Ivf - will I go full term

[jade1003]

Hi everyone,

I hope you are all doing well and keeping positive!

I am 26 weeks + 4 days today and have a midwife appointment to discuss birth plan in a few weeks. I had read somewhere that they do not let IVF babies go full term. Does anyone know if this is true? I understand it’s because of the placenta not working as well past 40 weeks but some say this isn’t the case. Does anyone have any experience with this?

Xx

[Hidden]

Hi Jade, I'm 26+6 & have also heard this. When I saw my consultant she said she would induce me at 39 weeks. She said this was due to me being over 40 & not IVF but who knows! X

[Hidden]

I went to 41+5. I was 28 when I had her in Feb and was classed as a normal pregnancy by the midwife. Think it depends on your area and circumstances xx

[jade1003]

Thank you both, in 28 too. I will ask at

My next consultant appointment next week x

[Hidden]

I met with my medical team last week and they also indicated that they would not let me go past 40 weeks. That’s fine with me. Babies are considered full term from 37 weeks onwards. It is thought that the placenta can start to deteriorate post 40 weeks but it’s hard to get the research to back it up (no one wants to be the one that risks it) x

[jade1003 in reply to Hidden]

Thank you. I’m going to ask at my next appointment x

[Lou9]

Hello and congratulations! I have a 10 week old daughter from a round of ICSI. I was told I wouldn’t go past my due date and was induced at 39 weeks. I read a lot about the reasons behind this and, like you say, it seemed to be down to concerns about the placenta not functioning as well past 40 weeks in IVF pregnancies, although as far as I know this is based on pretty small scale research studies. I opted to go for the induction as I was too scared not to take medical advice after everything we’d gone through to get pregnant, I also had a few episodes of reduced movement so was happy in the end to get things started. I was quite nervous about being induced instead of going naturally but everything went well. I had been going for acupuncture throughout my treatment and pregnancy and from 37 weeks went a couple of times a week for induction acupuncture which I think may have helped. Wishing you a healthy and happy pregnancy and delivery. Xx

[jade1003 in reply to Lou9]

Hi Lou9

Thank you for sharing your experience. Such a confusing topic and no one wants to say for def , midwife wasn’t that clear either x

[Lovefood1984]

Lady at work got told this as hers was IVF, my midwife hasn’t been as clear (different NHS areas though) I’m just hoping this one comes naturally before they start wanting to prod around and give me drugs 😂

[Leesalou]

I asked mine after reading it online but she said they don’t do it anymore unless there is a reason but they won’t allow to go over due date, but my son decided to come at 33 weeks

[Lynnr54]

Hi, I think it depends on which area you live in as to what your hospital’s policy is. Mine won’t let IVF pregnancies go over 40 weeks (full term is classed as 37 but due date is 40 weeks). As you say, it’s due to concerns about the placenta not functioning properly after 40 weeks. I asked the same question on here and loads of ladies said their hospital were treating them as a normal pregnancy and allowing them to go to 42 weeks before induction. I would do some research and see whether you have a strong feeling either way. Just remember that it’s your body and they can’t force you to do anything. My personal view was that I was prepared to listen to the hospital and be induced at 40 weeks but I wanted that to be based on IVF due date rather than dating scan due date. I had a bit of an argument with a consultant about it and in the end he booked me in for an induction 2 days past my dating scan due date (2 days before my IVF due date). As it happened my waters broke on my dating scan due date so it wasn’t an issue in the end. I’m pregnant again with no 2 and gearing up to have the same fight with them (this time they’ve brought my IVF due date forward by a whole week so think it’s going to be a harder fight to have!) Good luck with it all.

[jade1003 in reply to Lynnr54]

Thank you, hope your second pregnancy is going smoothly and you don’t have to fight with consultants too much this time xx

[Hope85]

Hey! I asked my consultant this question a few weeks ago and she said that in our area (Oxfordshire) they let you go full term if it’s not classed as a high risk pregnancy. X

[Lizzielizzielizzie]

I have only heard that some consultants prefer not to let you go “over” your due date, not that they won’t let you go full term. I’m meeting my consultant again when I turn 28 weeks in 8 days time and will be asking about this.

I’m pretty sure it’s also affected by other factors, eg I’m under consultant care because I’m ivf, first baby and over 35. Apparently the combination of those three factors = high risk so they’ve had me on baby aspirin since 12 weeks to support my placenta.

[jade1003 in reply to Lizzielizzielizzie]

Hi I’m ivf with first baby also and I’ve been on aspirin since 12 as well. I guess it does all depend on your factors but please let me know what your consultant says when you see them x my 28 week scan is on the 20th so will find out more than x

[Lizzielizzielizzie in reply to jade1003]

I’ll be happy not to do the usual 2 weeks over because my due date is December 10th... two weeks over would make my baby basically Santa!!

[Lizzielizzielizzie in reply to Lizzielizzielizzie]

Ps your scan is only four days after mine so we should be able to pool some knowledge then x

[jade1003 in reply to Lizzielizzielizzie]

This made me laugh x I’m due December 13th - x

[Shanks_21]

I was never told in my pregnancy that I’d need to deliver early because of IVF however I did end up delivering at 37 Weeks due to getting preeclampsia x

[Bobenhams3]

This was never mentioned to me in either of my pregnancies. I didn’t go full term but no one ever said it was because of ivf

Good luck x

[Charleexn2]

Hmmm I’ve not been pregnant but before I was a mental health support worker, I used to work as a ward clerk in a maternity unit and would do the discharge paperwork for all patients. From what I saw, IVF patients did tend to deliver earlier or were induced before going over DD. I’m only a clerk though so this maybe completely wrong!! Lol x

[jade1003 in reply to Charleexn2]

Hi Charleen thank you for your info xx

[MonkAK]

Hi there, I was induced on my due date. My consultant told me that this is because there is always a higher risk with any baby that is past full term and that because they know exactly when you conceived when you are IVF, they will induce you then. With ‘naturally’ conceived babies, they can always be a week or two out and so if they induced all babies on the due date they would be inducing numerous babies a week or two early.

Not sure if this is really the case or if she just told me that to reassure me, but I chose to believe her!

Good luck with it all. Xxx

[jade1003 in reply to MonkAK]

Thank you, this actually makes sense doesn’t it xx