IVF Babies Are More Sickly

by Valorie Delp | More from this Blogger

31 Jul 2007 08:35 PM

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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oesfurever (95) 05 Nov 2007 10:45 AM

Having had no fertility problems, these risks are very low for us. We chose IVF, because I had a tubal ligation done after baby #2, then that ligation failed and we went through a miscarriage. So hubby had no sperm issues...therfore our baby should not have sperm issues either. I do not have any female issues that would be passed down. Our eggs were fertilized naturally (in a dish on their own), not with the use of ICSI (which is a concern for defects as well). I hope our twins develop as if we naturally conceived them.

I also have a body that won't go into labour, even being induced...I did not leave zero dilation...I need c-sections. So I am hoping that I can carry to term, and have 2 good size babies to bring home...avoiding the premature issues of twin birth.

I agree they need to do more in what is a result of IVF...why a person had IVF, what protcol did they use, who had fertily issues that are genetic. And keep natural born twins separate. Then do an age study, and environment too...prenatal care can be a huge issue.

Bev

Valorie Delp (49340) 05 Nov 2007 11:37 AM

I agree. . .and hopefully your babies won't have any issues. Twins are interesting bc so many times they turn out just fine. But other times, for no rhyme or reason. . .they don't. And no one knows why. Carrying to term is a huge reason why many twins have problems and sometimes you can have all the positive trademarks for carrying full term and then you just don't. In any case, I'm hoping yours stick. If you listen to your body there is a good chance of that. ;-)