We’ve all seen the glossy Instagram quotes telling us: “Love your body exactly as it is!” or “You’re perfect just the way you are!” Lovely in theory… but if you’re going through IVF and your body feels like it’s shifting daily — bloated from hormones, bruised from injections, suddenly softer in places you didn’t expect — those messages can feel a little out of reach.

Here’s the truth: you don’t have to wake up every morning feeling positive about your body. You don’t have to force yourself into adoration mode, pretending every physical change feels empowering. You simply have to find a gentler middle ground — a place where you can respect and care for your body, even if you’re not in love with how it looks right now. That’s what body neutrality is all about.

What is body neutrality?

Body neutrality is the gentler, more forgiving cousin of body positivity. It’s a mindset that says:

• My body is not my entire identity.
  
  
• My worth isn’t defined by my reflection or a number on the scale.
  
  
• I can value my body for what it does, even if I don’t love how it looks today.
  
  

It takes the pressure off. Instead of feeling like you have to gush about your appearance 24/7, body neutrality lets you find peace in not having to think about it so much.

Why body neutrality is especially helpful during IVF

During IVF, your body is going through rapid hormonal changes — and those changes can be confronting. The medications can cause:

• Bloating from enlarged ovaries
  
  
• Water retention making you feel puffy or swollen
  
  
• Tenderness or bruising from injections
  
  
• Shifts in appetite or digestion
  
  

None of this is about “letting yourself go” — it’s simply your body responding to the powerful medications it needs to help you create the best possible chance of pregnancy.

But here’s the emotional side: when your body doesn’t feel like your own, self‑love slogans can ring hollow. Trying to leap straight into “I adore every inch of me” can feel fake, and that disconnect can actually make you feel worse.

Body neutrality offers a more compassionate alternative: “I might not love how my body looks right now, but I respect what it’s doing for me. And that’s enough.”

How to practice body neutrality

Here are some practical, everyday ways to start shifting into a more neutral and accepting relationship with your body during IVF:

1. Shift your focus to function.
   When you catch yourself zeroing in on your reflection, try redirecting your thoughts to what your body is doing for you right now. Your legs carry you to appointments. Your arms hold your partner or your child. Your belly is quietly making space for your ovaries to work their magic.
   
   
2. Stop the running commentary.
   Notice when you start narrating your body’s appearance in your head (“I look so…” “My stomach is so…”). Try replacing those statements with neutral facts (“My body is changing because of the hormones”) or simply letting the thought pass without judgement.
   
   
3. Dress for the body you have today.
   Clothes that pinch, dig, or remind you of your pre‑IVF body can make you hyper‑aware of changes. Choosing soft, non‑restrictive clothing isn’t “giving up” — it’s giving your body the comfort it deserves right now.
   
   
4. Treat yourself like you’d treat a friend.
   If your best friend was going through IVF, you wouldn’t point out every physical change she was experiencing. You’d remind her of her strength, courage, and dedication. Offer yourself the same level of kindness.
   
   
5. Create body‑neutral self‑care rituals.
   Move your body because it feels good, not because you’re trying to “fix” it. Choose skincare because it soothes you, not because you’re trying to change how you look.
   
   
6. Remember this is a season, not forever.
   Your body won’t always feel like this. Hormones settle. Fluid shifts. Energy levels return. Even if your body changes in ways that don’t reverse completely, your worth remains exactly the same.
   
   

Why your worth is never tied to your weight

Your weight, shape, or clothing size has absolutely nothing to do with your value as a person, a partner, or a future parent. You are not less deserving of kindness, respect, or happiness because of a temporary change in your body.

During IVF, your body is performing under extraordinary pressure. It’s showing up for you in ways you can’t always see — adjusting hormone levels, responding to medication, protecting and supporting your reproductive system. That’s the story your body is telling right now, and it’s far more important than how you look in jeans.

A final gentle reminder

If “love your body” feels out of reach, don’t beat yourself up for it. You don’t have to leap from discomfort straight into adoration. You can land softly in neutrality — a place where you give your body respect, comfort, and care, even on the days you don’t feel good about it.

IVF is a journey that changes you — inside and out. But your worth is unshakable. And whether or not you love your body today, you can still be proud of what it’s doing for you.

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