The Impact of IVF, Where To Labour and Dad's Seeing the Birth

Tuesday 23rd of April 2013 | Category: Pregnancy News | Written by: Leoarna Mathias

Earlier this month, Professor Robert Edwards, a pioneer of IVF and Nobel Prize winner, died. Louise Brown, who, in 1978 was the first person to be born using this technique, described him as 'like a grandfather' to her. When Professor Edwards started researching fertility in the 1950s, the idea that anything could be done about one's failure to conceive a child, was pretty alien. Nowadays, there is an automatic assumption that if it is taking you a while to conceive, then you just pop along to your local fertility clinic, hand over a few quid, and bob's your son or daughter. However, the statistics tell us a different story, and it is still the case that only 25% of treatments lead to a successful pregnancy.

Statistics and Reality

Current research suggests that one in six or seven couples will have difficulty trying to conceive. This is a stark statistic, as my husband and I know only too well; we were, earlier in our marriage, one of those couples. Within the confines of a short blog post I can't even begin to tell you what an arduous, painful and isolating experience it was. We underwent three rounds of treatment, and had only one miscarriage to show for it. But, thankfully, we are now blessed with two naturally-conceived children. I genuinely don't know how they came to be here, but I'm grateful to whatever fate or destiny made it possible. But I remember very clearly the agony of failing to conceive year after year, and would encourage others to seek help sooner rather than later, before the cliched old clock ticks deafeningly in one's ears.

Here at Pregnancy.co.uk we've taken an inside look at how to cope with struggling to conceive. Have a read to see if our thoughts raise any pertinent issues for you, or simply to make sure you are doing all that you can to maximise your chances.

A Life Changing Experience?

Earlier this week The Independent reported on a study that found a significant proportion of dads had suffered post-traumatic stress disorder as a result of witnessing the delivery of their baby in life threatening circumstances. Dad at the birth Over on Twitter just a few people expressed a distinct lack of sympathy towards such men, arguing that what the mother is going through should be the real and only focus. But fathers who are present for the birth, who are planning to be involved in their child's life, have feelings too. The results of this research found that for the men interviewed, the experience of being fully aware of the fears of the medical team taking care of their partners, and yet feeling side-lined while they did their life saving work, was very traumatic indeed. And yet, Ally Fogg of The Guardian warns against a return to men pacing the corridors while their wives labour surrounded by relative strangers. He reminds us that witnessing the birth of one's child is an experience unlikely to be matched by anything else in life. There are a couple of great books aimed at supporting men to be ready for pregnancy, delivery and beyond, here and here and on Babies.co.uk we've taken a look at the shift in your relationships here.

Birthing Pressures

And staying with the issue of labour and birth, a recent piece in The Telegraph attempted to persuade The Duchess of Cambridge to consider a home birth, while others eschewed such a strategy and argued for the safety of a more medicalised approach to birth. Like many other aspects of parenting, how - and where - you choose to deliver is very much a personal choice. As someone who required a little intervention to ensure the safe arrival of her children, I'll admit to a little envy when I hear stories of birthing pools, candlelight, and popping the kettle on straight afterwards, while the baby latches on for a first feed. At the same time, I'm extraordinarily grateful for the skill and humanity demonstrated by the midwives and support staff who helped to bring our children into this world, and my memories of those moments are honest yet positive. Beyond this, we should all be mindful of how, with a baby boom pending, there is a growing problem about the availability of midwives, so not every woman is currently able to choose home birth even if they want to. Here on Pregnancy.co.uk we've taken a look at these issues, to enable you to make an informed choice about the way you would like to labour, and the pros and cons of being at home for the birth of your child.