Everything You Need to Know to Prepare for Your IVF Egg Retrieval 🤍

IVF in general can feel VERY overwhelming!

From the medication to the appointments and the simple fact that you can not plan ahead, it can sometimes feel like your life is in “free fall” for two weeks.

Here are five things I learned from my first IVF round:



1. Know the Timeline: When It All Begins

IVF begins around your cycle, and outside of that it is VERY hard to plan for what comes next. In general, you’ll start with 8–14 days of stimulation injections (hormones that help multiple eggs grow). Pay close attention, your clinic will likely schedule ultrasound scans every few days, and your dosage may adjust based on how you’re responding. Expect one final “trigger” injection about 36 hours before retrieval to mature the follicles fully. I did STIMs for 10 days with my trigger shot on day 11, putting my retrieval on day 13.



2. Medications & Supplies

Every persons medication and dosage will be different, but it’s important to be super-organized: pre-label syringes, keep a daily chart or app reminder. That small planning helps everything feel more controlled—and less stressful.

I used this container to organize all of my medication.






3. Physical Prep & What to Wear

My clinic let me know the day before what to wear and bring to the retrieval, but in general, you want to be as comfortable as possible.

On retrieval day:

  • Wear loose, comfy clothing: sweatpants or a comfy dress.

  • Avoid makeup, nail polish, and jewelry.

  • Bring warm layers; the clinic can be chilly post-anesthesia.

  • Pack a small bag: charger, water bottle, snacks, even a cozy sweater.

Think comfort-first, and you'll thank yourself when you're groggy afterward.





4. Recovery Tips & Expectations

I personally took the day of my retrieval and the next day off from work to rest. Day one was one of my hardest days physically, and day two was more of a stressful day for me emotionally.

  • Rest for the day; some mild cramping, spotting, or bloating is common.

  • Drink fluids, walk gently, and avoid heavy lifting for a day or two.

  • If your clinic advised pain meds, take them early.

  • Take a stool softener, just trust me on this one. (this was my go to)

I drank 1-2 of these electrolyte packets every single day.





5. Emotional & Mental Prep

It’s okay to be nervous. Heck, I cried my eyes out right before my retrieval!

Something that helped me was writing down what the worst case scenario was that I was worried about and then releasing it.

Be gentle with yourself, IVF is an emotional rollercoaster.




Before starting IVF we were told to ONLY focus on IVF during the two weeks of STIMs. At the time, that felt a little dramatic, but looking back, I am so glad that I didn’t have anything else to focus on besides work. You never know how you’re going to feel on a daily basis, and if you’re able to give yourself some space to go through the process your recovery will be better on the other side.

Sending so much love to anyone going through or starting their IVF journey.



RealnessEmily van der Waldeivf, InfertilityComment