IVF After trisomy 18

[Gabriellemj]

Hi everyone,

Im 38, 39 next month. Last May 2014 I began IVF due to PCOS. My first transfer (2 eggs) resulted in a miscarriage after 4 weeks. The second transfer of two eggs, 6 weeks later, resulted in one successful pregnancy. Unfortunately 6 months in we found out the baby had Edwards Syndrome (trisomy 18). I was induced after 36 weeks and the baby died 90 minutes after birth. As you can imagine, I'm devastated. This was 2 weeks ago. Time no doubt heals but at my age I need to think ppsitively and look to the next step in order to start a family.

I'd really like to hear if any other ivfers have had a similar experience and gone on to have a healthy ivf baby. We have two more frozen embryos, and we're considering another complete round of ivf egg retrieval first, in case the last two don't work an/or so we could have more than one child if time and my hormones allow me to.

It's been such a difficult experience and I'm clinging onto my sanity at the moment... Many thanks for any feedback x

[Maurice169]

Hi Gabriellemj
So sorry to hear of your loss, I too have lost a child and yes it's devastating.
I also felt soon after, the need to think positive and try again. We're about to undergo our first round of IVF, getting quite nervous now.
I've had 4 miscarriages, the third when I was 38 , was found to have trisomy 13. But I went on to have a normal pregnancy and healthy son when I was 40. Although these pregnancies weren't IVF (still own eggs). I'm 45 now and our chances of own eggs working is only 10% so we're going with donor eggs.
I always remember the consultant saying to me after that miscarriage, 'many women have healthy babies in their early 40's, just keep trying, you'll get there.' And she was right.
Good luck !!

[KittyandTeal]

I'm sorry you've had to go through that.

I have recently lost a daughter to T18. I have no experience of ivf but before we knew she was full trisomy I looked into the possibility of ivf with genetic screening (in case we carried a Robertson translocation)

Is that an option for your existing eggs/embryos? Sorry, like I said I have no ivf experience.