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Multiple births

When do you start showing with twins? What is life with twins like? Join the conversation on our Multiple Births forum.

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Original poster

IVF Multiple birth statistics

52 replies

Mrsfudgecake · 20/08/2008 20:57

Hi there. I'm 41 and TTC dc2 by IVF. I had my first scan today and have 16 viable follicles. Apparently all looks good so far and physiologically I'm youger than my age. DH and I have the option of having up to 3 embryos put back on day 5 (assuming we get 3) Does anyone have any general stats re: single/twin/triplet outcomes for someone my age if we out back a)2 and b)3?

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Sullwah · 21/08/2008 08:14

Dont have any stats - but check with your clinic about their stats.

The Lister have a very good success calculator which you can put in your vital stats and get out a probability of success. Its online.

If you having them put in at day 5 - then I assume that they will be blastocyst. Bear in mind that the outcome is much better for blastocyst. I was quoted an 11% success rate at day 3 .... but a 50% success rate at day 5.

I was 41 .... had 20 eggs extracted, 12 fertilised eggs and 3 surviving to day 6 when I had 2 blastocysts put in - got twins ... on my first cycle.

Having so much fun with twins ... would recommend it

Original poster

Mrsfudgecake · 21/08/2008 09:02

Thanks Sullwah - do you think it would be as much fun with a 2.5 yr old as well??! I want to maximise the chances of having a single or twin but NOT triplets. I won't be in a position to decide until next Wednesday ET day - but want to be armed with as much info as possible. Thanks for your thoughts and congrats!

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moptop · 21/08/2008 09:54

I think that if you really don't want triplets, you shouldn't have 3 embies put back. However, nature (and IVF) have a funny way of working things out and you may well have nowhere near 3 by the time you get to day 5. The clinic I go to won't even contemplate trying to go for blast unless you have 8 grade 1 or 2s on day 2.

Best of luck,
moptop

BTW, I have a 2 year old and impending twins, all IVF. I speak from experience as I wish I hadn't had 2 put back this time- although I'm happy enough about twins now, it's taken most of the pregnancy to come to terms with the idea. And carrying a multiple pg in your forties, with a toddler in tow is no mean feat!

bundle · 21/08/2008 09:59

I thought 3 wasn't allowed any more

elliott · 21/08/2008 10:05

How many attempts did you need to achieve your first pregnancy? I would say, if you are 'physiologically' younger than your years, and if you have been fairly easily successful with IVF in the past, I would absolutely not go for 3 embryos (and I am surprised that the clinic is allowing it tbh). If anything I'd be erring towards only one being put back (hopefully with so many you may be able to freeze some??). My understanding is that the option of 3 should really be resereved for those women, usually older, who have had repeated unsuccessful attempts. Triplets are really so high risk I personally would not put myself in a position of even a tiny chance of having them...

(I have two IVF children btw and also have some knowledge of the stats through my work).

All the best and hope you achieve a second pregnancy (ideally a singleton!)...

LouMacca · 21/08/2008 14:51

Hi. I have twins resulting from 2 Day 5 blastocyst embies being put back.

It was my 3rd attempt and I was desperate to have 3 (to maximise my chances) put back but my consultant would not allow it. As Sullwah says there is a 50% success rate with Day 5 embies which is a huge percentage in IVF terms.

In hindsight I don't think I would have coped very well with triplets. I also think I am right in saying older mums are more prone to multiple births due to eggs splitting. I know 2 IVF Mums who this has happened to. One had identical twin boys after choosing to have 1 embyro put back and the other Mum has tripets after having 2 embryos put back.

Good luck to you!

Original poster

Mrsfudgecake · 21/08/2008 17:01

Thanks everyone. I actually conceived my ds2 naturally aged 38 the first month without contraception! Subsequently developed endo and fibroid which I had removed in March. Have tried 3 attempts at IUI since but decided because of my age to go straight for IVF. I've lived in South Africa for 3 years where in some clinics they will still put back 4 embryos if wanted (I certainly don't). Really want one more child but would cope with twins if it happened. I'd put back 2 if possible but its my DH who wants to know more stats about putting back 3 to maximise our chances of having ONE - I'm trying to get him to understand the risks involved in potential multiple births but he's a numbers man!

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elliott · 21/08/2008 17:20

well in that case I would definitely not go for more than 2 - you may actually be quite fertile!
It is not just a matter of coping with two or three, the risks of serious complications or even losing one or more do go up quite considerably, as I'm sure you are aware.

OldBint · 21/08/2008 17:34

I'm older than you, but recently was in a position of having two blastocysts implanted. (I have 2 DCs, both conceived naturally when I was 38 and 40). Due to my age (43), I was offered three blastocysts - I think this is something they will only consider when you are of a certain age.

My Dr was of the opinion that if I had 3 implanted, it was quite unlikely to progress to a triplet birth - she said in her experience the weaker triplet often did not survive beyond about 10-12 weeks. But again that could have been very particular to me.

In the end neither of the two blastocysts took, although somewhat agonisingly my period was late and weedy and the dr ran a blood test which she said was "not negative" so we nearly but not quite got there. If I am in that position again - we are going to have another try in September - I think we will have 3 put back.

Original poster

Mrsfudgecake · 21/08/2008 18:04

Sorry to hear that OldBint. I said to my DH that if we had 3 put back I would be so stressed at the prospect of all 3 taking that it wouldn't do me or the blasties any good. How would you feel if all 3 take next time?

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OldBint · 21/08/2008 18:17

Firstly, I think it unlikely that 3 would take. Head in sand? Not sure. Its a very tricky question. Statistically the chance of having 1 baby is v small - the chance of having three is miniscule. Like your DH, I'm a numbers person - gauging the chances of and deciding what the real risk is is part of my job andit sort of infects your way of thinking.

I do actually know someone who has triplets and I'm very aware that it is not a picnic in the park. At my age there really would be considerable risks to all of us, and I do feel I have a duty to my existing DCs and their quality of life. Funnily the cost and space is not really the issue, and if I thought that I stood a reasonable chance of a healthy delivery, then I would be massively reassured.

I am a regular who has name changed for my IVF advice, so being a virtual persona behind an already virtual persona, I feel I can say that we would consider selective reduction if we really did get to three. I would have to take a huge number of things into account and I don't actually know what the outcome of considering it would be but I do know that that would be one of our options.

Original poster

Mrsfudgecake · 21/08/2008 18:28

Tricky and controversial! I have two friends here with triplets - one had 4 blasties put in and the other conceived naturally at 39! They cope very well as luckily here child care is cheap and almost everyone has a full time 'maid' and we have the luxury of plenty of space. BUT that would just make life a little esier and not take away the risks involved in having triplets. Will you watch this space as I want to keep in touch with people over the next few days? My EC is tomorrow morning.

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OldBint · 21/08/2008 20:33

Very best wishes with your EC.

Its a funny time, isn't it? We had 16 eggs collected and 12 fertilised. DH and I found the idea of 12 little embryos being outside us and existing so strange. As DH said, it was a true "out of body experience". We were sure - we have 2 DCs - that they were having some argy bargy in their petri dish and at least one of them at any time was shouting "it's not fair"

Original poster

Mrsfudgecake · 21/08/2008 21:36

Off to bed now as not allowed anymore to eat or drink! Will let you know how many we get.....

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Original poster

Mrsfudgecake · 22/08/2008 16:50

8 eggs collected this am - had hoped for a few more but what will be will be. Just hoping a couple make it to day 5 - then at least I won't have the 2v3 transfer debate to deal with!

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Original poster

Mrsfudgecake · 23/08/2008 17:15

Anyone there? OldBint? Heard this am that 6 of the 8 have fertilised.

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moptop · 23/08/2008 19:04

Congratulations! Are you still going to try for blasts?

Hope you're not too sore.

Original poster

Mrsfudgecake · 24/08/2008 14:30

Hi moptop! Thanks for keeping in touch. All 6 are still Ok this morning so we are going to hang on unless advised otherwise. I feel fine - just bloated and contstipated from the drugs! Its a weird feeling knowing there are 6 potential little people in a dish somewhere! When are your twins due - do you know what you are having? also is you 2 yr old a boy or girl? Had further discussions with DH this weekend - we've agreed to put 2 back if we have them.

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triplets · 24/08/2008 23:19

Hi,
I had three embryos transfered, told to go for broke as I was 45! Had three healthy babies at 32 weeks and a very easy pregnancy, they are now 10! Good luck.

moptop · 25/08/2008 10:21

Hope everything's going well. I only waited until day 3 and was on tenterhooks - goodness knows how you feel, waiting 'til day 5!

My twin boys are due in a month or so, but one is a bit on the small side so I'm being closely monitored - so I could have a section/induction earlier than that. I'm 34 weeks now.

My 2yo is a little girl and very excited about her baby brothers. Not sure how she'll feel when they actually arrive and never leave!

Best of luck

Original poster

Mrsfudgecake · 25/08/2008 12:49

Well done triplets! I'm sure i'd put back 3 if I didn't have a 2yr old already. Hope you don't feel too heavy moptop. tbh I'm quite chilled about the wait till day 5 as I know blasts have a better chance. Also, my DH and I (actually DP)have lots going on at the moment - planning a wedding; building a house; major work presentations to name a few ,that we are not sitting around dwelling on the ivf. I'm a great believer in fate and it will work out if its meant to. btw there are still 6 in the dish this morning although apparently 2 look a bit weaker.

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Original poster

Mrsfudgecake · 27/08/2008 15:09

Hi - any of you guys listening? Had my ET today. Went for 2 really strong blastocysts that are already 'hatching' - I got a photo of them before they were put back - weird? or does everyone? Keep your fingers crossed for me. Blood test on the 8th Sept.

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moptop · 27/08/2008 18:08

Ooh, how exciting! Well done, your embies sound fab!! I've got photos of mine as 6 cells and of being "injected" in - then at 7 weeks scan,etc etc. So amazing! Fingers crossed for the 8th

triplets · 27/08/2008 19:46

Good luck Mrs F, I have my pic of my 3 before they were put back in, got everything x`d for you xx

Original poster

Mrsfudgecake · 27/08/2008 21:42

Thanx. Its good to keep in touch with people who have been through the same thing. Also as I live overseas I haven't told any friends or family what we're going through - not even my mum!

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