QuestionMy 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?
AnswerHelen,
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
