Goals for Healthy Eating During IVF

• Eat a variety of foods to get all the nutrients you need. Recommended daily servings include 6-11 servings of breads and grains, two to four servings of fruit, four or more servings of vegetables, four servings of dairy products, and three servings of protein sources (meat, poultry, fish, eggs or nuts). Use fats and sweets sparingly.
  

• Choose foods high in fiber that are enriched such as whole-grain breads, cereals, pasta, rice, fruits, and vegetables.
  

• Make sure you are getting enough vitamins and minerals in your daily diet while undergoing fertility treatment. You should take a prenatal vitamin supplement to make sure you are consistently getting enough vitamins and minerals every day. Your doctor can recommend an over-the-counter brand or prescribe a prenatal vitamin for you.
  

• Eat and drink at least four servings of dairy products and calcium-rich foods a day to help ensure that you are getting 1000-1300 mg of calcium in your daily diet.
  

• Eat at least three servings of iron-rich foods per day to ensure you are getting 27 mg of iron daily.
  

• Choose at least one good source of vitamin C every day, such as oranges, grapefruits, strawberries, honeydew, papaya, broccoli, cauliflower, Brussel sprouts, green peppers, tomatoes, and mustard greens. This will assist in the egg production process.
  

• Choose at least one good source of folic acid every day, like dark green leafy vegetables, lean beef, and legumes (lima beans, black beans, black-eyed peas and chickpeas).
  

• Choose at least one source of vitamin A every other day. Sources of vitamin A include carrots, pumpkins, sweet potatoes, spinach, water squash, turnip greens, beet greens, apricots, and cantaloupe.
  

• Drink at least 3 liters of water per day.  This will really help with the constipation associated with the medications and procedures during the IVF process.
  

IVF Tips for Success

We've Been There!

Healthy Eating During IVF

A Note About Constipation:

A balanced diet from the 5 food groups above will help you on your journey to a successful IVF process.  Your body will be more receptive to the medications and remember to drink plenty of water.  During the week of egg retrieval and embryo transfer, a diet of simple foods: non-spicy or heavy, and some items such as prunes and soups along with plenty of fluids will help with the inevitable constipation.  Constipation is caused by the progesterone supplements and the anesthesia during egg retrieval.  Ask your doctor about a mild stool softener as well, because the last thing you want to do is to need to strain your abdomen after the embryo transfer has taken place.  Unfortunately, this is just about the time you will need to "go".  Make sure you try to have a bowel movement the day before or the morning of the embryo transfer.