Bloating after Embryo Transfer

[sharonib]

I just had 2 embryos transferred on Saturday (2 days ago) and am having a good amount of abdominal bloating (my belly looks a bit like its pregnant) with cramping.  I had a ton of cramping before and after the retrieval, but now the cramping is much less (still there...sometimes sharp, and location moves around-hip area, low back, above pubic bone).  I'm wondering if this cramping (and especially the bloating) is normal.  Should my belly feel so expanded...or should I be concerned about fluid accumulation (a possible side effect of the ivf process)?  

Thanks in advance for your help


This discussion is related to embryo transfer and cramping.

[babycrzy1]

I havent quite made it as far as you in this process but I have read a whole lot and my first cycle got canceled due to OHSS.....so the advice I have read is drink lots and lots of fluid...gatorade is what most say.  When do you go back to the RE?  Have you told them?  You could easily be OHSS...They say it usually doesnt happen until after ER/ET because the follicles will fill back up with fluid after the retreival....estrogen and progesterone I believe....  I hope this helps some.

[char695]

It is normal to to have bloating after a transfer. I recently had a tranfer and I went through a lot of bloating and my belly looked like I was a couple months pregnant.  My doctor explained the reason why you go through a lot of bloating and cramping is because you have a lot of fluids in your uterus and your ovaries are enlarged. She explained that it takes about a week for your ovaries to go back down to normal size.  The bloating and cramping will start to lessen. Also, you want to drink lots of fluids.

[tbeards]

Yes, the bloating is common. I had bloating with both of my 5 day transfers (first successful, second BFN so don't try to analyze it for BFPs or BFNs). I really think the bloating for me came first during my ER for a couple of days and then after the transfer probably due to the progesterone shots. I know it isn't from the Estraderm patches (4 days after transfer) because I got bloating before I applied them. For the record, I tend to bloat easily but it was pretty consistent with both cycles.

Good luck and lots of baby dust!!!!!

[sharonib]

Thanks so much for all your responses.  The nurse mentioned OHSS, but we didn't really take it much further.  She recommended gatorade so I've been drinking that.  The bloating is a bit better, but whether there is OHSS, I'm not sure, since apparently bloating can be normal.  Hmm...I'm not sure then how you differ if you should be concerned or not.  I hope all will be fine.  Thanks again ladies!