IVFers: Did you have a vaginal birth or a Caesarean?

[KimInMellie]

Someone told me a while back that OBs book IVF pregnancies for a scheduled C-section as a matter of course, and I'm curious if that's your experience. If you had a VB, did you have to push for it? (Please pardon the very bad pun. :D ) I've made the poll so that you can select multiple answers if you've had more than one pregnancy through IVF.

[donna2712]

I was never pushed to have a Csection. I was going ahead with vaginal until my DS decided to move his head and got stuck and therefore went for emergency C Section. I certainly was never told that ivf automatically go for CS as this was never done for me.

[JetGirl]

First I've heard of that!

[EarthAngel75]

My IVF pregnancy (ds) ended in a c-section. I was trying for a VBAC as dd's pg (IUI#3) ended in a medically indicated elective c-sec so i was not able to be induced etc. I went 10 days over with ds which is all my ob and FS would allow since it was IVF. I tried EVERY natural incudction known to man lol to get him to come but he wouldnt budge lol

[amum21]

I've never heard of that before...

My first son.....vaginal birth.
Second son .....C Section as he was breech.

I was never pushed or even had that conversation with my OB about having a C Section with my first son.

[Baldie's Mum]

I dont even have an ob! LOL! Once i was pregnant, i was classed as a "normal" pregnancy! I booked into the Birth Centre at RPA in sydney and no one seems to bat an eye lid when i say its an IVF baby.

[angeleish]

Yeah, I've never heard of this either. My ob encouraged me to have a vb and c/s was never discussed. My pregnancy was treated exactly the same as any non-IVF one. I ended up 4 days overdue when DS was born via vaginal birth.

[KimInMellie]

lol ... I guess I should clarify my source! This was an offhand comment by someone who I believe was in a medical field but was in no way connected to obstetrics or IVF. It was made when I mentioned that I was considering home birth, which in itself can be a touchy topic. I thought it was a strange thing to say at the time -- I mean, once the bub's in there and established, how is it any different to any other pregnancy? -- but didn't press the issue.

I'm still curious as to the IVF stats in general (with our limited BH sample). Please keep posting! :)

[Kema]

I had a c-esction with DD in June 2009 but I had planned a vaginal birth, I failed to progress.

My bubby that is due in November will most likely be born via c-section too but this time its due to a grade 4 placenta previa that is very unlikely to move.

My OB was happy for me to try for a VBAC this time around despite there only being a 17 month gap between births and the fact that both pregnancies have been IVF.

I have had people ask me if I have to have a c-section because of IVF so your not the only one that has had this question.

MM:bee:

[nikki08]

After IVF I was classed as a normal pregnancy and I went into labour naturally just short of 39 weeks with no delivery issues. Nobody in the obstetric care was interested in how I got pregnant, they just monitored me like any pregnancy and planned for the least amount of intervention possible in direct relation to any risks that might occur. In my case I developed diabetes and was not allowed to go over 39 weeks, or I would have been induced. This was no in any way related to IVF though.

[hopefulmama2b]

LOL Im the same, I didnt have an OB and even though I had high bp from about week 25 onwards c section was never discussed until the day they induced me at 37 weeks due to IUGR and even then it was just in case my teeny little man was struggling but nope, we had a vaginal birth. From my experience I agree with the other girls, after my BFP no one cared how I got pregnant just that I was pregnant :)

[moongazer]

Never discussed having c section with my Ob.

[Amara]

I had a friend who was told by her ob because it was ivf she should have a c section because it was safer. I was stunned by that. She had no risks whatsoever.

[smileygirl]

i have not got there yet...but we are aiming for a natural birth and my OB very passionate about them.

I have had lots of complication but "most" seem to have settled for now...so we are back planning on natural again.

I have never heard of IVF = c section!

There is a link between IVf and prem though.

[gottabecrazy]

I was told straight up that i would be having a c-sec at 35wks but it had nothing to do with being IVF at all only the fact that i was having ID twins which already had complications

Turns out they might be here today at 30wks

[miss R]

I was always planning a natural birth but at my 38wk obs apointment had extremely high BP and protine in urine. sent to hospy for monitoring. after 4hrs of monitoring, another urine test i was told i had pre eclampsia and bub had to come out...an internal was done to check postion of bub (had been 3/5th engaged) and was discovered bub had done a u turn and was not engaged anymore so a c-section was booked the following day.....
i quickly rang DH to bring my "what to expect when expecting book up so i could have a read about c-sect as i had skipped that part,,,,
was a positive experience..:yes:

[KimInMellie]

*bump* for the Sunday evening crowd :)

[EKMum]

I was very interested to see your post and read about others experiences.

My OB told me that as my pregnancy is an IVF preg I am classed as high risk! She indicated that as I have had intervention to become pregnant then there is a good chance I may need intervention for the birth (prob c section). I don't know if that was mentioned because I have a low lying placenta. She also said she would not let me go over 40 weeks because I am 'high risk'.

I'm still hoping for a vaginal birth:fingerscrossed:

[GirlsRock]

Hi,

I had a vaginal birth at 40 weeks and 4 days. I went into labour naturally. Had about 20 hours of contractions before it really started to heat up, then had 7 hours that were pretty fully on but managed with gas and a long long bath. I did ask for drugs and an epidural but the midwife that was with me suggested I try the bath and even though I was reluctant I LOVED it and stayed in there as long as i possibly could. By the time I got out it was too late to have any drugs. At the very end of the pushing stage I heard my Ob say "we might have to consider forceps shortly" so that was the incentive to have one last big push and get bubs out.

I'm planning another vaginal birth this time around but certainly not opposed to a caesarian should the need arise.

My Ob has never mentioned that IVF babies are normally booked in for caesarian.

[jfblady72]

i had a c-section at 41wks but only cos he wouldnt budge after an induction! my ob didnt want me to go over 41 wks but i think this was his general idea and nothing to do with IVF...my BFF on the other hand was treated differently cos it was an IVF pg...she was told that IVF babies are more likely to be stillborn :confused: (mind u i think this was due to one study only as i have never herard of this :eek:) and that she wouldnt be allowed to go over more than 5 days cos of that reason....she was induced then without a prior internal exam and the baby was so high up it was never gonna happen and the whole thing was quite traumatic for her :thumbsdown:.

[happy dance]

I was admitted to hospital for monitoring at 35 weeks 6 days as I had high blood pressure at my antenatal appt.

I had an emergency c-section 2 days later due to placental abruption.

[KimInMellie]

*bump* I'd love to get 50 poll responses :) Thanks for all the answers so far

[gilliebean1]

I desperately wanted a VB but it was not an option unfortunately. My c-section was due to placenta previa, vasa previa and velementous cord insertion, so there was no way bubs could be delivered naturally and he was delievered just over 5 weeks early. I haven't heard the c-section thing for IVF pregnancies, but I have heard that its more common to have placenta problems with IVF, which mostly lead to c-section deliveries, so maybe that's a correlation? It is an interesting question though and I am very interested to see what the results are :flowerz:

[surfergal]

DD was born via C section only due to my request and due to the fact I had had 4 previous major surgeries due to endometriosis one involving a 20cm bowel resection. I was concerned about my adhesions obstructing things for the birth, and dreaded the idea of having a emergency C, so it was decided to go the elective C which i was much grateful for.. calm and relaxed after all my previous ops, i was glad to of chosen an elective C. However obs never pushed me to have a C but was supportive when i decided to have one. :yes:

[LulusMum]

I was induced due to polyhydramnios but managed a vaginal natural delivery - c-sec was only discussed in relation to what happens if induction fails - nothing to do with IVF pregnancy:yes:

[KimInMellie]

Gillie & other new mummies, congratulations! :) Gillie, it's interesting that placental problems are more common with IVF pregnancies. I wonder if that's because women who go through IVF are older on average, so the issue isn't necessarily about IVF but about maternal age?

Certainly if a Caesarean is deemed truly medically necessary (and I trust that my Ob isn't C-happy) I have no problem with it. I would strongly prefer a vaginal birth, though. I just found this old thread on BH from 2008 about pretty much the same topic:

Is a C-Section Necessary after IVF? (http://www.bubhub.com.au/community/forums/showthread.php?t=209980)

The OP has been told by her doc that because her baby is an IVF bub he 'doesn't want to take any chances' and recommends a C. Sorry, but WT:confused:? That suggests he would 1) 'take chances' with a bub conceived naturally and that he 2) considers a VB to be 'taking chances'.

I'm still interested in IVF VB/C stats in general here on BH. Given that the overall C rate in Australia hovers around 30%, the numbers on this poll seem quite high. (Small sample size, I know.) If you've had an IVF bub, please answer the poll no matter what your situation!

Ta

[My3Boyz]

Both my boys were VB. The only time that my OB mentioned C section was when my 20 wk scan came back with low lying placenta with DS1 and DS2, but thankfully it moved up by 26 weeks in both pregnancies.

[overitand36]

Someone told me a while back that OBs book IVF pregnancies for a scheduled C-section as a matter of course,

Another someone that does not know what they are talking about

c/s by choice here can't wait to get her out

[Spoodge]

Hi lovely mummies :)

I had a c-section was due to placenta previa, I had a gilzillion (well maybe not that many but around 8) scans done. The tech told me that she had read something that related placenta previa to IVF.

I really wanted a VB and am still a little disapointed but it was all for the best. Bub got here safely and thats all that matters.

Interesting poll though seems to be lots of c sections.

Spoo

[kiwigemini]

My IVF bub was a VB. I was induced due to high BP and platelet issues. A C-section was never mentioned, unless of course induction didn't work. No fears, there, my whole labour was 31 minutes!