fertility procedures

[ladyt28]

If I may ask, I have always wondered what people think about fertility procedures where many eggs are fertilized and then several are "thinned" out. To me, this is no different than abortion but it never seems to be as much of an issue as abortion. I didn't want to derail the thread about abortion and I apologize if I should not have asked this without being a formal member of CC but this is where I would like to hear from.

[PreachersWife2004]

If done right, I see nothing wrong with fertility treatments.

My brother and sister-in-law are a good example of this. They put together four eggs/sperm (they use the turkey baster method - that's my techie term for it) and then they are implanted with four eggs. They did this with their first pregnancy, and two of the eggs took. They have beautiful twin girls that will turn six on Christmas Eve.

This time around, they did four eggs again, and lo and behold, THREE of them took. That's right folks, they are pregnant with triplets. At one point in time, the doc asked if they wanted to do a selective reduction. My SIL didn't even understand the question at first. Needless to say, they don't see that doc anymore.

One of my friends recently found out she was pregnant with quads. She is roughly 6 weeks along, and has chosen selective reduction of THREE of her eggs. This pains me, and is an incorrect usage of fertility treatments. It is an abortion under a different name.

God gave us the knowledge to invent these treatments, but he did not mean for us to abuse them.

[ladyt28]

She is roughly 6 weeks along, and has chosen selective reduction of THREE of her eggs. This pains me, and is an incorrect usage of fertility treatments. It is an abortion under a different name.



This is the part that I wonder how others feel. I feel the same as you do - it is abortion under a different name.

[edb19]

I have good friends who had triplets via in vitro just over a year ago.

Their fertility specialist recommended a selective abortion to reduce the three to two. Bernie asked the doctor how they would decide which life to end (Bernie's words) and the physician actually pointed to the ultrasound picture and said - this one because of the postition. Anyhow - my friends said absolutely not, they understood that the doctor has to discuss the option (informed consent and all) but they recognize the risks and accept them. Should have ended there - but the physician did bring it up a second time which really upset my friends as they had made their position clear.

Anyhow - Amy carried her triplets to nearly 35 weeks term, they spent minimal time in the NICU, all 3 are developing normally - pretty much equivilant to full term babies the same age. They saw the fertility doctor for something over the summer (maybe a NICU reunion - I don't remember exactly) and picked up their son to introduce to the doctor - their intro "this is the baby you wanted us to abort - and he's perfect." I hope the doctor felt ashamed.

[PreachersWife2004]

I think it's awful that doctors are required to ask that question when multiples are involved.

My friend's sister has triplets that were conceived naturally, and the doctors did not ask her. I wonder if they are only required to ask that when fertility treatments are used.

[synger]

We went through years and years of trying to conceive. It was such a lonely, painful, questioning time. But we discussed the various options and decided that we would do everything up to in vitro, but would not go to that step. We did not want to perhaps be forced to choose among multiple children.

By God's grace, it never got to that point. After seven years, and many, MANY doctor visits, we conceived. Gem will be seven in the spring.

But I always feel for those who go that route, and have to choose, even if it's choosing to keep them all. The hunger for a child can be SO strong... and yet to have more than two at a time can be so dangerous, draining, expensive... you name it. It's a hard decision no matter how it goes.

We also discussed what we would do if there were problems with the child. Because of my age, the doctor insisted on amniocentesis. We know that if there had been certain problems, he would have suggested abortion. We made it clear that, while we would welcome any information about our baby that would help us prepare for her, we would not abort her even if there were problems.

I would hope that more Christian churches would offer the sort of emotional and spiritual support we needed during that time of fear and longing.

[Cromwe11]

I think it's awful that doctors are required to ask that question when multiples are involved.

My friend's sister has triplets that were conceived naturally, and the doctors did not ask her. I wonder if they are only required to ask that when fertility treatments are used.
I'm sure that since the Doctor was involved with the previous treatment he has to address things like this because he is liable for the results.. thus is open to malpractice suites etc.

[PreachersWife2004]

I'm sure that since the Doctor was involved with the previous treatment he has to address things like this because he is liable for the results.. thus is open to malpractice suites etc.

Can you clarify this for me?

This is two different doctors and two different people. My SIL is pregnant with triplets through IVF. My FRIEND'S sister had triplets that were conceived naturally.

In my SIL's case, the doctor asked her about selective reduction. In my friend's sister's case, the doctor did not ask her.

Hence my wondering if they only asked that of IVF multiples.

And if so, how awful. :( They shouldn't be asking it period.

[ladyt28]

I never even thought of how the two means of being pregnant with multiples are treated so differently - that IS awful for one mother to be asked if she wants to terminate some of the pregnancies! Do you think that the Dr's believe they have some kind of "obligation" to offer a "choice" when they believe They are the ones responsible for the pregnancy? Don't they realize that God is in control of ALL pregnancies regardless of how they were started???

[NDNgirl4ever]

Fertility treatments are good thing, and I have no problem with them.
I think it's awful that doctors are required to ask that question when multiples are involved

It's not awful when you look at the high risk level for multiple births. It can be unhealthy for the mother to carry quads or triplets, and it's bad for the fetuses too. The doctors who ask that are being good doctors. They are asking the patient if they want to take that health risk, and informing them of every option, which is exactly what a good doctor or nurse does. Do you think that the Dr's believe they have some kind of "obligation" to offer a "choice" when they believe They are the ones responsible for the pregnancy?

Yes, doctors, midwives, nurses ect ARE obligated to make sure that their patients are fully aware of all their options for every condition. This includes giving women fair and unbiased info on reduction/abortion, and ensuring that they have access to the procedure. To do anything less would be unprofessional.

My opinion isn't going to be popular, but pregnancy complications run in my family. if I were carrying multiples, I'd think about reduction too, reguardless of how they are concieved. Having high order multiples would be too risky for me. I would want the kids I did have to be as healthy as possible, and I would want to be healthy as well.

[PreachersWife2004]

My opinion isn't going to be popular, but pregnancy complications run in my family. if I were carrying multiples, I'd think about reduction too, reguardless of how they are concieved. Having high order multiples would be too risky for me. I would want the kids I did have to be as healthy as possible, and I would want to be healthy as well.

So basically you're saying you trust yourself more than you trust God.

You have no guarantees that even one fetus will be healthy.