Q about IVF & risk of placental abruption

BlueEyedDreamer

My doctor said to me at our u/s yesterday to get ready to talk about labor and delivery at my cervix check next week. He also mentioned that IVF pregnancies have a higher chance of placental abruption, which can lead to stillbirth without any warning, and that it may be a good idea to consider inducing ~1wk prior to my EDD to minimize this risk.

Does anyone know anything about this? I felt a little bit blindsided by this info since I hadn't heard about it before. I was hoping to avoid inducement, but I really trust my doctor, too. I'm working on doing some independent research on this but thought I'd come here to find out if any of you have heard of this.

PhillyJ33

Interesting- I never heard of that correlation but I will ask my OB at my next appointment!

FutureMrsW9

I haven't head hear nor tell about this either.  The NP as my m/w practice used to be an IF nurse, so I feel like this is something she would have told me when I asked last time if there was anything else related to IVF that would put me at higher risk or to worry about. 

lisabugg444

I've never heard of this, from any of my medical team (RE or OB), from any of the literature I've read, or from any of the other IVF ladies on these boards. I'm kind of giving your OB the side eye...

BlueEyedDreamer

So far, I've found a study that shows that IVF pregnancies are 2.5x more likely to have this problem than other pregnancies. Hmm.

PhillyJ33

Does is say what risks are normally? Is it a small percentage?

brooklynesque

BlueEyedDreamer said:

So far, I've found a study that shows that IVF pregnancies are 2.5x more likely to have this problem than other pregnancies. Hmm.

2.5x a miniscule chance might not be enough to justify the risks of an induction (which raises the odds of a c section). I'd have to know a lot more before consenting to an induction.

My OB has never mentioned this.

sunflowermama42212

My OB is very cautious with my pregnancy because of IVF and has never brought this up and when I asked him about potential problems he didn't mention this ether. I would honestly get a second opinion. You don't have to switch OBs but just get another opinion from some one else in the practice or a different office.

BzeetyD

Never heard of this either. Are you having weekly NSTs or any kind of other monitoring late in the game?

My doc talked about induction only at or after 41 weeks, which is reasonable to me given my age and the placenta eventually giving out anyways.

KayteeGee

Strange.  I'm on IVF pregnancy #2 and as with #1 I see an OB and a Perinatologist (I am old! 38 now!!) This has never once been mentioned to me by either of them (or my RE)  And believe me, my perinatologist is not shy about telling me about ANY risks.  Seriously, she should just change her name to Dr. Scary ... She's like the LEAST reassuring woman I've ever met.  I don't think she's read about a single complication or risk in her whole life that she didn't feel necessary to "talk" to me about.  (to be fair, I don't mind - she's incredibly bright and well respected and I'm not one to need sunshine and roses all the time)

BlueEyedDreamer

If I understand what I'm reading correctly, the normal chance is slightly <1%, so the risk for IVFers is maybe ~2%? Not a huge number, but even a small number is scary when you're talking about possible stillbirth...

Anyway, thanks for the feedback, everyone! I love this board. I will definitely be raising some further questions with my doctor next week. I really want to avoid induction. Hopefully I can do some more research and get some answers from my doctor so that I can make the right decision for me and the baby. I'll let you all know if I find out anything that the board may be interested in.

RosyGlow

Induction comes with so many very well-documented risks in itself, that I would really encourage you to balance those risks against the ONE study you have found that shows an increased risk of this. Abruptions can also have a range of severity. Also, correlation with IVF is not the same as causation...simple because you did IVF doesn't mean that it can cause abruption. I am definitely side-eyeing an OB who suggests an early induction for any reason except medical necessity. This is NOT significant enough data or evidence to suggest induction, especially early induction! GL! 

BBColt78

I agree with PPs. This is also my second IVF pregnancy and I've put a lot of hours on boards. I've never heard of this at all.

Here is what I do know from my OB: IVF pregnancies tend to have more preterm labors. It's only a slight increase, which is probably why you are getting the cervix checks. Also, IVF babies have a smaller increase of heart issues. They check for this at your 20w scan and I also get a 32 to check both heart and cervix.

I'd question your doctor and I'd also question one study.