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Childbirth/Home water birth wise after IVF?
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Question
My husband and I have had troubles conceiving. Naturally and IUI (intra-uterine insemination have failed. Now we're attempting IVF (In vitro fertilisation) with a donor egg and expect success. Do difficulties conceiving correlate to difficulties birthing? We had long ago favored underwater birth, preferably at home. Now I'm wondering whether it is unwise to consider. Are my risks higher due to conception difficulties? Should I rule out either birthing at home or under water?
Helen,
There is no correlation between difficulty conceiving and difficulty birthing. The only instance in which assisted conception pregnancies become high risk pregnancies is if you conceive high order multiples.
If you have a singleton or even twin pregnancy, then a home waterbirth can and should be a safe option.
Conceiving by IVF alone is not an indicator that your pregnancy will then be high risk. With all other factors the same, then you should be considered low risk and a candidate for a home waterbirth.
In talking to other couples who've had difficulty conceiving, they sometimes feel that having a low intervention birth is just the healing they need after the invasiveness of assisted conception.
Just because your body needed some help to conceive doesn't mean you won't be able to birth your baby successfully.
I wish you all the best!
Catherine
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| Rating(1-10) | Knowledgeability = 10 | Clarity of Response = 10 | Politeness = 10 |
| Comment | Thank-you, this addressed ALL my concerns. Now having more 'lift time' than either of our vehicles, a non-hospital birth would be very spiritually and emotionally soothing. | ||
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Answers by Expert:
Catherine Beier MS CBE
Expertise
I can provide evidence-based information and current research findings concerning childbirth and pregnancy. My specializations include natural childbirth, pregnancy and birth interventions, fetal positioning, labor induction, choosing a care provider, midwives, homebirth, unassisted birth, natural pain relief, medications in pregnancy and birth, informed consent, understanding the risks and benefits of childbirth choices, doulas, waterbirth, childbirth methods, childbirth education classes, cesarean section, and VBAC.
Experience
I have been a childbirth educator, mother, author, public speaker, researcher, and birth advocate for the past 9 years. I am also the author of Giving Birth Naturally, a site dedicated to natural childbirth and pregnancy information. I publish evidence-based articles on pregnancy, childbirth, newborn care, and post-partum care. I'm also a mother of three children, two daughters and one son all born naturally. To learn more about what normal birth looks like, view the natural childbirth video of my son being born at home unassisted.
Publications
My book, Birth Outside the Box, was published in 2007.
Education/Credentials
I hold a Master's degree in communication disorders with an emphasis in child development. I am also an independent childbirth educator.
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