Children conceived through IVF are exactly the same as children conceived naturally, but the pregnancy itself may be different.
How to calculate your due date with IVF?
If the IVF treatment (and embryo transfer) happens within the framework of the natural menstrual cycle, the date of birth will be determined the same as in a typical pregnancy, which is by the date of the last menstrual period.
If the duration of the menstrual cycle changed because of hormone therapy, frozen embryos were used, or complex ART protocols were needed, then the starting point should be the date of the embryo transfer and its age. Fertility treatments can be complicated and emotionally charged, so it is probably a good idea to have your prenatal care in the same clinic where the IVF was performed, at least during the first trimester. That will allow your fertility doctor to observe your pregnancy during this delicate period. After your first trimester screening (at 10-14 weeks), where you choose to get your prenatal care is less of an issue.
Are the prenatal screenings the same as for a normal pregnancy?
They are. Even if doctors performed preimplantation diagnostics (selecting only the healthy embryos), at 10-14 and 15-22 weeks of pregnancy you will be ordered the same screenings as other pregnant women. Something to note is that when selecting embryos, doctors can only identify known chromosomal breakdowns or mutations, which are likely also recorded in the woman’s family history. However, not everyone knows their family medical history, and screenings can help detect other mutations that may occur during pregnancy.
Are there more complications with IVF?
The risk of premature birth, cesarean section, and low birth weight can increase slightly; but we can’t blame everything on IVF. The same problems that lead to infertility can also cause complications during pregnancy. However, if you follow your doctor's recommendations and undergo routine tests, most issues can be prevented [1].
Do you always need hormonal support to maintain an IVF pregnancy?
Numerous studies show that hormonal support is necessary in the majority of cases [2]. Usually, it is suspended after 8-12 weeks of pregnancy, but some might need to wait until week 16 to stop taking the prescribed hormones.
Is natural childbirth possible?
Yes! In itself, IVF is by no means a reason for a cesarean section.
