IVF pregnany and overdue - what's the deal?

[TataMamma]

Hello,
I'm getting confused about whether there is an issue about IVF babies going overdue.
DD1 was born 9 days late after 2 sweeps and only hours before an induction was due. I was told that most IVF pregnancies should not be allowed to go past their due date, but that it did not matter with me because I had no underlying fertility issues.
DD2 is due in 2 weeks and 3 days, and I'm expecting her to be late too. I've been told (by a different hospital) that they won't start sweeps etc until a week after the due date (I had one 2 days before due date with DD1, much good that it did!).
I understand that originally the reason for not allowing IVF pregnancies to go overdue was because you could be certain about the dates of conception, unlike with a normal conception.
Is there an issue with IVF babies going overdue? If so, why? I am desperate to not have another very late baby, although don't want a caesarean unless absolutely necessary.

Has anyone any recent experiences of being told anything by midwives etc in this situation?

I believe one of the reasons for IVF babies not being allowed to go overdue is because they know the exact conception dates and therefore allowing it to go overdue could result in the placenta failing, as it has a finite lifespan.

Might get an eye roll for this but please remember it's not a case of being allowed this or that. It is your choice and you should be able to make an informed choice based on information from your care givers. They should answer your questions sincerely. The NICE guidelines can sometimes help you with questions around procedures etc.

@LazyYogi
Hmmm I do want to follow medical advice, and I do want to try everything to avoid a caesarean, I'm just getting a bit confused as to whether it is medical advice to try and avoid going overdue (which based on my last horrendous experience, I would very much like to avoid), but I am basically happy to do what they think is best......

I had an IVF baby.
I was giving a consultant app at 16 weeks to discuss being induced from 39 weeks due to IVF.
Went back at 38 weeks and we agreed on starting off at 40 weeks.

I was told they don't like IVF babies going over due.

I’m currently 37 weeks with an ivf baby. The only time I’d heard about not being allowed to go overdue was on here. No one has mentioned it to me. I did ask the consultant at my last appointment though and was told that as the reason for my ivf was male factor infertility, that it’s fine to just be treated as a natural pregnancy in regards to induction

I had an IVF baby and my due date was calculated from my last period instead of from the actual known date of conception. This meant that according to the hospital I was a week overdue when they induced me but in reality my baby was two weeks early! I was treat as a normal pregnancy to the best of my knowledge and was advised not to go over one week overdue on the hospitals calculation.

@AssignedNorthern I hadn’t thought of it that way about the dates. That helps with the niggly feeling of doubt I was having. Hopefully it reassures op as well

Mine isn't recent as said IVF baby is about to turn 11 but he was born at 42+4. Apart starting induction at 42 weeks I couldn't get any one to give even the slightest bit of concern that I was overdue. Friends with none IVF pregnancies were offered sweeps from 39 weeks when I asked about a sweep at 40 weeks I was told it wasn't necessary.

It can also be that the underlying problem leading to the need for IVF also impacts the health and longevity of the placenta.

Fwiw I went overdue with both my babies, non IVF, and each time I had evening reflexology then labour started that night. I know its not scientific but if you like having feet massages anyway it's worth bearing in mind. Good luck.

I had an IVF baby born at 42+2.

No doctor or consultant would use the due date worked out based on the dates of my procedures. They insisted on using the dating scan. I was induced and only on admission for the induction did the senior midwife consider my dates…and then tell me I should have pushed the other medical professionals more during my pregnancy!

I've just been on an IVF due date calculator, and my IVF due date is the same as my hospital due date. (Based on periods, it's one day later, but I'm not really bothered about a day anyway.)
I like certainty and being in control (not good qualities when waiting for labour :)), and am getting irritated by the fact every hospital seems to do it's own thing!

Every Trust is different OP although I understand it's now considered old hat to induce early for ivf, especially for male factor (this is what I've been told in our case).

It depends on your Trust to some extent. A friend was planning a home birth, but moved partway through and was suddenly classed as high risk.

I was high risk due to IVF and my age (nearly 40). They were keen to induce me a week early, which I didn’t want, but I went into labour naturally and she was born on her due date.

I gave birth to an ivf baby three months ago at 41+5. I spoke to midwife and the fertility clinic and both said there is absolutely no reason to induce early purely because it's an ivf pregnancy when there are no other risk factors (age, obesity, pregnancy related risk factors like high blood pressure etc). Ivf are more often induced as often (but not always) women that have risk factors are disproportionately represented in fertility clinics and therefore more likely to be induced.
So, long story short, if you have no other risk factors, an ivf pregnancy should be handled just like any other pregnancy.
The NICE guidelines have just been published a few months ago again and there's no recommendation for induction for ivf pregnancies in the absence of other risk factors. www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng207/chapter/Recommendations#induction-of-labour-in-specific-circumstances
I read a lot about it with every passing day I was overdue as I started to panic but they all really put my mind at ease and I'm so glad I waited. Good luck!

Thanks everyone for their replies, especially @martymcfly01.
I am due a week before turn 40 and am (just) obese. I'm not massively worried about either of these, and it's been an easy peasy pregnancy and my second of course. I would personally quite like to get induced at least a couple of days after my due date, but mainly because I had a horrendous time last time being overdue! Ah well, we'll have to see when DD2 decides.....

I had an IVF baby June 2020. From the start I was told that the evidence suggests that IVF babies don't fare as well in general if left to go overdue and that I'd be induced at 38 weeks. I was also told they tend to be smaller. I had in my mind that this was no good reason to induce because it was too general and not based on my personal circumstances. I decided to see how my pregnancy progressed and potentially defy the advice.

I ended up induced before 35 weeks for obstetric cholestasis anyway. This time (I'm 17 weeks) I've been told I'll be induced early because it's IVF but I'm not thinking about it yet.

@Holskey that's interesting - do you mind my asking which hospital?

I have a 2 yr old ivf baby

Right at the start I was told I would not be "allowed" to go over 41 weeks as there is evidence of an increased risk of still birth if further overdue

I did go and read up about it at the time and found the research.

In the end she was small and I was induced at 37 weeks anyway.

When I say small.... she was 4lbs9. V small! Of the bottom of the chart small and nothing to do with ivf

[quote TataMamma]@Holskey that's interesting - do you mind my asking which hospital?[/quote]
Lincoln

Hey, I wondered how your labour went as I'm also at Lincoln and having an ivf baby soon. I don't want to be induced purely because it's an ivf baby as I find there's not enough evidence to suggest the induction is necessary in my circumstances.

Congratulations on your IVF pregnancy 😊

I've no complaints about the hospital. Had 2 babies there now and the staff are lovely, it's clean etc. Special times!

I was induced with both mine but I would have declined induction if it were just because of IVF. I had severe obstetric cholestasis both times though so had them early to be on the safe side. I didn't enjoy the births at all but everyone's different and I don't think it was down to the hospital or anything. It's just extremely painful and hard for me!

What is the lifespan of the placenta?