Overdue and conceived via IVF?

[SuzanneSays]

Hi, I'm not yet overdue, but have heard that if you conceived using IVF it is not encouraged to go much beyond your due date as it is more of an exact science than with natural conception (where it is a bit of a stab in the dark as to when fertilization took place usually). Has anyone heard this/ experienced this? Thanks

[HopefulHamster]

Not for me, I went two weeks over and induced with my first. They've messed with my dates for my second too, even though I know the date of conception exactly! Differs from hospital to hospital.

[flipflopsonfifthavenue]

Yes I was ivf told me they won't let me go overdue as higher risk of still births for overdue ivf pregnancies and other risks. May just be my hospital though. Was given sweep at 39weeks then induction planned at 40 but have birth 39+4. Now gp with dc2 as same hospital saying same thing, sweep then induction and won't let me past due date.

No idea if the risks are associated with the treatment or with the profile of women who typically have ivf but I guess hospitals just risk averse so mine has across the board policy for all ivf pregnancies.

[SuzanneSays]

Thanks for your answers - I live abroad, am 39 +2 and have hospital app on Friday to see how things are progressing. They haven't mentioned induction yet but think I will ask on Friday. So nervous, would prefer not to be induced but equally do not want to put the baby at risk.

[HopefulHamster]

It's tricky isn't it? Must admit I'm relieved this time I'm having a planned c-section so baby will come out at 39+4 latest -my son was fine at two weeks over but I'd rather not do it again.

[SuzanneSays]

Yes hopefull it is tricky- especially I can't really find anything on line other than mumsnet type discussions with people as clueless as me! My obstetrician is really unhelpful and not very friendly - and with the language difference it can be quite hard to get a clear understanding of what is being recommended. argh! Anyone else have any experience of this?

[davidjrmum]

"Its something to do with the placenta only being designed to last 40 weeks and as they know exactly when you conceived they know when 40w is."
That just doesn't make sense. If the placenta really only lasts 40 weeks surely consultants would be even more worried about women who had conceived naturally and so didn't know exactly what the date was - they'd been inducing everyone at 38wks just in case!
I've got two IVF dc, one was 2 wks overdue, the other 10 days. There was never any suggestion for either that I needed to be induced earlier.

[squizita]

I agree the placenta thing is a bit odd. I am consultant led due to a medical condition which can sometimes affect the placenta - my consultant is a leading known specialist. They aren't inducing me - once the placenta is up and running it's good until 42 weeks (after which there can be deterioration).

In France, no one is even 'due' until 41 weeks anyway for example.

[Nodney]

I have had 3 IVF sons. The first was overdue by a week and was started with a sweep. The second arrived bang in 40wks of his own accord. The third I was induced at 40wks. For each pregnancy the doctors/midwives were totally uninterested in when my baby had been conceived. They dated the pregnancies from the 12 wk scan just the same as a "natural" conception.