IVF Babies and Low Birthweight

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  IVF Babies and Low Birthweight Robert Seith | CWK Network
 
 
“ If you take a group of ivf patients who’ve already shown real
problems getting pregnant and then difficulties with their ivf… if
they are fortunate enough to get pregnant with any number of babies I think
they are going to show more problems with those pregnancies than the unaffected
group… the normal group.”
– Daniel Shapiro, M.D., explaining why he believes In-Vitro outcomes
fare worse… not because of the procedure, but because of the
population sample that uses I-V-F.

  Related Information What Parents Need To Know Resources

Two and
a half-year-old Jesse was conceived in a laboratory.

“There were definitely some concerns that… does
that mean this baby is going to be a healthy baby,” says
his mother, Mia Spolan.

It’s a fair question.

Typically, doctors implant three or four embryos in hopes of
getting one child… but there’s a risk:

A greater chance of twins or triplets …a greater chance
of low birthweight or serious complications.

“It was certainly discussion that we had,” says Mrs.
Spolan, “You know what do we do if we do have a child that
has defects. And a child that is special needs. And if I had more
complications with my pregnancy… those were all discussions
that we had. To us, it just seemed as though those were just minor
issues to deal with when the greater good was that we’d be
able to have a family together.”

Experts say whatever health problems prevent conception….
Abnormalities in the uterus… low blood flow … oftentimes
these same health issues are the cause of a complicated
pregnancy.

“We know those problems exist before a patient gets pregnant,” says
Daniel Shapiro, M.D., a Reproductive Endocrinologist with Reproductive
Biology Associates, “It makes sense to me that they should
exist after she gets pregnant. And those are already well documented
explanations for low birthweight.”

One way to reduce the risk of low birth weight is to implant
only one embryo rather than several. But that also reduces
the chance of having a child to only 30 percent.

“People who are willing to tolerate lower pregnancy rates
might be candidates for single embryo transfer,” says Dr.
Shapiro.

So… it’s a balance of risk versus reward.

Mia knows the odds. In-vitro failed twice before Jesse was born.

And then it took two more attempts at in-vitro for this pregnancy…

But… in two months she will have a brand new baby girl.

“Well I just think my husband and I are very very lucky
that we’ve been so fortunate to have one successful pregnancy,” says
Mrs. Spolan, “One on the way. For us, the risk factor was
worth the benefit of being able to have children.”

By Larry Eldridge
CWK Network, Inc.

For many couples that find it difficult or impossible to conceive a child,
fertility treatments may be their only option. Until recently, the treatments
focused more on the woman’s infertility and overlooked male factor
infertility possibilities. Many believe that once the woman’s “problem” is
fixed, the couple will be able to conceive. Experts at Georgia Reproductive
Specialists, however, have discovered that 40 percent of all infertility
problems result from a factor in the male, such as low sperm count or a previous
vasectomy. In these cases, sperm donors and Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection
(ICSI) are the most common options.

 
By Larry Eldridge
CWK Network, Inc.

There are a number of things that can affect your
reproductive systems, such as illnesses (past and present), diseases, conditions,
surgeries and medications. Before trying to have children, it is important
to sit down and make a detailed medical list for both partners, leaving
nothing out. If a lot of the items below are included on your list, experts
at the American Fertility Association (AFA) suggest seeing a doctor for
more information:

  • Abnormal sexual or reproductive function – Irregular
    menstrual cycles and difficulty achieving or maintaining erections
    indicate conception will likely require some form of medical
    intervention.
  • Chronic illnesses and syndromes – Diabetes, hypothyroidism,
    hypertension and peptic ulcers contribute to infertility. Sometimes,
    it is the disease itself. For example, diabetes, hypothyroidism
    or PCOS in women often result in ovulatory dysfunction. If left
    untreated, endometriosis (endometrial tissue that grows outside
    the uterus) can lead to scarring and blockages and can impair
    fertility. Sometimes, it is the treatment of a disease which
    can contribute to infertility: Antidepressants, insulin and thyroid
    hormones can cause irregular menstrual cycles; Tagamet, used
    for peptic ulcers, can inhibit sperm production; and high blood
    pressure medication may interfere with the sperm’s ability to
    fertilize an egg.
  • Past illnesses, treatments and surgeries – Did he have
    mumps around the time of puberty? Did he have radiation treatment
    for a cancer like Hodgkin’s? Those will have a negative impact
    on sperm production. Did she have pelvic or abdominal surgery,
    including an appendectomy? Those cause pelvic adhesions that
    inhibit conception or can result in ectopic pregnancies. Standard
    D&Cs (dilation and curettage), even the extended use of an
    IUD (intrauterine device), can scar the uterus, with repeated
    miscarriages a possible consequence.
  • Environmental and workplace factors – Exposure to radiation
    and chemicals, particularly pesticides, can have a deleterious
    effect on male sexual function and sperm production. Women working
    with chemical solvents, nitrous oxide and vinyl chloride may
    be at risk for early miscarriage.

There are certain actions you can take to help your body function
optimally. Eating healthy foods, getting plenty of rest and cutting
down on stress are a few of these. Experts at the AFA suggest the
following, which may increase your chances of fertility:

  • Don’t smoke – Cutting down won’t cut it. You must stop
    completely. Smoking alters a woman’s estrogen metabolism, increases
    the risk of tubal (ectopic) pregnancy and boosts the rate of miscarriage,
    among other things. Male smokers have significantly lower sperm
    counts and a higher incidence of abnormally shaped sperm than nonsmokers.
  • Forget recreational drugs – Even occasional use of marijuana,
    cocaine, heroin and all hallucinogens can interfere with ovulation
    in women and sexual function in men.
  • Curtail alcohol consumption – A glass of wine is just
    fine. But even in the short term, drinking can lead to abnormal
    sperm production in men and women may suffer menstrual disorders.
  • Limit caffeine – Current thinking is excessive caffeine
    impairs reproductive function. The snag is there is no adequate
    definition of “excessive.” Play it safe and stick to
    one cup of coffee or caffeine-laced soda per day.
  • Moderate your exercise regimen – While trying to conceive,
    women should suspend the heavy-duty workouts (i.e. marathon training)
    that result in irregular menstrual periods. Both men and women
    should avoid any activity that gets them overheated. And by all
    means, everyone must stay well hydrated.
  • Swear off appearance-enhancing drugs – Anabolic steroids
    bulk up the body builder, but they’ll also make him impotent. Hair
    growth formulations such as Rogaine and Propecia may interfere
    with male reproductive systems. Given that it takes 90 to 108 days
    to make and release a sperm, these treatments could cost you three
    or more months.

If you or your partner is diagnosed with infertility problems,
remember that you are not alone. Ten percent of all couples in the
United States are infertile, which means that over 6 million people
struggle with conceiving children. Realizing that you are not alone,
however, doesn’t do much to reduce the emotional strain this
may place on a couple. People with this problem may feel ashamed
and guilty. The National Infertility Association suggests the following
coping techniques:

  • Learn about the normal responses to infertility. The first step
    in reducing the stress of infertility is to stop feeling panicky
    about feeling rotten.
  • Another step in overcoming isolation is to build a bridge back
    to your family. All but the least sensitive can be educated about
    infertility, and can be taught by you how to be helpful and supportive.
    Ask them to do some reading on infertility. Be sure to let them
    know how you want to be treated.
  • Give yourself permission to cry and be angry. Do not try to
    shut off your feelings. If you need to cry about the unfairness
    of one more pregnancy announcement, go ahead. If you need to pound
    a pillow or pummel a punching bag, do it. When you try to “snap
    out of it,” you waste all your energy.
  • Give your spouse permission to feel and cope differently than
    you. If you are a wife, do not waste energy trying to get your
    husband to feel as devastated as you do. If you’re a husband, don’t
    try to get your wife to be “more like a man,” forgetting
    about infertility except when she’s at the doctor’s office or in
    the bedroom.
  • Improve your communication about infertility. Try “The
    Twenty-Minute Rule,” which forces you to limit the amount
    of time you talk about infertility in a given evening.
  • Tell your spouse how you want to be helped. Partners are only
    human, incapable of mind reading. If you need to pass up the family
    gathering that features five nieces and nephews under two, then
    say so. If you want to be hugged, or massaged, or left alone for
    a few minutes, or just listened to without any response, you’ll
    be more likely to get what you want if you ask.
  • Get more information. One of the worst facets of stress is uncertainty
    about the future. You cannot get a crystal ball, but you can reduce
    some of your uncertainty by collecting information.
 
Georgia Reproductive Specialists
American Fertility Association
National Infertility Association