Here In New Zealand (and I don't know if this is worldwide), it is strongly recommend to only transfer one embryo if it is a healthy embryo and if your under the age of 35. If you are not in this fertility game, the reason behind this is that if they transfer 2 embryo's, obviously there are greater risks for twins, and as the statistics show this comes with all sorts of increased risks both to mother and babies. When I say increased risks, the margins are very small. The only risk that I though was increased alot between a single baby and twins was the risk of them being admitted to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit for being born premature. For single babies the risk is 15% but for twins its 48%. Other issues raised was the fact that a woman's body is really only built to carry one baby, the risk of poorer quality of life within your marriage and financially after the twins are born. and so it goes on. None of these fact's by the way particularly alarm me. People have twins all the time, and that's naturally. I can see where they are coming from though.
At my clinic if you are getting funded treatment, the decision is out of your hands, they will only transfer one, and freeze the rest. If you are paying (which we likely will be), you can question the doctors and try to push for two. Which I think is what we are going to do, me and my husband figure, we are paying for this out of our own pocket, and we listened to you before with 3 rounds of IUI, how about we make a decision this time? I would rather walk away with twins than with no babies.
So this I will say, at my appointment on Monday, I will tell the doctor this, I will try to be very clear about how we feel. I'm guessing it will probably be me that will end up getting into this with the doctor, and pushing for it, I know my Gardener Guy will also harp in and say how we feel, so lets hope it's received ok.
I would like to know what you ladies think? where you given an option? how many did you transfer?
Some people may think, oh god, your asking for double the trouble, not only medically, but emotionally and financially. I say yes you may be right, but we are a strong couple and we can handle it. What we cant handle is another failed treatment. So double the trouble......hmmmm maybe, but double the fun, double the love, double the excitement, well that's a definite.
Hey there! We've already decided that if we have two good embryos, we'll be transferring two. For a few reasons....you have a higher chance of pregnancy (like you said, we are paying for this out of pocket, we want every chance for success.) Two for the price of one...hahahaha! Also, we'll probably only do this once, we've always wanted two children, so this is probably our one shot at two children. For some reason, I always pictured myself with twins, I don't know what it is, but from the time I was little, something told me I'd have twins. Also, for selfish reasons....I go back and forth on whether I'd quit my job to raise a baby. I think with two...the decision would be SUPER easy! Of course I'd stay home!
ReplyDeletethanks for that. hearing that makes me think im not so mad for wanting two embryos transferred
ReplyDeleteyep!! at at my appointment yesterday Dr."Ice" said he would be putting in one embryo. I interrupted him and said bluntly that I want two. We began to go back and forth..but I just let it slide..because when it comes down to it we choose how many. I would not be able to stand it if my husband and i did not have a choice! yes..Clewis...I have been thinking about this all day. I was even going to post it too! lol
ReplyDeleteYou are not wrong for wanting the guarantee that after spending lots of money and months of hormones and violation to the body...it was not all done in vain. So yes...I would say two please! It is such a hard decision when you think about it though..the chance of have twins, or if they split and you have four! Frightening..in either case. Thank you for bringing up this question..it is a crucial and very hard one to make.
Me and my husband just had another chat about it, we are both very certain we want 2 transferred. We are not going to back down, and at the end of the day it is our choice so we will go in there and be a team and get the job done! I know what I want and that is that basically. hope you get 2 transferred marilyn, dont back down either
ReplyDeleteI'm not on the IVF path, but wanted to wish u well. After having my son I really don't see there would be much too different between one or two. Same routines and at least they would have each other. My fear is my son not getting a sibling, so I wish you all the best. If you are super organsied then I'm sure you would be fine.
ReplyDeletethanks power ranger. I have no issues looking after 2. I look after 2 little 14mth old boys in my own home at moment, and have been in childcare for over 10 yrs, so think ive got good at keeping to a routine. Im just hoping there are 2 great embryos to transfer and more to freeze!
ReplyDeleteDuring my IVF consult my doctor actually recommended two if we were comfortable with that and we definitely are. If we are spending all this time and money I want to to do everything I can to increase my chances of success. Honestly, I wouldn't mind twins. Before we knew about our IF, we always talked about having a big family. Once I get pregnant, I don't know if I will ever want to go through IF treatments ever again. If I could get two out of this, then I would feel more comfortable being done.
ReplyDeleteWe transferred two, hoping to increase our chances. Didn't work... This next cycle, the frozen one, we're going to transfer two or three. Haven't decided. My hubs really wants to transfer three to increase our odds, but triplets - and especially carrying them - scares the sh!t out of me! I don't know - still talking about it.
ReplyDeleteWe only want to transfer one, at least for our first cycle as we have no idea whether it will work of not, but they've given us a 40% chance so we're just going to go with it.We have talked about it though and figure if we have 2 failures, then we will consider 2 on the 3rd, that's just our personal feelings about it. If we were doing a private cycle that would make me think harder about it though-You have to go for what you really want, and it sounds like you've thought it all through so go for it!
ReplyDeleteAnd if you've been looking after 2 boys the same age then you'll be well prepared!!
xxx
I'm totally with you -- I want twins!!! I don't want to ever have to go through IV treatment ever again (after we successfully get preggers of course!). But I want my babies to have sibs. So twins sounds ideal to me and DH. Here in the U.S. but my local RE and my RE at CCRM both recommend transplanting 2 to increase the odds that at least 1 will implant. An although twins increases the odds of a difficult pregnancy/birth, women do it all the time. I have two friends in fact who have had twins and they and the babies are healthy and wonderful.
ReplyDelete