My EXACT Process for Surviving the Two-Week Wait

The "two-week wait" can feel like the longest few weeks of your life. Many women trying to get pregnant tell me this is the part they struggle with the most.
Here's what I often see happening during this time:

There's a big emotional shift from planning, anticipation, and hope to waiting, high anxiety, and a feeling of powerlessness.

Being in the waiting zone can feel like a reminder of the loneliness of this journey. During these two weeks, there's little to track except your symptoms, which, quite frankly, are insanely confusing!

Is that an early implantation sign or just a pre-period symptom?
What did that cramp mean?
Was that a bit of nausea?

Honestly, in over a decade, I've found that very few people "knew" they were pregnant before their missed period.
Most women won't get symptoms until about six weeks in.
Not helpful, I know.

Here's the trick: To get through the two-week wait with your sanity intact, you need to have some tools in place to manage each day.
Yes, the anxiety and worry will still be there, but their intensity can be reduced.

This is what I recommend for the women I work with.

Take what appeals to you from this list—you don't have to do it all. What you need may vary from month to month, week to week, or even day to day. Lean into that.

1. Keep Yourself Busy: I don't mean jam-packing your schedule, but dive into an activity that brings you joy. It could be getting lost in a good book you can't put down (respond to this email if you need recommendations—I devour books during my downtime!). Maybe it's a TV series, a new hobby, or anything that makes you happy. The key here is distraction.
2. Mindfulness: Worry and stress can make the wait feel even longer. I know—when someone tells you to stop stressing, it feels nearly impossible. Don't try to force it. Instead, add in activities that will reduce your stress naturally. Think yoga, meditation, walks outdoors, ocean swims, or warm baths. Even taking a few minutes for conscious deep breathing can make a huge difference.
3. Lean into Your Support: Having a rough day? Reach out to that friend who always knows how to make you feel better. Sometimes, just talking about how you feel out loud can lighten the emotional burden. Remember, you don't have to do this alone!
4. Get Off Google: No matter how much you Google "early pregnancy symptoms," I guarantee you'll end up more anxious and confused than when you started. Early pregnancy symptoms often mimic PMS, so limit the symptom spotting. Trust that your body is doing what it needs to, and all will be revealed in time.

I understand that with each two-week wait you have to endure, the doubt and anxiety rise. But I want you to know:

Your time is coming.

When it's right, it doesn't matter how many positive thoughts you've had or how many symptoms you've tracked—it just works. It's hard to trust your body when you feel like she's let you down, but she's trying her hardest, just as you are.

You're doing a great job.
You've got this.