IVF and being induced at due date...

[Chattycat78]

Hi all,

I'm confused. I'm 34 weeks pregnant and we ve been told by the hospital that they would not recommend going over due date because we did IVF to achieve this pregnancy. Implication seems to be that doing IVF makes you 'High risk' even if there are no other complications. My issue is that I was hoping for a water birth and being induced would not allow this, might make labour longer and more painful and could even end in a c section! I don't want to put my baby at risk of course, but I can't help but be unsure about this policy- especially when I know that other hospitals do not follow it! To be honest the dr we saw today also made me feel like a bit of a freak because this was not a natural conception- which I could have done without to be honest!

Any thoughts from anyone?

One of the problems is that protocol isn't consistent across the country, leading to confusion and mistrust.

Another is that they don't know why the risk of stillbirth is higher with ivf, or what variables within the ivf population increase risk.

One of the factors that has led to a foregrounding of the ivf/stillbirth discussion is women who have had ivf them experienced stillbirtj not realising until its too, too late that, statistically, they were at higher risk.

The risks are single digit numbers out of 1000 live births BTW.

we conceived through ivf, and although I had to see a consultant at extra appointments, I didn't have any extra scans and had to request an induction at 42 weeks (ended up going into labour anyway at 41+ 6

Ok so now I'm even more scared after googling IVF and stillbirth- looks like there is a definite link..... ;( how worried should I be?!

Don't panic chatty, it's nice to know the consultants take this into account but if you google anything enough you'll terrify yourself! The way I see it IF it was a definite risk that was considered necessary to plan for ALL IVF babies would be induced and not just the ones who fall under certain trusts as I said, if I lived 7 miles north I wouldn't be high risk at all for IVF.

One of my managers is an obstetric consultant at the LGI and when I asked him he said it was 'protocol' and don't loose sleep over it.

Thanks tiggy- that helps:) I am giving birth at the LGI as it happens!

I'm at Calderdale so luckily I don't run the risk of my consultant being someone I have to run into after the birth at work! I do work with 3-4 of the LGI consultants quite closely and they're all fab , you're in great hands :)

You are not high risk because of IVF. And it seems unfair that they are pressuring you to do this. I know many women who have been IVF and they were all treated as normal once pregnant so long as no other problems were present. If the doctor is insisting then there is a half way house, you can ask to go in for alternate day traces (ctg) of the baby's heart rate, and weekly scans of the blood flow across the placenta (dopplers). This is something they usually do for women who wish to continue past 42 weeks as the placenta gets a bit old and sluggish around then. If it is all normal with posotive blood flow then you can feel reassured.

Hi, I'm in the same position and we're getting as many different versions of the policy as we are appointments, depending on who we speak to...consultant 1 said there was no additional risk from my ivf pregnancy as the reason for the ivf was male factor, the implication being if the cause had been with me it might have been high risk, but the reason she thought it was a good idea was because "while all babies are precious ivf couples have jumped thru more hoops and we don't want to take any extra risks" which I thought personally was a nice way to put it. Consultant 2, who I asked to see when I was a bit more clued up on inductions and had scared myself sufficiently about it said this was not a good reason to do it, and that "most hospitals offer it because they think it's what ivf couples want", so we can do it if we want. At the same time my mw thinks it's the worst idea ever and is dead set against it...and they all work in the same hospital! I'm very much hoping that nature takes its course and takes the decision out of their hands.

I wonder if its because ivf babies tend to be early (mine was labour started over 3 days early)
But also there is no doubt baby is fully cooked, in natural conception it could be being induced early.
After too long the placenta stops working.
I had a difficult natural (until pitocin needed) labour early with a 7lb baby, i would be happy to be induced on due date with this one as for my size, shape etc i dont think theyll get it out overdue.
I wasnt treated differently because of ivf and it would have been induction 2 weeks late.
Could your age be a factor?

I am on my 2nd IVF pregnancy and no mention of this has been made to me. I am at a different hospital this time too (UCH first time, Kingston this time if it makes any difference!). UCH made no reference after 12 weeks to the fact it was IVF. Had MW led care and a waterbirth in the MWLU at 38+4.

Kingston asked me to have a consultant appt at 16 weeks due to the fact it was an IVF pregnancy. It lasted 5 mins with the consultant happy to hand me over to MW care. Actually booked in for a homebirth this time.

I have read on MN previously that there could be a link between IVF pregnancies and placenta failure towards the end. Mentioned this at my 16 week cons appt and he said there was no convulsive link and in most cases this failure was due to advanced maternal age as IVF pregnancies tend to be in older women (not me!) Kingston induce all mothers over 35 on due date.

It's exactly these differences in protocols between trust and hospitals that cause so much confusion and mistrust.

chatty, having been in a different but equally worrying situation re making decisions re childbirth, the best advice I can give is to read what helps you, speak to who helps you and make a decision (with your partner if you have one). Even then, you may change your mind or, even better, your baby will come along nice and early.

Best of luck.

I would just follow the medical advice , I dont think it would be worth putting your baby at risk and I cant see them wanting to do that either . good luck xx

I know it's disappointing but try not to feel inferior, anyone can can have complications during pregnancy and you would be extremely angry if you found out the consultant was not talking possible precautions and you ended up losing your baby.

I bleed a lot after labour so sfter having a midwife lead birth for my first then next two have been and will be in hospital. Honestly it makes less difference than you think, if there is a birth pool at hospital you can request it the minute you walk in and you can still have that if you are induced.

You never know your body may well be very ready to give birth and you might have few complications, I was induced by them breaking my waters and it all went very quickly after.

Thanks for the advice all:) I'll have a think and a read and see where we get to.