What to Eat After IVF: Patient Diet and Nutrition Tips
General health and wellness makes a major difference when it comes to fertility as well as your chances of becoming pregnant. If you eat junk food or foods that are high on calories but lack nutritional value, you could be negatively impacting your reproductive health. Sometimes altering your diet can boost your chances of successful pregnancy, and that goes for both natural conception and fertility treatments such as in vitro fertilization (IVF).
This explains why so many patients from the Omaha, NE area ask our fertility doctors what they should and shouldn’t eat after IVF. The team at the Heartland Center for Reproductive Medicine would like to go over some basic diet do’s and don’ts for IVF patients.
After IVF, Eat as If You Are Pregnant
Given the above facts about your diet and nutrition, we advise our Omaha IVF patients to eat as if they are already pregnant after the IVF procedure is done. This ensures optimal health and wellness from the very beginning of a potential pregnancy. Ideally, patients should be eating healthy in the months leading into their IVF procedure.
Good Foods After IVF
Ideally, you’ll want to eat along the lines of the Mediterranean diet, which emphasizes whole foods, healthy fats, and low sugar intake.
Fresh fruits and vegetables are always great for you, but consider the following produce following IVF:
- Bananas
- Beets
- Berries
- Broccoli
- Dates
- Leafy greens
- Sprouts
- Sweet potatoes
For protein, consider the following lean and nutritious sources, many of which are high in fiber or loaded with healthy omega-3 fatty acids:
- Anchovies
- Beans
- Eggs
- Hummus
- Nuts
- Salmon
- Sardines
- Seeds
- Yogurt
For carbs, try to side with oats and whole grains. They are filling but also high in fiber and less refined as other kinds of wheat products.
Foods and Beverages to Avoid After IVF
After IVF, you’ll want to avoid drinking alcoholic beverages as well as sodas. The alcohol and the high sugar content are bad for your health and bad for the embryo that’s been implanted.
We also advise patients to avoid processed foods, junk food, processed meats, and soft cheeses. These tend to be worse for general health and wellness due to preservatives and fillers.
While fish is an ideal source of protein and healthy fats, you’ll want to avoid fish and seafood with a high mercury content. That includes tuna, mackerel, and sea bass.
A Word on Vitamins and Dietary Supplements
Be sure to ask out team about any vitamins or dietary supplements during the IVF process. It may not always be an issue, but it’s better to be safe than sorry when it comes to the various substances you’re taking and how they should potentially impact a pregnancy. We’ll be more than happy to offer insight and advice.
Other Aspects of Post-IVF Care
Your diet is just one aspect of post-IVF care to consider. Physical activity, stress, and environmental factors can impact your chances of pregnancy. During the IVF consultation, we can go over these and other factors in more detail to help ensure optimal chances of success.
Learn More About Improving Fertility
For more information about improving your chances of becoming pregnant during IVF treatment, be sure to contact our skilled fertility doctors. You can reach the Heartland Center for Reproductive Medicine in Omaha by calling (402) 717-4200.
