Ah, the two-week wait.
While it can be exciting, it can also be a time fraught with worry and fear.
You might find yourself feeling powerless and racked with worry, but through a mix of meditation and seeking out support during your two-week wait, you’ll be able to ease the burden of stress (at least a little bit!).
So here are my tips on how to survive the two-week wait, along with some advice and stories from the Peanut community.
In this article: 📝
- What is the two-week wait?
- How can I make my two-week wait easier?
- More two-week wait tips from the Peanut community
- What should you not do during the two-week wait?
What is the two-week wait?
The two-week wait (2WW or TWW) is the time between ovulation and your next expected period ‒ the longest two weeks ever.
You’ll find yourself constantly wondering if every twinge, ache, and mysterious new symptom is a sign of pregnancy, which can really heighten anxiety.
Should I feel anything in my two-week wait?
Sometimes, but not always.
Some moms have no early pregnancy symptoms at all, but in 9 months, have a healthy baby in their arms.
And other moms have symptoms similar to PMS symptoms.
Whether you feel any symptoms or not, unfortunately, they’re not a guarantee of a positive pregnancy test.
Ultimately, the most accurate way of telling whether you’re pregnant is to take a pregnancy test when your next period is due.
Hence the two-week wait.
How can I make my two-week wait easier?
For anyone currently in the limbo period and itching to pick up a pregnancy test, here are my tips to help you balance the nervousness with some hope and calm to make the two-week wait more bearable.
1. Lean into distractions
There’s nothing like a good distraction to help you keep your mind busy.
To stop yourself from obsessing over your two-week wait symptoms, focus on crushing those work goals or taking on a new project.
If you know when you’ll be doing your fertility procedure or have your ovulation timed, plan ahead to make sure you have something to do every day to keep you busy.
2. Let hope in and be positive
It can be difficult and scary to be hopeful during the 2WW (especially if you’ve undergone many cycles in the past without success).
But it’s important to try your best to fully embrace hopefulness.
Remind yourself that you have done everything in your power to get to this moment of pregnancy.
By being hopeful ‒ and positive ‒ you give yourself the chance to fully experience this moment of possibility rather than automatically discounting your chances of success.
3. Meditate daily
Trying to conceive can cause so much stress and anxiety.
A great way to combat this ‒ especially during the dreaded 2WW ‒ is to try meditation.
If you’ve never meditated before, all you need to do is be mindful of your breathing.
Sit with your eyes closed for 3-5 minutes and focus on deep breathing.
If you want to follow a breathing partner, do a count of six seconds for your inhale and exhale.
This will help you:
🧘♀️ Shift from the “fight or flight” state to the “rest and digest” state. [1]
🧘♀️ Stay in the present moment instead of worrying about the what-ifs of the future.
🧘♀️ Prevent a spiral of negativity.
🧘♀️ Regain a sense of control.
Trust me, it only takes a few minutes to feel the relaxing benefits right away.
And the best part is that breathing techniques can also be used outside of your meditations as a stress management technique (think: at your next doctor’s appointment to settle your nerves, or before taking a pregnancy test!).
4. Avoid triggers
During the two-week wait, it’s key to avoid triggers as much as possible to prevent negative thoughts and worries from taking hold of your mindset.
Remember: it’s okay to say no to catching up with friends, scrolling social media, and attending events like baby showers during this fragile time ‒ your feelings are valid, and this will help keep those triggers at bay.
5. Don’t test too early
Although you might be tracking your ovulation cycle with CIA precision, your egg might not become fertilized on the exact day you expect.
For this reason, make sure that you don’t test earlier than when you are due on your period.
This will help prevent unnecessary disappointment or a false negative.
6. Tap into your tribe
Wondering what not to do during the two-week wait?
It’s simple, don’t do it alone. It’s the perfect time to connect with others for support.
Whether that’s through Peanut, your fertility mentor, or your partner, allow yourself to be vulnerable and ask for help.
Sometimes, knowing that someone is there and ready to listen can relieve some of the stress you’re feeling and help you feel less alone.
More two-week wait tips from the Peanut community
If you’re keen to hear from other women who have been through the two-week wait or are currently going through it, I’ve got you covered.
Here’s what the Peanut community has to say:
- “I’m starting to binge-watch my favorite shows and movies on Netflix ‒ also meditation works for me.” ‒ Day
- “Schedule a vacation! The best thing I ever did was get out of town for the remaining 5 days of the dreaded TWW. Kept my mind preoccupied and my hands busy.” ‒ Kelsey
- “Start a new book or audiobook.” ‒ Jamie
- “I find myself cleaning everything or binge-watching a new show during that time.” ‒ Nessa
- “Try and keep busy and try not to over-analyze your body for symptoms.” ‒ Lizzie
- “Baths, movies, and baking help me! Also cleaning lots and lots of cleaning!” ‒ Camryn
- “I did an early test, which came back negative, however, I also know that the early tests aren’t as accurate. I wish I’d just waited.” ‒ Laura
- “I keep telling myself I’m gonna wait to test but I’ll probably end up testing every day until I either get a positive or AF shows up. Thank goodness for those bulk tests on Amazon!” ‒ Adriana
- “Try your best to wait until your period is due. Your mental health will thank you.” ‒ Jess
- “I feel like I’m getting symptoms already but I’m trying not to overthink everything.” ‒ Cassidy
What should you not do during the two-week wait?
As for what not to do while you’re in the TWW, well, there are recommendations, but they’re not necessarily things you have to avoid.
Here’s a quick list ‒ but the most important thing is to be kind to yourself during this time:
- Try to limit your alcohol intake ‒ as the CDC says, “There is no known safe amount of alcohol use during pregnancy or while trying to get pregnant.”.
- Some doctors advise against having sex during the two-week wait, because orgasms are essentially uterine contractions, which can make it harder for the egg to implant. [2]
- Some doctors also recommend limiting caffeine intake, as one study seems to suggest that people who consumed more than 200mg of caffeine a day had twice as much chance of pregnancy loss as those who didn’t. [3]
- Another study suggests that taking anti-inflammatories, like ibuprofen or Advil, may also have an increased risk of early pregnancy loss. [4]
- A small study in 2006 suggests a link between a lot of exercise (more than 4 hours per week) and pregnancy loss, too, so it’s recommended to keep exercising, but not to overdo it. [5]
But it’s important to remember that, while these medical studies may show a link with pregnancy loss or eggs not implanting, they’re all quite small studies.
Stay healthy (whatever that means for you) and look after yourself ‒ that’s the best thing you can do during the two-week wait.
So there you have it, my top two-week wait tips, along with some suggestions and stories from the Peanut community.
When the time comes to take your pregnancy test, give yourself time and space to process the result no matter the outcome.
You’ve got this.