IVF pregnancy - induction

[WaitingToExpect20]

Hi everyone!

IVF mum to be here, currently 26 weeks pregnant with our little boy. This is our first baby. 😊

I know trusts/ hospitals are all different, so I was wondering what you’ve been told about IVF adding risk at the end of the pregnancy and whether you’ve been recommended an induction (and when).

At my hospital, they suggest/offer induction at 40 weeks for IVF pregnancies, but it’s completely the mother’s choice. I have decided that I don’t want to be booked for induction yet. If he hasn’t arrived yet, I would like to review the situation at 40 weeks, see how baby and I are doing and then make a decision on how to proceed. My reasons for this are that I’m fairly young (32), it’s a low risk pregnancy and I have found very little research and evidence in favour of inductions for IVF pregnancies. My midwife conceded that there wasn’t much evidence, their recommendation is mostly based on anecdotal experience.

It would be great to hear your thoughts on this and what decisions you made/are making if you’re also an IVF mum.

Thank you!

@WaitingToExpect20 I have and the reason I was given is that there is a slight increased risk of still birth after 40 weeks in IVF pregnancies as the placenta can fail. I do not know what the stats are for this however I'm going to take their advice and have the induction (which will be during week 39)

As you said, this varies across the country strangely. I think mothers age or health conditions can sometimes play a factor (ie if you're higher risk anyway). In my area there is no change in practice compared to a routine pregnancy as far as I understand. I don't think the link between placenta failing/stillbirth has been robustly established (otherwise it would likely be routine practice to induce earlier than routine pregnancy). Similar to you I am 32 and low risk (but IVF pregnancy). I am just going to go with the flow, and follow their medical advice as we go along. I think your decision sounds pragmatic and sensible 👍

It's some years ago now because DD is 14 but I kept going in for check ups, kept asking about risk to the placenta/baby and was told then this risk doesn't really occur before 17 days after. DD was 15 days late and induced. All fine. Congratulations and very good luck

I have had 2 IVF babies - one came 3 weeks early and the second I was induced for at 40 weeks under advice as per your post. By that point I was happy for it just to be coming to an end

My trust don't treat IVF pregnancies any differently. With my dd, I would have been allowed to go to 42 weeks but went in to labour naturally at 40+1.

I was induced with my ds (not an IVF pregnancy) at 40 weeks for different reasons and it's not an experience I would want to repeat. I would really look in to why your hospital recommend it and have a look to see if there is anything in the NICE guidelines.

I'm pregnant again and will be resisting induction unless it is completely medically necessary.

I was ivf and wasn't offered an induction. I did however have an elective csection due to other issues that arose but nothing ivf related.

Interesting to know though

Hi, I know my trust advises induction at 40 weeks. I'm currently 31 weeks ivf pregnancy and have an appointment with the consultant for 37 weeks to make a plan to evict him. I'm happy to follow their advice and take it as it comes.

In my area IVF babies aren’t treated any differently. I ended up being induced at nearly 42 weeks.

My trust recommends inductions at 40 weeks. I really didn't want one but when the doctors talk of increased chance of stillbirth it's really hard to ignore it. We agreed to induce at 40+3. One thing I did really push for was to go home after having the gel to hopefully go into labour myself for 24hours as I didn't want to wait at hospital and thought I had a better chance at home. The gels got me to 2cm but I didn't start contractions.

Thank you all for your opinions and experiences! Really interesting to hear how it’s so different around the country.
And it confirmed my thoughts - I’ll most likely wait for him to make an appearance himself, but guided by the doctors and midwives and flexible for things to change. Thank you

Hi op, my baby is now 3 days old having been born at 39+3 (induced) due to it being an ivf pregnancy but also because I’m 42 so combination of 2 possible increases of still birth. For me my main concern was more my age so took my consultants advice on that. If they are happy for you to continue with monitoring towards the end I can’t see why you couldn’t do that, you can always chance you mind at anytime.

Can I also add and I don’t want to scare you as everyone is different but I asked to see my placenta afterwards and was told that it calcified a lot so probably wasn’t working very well, even though all his prior monitoring etc was fine.