The wait between ovulation and your expected period date when you’re trying to conceive can feel incredibly long, and while it’s tempting to take a super-early pregnancy test or obsess over every twinge or tummy ache, there are much better ways to handle the two-week wait positively and use your time to leave you feeling good and mentally prepared for any outcome.
What is the two-week wait?
The two-week wait is the phase of the menstrual cycle after ovulation and when a period is due – known as the luteal phase. This is when implantation takes place if an egg has been successfully fertilised, resulting in pregnancy, or if not, the corpus luteum will break down and shed, leading to your next period.
Of course, if your menstrual cycle is longer or shorter than the standard 28 days, your two-week wait could be as little as one week, or possibly longer.
How to handle the two-week wait positively:
During this time you may be experiencing anxiety and worry, or find yourself distracted from your normal routine if you are preoccupied with the idea of whether you have conceived or not. But these simple things can not only help you to feel more positive, but they will also support your physical health and well-being – crucial in the early days of pregnancy and when trying to conceive.
Get outside
Don’t waste time endlessly googling symptoms or obsessing over what’s going on in your body; get outside and stay active and you’ll reap the rewards both mentally and physically.
If you can, expose yourself to sunlight first thing in the morning, even if you just stand outside your back door for a few minutes. Studies have shown that exposure to morning sunlight can help to set your circadian rhythm and improve sleep quality – which you may be struggling with if you have things on your mind – and also enhances your mood as it encourages an increase in serotonin production.
Meanwhile, something as simple as a brisk walk can work wonders for your mood and give you time to clear your mind when you’re feeling preoccupied.
Rest
As important as it is to get outside and keep active, you should also be careful not to overdo it and add anything new to your routine. During the luteal phase your body has a high hormonal load, so you may find yourself feeling tired and sluggish. Allow yourself time to rest, and swap gruelling HIIT workouts for moderate cardio, strength training, yoga, or Pilates to support your body at this time.
Spend time with friends
What better distraction when you’re in the midst of the two-week wait than spending time with friends? Continue to do the things you enjoy and have fun; it may also help to confide in a close friend or friends about how you’re feeling if you want to.
Manifest or create a vision board
Manifestation has soared in popularity in recent years, and while it may not be able to directly influence whether you get pregnant or not, it can feel like a positive and proactive step to help you handle the uncertainty and envisage that positive pregnancy test.
Manifestation could be as simple as taking time each day to think or write down what you are grateful for, or you could even create a vision board imagining your future pregnancy or what your family will look like.
Either way, it can be a powerful tool, and we recommend reading Roxie Nafousi’s best-selling book, Manifest, for more information on how to make it work for you.
Read and repeat positive affirmations
Just like manifestation, reading positive affirmations and repeating them can be an incredibly powerful way to improve your mental health and boost your mood during the uncertainty of the two-week wait.
We share some of our favourites in our book, The Little Book of Fertility Affirmations, available for £5.99 on Amazon.
TRYING TO CONCEIVE? Discover Fertility affirmations to boost positivity and support mental health
Indulge in self-care
If ever there’s a time to indulge in self-care, this is it. Whether it’s putting your feet up and watching TV with a face mask on, taking a long soak in the bath, or getting an early night, do something that makes you feel good and embrace a little bit of pamper time.
MORE: Best prenatal vitamins to support a healthy pregnancy
Eat well
Good nutrition is key, not only during pregnancy but also in the three months before conception, so try to eat well, incorporating a balance of nutrient-dense fruits and vegetables, healthy fats, and protein. There are some everyday superfoods for fertility you probably have in your fridge, such as avocado and greek yoghurt.
Ideally, you should also take a folic acid supplement prior to conception, so if you haven’t already, now is a good time to start.
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