close
close

IVF Treatment Guide to Caring for Mother and Baby: From Preconception Health to Emotional Support, a Doctor Shares His Insights | Health

July 21, 2024 1:26 PM IST

From pre-conception health to postpartum follow-up care, here’s what you need to know about maternal and child health during IVF.

IVF or In Vitro Fertilization refers to the process where eggs are removed from the body and manually mixed with sperm in a laboratory to fertilize them. One or two of the fertilized eggs are then directly implanted into the uterus to achieve pregnancy. During the IVF process, the health of the mother and later after delivery, the health of the baby is the primary concern. In an interview with HT Lifestyle, Dr Samhitha, Consultant Obstetrician and Gynecologist, Prashanth Hospitals, Chennai, shared how we need to be careful to ensure that the health of both the mother and the baby are fine.

Throughout the IVF process, the health of the mother and later, after delivery, the health of the baby is the main concern. (HT File)
Throughout the IVF process, the health of the mother and later, after delivery, the health of the baby is the main concern. (HT File)

Preconception health:

Preconception health is extremely important because lifestyle and body habits pose many problems. Obesity and polycystic ovary syndrome are directly related and there is a risk of azoospermia (absence of sperm) in many obese and diabetic male patients. It also has a direct impact on the seminal parameters of men and on the ovarian reserve of women.

Genetic testing:

Genetic screening is not routinely recommended for all couples undergoing IVF; it is only performed in cases of a history of recurrent miscarriages or a history of a previous abnormal baby.

Caring for the mother and baby during IVF treatment. (Representative photo)
Caring for the mother and baby during IVF treatment. (Representative photo)

Emotional support:

Emotional support is the most important need when a couple undergoes IVF, especially for a mother, because it is a long and delicate procedure that involves many appointments, ultrasounds, and procedures under anesthesia. Sometimes, seeing failures after embryo transfer cycles can be very emotionally stressful.

Prenatal care:

Prenatal care is essential in all pregnancies. In the case of IVF, pregnancies require a lot of support in the form of progesterone, other hormones and a healthy lifestyle. Prenatal yoga and physiotherapy are recommended because mobility is of utmost importance.

Postpartum follow-up care:

In older adults, problems with diabetes, hypertension, thyroid and heart disease can be observed, which requires post-pregnancy and childbirth monitoring.