Hey all I'm new to the community. I've been through multiple health problems since the j-pouch was put in and now think I have it all sorted out. One of the top ones is so many blockages and the awful pain they cause. Me and my husband want to start IVF with ICSI soon I was wondering has anyone had any issues with twins and your j-pouch. I know I could easily end up with multiples having IVF and am a bit scared about it but really want my baby. Also I'm afraid that if I start having pain, vomiting and cramps, due to another blockage that I may loose the baby. I've talked to the doctors both GI and the baby doc and they seem to think its ok. Any help with this would be much appreciated. Thanx All
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Actually, "easily end up with twins" isn't necessarily so. The great thing about IVF vs IUI is that you have some control over the number of fertilized eggs you introduce. When you decide how many embryos to transfer, consider all your options, and all possibilities. When we did our first IVF we transferred two embryos figuring if we ended up with twins that was ok. We were warned against higher order multiples, so we didn't transfer more than 2 because then the only way we would get more than twins was if an embryo split. As it is, we got a single (now 7!). When we went for number 2, we transferred only one embryo because I did not want twins with a 2 1/2 year old at home - that baby is now 4 1/2.
Embryo quality also comes into play here. My first transfer my embies were 8 cell on day three - good quality but one had some fracturing. When I transferred for my second baby we had a 6 day hatching embryo and were told there was a 90% it would implant becuase it was so strong.
There was a study done in Boston several years back that the overall success rates for IVF when transferring one embryo vs transferring multiples were almost even.
So, think carefully about how many to transfer. In addition to the issue of conceiving twins, think about what if you conceive more? Would you be able to carry triplets or more? What would your drs say? How would you feel if you were advised to reduce a high order multiple pregnancy? All issues everyone needs to consider. I have a friend who transferred two embryos and both split. She had an incompetent cervix to begin with and was advised to reduce the pregnancy to one or two. So how would you handle it?
IVF can be a great experience, but you do have to be sure to think through all the issues nad have a clinic you really trust. Emotions run high with these procedures and you need to have clear answers to all these questions before you face the issue as they are usually time sensitive.
Good luck!
Embryo quality also comes into play here. My first transfer my embies were 8 cell on day three - good quality but one had some fracturing. When I transferred for my second baby we had a 6 day hatching embryo and were told there was a 90% it would implant becuase it was so strong.
There was a study done in Boston several years back that the overall success rates for IVF when transferring one embryo vs transferring multiples were almost even.
So, think carefully about how many to transfer. In addition to the issue of conceiving twins, think about what if you conceive more? Would you be able to carry triplets or more? What would your drs say? How would you feel if you were advised to reduce a high order multiple pregnancy? All issues everyone needs to consider. I have a friend who transferred two embryos and both split. She had an incompetent cervix to begin with and was advised to reduce the pregnancy to one or two. So how would you handle it?
IVF can be a great experience, but you do have to be sure to think through all the issues nad have a clinic you really trust. Emotions run high with these procedures and you need to have clear answers to all these questions before you face the issue as they are usually time sensitive.
Good luck!
Agree with everything JillM said. We put back all three of our embryos as we knew we wouldn't have another shot at IVF or even freezing and using later due to cost, with the knowledge that we could have twins, triplets, or something more (and being ok with advise to reduce if needed).
We evaluated and made the decision best for our family, just like we did when considering the likelihood of Down's (pretty high with first pregnancy at 39) and M/C and of course worst case with pouch (lifetime ileostomy). You have to think about more than just "a baby" when contemplating having one, including the costs to feed and clothe it and send it to daycare/school. It's a lot to consider, for sure, but don't let baby fever guide your decisions.
We evaluated and made the decision best for our family, just like we did when considering the likelihood of Down's (pretty high with first pregnancy at 39) and M/C and of course worst case with pouch (lifetime ileostomy). You have to think about more than just "a baby" when contemplating having one, including the costs to feed and clothe it and send it to daycare/school. It's a lot to consider, for sure, but don't let baby fever guide your decisions.