Pregnancy is a reason to rejoice but not when a woman comes across grave complications. One of these is multiple pregnancies, which can be something to worry about. As the name suggests, multiple pregnancies are characterised by two or more babies being carried by a woman.
The babies may be formed from the same egg, which divides into multiple embryos (identical). On the other hand, they may be produced by different eggs being fertilized with different sperms (fraternal). Having twins is a common phenomena and it is not very risky too. However, the risk goes higher with number of babies being conceived and carried by a woman.
Patients who take up the option of IVF for fertility treatment need to be aware of the risk of multiple pregnancies. Since most IVF clinics in Delhi transfer more than two embryos during IVF, the chances of multiple pregnancies are high. Therefore, it is important for patients to know how to cope up with the situation if the need arises. Here is all that a woman needs to know about multiple pregnancies.
Causes of Multiple Pregnancies
Women taking hormonal treatment for ovarian stimulation are most likely to conceive more than one baby. She may be taking fertility drugs for natural reproduction or as a part of an IVF cycle. As a woman takes these drugs, her ovaries produce multiple eggs. Consequently, there are chances that more than one of these will be fertilized. Similarly, IVF clinics in Delhi transfer multiple embryos to maximize the success rate of the cycle. At the same time, it increases the risk of multiple pregnancies if more than one embryo gets implanted in the uterus
Additionally, there are certain other risk factors of multiple pregnancies. Women aged over 35 years, those having a family history of multiple pregnancies and the ones who have already had such a pregnancy before are more likely to come across this complication. Those who have just stopped using contraceptive pills are at higher risk too.
Symptoms and Risks of Multiple Pregnancies
A woman carrying multiple babies generally appears bigger and weighs more as compared to a woman having a singleton pregnancy. The doctor would recommend an ultrasound scan to verify the same and get a clear picture. Similarly, multiple heartbeats may be detected by a Doppler scan. Furthermore, elevated levels of HCG and abnormal AFP levels are the indications of multiple pregnancies. In such a condition, pregnancy related symptoms like morning sickness, fatigue and fetal movements would be more severe and defined.
When an IVF clinic in Delhi detects multiple pregnancies, they are more cautious about the case. It is so because the condition is associated with various risk factors. The most common complications in such cases are gestational hypertension and gestational diabetes. There is also a chance that the woman may go into premature labor and deliver before time. A premature baby may be born with serious birth defects and underdeveloped organs. With multiple pregnancies, the risk of miscarriage also runs high and the woman may lose one or more of the babies.
Precautions to be taken for Multiple Pregnancies
Diagnosis of multiple pregnancies warrants for special care and precautions for a woman. Being high risk pregnancy, such cases need constant monitoring from the beginning till end. Regular physical examination, ultrasound scans and tests are done to ensure the well-being of the mother and the baby. Timely resolution of any issues can ensure good health and safety for both of them,
It is important for the woman to be vigilant and get medical help as soon as she notices anything amiss. She must take extra care of her health during entire pregnancy. Healthy diet and lifestyle makes all the difference in this respect. Staying stress free and taking lots of rest are equally essential. All this becomes even more important if conception has been achieved using an assisted reproductive technique such as IVF.
IVF and Multiple Pregnancies
The chances of multiple pregnancies are considerably higher for IVF conception vis-à-vis natural conception. Nearly one in six IVF cases can result in multiple births as compared to one in eighty in natural conception. The reason is that most IVF clinics in Delhi opt for transferring multiple embryos to increase the chances of success. However, this is like a double-edged sword, with corresponding increase in multiple pregnancy risk.
Infertility specialists have various options for IVF patients to resolve this matter. The risk can be avoided with one of these options. Single embryo transfer is one of the best ways to prevent multiple pregnancies. Here, it is important to ensure that the other parameters of IVF success such as endometrial receptivity are in place. Blastocyst stage embryo transfer is another measure which IVF clinics in Delhi use for better success rate with single embryo.
When additional embryos have been cultured but only one is chosen for transfer, the remaining can be frozen for future. For women of advanced maternal age, it is advisable to have two embryos transferred. Overall, better care and precautions ensure that women with multiple pregnancies can have safe delivery and healthy babies.
Gaudium IVF, the top IVF centre in Delhi, is a trusted name where patient can get the best treatment for the most complex infertility issues as well as complicated pregnancies. Contact today for free second opinion from Dr Manika Khanna, the expert infertility specialist in Delhi
