Anyone attempting a vbac after IVF?

IBackBevo

I am asking for a girl on a vbac community I am on.  She is doing IVF and concerned that healthcare providers are saying no because of her ART history. Not her health history, but because she used IVF to get pregnant. They are telling her no ONLY because she got pregnant through IVF and had a prior c=section.  Basically, they are telling her no because they claim IVF automatically makes you high risk so no vbac???  This makes zero sense to me. I think they are just looking for an excuse to tell her no.  Please let me know your experience...what did you doctor tell you?

Ylvelill

We havnt talked too much about it yet, I am only 11w, but I am hoping for a natural birth she hasn't said anything to contradict me yet!

KristyLynn26

I went through IVF and had a c section with DD1. I think that sounds ridiculous! My OB and I already had the discussion that if I wanted to try a VBAC we can play it by ear. Our only concern is that my water broke early (at 35 weeks) and I failed to progress after being in labor for 4 days which resulted in a c section. It has nothing to do with IVF!

IBackBevo

KristyLynn26 said:

I went through IVF and had a c section with DD1. I think that sounds ridiculous! My OB and I already had the discussion that if I wanted to try a VBAC we can play it by ear. Our only concern is that my water broke early (at 35 weeks) and I failed to progress after being in labor for 4 days which resulted in a c section. It has nothing to do with IVF!

That is what I said! But then some posters were saying, "Oh no, IVF makes you higher risk."  I told them that I did not think that was innately true.  I think there are certain medical conditions that made it where you had to have IVF in the first place that can also equate to you being high risk and, therefore, not a candidate for a VBAC...but having IVF alone would not automatically exclude you from a vbac without some other reason. 

Of course, I doubt the people saying this had ever actually been through IVF (or even ART) themselves.  One linked to an article to prove a point and it was an article about OHSS increasing the risk...she didn't even seem to "get" that not every IVF pregnancy involves OHSS.  In fact, most don't.   

AJC&Maggie

Huh??? IVF makes you high risk!?!?
I have never heard of anything do dumb

auntjessy

IVF doesn't make you high risk, it's just the reason for some women.  For me, I had tubal issues (as do a lot of women who conceive via IVF) and after the point of implantation, my pregnancy is just as normal as any other - except that I've got twins.  If they really think it's b/c of IVF, I'd find another OB, because I'd assume they're not experienced enough to handle my pregnancy anyway.  However, it might be a possibility that they're referring to the reason she had to do IVF, not the procedure itself, that makes her high risk.  Either way, I'd look for clarification or a new OB.  

RosyGlow

IBackBevo said:

I am asking for a girl on a vbac community I am on.  She is doing IVF
and concerned that healthcare providers are saying no because of her ART
history. Not her health history, but because she used IVF to get pregnant. They are telling her no ONLY because she got pregnant through IVF and had a prior c=section.  Basically, they are telling her no because they claim IVF
automatically makes you high risk so no vbac???  This makes zero sense
to me. I think they are just looking for an excuse to tell her no. 
Please let me know your experience...what did you doctor tell you?

IVF does not make you high risk, although there is a common misnomer and assumption that it does. I did IVF for genetic screening, so it does partially depend on your reason for doing IVF, but it's not an automatic risk!. I'm planning to give birth naturally and at home with a midwife. Midwives won't keep/take on a high risk patient, because its outside their scope of practice, and they can be sued for malpractice if they take on tough medical cases. My GP doctor told me a couple years ago not to buy into the myth that ART automatically makes you high risk. there is no evidence for that. That's all proof enough for me.

However, VBAC-friendly hospitals are harder to find, and her VBAC and TOLAC puts her at a very slightly increased risk of uterine rupture. Unfortunately, this will make it more challenging for her to find a hospital-based provider who will allow her a TOLAC. Midwives know that VBAC is healthy and safe (with some risks), but often this means the birth would have to occur out of hospital since hospital policies are not up to date about the safety of VBAC.

I hope your friend finds a great care provider.

Hels

Ha! That's silly. Just because my DH has crap sperm does not mean anything in terms of high risk or not. Totally calling BS on her OB. 

Also, I did have a c-section with my first. I'm having a RCS for this next one too based on the way the incision was made which makes me high risk. If it wasn't for that, I'd qualify for a VBAC if I wanted one. 

jeannaqueena

Tell your girl that we did IVF, my OB marked my chart as High Risk b/c they wanted nurses/secretaries to always work me in if I call in needing an apt, and my OB was all for VBAC even when I got GD and we were worried he was big.  Thankfully he came at 38 weeks, was still a nice full 8 pounds and I didn't have to be induced.  You don't want to be induced for a VBAC b/c the potocin can make the contractions come too fast and tear your incision.  But if she goes into labor on her own she should be ok.  We had decided to set a c/s end date for 40 weeks on the dot, but didn't even get to schedule it b/c he decided to come early!  GL to her and tell her to not let them bully her into a c/s.  Its her body. 

mfarmer0811

I've never heard that IVF is considered High Risk. The only thing I can think of is that some drs. want an echo-cardiogram performed at 21 weeks or so on IVF babies to check the heart. But, it doesn't make the whole pregnancy high-risk...

I'm diabetic, and did IVF, and my OB is very on board with me having a natural vaginal birth!