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Original poster

Induction at 39w 4d for IVF pregnancy

29 replies

Bunniesandcreamteas · 28/05/2023 12:04

Hi all

I have a low risk pregnancy apart from the fact I’m 38 and baby was conceived through IVF. Consultant reccomends induction at 39w because of IVF conception. I asked if I could push it back to 39w 4d which they have agreed. I’m still concerned baby won’t be ready but on the other hand scared of stillbirth. What are other IVF mummy’s doing please?

OP posts:
WaverleyOwl · 28/05/2023 12:23

That seems a really odd reason to induce early. Really odd.

I had my first via IVF (13 years ago now) and ended up going 2 weeks over and being induced. No mention of IVF at all, they just kept monitoring me.

In the end it was an easy induction as he must have been just ready to come, but I would seriously question being put through an induction just due to the method of conception. I've seen other inductions cause a cascade of interventions, which seems like a greater risk than just keeping monitoring you.

Have they given you proper reasons?

I also had a a second IVF pregnancy - again, no mention of it being a factor in when I gave birth.

WaverleyOwl · 28/05/2023 12:24

BTW, if it matters, I was 34 with first and 36 with second.

Farmersweeklyreader · 28/05/2023 12:29

Hi, I am booked in for a c section when I will be 39w 4d. I am 41, first pregnancy, ivf.
I was told they don’t let you go over 40 weeks now with an ivf pregnancy due to potential issues with the placenta failing.
I chose a c section instead of induction after talking it over with my consultant.

Thelazygardener · 28/05/2023 12:36

hiya,

I’m 32 weeks with my first baby through IVF. I do have placenta previa but it is slowly shifting out of the way so hoping for vaginal birth, low very low risk for everything else.

I had induction options thrown at me as early as my booking scan when I mentioned IVF but I’m yet to actually have a solid explanation for the reasons behind inducing an ivf pregnancy.

I saw the consultant at 30 weeks for the first time who said there was a very small study done regarding the risks going over 40 weeks and stillbirth in IVF but not enough to actually confirm if there was a link and couldn’t even give the reasons as to why they thought there was a risk (so not that helpful!!)

I don’t really want an induction and in fairness they have said they are happy for me to go to 40 weeks and then re-assess. I’m really hoping to go into labour before that (fingers crossed) but I think I’ll just see at 40 weeks where I am at and perhaps go with some extra monitoring options they offered and take it day by day. It’s tough though isn’t it. I think because IVF is so clinical I just wanted to feel ‘normal’ for my pregnancy and my hospital have made me feel anything but so far. I have heard of some hospitals though that push for inductions at 37/38 weeks pregnant just for being IVF!!!! X

ingkir · 28/05/2023 12:38

@Bunniesandcreamteas I was 39 when I had my first IVF pregnancy and there was never any mention of inducing early. Baby was born naturally at 40+1.

If you don't want an early induction but are concerned you can request regular monitoring where they will check the placenta function etc.

alpinia · 28/05/2023 12:41

I had care in multiple countries with an IVF pregnancy and all of them, even the most 'natural childbirth at all costs' one had induction/delivery at 39 weeks if baby hasn't arrived already as standard protocol for IVF pregnancies. As it turned out baby made an appearance 4 weeks early anyway.

BTMadmummy · 28/05/2023 13:06

I don't think there would be any difference between a natural conception and I F conception when it comes to delivery

Original poster
Bunniesandcreamteas · 28/05/2023 14:48

Thank you all, it is tough, on the one hand I don’t want a cascade of interventions on the other I’d never forgive myself if something went wrong because I hadn’t gone with the doctors advise. And to be honest, I don’t have much faith in my body doing the natural thing and giving birth on time anyway after years of infertility….I think on balance I’ll just go with the induction and hope for the best. 🤞🤞🤞 it’s an easy induction.

OP posts:
Original poster
Bunniesandcreamteas · 28/05/2023 14:50

@alpinia that’s really interesting to know, that most countries you’ve had care in induce at 39 weeks. Did you have an induction? X

OP posts:
Original poster
Bunniesandcreamteas · 28/05/2023 15:03

Oh sorry, reread and baby came early

OP posts:
Moni81 · 28/05/2023 15:57

@Farmersweeklyreader they don't let any woman 40 + to go over due date due to possible issues with placenta. It has nothing to do with form of conception, just age. I'm 42 natural conception and if not going into labour earlier they will induce on due date.

emmylousings · 28/05/2023 16:03

They don't let you go over 40 weeks regardless of ivf. My 1st DC was induced for this reason 19 years ago. I didn't want to be induced, but the medical consensus is that after 40 weeks there's risk to baby staying there!

downwiththatsortof · 28/05/2023 16:14

Hi

I knew of a woman who was having a baby (natural conception) at the age of 40 and they wanted to induce the baby at 40 weeks, she refused and the baby was born stillborn just over a week later. I think they always err on the side of caution, so I find it odd when so many women get combative about having everything "natural".

I understand the need for choice absolutely and for women to be listened to (again many have been let down on this), but this mantra of natural childbirth does a lot of women a disservice in my opinion.

Farmersweeklyreader · 28/05/2023 16:17

Moni81 · 28/05/2023 15:57

@Farmersweeklyreader they don't let any woman 40 + to go over due date due to possible issues with placenta. It has nothing to do with form of conception, just age. I'm 42 natural conception and if not going into labour earlier they will induce on due date.

Yes, I am aware of this regarding age. The advice would be the same if I was 30 years old though with an ivf pregnancy according to my consultant, in my hospital trust, those are the guidelines they like to follow regarding ivf pregnancies.

Farmersweeklyreader · 28/05/2023 16:19

downwiththatsortof · 28/05/2023 16:14

Hi

I knew of a woman who was having a baby (natural conception) at the age of 40 and they wanted to induce the baby at 40 weeks, she refused and the baby was born stillborn just over a week later. I think they always err on the side of caution, so I find it odd when so many women get combative about having everything "natural".

I understand the need for choice absolutely and for women to be listened to (again many have been let down on this), but this mantra of natural childbirth does a lot of women a disservice in my opinion.

I agree ☝️

Kelvie103 · 28/05/2023 17:18

I'm 36 weeks with my first baby from ivf and also 38 years old. I'm waiting to see the consultant again in a week or so but at my last appointment I was told it depends on the doctor, some will recommend inducing at 39 or 40 weeks and some won't. The consultant I saw last said she personally would. Being an ivf pregnancy gets put down as an additional risk factor, although not sure why, I've had no problems so far either but think I would personally start to get quite anxious if I was to go much overdue so will be asking for the induction. I just feel like we've gone through so much to get pregnant I don't want to take any avoidable risks as slim as they might be.

Nonymous · 28/05/2023 17:21

I didn’t have IVF (although we only conceived “naturally” once we found out we could have IVF) but I was induced at 41 weeks and would not recommend it. If they feel you can’t go to 40 weeks I would request a planned section. My induction ended up being an emergency c-section.

Appleby11 · 28/05/2023 18:11

I'm 40 weeks tomorrow and being induced as an IVF pregnancy (I'm nearly 36 yrs old myself). They were quite open about induction from 37 weeks as it's an IVF pregnancy if there were any problems as I'm classed as high risk. However, as time went on, they were quite happy to push it back as everything was going fine. They said the reasons for induction were as PP said about the placenta not being as healthy the longer pregnancy goes on regardless of IVF, but the risk is higher with IVF of a placenta failing faster. That also includes more people needing IVF who are older in age. Not that we're ancient in our 30's!🤣 The risk from the aging placenta then creates a higher risk of stillborn babies.

Appleby11 · 28/05/2023 18:12

I should also say, they said that as being induced is essentially a synthetic pregnancy, induction doesn't always work and so we're more likely to need a CS.

Reugny · 28/05/2023 18:19

Nonymous · 28/05/2023 17:21

I didn’t have IVF (although we only conceived “naturally” once we found out we could have IVF) but I was induced at 41 weeks and would not recommend it. If they feel you can’t go to 40 weeks I would request a planned section. My induction ended up being an emergency c-section.

There as my induction and one of my neighbours worked with the pessary.

Mine was due to age and health factors, hers was due to not going into labour by 41 weeks.

Generally only women who were induced and ended up having emergency C-sections post online.

SErunner · 28/05/2023 22:08

I read and asked a lot about this when I was pregnant following IVF. Different areas follow different protocols but what you're describing is based on outdated evidence. There is no need to be induced early solely because it is an IVF pregnancy.

SErunner · 28/05/2023 22:11

downwiththatsortof · 28/05/2023 16:14

Hi

I knew of a woman who was having a baby (natural conception) at the age of 40 and they wanted to induce the baby at 40 weeks, she refused and the baby was born stillborn just over a week later. I think they always err on the side of caution, so I find it odd when so many women get combative about having everything "natural".

I understand the need for choice absolutely and for women to be listened to (again many have been let down on this), but this mantra of natural childbirth does a lot of women a disservice in my opinion.

There will always be examples like you describe sadly. She may still have had a stillbirth despite being induced. Being induced comes with other additional risks so it is not necessarily about being 'natural' or not. Women should be able to choose to do what is right for them, having been provided with balanced evidence based information.

Original poster
Bunniesandcreamteas · 28/05/2023 22:35

I think the problem is you’ll never know either way, if something does go wrong you could think it was because of the induction or because of waiting…I guess you’ve got to go with which one you feel is less of a risk. I do find it strange though how different trusts do different things.

My trust was very much in favour of induction whereas my friend whose at another trust didn’t even mention it. Would feel better to know that there was some consistency in thought between the trusts…

OP posts:
Danskekat · 28/05/2023 22:39

First IVF baby came of it’s own accord on time, no mention of early induction. Second IVF baby came 10 days late, and was induced as it was large. IVF didn’t seem to come into the decision making past getting pregnancy.

struggleisreal · 29/05/2023 08:22

In my area they also induce at 40 weeks
due to IVF. I actually had a really positive birth story - went in to be induced at 12, they broke
my waters at 3 and baby was born just before
10PM. I was really apprehensive about induction as have heard lots of negative stories but it was all fine and I didn’t want to go against
medical advice.

I am due number 2 in October and I am hoping I can push them a couple of days past 40 weeks - mainly as the brought my due date forward 4 days and I don’t think the dating scan was super accurate as baby was in an awkward position.

Best of luck.