I had my first IUI and I got my hCG test back and it was negative. You aren’t pregnant if your levels are below a 5, and mine was 1.82. The same day as my beta, I started bleeding, and cramping really bad, so I knew it was going to be negative. I’ve read that you can get cramping and bleeding during early pregnancy, but this didn’t feel like pregnancy symptoms.
![Hope is the only thing stronger than fear quote](https://runningwithinfertility.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/Hopeistheonlythingstrongerthanfear.png)
After having gone through several IUI’s with an OB, and now with a fertility clinic, I wanted to share a few things that I have learned.
8 Things learned from my first IUI:
- Be mentally prepared. For some people, an IUI can be pretty crampy, or painful. It’s important to breath through the cramps.
- It’s okay to massage the injection site after you give yourself an hCG shot.
- Have a semi full bladder arriving at the clinic. Our nurse said it helps her find the cervix, and elongates it so its easier for the catheter to go in.
- Each IUI cycle is going to be different. You might be in pain one IUI and doesn’t hurt a bit the next.
- Have Hope and think more positive thoughts.
- Visualize implantation happening.
- Eating pineapple every day for a week has been shown to help with implantation.
- Try going about your normal daily activities, and incorporate more stress reducing exercises into your routine.
Now onto IUI #2:
![Now onto IUI number 2](https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-keeklJ6qrnc/VfXzj2aTCNI/AAAAAAAAJEo/BLUDjdFxaaE/s1600/IMG_5030cropped.jpg)
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