You've had your embryo transfer and now all you can do is wait.. But isn't there something
you should eat?! Is there anything to make this embryo stick?! Some people say a high protein,
high sodium diet; others recommend pineapple core; some suggest raspberry leaf tea; and others
suggest to 'eat the rainbow'? But who's right?! What should you eat in the two week wait?
Stay tuned and I'll discuss the evidence and which one I think is best...
Hello! If this is our first time connecting, welcome! My name is Melanie McGrice and I'm
a fertility and prenatal dietitian. I help couples boost their fertility and give their
baby's the best start possible with the power of good food. Make sure you connect with me on
my socials... you'll find all the details in the description box below this video.
So, what to eat in the two week wait?!
The two week wait is almost worse than the rest of the fertility treatment put together....back pain,
cramping, bloating, anxiety, it's not fun. If you're like most of my clients you've spent hours
debating with yourself about whether or not to indulge in some treat foods... Is there anything
that can help?! More importantly, is there anything you can eat to make this embryo stick?!
Well, let's look at the pros and cons for some of the common dietary recommendations out there:
1. High protein, high sodium diet - this diet is increasing in popularity as a potential way
to reduce bloating during the two week wait, and potentially even reduce the risk of ovarian
hyperstimulation syndrome. Unfortunately, there's very little research behind it,
and having a low carb, high protein diet contradicts current evidence which suggests that
carb-containing foods such as whole grains and dairy are actually beneficial for implantation.
So unless you have a high risk of OHSS, I'd probably recommend that you give this one a miss.
2. Pineapple - pineapple, particularly pineapple core, contains an enzyme called bromelain, which
has been found to reduce inflammation and thin the blood. There's no good research to support
eating pineapple during the two week wait, but it won't hurt. Unfortunately, there's little benefit
to drinking pineapple juice though. Bromelain is concentrated in the core, so if you are going to
try this, try cutting the core up into small wedges and chewing on them during the day.
3. Raspberry leaf tea - this herbal tea has been used for
centuries for a range of medicinal purposes.
It's believed to have an estrogenic effect and is commonly used to impact women's menstrual cycles.
Many people caution against using it as it is commonly used to induce labour, however, more
recent research suggests that drinking it during pregnancy may help to reduce labour complications.
In terms of optimising implantation, emerging research suggests that it may help to thicken
the uterine wall, and it's also rich in antioxidants. I don't think it's going to be
the miracle cure to get you pregnant, but I don't think it will be the cause of miscarriage either.
Personally, I'd recommend that you avoid it during your two week wait until there's
better evidence available. I think there's much safer options, with better evidence.
4. Eating the rainbow - this term means to eat a wide variety of different coloured fruits
and vegetables each day. The theory is that eating different coloured fruits and vegetables
ensures that you are getting a wide variety of antioxidants.
Different coloured fruits and vegetables often represent different antioxidants, for example,
purple and blue foods such as beetroot and blueberries are rich in anythocyanins, and
yellowy orange foods such as carrots and rockmelon are rich in carotenoids. Antioxidants help to
fight against oxidative stress, which is believed to be an important risk factor for pregnancy.
5. Intermittent fasting - another fad going around is intermittent fasting during your two week wait.
Although I do use intermittent fasting with my clients,
I'd highly caution against this strategy during the two week wait. The two week
wait is a time for nourishing your body, not starving it, so please, give this one a miss.
6. Pregnancy diet - many recommend following pregnancy guidelines during the two week wait.
This includes limiting caffeine and avoiding foods such as sushi and soft cheeses which have
a high risk of listeria toxicity. I agree with the slogan 'pregnant until proven otherwise',
and wholeheartedly support these guidelines. As such, it's also important to take a supplement
that contains folic acid. If you can handle it emotionally, check out my pregnancy playlist.
So, in summary, during the two week wait I recommend:
- Limit caffeine - Cease any supplements
that haven't got adequate safety data for pregnancy such as high dose vitamin E
- Eat the rainbow - Avoid foods that
have a high listeria risk such as soft cheeses, deli meats, sushi and sashimi
- Include a variety of wholegrains, such as oats, rice and quinoa
- Ensure that you're consuming two serves of dairy products each day which may play a
role in growth and development of your embryo. Although you may feel like treating yourself
to chocolate or ice cream, try your best to limit your intake of treat foods high in sugar
and bad fats, and try to eat a diet that is as nourishing as possible.
That means fruit, veg, wholegrains, legumes, proteins, dairy and healthy fats each day.
If you haven't done so already, download my free fertility meal plan
from melaniemcgrice.com/fertility. And, make sure you check out some of my other
fertility videos on topics such as folic acid vs folate, and reducing the risk of miscarriage.
I'll see you in my next video!