IVFer's, a question(especially triplet moms)

wille2b

we are doing round 2 of IVF this month and we are putting 3 embryos back. we had "the talk" with RE about triplets and that we would not choose selective reduction. Can triplet moms tell me how many embryos you put back, what your dx is, and what day your transfer was? We are pretty confident in our choice but i definitely want to do my research before i blindly walk into a possibility of trips. any advice or anything would be appreciated

TIA

Fancy3Face

I'm not a trip momma, but I'd say a great rule of thumb is only put back what you're comfortable parenting.  

I'm tubal factor (ectopic rupture took my tubes).  IVF #1, we put back 2 and have twins with three frozen embies.  

Good luck to you! 

bethCT

I am making twins but we did put in 3.  After 3 or 4 failed IUIs and a failed fresh IVF round, with 6 frozen, my RE originally said 3 cycles of 2 and then said, no, let's do 2 cycles of 3.  I was still blown away when he saw 3 sacs!  but even at that 5 week ultrasound, sac C did not look great.  I can't explain it well, but sac C was not as sharp around the edges, and it just didn't look as good as the others to me.  It went so far as to develop a fetal pole, but nothing ever came of it.  He did say that we would have to reduce if all 3 took, and as much as that killed me to think about, twins seems unfair to my 3 year old, so triplets would have been too much.  When the third sac stopped at fetal pole he said he was so relieved because he did not want me to go though the emotional part of reduction.  I am petrified of twins, so as wrong as it feels to say this, I am glad sac C stopped on its own naturally.

My dx was unexplained (grrrr, that still bothers me!), and we did 5 day transfers.  They got 23 from my IVF, 17 grew and did well, we put in the 2 best, and 6 made it to freeze. We have 3 left that will go to research.

But I do want to say that I agree to not put in more than you are willing to have born.  I did not follow that advice so I guess I just got lucky.

Good luck!

Puppins

We did IUI so a bit different... but we had 7 follicles with my 1st triplet pregnancy, 5 follicles with my singleton, and 3 follicles with this triplet pregnancy...ya never know!

angelynn8411

We are having twins, and our reason for IVF was not due to infertility (we have a surrogate due to antibody incompatibility) but we transferred 2 assuming 2 would take.

One other thing to consider is that an embryo can still split. Our surrogate transferred 2 low grade frozen embryos and one split, resulting in triplets during her 2nd surrogacy. The couple chose selective reduction.

Please only transfer what you are comfortable with and know there is a chance that you could get even more than what is transferred.

Eriksgal

Puppins:

We did IUI so a bit different... but we had 7 follicles with my 1st triplet pregnancy, 5 follicles with my singleton, and 3 follicles with this triplet pregnancy...ya never know!

I'm sorry but I can't believe your RE would let you go through with an IUI with that many follies! That is just crazy to me. To answer OP's questions- we put back 3, 5 dt. Dx was severe male factor and low ovarian reserve. I only had eight eggs retrieved and five fetilized. By day five we only had the three left, all were grade II quality and only two were blasts. Very surprised all three took but we don't regret it! Good luck on your transfer.

lovemygs

I'm an example of embryos splitting. We transferred 3 on day 5; one looked awesome and the other two were ok. Our RE was comfortable with transferring 3, and we had the mentality that having triplets was way better than having no babies.

1 of the 3 stuck, split, and we have ID twin boys on the way.  

PrettyAccountant

Hi Willie,

I am currently pg with trips. This was our second round if ivf. The first we only had 1 left to put back. Our dx is azoo and I am AMA. I was assured there was no way all three would stick - even though they were great quality ( 7 and 8 cell with no frag). Well, clearly the no way all three would stick turned into a oh yeah way. The RE was counting on selective reduction and that is when I said no way. Like pp have said - only go with what you are comfortable.

Good luck!

ETA we did a 3 day transfer

wille2b

we are totally comfortable with having triplets should that happen. we are just a little worried about the risk of pregnancy, as im sure you ladies understand. i think we will transfer three, but i am stilll going to do my research until the transfer day comes..lol   thanks ladies

LadyGolfer523

We put 2 back during our 2nd fresh cycle.

I have PCOS and Stage III endo.  DH has some issues as well. 

Edit:  We did a 5dt.

festivus

I agree with all the PPs- only put back in what you are comfortable carrying and parenting.

I did 5 IUIs before switching to IVF. On the 1st IVF, we were told initially that of 18 eggs retrieved, only 2 fertilized (husband was away for work, and his frozen sperm did not do well!). So, MH and I didn't bother to have any last minute discussions about how many to put back in, as there were only 2 available. Well, on transfer day as they were about to do the transfer, we were told there were 4 available, as 2 were late to fertilize. We had to decide on the spot what to do and we opted for 3. I almost immediately regretted that decision for a couple reasons. I knew we wouldn't opt for selective reduction. Plus, I have an inherited thrombophilia that makes me prone to clots in general and even more so during pregnancy. A triplet pregnancy would have been even higher risk for me. I was a total wreck until that BFN, which I was almost relieved to get. On the 2nd IVF, we had tons of blasts (14,if I remember correctly) but still opted to transfer just 2 (on day 4). I think the combination of my higher comfort level and doing acupuncture were part of the reason IVF #2 was successful.

Shelby425

I am 15 weeks along with triplets as a result of our 3rd round of IVF. We put in 2 on day 5, initially we thought they both took and then on the 2nd u/s SURPRISE one had split and there are 3! We are excited but very nervous because of all the risks, especially since our identical twins are mono/di.

KDR1979

This was our 5th embryo transfer, so we transferred three day 3 embryos (7 & 8 cell grade 1 and a 10 cell grade 3). We usually transferred 2 embryos. We did transfer 3 embryos one other time, our FET.

greyeyes15

Depends on what your infertility issue is.  I had to have my tubes removed, no other problems so we knew there was a very good chance both embys would take, and they did.  My RE wouldnt even think of doing 3 since there wasnt any reason all 3 wouldnt take.  If your history leans toward embys not developing or another issue that would give stress to a pregnancy, then do 3 to get the best chances of a viable pregnancy.  if you are prepared and willing to take the chance of having triplets then go for it! 

naflmj

Just be aware that they can split especially if it's a 3dt, I don't think it happens with 5dt's. 2 of my friends put 2 back and are having/had trips.

wille2b

thanks for all of your advice ladies!! i didnt realize that it was so common for 3dt embies to split so often, no one ever said anything like that to us! my dx is pcos and an autoimmune issue. i will be taking all of your thoughts intoconsideration!

Ruby_Tuesday

MTHFR, but the RE didn't feel this was an issue so really non-diagnosed.  1 m/c at 13 weeks precipitated by a subchrionic hematoma, 3 c/ps,

1st IVF - 2 embies at day 5 = BFN

1st FET - 3 embies at day 5 = triplets

katyboston

My dx is PCOS we did 5 IVFs  transferring 2 (5dt- bfn), 2 (3dt - m/c of one), 3 (5dt - we got DD), 3 (5dt - m/c of one), and 3 (5dt - triplets).

Our doctor gave us about a 30% chance of twins and a 0-2% chance of triplets. Given our history we thought that was a reasonable assessment of the odds and went forward. We understood that triplets were a possibility though remote and were comfortable in our decision but totally shocked when we found out they all took. We were very lucky to have an uncomplicated pregnancy and healthy babies that delivered at 35 weeks 6 days. I wouldn't change a thing but it's a lot of babies. It's tough and we have a lot of help and really good babies but I can't imagine it being any other way. Good luck!!! 

finallyreilly

We put back 4 and 3 stuck.  We ended up with twins when we lost our third one at 8 weeks.  It was our 3rd IVF (and final) where we made it to transfer and nothing had stuck up until that point so we figured it was worth putting back the 4.

ChickensFive

I lucked out with three really good babies but this is still HARD. They are getting easier everyday but I won't lie the first year sucks; I am just now starting to get more and more excited abot watching them grow as they interact with one another. If you do have triplets you will need help for at least the first 6 months....at least. I love my girls and fel very blessed to have them but if I could have had them one at a time it would have been so much easier.

krismott25

hey girl, i remember you and your history from IF. you can see our history in my siggy. we are having twins and I'm not trying to be a debbie downer because i'm elated we are having twins, but i will say multiples pg is really hard and you have to really think (As i'm sure you are) about the risks vs the benifits. we were desperate to get pg by our 3rd ivf cycle. I would have put 10 in if they let me. if i ever go through ivf again i will definetly be more conservative though. i didn't think i would morn the loss of a "normal" pregnancy and birth experience. i know i prob sound ungrateful....its 2 am and i'm not being particulary articulate lol. i'm sure you will make the best decision for you and your family. GL with your decision