You just had an IVF procedure and 2 weeks later you take a pregnancy
test. The result is out. It’s positive!! Congratulations. You are officially
pregnant. While most women are thrilled at the good news of a positive
result, many feel nervous, especially if they experienced a miscarriage in
the past. We usually advise women to talk to a friend, counselor, or
therapist about their feelings during this phase.
While it’s a time of celebration, and rejoicing it’s important to know your
treatment isn’t over yet. Your medical personnel will advise you to keep
using your progesterone vaginal suppository. Some clinics counsel their
pregnant client to use it till the 12th week. Daily folic acid which was
commenced 12 weeks before the IVF will continue.
In some clinics, your doctor will check your HCG values to ensure it is
rising. You will be counseled to continue eating healthy meals, avoid
cigarette smoke and alcohol consumption; and engage in daily exercises to
ensure you’re fit.
An Ultrasound scan will be carried out at about the 3rd or 4th week after the
embryo transfer. The scan checks for the number of fetuses and also
identifies the presence of a heartbeat (s). Several scans may be done to
check the well-being of the fetuses.
Your blood pressure will usually be checked each time you visit the clinic.
Because a proportionate number of women who have IVF are in their 30s
and 40s, they are usually prone to hypertension and some chronic medical
diseases. Prevention of these conditions, early detection, and treatment
help the mother and baby stay safe.
When the pregnancy is 10 weeks, your doctor may counsel you on the
need for Non-Invasive Prenatal Testing [NIPT]. This test is carried out with
a maternal blood sample to detect the presence of chromosomal
anomalies.
Between 8 – 12 weeks of pregnancy, you will be counseled to see an
obstetrician to manage the pregnancy henceforth. Your obstetrician will
organize an antenatal package best suited for you. Antenatal care is a form
of organized care provided to pregnant women that allows caregivers to
diagnose, treat, and prevent health challenges and promote healthy living
that promotes the well-being of mother and baby.
In cases of multiple pregnancies, your doctor may counsel you to have a
cervical cerclage to assist in keeping the cervix closed.
RISKS OF IVF PREGNANCY
An IVF pregnancy carries a higher risk of several conditions. These
include:
Congenital defects in the fetus
Gestational diabetes
Intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR)
Pregnancy-related hypertension
Preterm labour
Caesarean delivery
If you develop any challenges in pregnancy, your obstetric team should be
notified so they can manage it actively.
In the absence of any medical challenge, the pregnancy is expected to
continue till the delivery of the baby.
