium than a person with bloating might need.
Sunbasket is an organic meal subscription service that provides healthy options in a prepared or kit form, such as:
Vegetarian, gluten-free, and other dietary regimens are available to fit just about every need.
Sunbasket’s gift program provides flexible spending options. Many people who’ve gone through IVF might tell you how much they dreaded the “2-week wait” after IVF while they waited to find out whether it worked.
Sunbasket offers a 2-week gift subscription that includes three meals a week for two people for 2 weeks, which may be great to use during this time. You can also purchase a single meal for the night of the egg retrieval or transfer.
Some people may want to eat foods that support fertility and avoid certain foods when trying to get pregnant. Nutrition and Fitness Market Editor Kelli McGrane, MS, RD, notes that Sunbasket “has multiple menus to suit a variety of dietary needs.”
McGrane also likes how Sunbasket provides food for wholesome, clean eating. She says, “99% of produce, milk, yogurt, eggs, and tofu are organic. Meats and seafood are free of antibiotics and artificial hormones. They also offer organic, free-range, and pasture-raised meats and poultry. Wild-caught and farm-raised seafood.”
Shop now at SunbasketBath salts
Dr Teal’s Pure Epsom Salt Therapeutic Soak
Price: $
A soothing bath at the end of a long day can help take the edge off and relieve some of the aches and pains your friend may feel from injections. Adding salts to a bath, like those from Dr Teal’s, can be a real stress reliever.
There’s no evidence that the body can actually absorb enough magnesium from Epsom salts to have an effect, but the smell is nice, and the water’s silky sensation may have them feeling more relaxed in little time.
Shop now at WalmartComfy socks
TeeHee Socks
Price: $$
Invite your pal to slip their tired feet into these super soft and comfortable socks. They come in more than 20 colors and patterns, including hearts and silly animals, so you might find ones that could make your friend smile.
Some people like to wear special socks to their doctor’s appointments so they have something comforting to focus on while their feet are in the stirrups.
The pack comes with two lightweight, breathable pairs that don’t cinch tightly around the ankle and slip on and off easily. They’re a great add-in for a gift basket or as a cozy gift on their own.
Shop now at WalmartA good book (and a good laugh)
‘Hilariously Infertile: One Woman’s Inappropriate Quest to Help Women Laugh Through Infertility’
Price: $$
As the title of this book suggests, it’s a comedic, self-deprecating take on the difficulties that only those who’ve gone through infertility can understand. It dives deep into the harsh and scary realities of the experience while finding humor in the scenarios many people trying to conceive might find themselves in.
If nothing else, this read can remind your friend that they’re far from alone.
Shop now at AmazonA heating pad
Sunbeam Heating Pad
Price: $$$
A heating pad is a great at-home remedy for the physical discomfort and cramping your friend might have after egg retrieval surgery. One large enough to wrap around their stomach and backside can be a great find.
This one is XXL at 20 x 24 and heats in seconds, so your friend can experience instant warming relief.
Shop now at AmazonA fertility caddy
MyVitro Fertility Caddy
Price: $$$
So much can feel out of your control when you’re undergoing fertility treatments, so it can be nice to organize all the medications you’ll have to take easily. That’s what this fertility caddy can help with.
It has two fold-out trays and a spacious bottom section so your friend can store all their meds safely and see them clearly when it’s time to take them. Move over, Marie Kondo.
Shop now at MyVitroDecorative bandages
Welly Waterproof Bravery Badges
Price: $
This is a fun and lighthearted way to support your friend undergoing IVF throughout the process of daily shots and medications. Instead of covering the injection sites with any beige bandage, they’ll have something to smile at, knowing you thought of them during such a difficult time.
Shop now at TargetPineapple blanket
Elegant Comfort Velvet Touch Printed Fleece Throw/Blanket in Pineapple
Price: $$$
Pineapples have become a powerful you-got-this symbol for people grappling with infertility.
This lightweight 50-by-60-inch polyester flannel fleece blanket comes in dozens of patterns, including cheery yellow pineapples on a bright turquoise background. Your friend could cozy up in this after long, emotionally-intense days or her retrieval.
Shop now at AmazonShower spa
Cleverfy Shower Steamers Aromatherapy
Price: $$
Your friend may be waking up at the crack of dawn for ovarian testing several days a week during the pre-IVF process. Wouldn’t it be lovely if that fast morning shower could provide soothing benefits and cleansing?
These nontoxic shower steamers can turn almost any shower into a calming spa experience. They contain all-natural ingredients such as:
Each six-pack contains a selection of comforting scents like:
Whether your friend’s having egg follicles measured or dreading giving a sperm sample, these streamers can be great for almost anyone facing a stressful day.
Shop now at AmazonHow to choose a gift
IVF can be a trying time for many couples or individuals.
It’s a wonderful and thoughtful idea to send a gift, but it’s important to be mindful of who you’re shopping for.
For example, a humorous book might bring joy and relief to your sarcastic and funny friend, but it may not be the best gift for your highly sensitive friend. Perhaps they may be more appreciative of a set of pampering and relaxing candles or bath salts instead.
IVF facts
Chances are you might understand the basic elements of IVF and what it is broadly.
But unless you’ve gone through it yourself, you may not be totally familiar with some elements. Here are some key facts about the process to help you better support your friend or family member going through IVF.
The 5 stages of IVF
Share on Pinterest Infographic by Bailey MarinerFor many people, IVF involves five stages: ovarian stimulation, egg retrieval, sperm retrieval, egg fertilization, and transfer.
How long does IVF take?
On average, a single cycle of IVF can take about 3–4 weeks. But it can take longer sometimes, depending on how a person reacts to the medications and processes.
Hormonal changes during IVF treatment
During an IVF cycle, a doctor often gives a person several hormones to ease the process, including gonadotropins, follicle-stimulating hormones, which help encourage the follicles to grow into mature eggs.
Side effects of these hormones are common and can be physical or emotional. It may be hard to discern whether emotional changes occur from stress or the hormones themselves.
Takeaway
IVF can be a tough journey and an isolating one at that. You can let your friends know you’re there for them, whether it’s by lending an ear or surprising them with a thoughtful gift (or two). It’ll probably mean more than you know.
Posted : 2024-08-29 10:50
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