What is the two weeks wait?
The two weeks between ovulation and when a period is due can seem, for many women, to last an eternity. Especially for those who are trying to conceive and desperate to have their pregnancy confirmed but the two weeks wait to either have a period or have a pregnancy confirmed can also generate feelings of anxiety and apprehension for women who are just as keen not to have a baby.
The two-weeks wait refers to the luteal phase of pregnancy. This is the phase of the menstrual cycle which begins after ovulation and lasts until either pregnancy occurs or the breakdown of the corpus luteum has begun. Of course, the two week wait time frame only applies to women who have the standard28-day cycle. For those who have shorter or longer menstrual cycles, their two weeks wait may be more of a 1-week wait or perhaps even a 2-week wait.
Two weeks wait for fertility assisted conception?
For women who are having difficulty in conceiving and are undertaking fertility assistance, the two-weeks wait can take on an even greater emotional intensity. Those two weeks between embryo transfer and waiting to see if pregnancy has resulted can seem like a lifetime. So much has been invested in trying to fall pregnant, with planning and careful monitoring that having to then step back and be patient can present its own unique challenges. Because ultimately, that’s what the two-weeks wait is about. Sitting back and waiting. There is nothing which can be done to speed up the process and nature really does need to be left alone to do its own thing.
Some women feel that they are a failure if their fertility treatments have not been successful. They’ve put so much into conceiving that the possibility of it not being successful fills them and their partner with intense disappointment. But there are no guarantees in life. The best any of us can do is make informed choices with the information we have and avoid seeing everything in life as being under our absolute control.
What are the Common emotions during the two weeks wait?
- Anxiety, worry and apprehension.
- Heightened sensitivity and moodiness.
- Nagging thoughts relating to ‘What if I’m pregnant?’ ‘How will I cope?’ and ‘What if I’m not?’
- Distraction and difficulty focusing.
- Greater awareness of body functioning – every little twinge is analysed.
- Sleep changes and difficulty ‘switching off’.
- More up and down moods and just feeling different.
- Becoming easily irritated and with a short fuse.
- Being very quiet and preoccupied.
What are the common symptoms a woman can experience during the two weeks wait?
- Mild cramping
- Tender or swollen breasts
- Fatigue
- Frequent urination
- Headaches
- Food Aversions
- Constipation
- Heightened basal body temperature
- Backaches
- A heightened sense of smell
- Spotting
- Nausea
- Bloating
References
- Parents. Am I Pregnant? Accessed on 4th October 2018.
- Bayley TM, Dye L, Jones S, DeBono M. (2002). Food cravings and aversions during pregnancy: relationships with nausea and vomiting. Retrieved on the 4th October 2018.
- Baby Center. Headaches Natural Remedies. Accessed on 4th October 2018.