High-risk pregnancy after IVF?
The likelihood of a high-risk pregnancy is higher with IVF. But are there really medical reasons for this? Or is this related to other accompanying factors of IVF, such as the often older age of the woman?
First all clear: pregnant after IVF no need to worry
When, after a long wait, the long-awaited desire to have children becomes reality through artificial insemination, the parents can hardly wait to hold their baby in their arms. Since they already know shortly after fertilization that they are going to be parents, the waiting time for a pregnancy after successful IVF seems particularly long. Many pregnant women are particularly worried and unsure during this phase. They don’t even have to be. Most IVF pregnancies, with good medical care, proceed like those after natural insemination. The biggest difference with IVF is the higher chance of a multiple pregnancy. This creates additional risks for the pregnancy.
Multiple pregnancy after in vitro fertilization
Since the ovaries are strongly stimulated during in vitro fertilization, which leads to the formation of many mature eggs, the risk of multiple pregnancy is increased in pregnant women after IVF. In IVF, multiple embryos are intentionally placed in the uterus to increase the chances of success. Around twenty percent of pregnant women after artificial insemination therefore give birth to twins and three percent even to triplets. Multiple pregnancies carry additional risks. The caesarean section rate for pregnant women after IVF increases if they give birth to multiple births. Because doctors generally advise against a natural birth in the case of multiple births.
pregnancy gestosis
The likelihood of preeclampsia or other forms of pregnancy toxemia is increased in pregnant women after IVF if they are pregnant with multiple births. Nausea, high blood pressure, dizziness and cramps can be the result of pregnancy toxins. In severe cases, the mother can fall into a coma and even die due to eclampsia, the most severe form of gestosis. However, the doctor treating you will be able to identify such a gestosis early on during regular check -ups and treat it with medication to prevent it from getting worse.
malnutrition and premature birth
If a pregnant woman is expecting multiple births after IVF, they are more likely to be born with a low birth weight. There is also an increased likelihood of premature birth .
miscarriage
The rate of miscarriages is higher in women who have undergone fertility treatment than in pregnancies that have occurred naturally. According to the experts, this is not due to the IVF, but to the age of the pregnant woman. Since the risk of miscarriage increases with age due to various causes , such as previous illnesses, and mostly older women make use of IVF, the misunderstanding easily arises here that the miscarriage rate increases as a result of the treatment. This is not the case, there is no medical connection, apart from the fact that the pregnant women are usually older.
Pregnant women who become pregnant with the help of in-vitro fertilization should absolutely follow the regular check-ups with their doctor and go to a hospital or doctor’s office if there are any abnormalities, but they shouldn’t drive themselves so unnecessarily crazy that they end their pregnancy can no longer enjoy.