Risks of twins?

[tombliboos]

Was wondering if I could get some advice.

DH and I have two frozen embryos we'd like to use at some point soon. They were made pre-chemo a while back but now I'm all better, we'd like to try to grow our family (we already have a DD).

We were thinking of also trying naturally during the same cycle as we have an embryo put in (we're going to transfer the embryo during my natural cycle). Obviously this makes it possible that we end up with twins (unlikely, but possible), but we see it as also increasing our chances of getting pregnant at all that cycle.

I realise that the risks of a multiple pregnancy/birth are higher than a singleton, but was wondering whether the risks were significant enough for us not to also try naturally.

If it makes any difference, I'm 30 and my pregnancy with DD was totally uneventful. Ended in a ventouse birth which got a bit dicey at times, but both of us were absolutely fine after.

Any words of wisdom? Thanks.

This is a very biased opinion but I'd take the risk. (I have IVF twins.) You have more chance of conception on that cycle if both are transferred at once. And many of the complications of twins are more prevalent in identical twins who might share a placenta. Higher chance of caesarean, as they may end up breech or laterally placed with no room to wriggle into position.

But I realise that my pregnancy was pretty easy and we had only very minor complications before birth. (Afterwards, the smaller twin had lots of problems, probably due to being very squashed in the womb. His first four years were a challenge but he's fine now that has faded and it was worth every second.

So, there's a very unbiased, emotional view for starters!

Mine is also an emotional, rather than medical, opinion. I have IVF twins. A multiple pregnancy is classed as high risk, but then you tend to have more frequent check ups, scans and I felt really well 'looked after' throughout my pregnancy.

I had a planned c section at 35 weeks, both twins were absolutely fine, but needed to be tube fed for a fewdays. Both caught up to average length and weight for their age by about 3 months old. My own recovery was much faster than I had expected.
We had to decide whether to transfer 1 or 2 embryos and had the same questions as you regarding the riskinesss of a multiple pregnancy, should we go for it or not etc. A twin pregnancy certainly carries a risk, far outweighed (IMO) by the joys of twins.

Another (with IVF non-id twins after non-complicated pg and delivery) who would be more than tempted to give it a go. Twins are fab! Good luck!

We had IVF too, 2 eggs transferred, only one survived but we still ended up with twins!! Identical (the egg split)! And it's the best thing ever. We also have an older DD, again through IVF, again 2 eggs transferred and only one survived. They say statistically having 2 eggs transferred doesn't increase the chances if pregnancy, but in both cases if we had only had one transferred it could have been the 'wrong' egg. I think the pregnancy was harder (and I had major placenta previa so had alot of monitoring). I felt much more tired, bit probably alot if that was due to looking after DD1. Again, maybe an emotional view, but if we went for IVF again (unlikely now, I think 3 DD's ate probably enough!) I think I would still have 2 transferred. Best of luck! X

Just re-read your post - I'm not sure how it would work if you had one embryo implanted, and also got pregnant naturally. I presume if you were having it done during your natural cycle, then you're not on any hormones to increase egg production (which could result in a many-multiple birth). Also not sure what would happen if you had become pregnant naturally, then had the egg transfer hours/days later whether this would be possible, or would affect the original pregnancy (sorry to waffle, it's very late!!)

Thank you all for your lovely posts.

The plan would be to use a natural cycle, monitor my natural ovulation (around which we'd be SWI) and then transfer the frozen embryo a few days later. As far as I'm aware, there wouldn't be any drugs involved, although I'm not sure whether it could disturb any natural implantation taking place (good point WeddingGirl...).

We need to discuss it with our consultant, but he's very against transferring both embryos at once, so I wanted to be sure of my own decision in relation to also trying naturally before confronting discussing it with him. The cancer has delayed my ability to extend our family when we'd have optimally liked to do so, so I'm now super keen to get going!!

Please remember it's your decision, not your consultant's. It's becoming unfashionable to replace more than one egg at a time but this is not irresponsible IVF. Twins are perfectly viable, and a massive joy.

I'd also question whether the intervention of having an embryo implanted would disturb any natural possibility of pregnancy? Good luck whatever you decide.