Is there anything you can do to help implantation?

When you’re in the two week wait, it’s natural to want to do something. The honest answer is that there’s no proven way to make implantation more likely, and everyday things like working, moving around or exercising normally are very unlikely to stop it. But some things give a pregnancy the best start.

Things that give a pregnancy the best start

Take folic acid. The NHS recommends 400 micrograms a day while you’re trying to get pregnant and until you’re 12 weeks pregnant. Some people need a higher dose, for example if you have diabetes or a family history of neural tube defects, so check with your GP.
Consider vitamin D. 10 micrograms a day is advised, especially from September to March.
Don’t smoke, and avoid alcohol. Smoking lowers your chances of getting pregnant, and the NHS advises not drinking at all if you’re trying for a baby.
Keep caffeine under 200mg a day. That’s the limit in pregnancy, roughly two mugs of instant coffee.
Look after your weight and keep active. Being very under or overweight can make it harder to get pregnant. Normal exercise is fine.
Check your medicines. Keep taking anything you’ve been prescribed, but ask your GP or pharmacist whether it’s suitable for pregnancy. Avoid vitamin A (retinol) supplements and cod liver oil.
Look after your partner’s health too. Smoking, alcohol and weight can affect sperm.

Myths you can skip

Eating pineapple core, or other ‘implantation foods’. There’s no good evidence that any particular food helps a pregnancy implant.
Lying still or resting in bed. You don’t need to rest. There’s no evidence that moving around affects implantation, and in IVF studies, resting in bed after embryo transfer didn’t help and was linked with a lower chance of pregnancy.
Keeping your feet warm. A popular tip online, but there’s no evidence behind it.
Avoiding all exercise. Normal activity is fine. If you’re having fertility treatment, follow your clinic’s advice.

If you’re having IVF

Follow your clinic’s advice. Keep taking any medicines they’ve prescribed, such as progesterone, until they tell you to stop, even if you have some bleeding, and contact your clinic to let them know about any bleeding. Some clinics suggest avoiding strenuous exercise in the two weeks after transfer, and medicines you haven’t been prescribed.

You may be offered extras, sometimes called ‘add-ons’, that claim to help implantation. The fertility regulator, the HFEA, rates the evidence for each one. Many don’t have good evidence that they improve your chances of having a baby, so it’s worth checking HFEA: treatment add-ons before paying for one.

Stress and the two week wait

There’s no good evidence that everyday stress stops a pregnancy implanting, so try not to add guilt about feeling stressed. Doing things that help you feel calmer is still worth it for its own sake.

If it doesn’t happen this month

It’s very unlikely to be because of anything you did or didn’t do in the two week wait. Most couples where the woman is under 40 get pregnant within a year of having regular sex without contraception. Speak to your GP if you’ve been trying for a year or more, or sooner if you’re 36 or over or you know of something that might affect your fertility.

Questions people ask

Can I exercise during the two week wait?

Yes. Normal exercise is fine. If you’re having IVF, follow your clinic’s advice about strenuous exercise.

Can I have a bath during the two week wait?

Yes, a warm bath is fine. We don’t know for sure that hot tubs and saunas are safe in early pregnancy, so if you might be pregnant it’s sensible to avoid them, or keep it short and not too hot.

Does progesterone help implantation in natural cycles?

Progesterone is used in IVF because the treatment affects your own hormones. Don’t take it in a natural cycle unless a doctor has prescribed it for you.

When to get help

Mild cramps that ease with rest are usually nothing to worry about. But if you’re pregnant, or think you could be, get urgent advice from your maternity unit, an early pregnancy unit or NHS 111 if you have:

any bleeding or spotting, even if it’s light
tummy pain that’s severe, on one side, or hasn’t eased after resting for 30 to 60 minutes
pain in the tip of your shoulder

Call 999 if you have bleeding along with severe tummy pain, pain in your shoulder, or feeling sick, faint or dizzy, or if the bleeding is heavy (soaking a pad soon after putting it on). Also call 999 if you have sudden, sharp and intense tummy pain and you feel very dizzy or faint, feel sick or look very pale. These can be signs of an ectopic pregnancy or a miscarriage that need treating straight away.