IVF Babies and Low Birthweight

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.

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.

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.