IVF pregnancy and being induced

Beachy10 · 2021-04-18T17:53:17+00:00

Hi, I'm 39 weeks pregnant and the hospital have booked me in to be induced at 40 weeks solely because it is an IVF pregnancy. I've asked a few professionals about their reasons for this but there doesn't seem to be a clear explanation. I'd rather avoid being induced but want to be able to weigh up the risks. Has anyone else had this experience?

Latenightreader · 18/04/2021 19:02

I was told this too (except they wanted to induce me at 39+2. I was really uncomfortable with this and after sobbing at an antenatal appointment saw the Dr again and she agreed to wait until my due date. I went into labour naturally at 39+4 and had the baby on my due date. I ended up having induction meds because the labour was progressing really slowly, but it was so important to me that it started on its own.

It all worked out well for me, but I have no idea of your circumstances. Age is a risk factor and there may be other things going on, but I did not want things to be forced at that point. I was terrified I'd made the wrong decision...

Teakind · 18/04/2021 19:03

Hi OP, my DD was an IVF pregnancy and there was no talk of inducing me. My friend who was 40 and pregnant through IVF was induced at 40 weeks because of her age. How old are you? Could that be why?

Original poster

Beachy10 · 18/04/2021 19:54

I just turned 37 this month so age has never been a factor that they've mentioned. I'm really hoping the baby comes before my due date but if not I'm thinking of turning down the induction. I'd like to wait until at least 41 weeks to give him a chance of coming on his own.

OP posts:

Bunintheoven111 · 18/04/2021 20:23

Hi Beachy10, i’m 33 IVF pregnancy and my consultant wont let me go past 40 weeks and will be scheduling me a section. Just said that theres more complications with ivf pregnancies past 40 weeks but didn’t elaborate.

thefishthatcouldwish · 18/04/2021 21:29

I feel very out the loop really I’m an ivf pregnancy but I’m midwife led and no plans for consultant lead as am low risk?

Most ivf people I know have had c section so they don’t go too late.

Coachee · 18/04/2021 21:34

There seems to be a really mixed approach to IVF and induction - some of my friends were induced and others weren’t. Being over 40 was one indicator but younger friends were also induced.

If your pregnancy has been uncomplicated and baby is growing well, I would ask them to talk you through the reasons, the evidence and your options for additional monitoring etc. so that you can make an informed decision.

5zeds · 18/04/2021 21:38

I think all mine were considered high risk because they were IVF...nobody ever mentioned inducing though. I’d want to understand why.

ramen7 · 18/04/2021 21:45

Hi OP, I've had IVF twice most recently gave birth in November (induced at 41weeks thank god ).

I was scheduled for an earlier induction but I asked to wait until 41 weeks to see if it happened naturally. My consultant basically said (as it was nothing to do with age in my case) that there is so much that goes into an IVF pregnancy they don't want to run the higher risks of going overdue. Makes sense to me and whilst overdue complications are rare I think you need to do what makes you feel comfortable.

Good luck!

nitsandwormsdodger · 18/04/2021 21:48

First Ivf baby at 38 years no talk of induction
Second at 45 I was pointlessly induced day before due date

Ohpulltheotherone · 18/04/2021 21:57

You need to ask for a clear explanation of the reasons why induction is recommended for you personally.

I was induced with my first and it wasn’t a great experience, I was very keen to avoid it and went to 41+6. I had 2 sweeps, the first she couldn’t get near cervix but the 2nd was good and I went into labour the next day.

If they can give you clear reasons why it is recommended then you can weigh up the options and risks - but induction carries a risk too, so make sure that is factored in.

You can choose not to be induced but agree to daily monitoring if they feel you would need it.

At the end of the day it is your decision and only your decision. Consultants love induction. They spoke to me about it at each of my appointments from about week 20 when I was low risk and only seeing a consultant because they deemed me old. But I was only old in their area, in the neighbouring commissions I wouldn’t have been under the consultant at all.

PinkCookie11 · 18/04/2021 22:13

IVF pregnancy and I was induced at 40 weeks.
I was told basically as going over 40 weeks increases the risk of still birth and with being IVF they like to get them out after everything we go through to get preg in first place.
I found the induction fine to be honest, long day till things get going but my labour was relatively short compared to some (9hours) first time labours!
I felt relaxed and calm knowing when I was going in to having my baby.

Mrsmch123 · 18/04/2021 22:28

Hi I'm currently pregnant with an ivf pregnancy. I was told by my consultant that I would not go past 40 weeks due to the placenta of an ivf pregnancy ageing quicker.

ArtfulScreamer · 18/04/2021 22:35

My DD was IVF and I was consultant led because of it, my consultant also said they don't like IVF pregnancies to go to far over as there's some evidence of placental failure and increased risk of still birth. In fairness I don't think a huge study has been done and my consultant was very fair in explaining that I didn't have to agree to any interventions I didn't want but I was brought up (rightly or wrongly) to always trust the professional plus I have huge respect for my consultant due to how thorough she's always been with me and how she does her best to try and explain things so I was happy to go with the flow. As it happened no induction required as I started naturally at 39+1 but eventually had EMCS at 39+4 for failure to progress. This time around I'm 30 weeks with a spontaneous pregnancy but because of my history I'm still consultant led (the same one) and again she's said she wouldn't like me to go over and fully explained pros and cons of VBAC so we've agreed I'll try for VBAC if I go into labour myself but if not it'll be ELCS on my due date.

RamblingRover · 18/04/2021 22:44

I’ve been told the same as @PinkCookie11, and that I don’t have to do anything I don’t want to. I have an apt this week to discuss at what point they would induce. However this is my second (first wasn’t IVF) and first time round I went into labour myself at 11 days over and had her at 42 weeks exactly, consultant is taking that into account and said she wouldn’t want to induce me too early either.

Shamoo · 19/04/2021 00:32

Hi OP, we are IVF and this hasn’t been mentioned as required due to IVF at all - but my wife has medical conditions which make a caesarean likely so that may be why. I would agree with other, ask them to explain the reasons clearly.

Not totally on topic but I’m wondering if anybody can share experience re: an IVF pregnancy question. Did your hospitals give you a due date based on your transfer / IVF date or your 12 week scan? We are getting quite confused as they have dated our daughter as due a week earlier than her due date as she was big at 12 weeks, but that is making discussions around potential caesarean and induction dates very confusing!! Any tips or experiences gratefully received, as the hospital won’t discuss it - they said it is what it is and her due date is a week earlier than her transfer date would suggest!

ellesbellesxxx · 19/04/2021 04:59

@Shamoo
Our sonographer actually said that my twins were measuring ahead but as it was an ivf pregnancy, they had to go by transfer date

Etsylicious · 19/04/2021 05:02

It’s because of the risk of placental failure and stillbirth. I’d take their guidance personally.

MabelG · 19/04/2021 05:29

I'm in the same position and as with other PPs have been told that is due to a small but increased risk of stillbirth if they let IVF pregnancies go past 40 weeks due to the placenta potentially failing. I will therefore be having an induction

RamblingRover · 19/04/2021 06:36

@Shamoo they have always gone by my transfer date but I’ve read other’s, on mumsnet, dates being changed at 12 week scans. Probably depends on a few things like growth of baby, which won’t always try’s match up with their conception date natural or IVF as all baby’s are different and hospital policy, I’m just speculating tho. I would expect them to explain the reasoning however. I’ve had extra growth scans too due to the IVF.

PinkCookie11 · 19/04/2021 07:24

@Shamoo

Hi OP, we are IVF and this hasn’t been mentioned as required due to IVF at all - but my wife has medical conditions which make a caesarean likely so that may be why. I would agree with other, ask them to explain the reasons clearly.

Not totally on topic but I’m wondering if anybody can share experience re: an IVF pregnancy question. Did your hospitals give you a due date based on your transfer / IVF date or your 12 week scan? We are getting quite confused as they have dated our daughter as due a week earlier than her due date as she was big at 12 weeks, but that is making discussions around potential caesarean and induction dates very confusing!! Any tips or experiences gratefully received, as the hospital won’t discuss it - they said it is what it is and her due date is a week earlier than her transfer date would suggest!

My dates were bang on, they didn’t ask at 12 weeks scan about IVF dates. Depends on the growth of your baby

thefishthatcouldwish · 19/04/2021 15:03

My due date was moved forward by 4 days after 12 week scan.

Original poster

Beachy10 · 19/04/2021 17:19

Thanks for all of the replies. It sounds like there's a lot of conflicting advice. I've requested a conversation with the consultant so I can be better informed before agreeing to anything

OP posts:

kikisparks · 19/04/2021 17:28

I’m still early (12 weeks) but was told at the booking appointment by the midwife that as it’s an IVF pregnancy they won’t let me go past my due date.

DaffodilSunshine · 19/04/2021 17:33

As I understand, there is some evidence to suggest a (small) increase in risk of placental failure. Some nhs trusts say the risk is big enough to warrant induction at 40w, others say the risk is not big enough to balance out increased risks of induction

My trust recommended induction and I followed that

DaffodilSunshine · 19/04/2021 17:53

@Shamoo

Hi OP, we are IVF and this hasn’t been mentioned as required due to IVF at all - but my wife has medical conditions which make a caesarean likely so that may be why. I would agree with other, ask them to explain the reasons clearly.

Not totally on topic but I’m wondering if anybody can share experience re: an IVF pregnancy question. Did your hospitals give you a due date based on your transfer / IVF date or your 12 week scan? We are getting quite confused as they have dated our daughter as due a week earlier than her due date as she was big at 12 weeks, but that is making discussions around potential caesarean and induction dates very confusing!! Any tips or experiences gratefully received, as the hospital won’t discuss it - they said it is what it is and her due date is a week earlier than her transfer date would suggest!

My 12w scan would have put me at a few days different but the said they wouldn't change my due date as they knew exactly how old the baby was from my dates