Reductions?

[baby0123]

I know it is a very controversial subject but I am going to ask anyways- has anyone had a reduction to due health concerns of the babies and or mother? I am considering this as I decide how to move along with my next treatment and the Dr wants to be aggressive due to age and previous failures. If so what was the outcome?

[deepa100]

I haven't dealt with this myself but...
Not very many women produce enough embryos to cause this concern due to advanced maternal age (>35). That is why the IVF doctors say "your age is a safeguard against multiples". I think this can be more of a problem for younger women seeking IVF treatments. But the clinic I went to also did not transfer more than 2 for younger women.

[meg12]

I didn't have to make this decision myself, but I seem to remember a woman from the November forum---I think she ended up reducing from triplets to twins. It's such a hard thing to decide and it's really something that only you and your partner can decide. Don't let anyone make you feel bad about what you decide either way! Best of luck...

[Eskimo]

I had to go through a multifetal reduction last week

I had 3 embryos transfered on the 2nd of April. Two weeks later my first beta came back at 624.9 and we knew that we were in for multiples which was fine with me Our first ultrasound showed 3 sacks and 2 hearthbeats and I was a little saddened that my thrid baby wasn't alive.. Little did I know about the reduction issue at that point The next week showed a third heartbeat and I was overwhelmed My doctor spoke to us of reduction and I sort of cut him short and said I want them all! At 9 weeks I had some bleeding so I rushed over to the closest hospital only to learn that I was actually expecting QUADS! One embryo had split into two forming identical twins!!! Quads was a little too much even for me but I still didn't want to go through the reduction and kill my little babies.

However, the doctors explained to me that losing all the babies ranged at 30 % with a further risk of handicapped babies if I decided to keep them all. The risk of miscarriage in multifetal reduction is 4-5%. So I had to go through with it at 11.5 weeks. I spent many a tear over my little identical babies which were chosen for the sacrifice However, I feel that we made the right decision afterall and even think at times that God gave me the 4th baby to make my decision easier..

Check out this link it will give you a good insight into the issue:

http://www.peacehealth.org/kbase/dp/top ... 007/dp.htm

Good luck!

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[kholtan]

Eskimo~ I am so sorry to hear you had to make that choice. It's unbearable to imagine having to do it and I know you heart is breaking for the twins you said goodbye to. It's never easy to say what you would do in that situation unless you are put to the test.
Best wishes~
Kimberly

[ahart]

I'm sorry for the decisions you were faced with, the only thing I can say is that you should follow your heart and as yourseld what would the Lord do...and pray about it