IVF Babies Are More Sickly

by Valorie Delp | More from this Blogger

A new study published last week in London in the medical journal Human Reproduction, is warning parents that there are some risks to the baby associated with IVF. Many of the illnesses are common child hood problems and others are more serious. Among several hundred children studied, IVF babies tended to:

*males born via IVF have a higher incidence of infertility

*spend more time in the hospital

*be more likely to suffer from heart defects

*be at a higher risk for autism and cerebral palsy

*be admitted to the hospital more often and spend more time there

*be more prone to autoimmune diseases like rheumatoid arthritis

Researchers don't have more answers as to why this is the case but several theories abound. One theory is that in some cases, the IVF process itself caused the abnormalities. Another theory is that the conditions that caused the mother to be infertile to being with are to blame for the increased risk of illness. Another theory is that parents of babies conceived via IVF are simply more likely to go to the doctor.

Are twins the missing link?

I'm disappointed in the study in that it didn't put more attention on what I see as a serious flaw in IVF and that is it's high incidence of twinning and higher order multiples. Everything that is listed above, is also associated with being a multiple, preemie or low birth weight baby. Twins are more than twice as likely to be born premature which obviously also includes the low birth weight marker. But even full term twins are at an increased risk of being born at a low birth weight. I think to definitively associate many of these conditions with IVF, another study needs to be conducted to show that the problems are associated with IVF babies and not just twins.

Learn more about Valorie Delp

Hello everybody! My name is Valorie and I am one busy lady! When I'm not writing or editing for families, I am busy trying to get my brood of 5 in line.

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