In-Vitro Fertilization (IVF)

In-vitro fertilization (IVF),

colloquially known as “test-tube baby”, is a form of assisted reproduction whereby the woman’s egg is fertilized by the man’s sperm in the laboratory. After fertilization, the resulting embryo is transferred to the woman’s womb.

While in theory IVF is not a complicated process, the couple has to be both physically and psychologically prepared as they are put through a strict regime to maximize the chances of successful fertilization and conception.

To begin the process of IVF, the woman will need to have daily injections to stimulate the eggs in her ovaries to grow. She will also need to undergo regular ultrasound scans and blood tests to monitor the growth of the eggs. When the eggs are matured and ‘ripe for picking’, they are retrieved from the woman’s body using a fine needle under ultrasound scan guidance. The eggs are then fertilized by the husband’s sperms. Successful fertilization will result in embryos. The embryos are in turn monitored for at least two days. Two, sometimes three under certain conditions, healthiest embryos are then transferred to the womb.

While IVF would seem to be an attractive proposition to many, IVF is definitely not a panacea to address all subfertility woes. It may not be suitable for some couples. Not only the medical indications for starting IVF must be valid, the couple must be both physically and emotionally strong enough to see each other through the journey with its attendant vicissitudes. Every stage of IVF is filled with anxiety for the couple. Depending on the outcome at every step, the hopes and mood of the couple may either be lifted high or plummet low, not unlike a psychological roller-coaster ride.

As the eggs are being stimulated, every single egg that is growing is a source of hope for the couple. However, not all eggs that grow in the ovaries will turn out to be matured eggs of good quality. Hence, the first dampener for the couple may be to learn that the number of usable mature eggs after retrieval may not correlate with the number of eggs being tracked on the scans.

Secondly, not all eggs that are fertilized will grow and develop into embryos. So the second reality check comes when the couple is told that the number of good embryos may be less than the number of eggs fertilized. The day the good embryos are eventually transferred into the womb is when the couple will likely be at the peak of mixed feelings. Having an embryo in the womb is the first step that the woman comes close to being pregnant even as the couple will pray very hard that the embryo will implant and grow. A positive result for pregnancy two weeks after the transfer of embryo in the womb will be the news the couple is hoping to hear.

Carrying twins is actually a high risk pregnancy that has many associated risks and complications. As the human body is more suited for the growth and development of one baby at a time, the main problem with conceiving twins is premature delivery. Premature delivery is defined as delivery before 37 weeks of pregnancy. On the average, twin pregnancies last 36 weeks before the mother goes into spontaneous labour.


This article was contributed to Tab A Doctor by By Dr Chee Jing Jye.

Common Myths of New Motherhood

As if you needed another challenge on top of learning to be a mom and getting to know your baby, there are a bunch of myths about new babies in circulation. By ridding yourself of some erroneous bits of information, you can streamline your life and make your days and nights more pleasant.

Myth: Babies Should Sleep Through the Night

Lack of sleep is an oft-cited reason to dislike the first months of new motherhood. Sleeping like you did prior to pregnancy is not going to happen for a while. However, there are a couple of key things to remember about nighttime sleep when you're a new mom.

For one thing, no one actually sleeps deeply through the night. If you look at what sleep researchers have known for years, the truth is that everyone passes through different cycles of sleep each night. These are periods of both light and deep sleep. Many adults have minor waking episodes at night. When your baby wakes you up with crying, it might not be much different from those experiences.

Second, in many cases, it is dangerous for babies to sleep through the night. This is because a baby has a tiny belly that cannot hold enough food to get her through the night. By waking to feed, even in small amounts, babies get what they need to survive and thrive. In the beginning, most babies wake up two or three times each night. By three months of age, this has gradually decreased for most families, though it is not uncommon to have a baby who is still waking up once a night even at nearly nine months of age.

Additionally, waking to feed your baby a few times a night gives you the opportunity to meet some of her other needs. This might include changing a dirty diaper or moving your little one into a better sleeping position. Some mothers are also anxious about sleep periods that last too long, so night waking can ease these worries.

Myth: You Will Get Skinny Right Away

You will probably be sad to know that you'll most likely wear maternity clothes home from the hospital. Though you lose a lot of weight when your baby is born, you may also suffer from some swelling, particularly if you have intravenous therapy in labor or postpartum. You will have stretched your abdominal skin, which will take a while to return to its original shape. Remember, it took you nine months to put on the weight, so you can't expect to lose it overnight. However, you will see the most dramatic changes during the first six weeks after birth.

The good news is that breastfeeding can burn up to 1,500 calories a day. It also taps stores of maternal fat that were established in your body specifically for breastfeeding during pregnancy. This makes breastfeeding the natural way to shed unwanted pregnancy pounds.

Myth: The First Six Weeks After Birth Are Unbearable

Surely you have heard this one. Everyone says those first six weeks of little sleep, endless feedings, a sore body, and other physical issues will nearly kill you. Truthfully, many women actually find the first six weeks interesting and pleasant. Many of the sweetest moments you will share with your baby come during late-night feedings and other supposedly "terrible" moments. Don't expect the first six weeks postpartum to be miserable; you may end up pleasantly surprised to find these few weeks go more smoothly than you thought.

Myth: After the First Few Days You Should Feel Like Your Old Self Again

Giving birth is hard work. You will likely feel drained from pregnancy and birth for weeks to come. You'll probably also be a bit overwhelmed by the task of shaping your parenting theories, not to mention tired from a few sleepless nights. While the physical issues are normal and simply take time to heal, your new role as a mother will take the place of certain other activities you enjoyed as your "old self."

It will take at least six weeks for the majority of the physical healing process to occur. During this period of time, your uterus will shrink back down to its prepregnancy size. You will lose the majority of your weight, though it will take additional work to strengthen and tone your muscles. Your hormones will start to level out, and your body will heal any wounds incurred during the birth process.