Nobody is really prepared to start forming a family until the moment of truth arrives. It doesn’t matter how much preparatory advice we receive from people, from books we may or may not have read or specific specialist medical advice we may have received from those specialists who we see frequently, there are practical concepts and situations which are going to catch us unawares. In order to clarify some of the terminology used in the assisted reproduction area, we are going to speak about one in particular; waiting for the Beta.
The Beta is the time that passes between transferring the embryo or (embryos) to the uterus and the pregnancy blood test. A period which can convert anybody aspiring to form a family in a bundle of nerves just waiting to find out that all awaited confirmation.
This phase which can last for anything from 10 to 15 days, is a real roller coaster psychologically: in the very same household the following emotions are all prevalent; excitement for growing the family, fear of failure, the painful, not knowing, until the result is received and an endless array of sensations.
Tricks to overcome the Beta
It’s a difficult period, but certainly not impossible. How to overcome waiting for the Beta?
Try and keep to a routine.
Waiting for the Beta doesn’t mean we have to put everything else in our daily life to one side. There’s no need to rest up unless otherwise indicated by your physician, nor run away from our obligations or just stop everything until we receive an answer. The best way of passing this moment is none other than simply sticking to our normal routine as far as possible, doing the things we do day to day.
Don’t feel overly responsible
The success or failure after the Beta period is unfortunately not in our hands. Whatever happens within this time doesn’t have any bearing on whether we’ll become pregnant or not, therefore, it’s best not to get too obsessed that everything has to be just so and above all feel directly responsible if the result of the pregnancy test comes back negative. Just as we can’t pin a medal on our chest if the result is positive. Quite simply all we can do is sit and wait.
Let it all out
The Beta is above all a heavy emotional load on ourselves and as such, it’s fundamental that all those emotions don’t stay trapped up inside us on a personal level; talk to family members, friends, with our partner and even with specialists. Not only will this serve to help us immensely but inaddition it’s a very necessary release of all the pent up emotion, fruit of all those tense days. Communication is so important.
Moderate your physical activity
The Beta phase shouldn’t mean that we stop doing sport, although certain exercises should be done with moderation and others mustn’t be done at all. Among the prohibited ones are those which involve jumping or bouncing repetitively, just like those which involve bathing in the sea as well as in swimming pools, baths or spas. Light, well-planned exercise is ideal to maintain our physical and mental health but paying close attention to the limitations previously described.
