Knowledge | Amanda's IVF Journey: From Loss to the Birth of Twins
Amanda Gifford and her husband Kenneth are the parents of 9-month-old twins Ethan and Abigail. The twins were conceived during the couple's second in vitro fertilization (IVF) attempt and were born prematurely at 32 weeks. Amanda had previously endured a miscarriage after an unsuccessful IVF pregnancy. The family of four now lives in Delta, Colorado.
Amanda shared her experience in an interview:
“Because of my previous miscarriage, I really wanted to transfer three embryos this time. But my doctor talked me out of it. We ultimately transferred only two embryos and successfully had twins. I am now very grateful that they stopped me from transferring three.”
Amanda said the doctors were very candid about the risks of a multiple pregnancy. “I was 26 and my husband was 30. At our ages, transferring two embryos carried a 60% chance of twins, which is quite high.”
Although the doctors explained the risks of a multiple pregnancy, Amanda initially did not appreciate the complexity of carrying twins. “When I discussed transferring three embryos with my new doctor, she made it very clear that this would greatly increase the risks of premature birth and long-term complications.” Amanda ultimately decided to transfer only two embryos.
Early in pregnancy, Amanda was surprised by how difficult it was. “I was young and healthy, so I expected pregnancy to be relatively easy. But at 20 weeks, I went into preterm labor for no apparent reason. Fortunately, the doctors stopped it and the pregnancy continued, but I spent 11 weeks on hospital bed rest, and the babies were ultimately born eight weeks early.”
Having premature babies was extremely difficult for Amanda. “It was very hard to give birth early and not be able to take the babies home. People often do not realize the heartbreak and challenges of raising premature infants.”
Looking back, Amanda said the experience placed her under severe mental and emotional strain. “Even though I was physically healthy, it affected me deeply. I experienced post-traumatic stress disorder or postpartum depression. Although bed rest left me physically weak, I regained my strength quickly.”
Although Ethan and Abigail are slightly behind in gross motor skills because they were born prematurely, their overall development is good. As their mother, however, Amanda remains concerned about possible long-term health issues.
Despite these difficulties, Amanda remains positive about in vitro fertilization. “If someone is considering IVF, I would still recommend it. Without IVF, we would not have our children. Even after everything we went through, I would not choose any other path.”
Knowledge | Amanda's IVF Journey: From Loss to the Birth of Twins
Knowledge | Amanda's IVF Journey: From Loss to the Birth of Twins
Amanda Gifford and her husband Kenneth are the parents of 9-month-old twins Ethan and Abigail. The twins were conceived during the couple's second in vitro fertilization (IVF) attempt and were born prematurely at 32 weeks. Amanda had previously endured a miscarriage after an unsuccessful IVF pregnancy. The family of four now lives in Delta, Colorado.
Amanda shared her experience in an interview:
“Because of my previous miscarriage, I really wanted to transfer three embryos this time. But my doctor talked me out of it. We ultimately transferred only two embryos and successfully had twins. I am now very grateful that they stopped me from transferring three.”
Amanda said the doctors were very candid about the risks of a multiple pregnancy. “I was 26 and my husband was 30. At our ages, transferring two embryos carried a 60% chance of twins, which is quite high.”
Although the doctors explained the risks of a multiple pregnancy, Amanda initially did not appreciate the complexity of carrying twins. “When I discussed transferring three embryos with my new doctor, she made it very clear that this would greatly increase the risks of premature birth and long-term complications.” Amanda ultimately decided to transfer only two embryos.
Early in pregnancy, Amanda was surprised by how difficult it was. “I was young and healthy, so I expected pregnancy to be relatively easy. But at 20 weeks, I went into preterm labor for no apparent reason. Fortunately, the doctors stopped it and the pregnancy continued, but I spent 11 weeks on hospital bed rest, and the babies were ultimately born eight weeks early.”
Having premature babies was extremely difficult for Amanda. “It was very hard to give birth early and not be able to take the babies home. People often do not realize the heartbreak and challenges of raising premature infants.”
Looking back, Amanda said the experience placed her under severe mental and emotional strain. “Even though I was physically healthy, it affected me deeply. I experienced post-traumatic stress disorder or postpartum depression. Although bed rest left me physically weak, I regained my strength quickly.”
Although Ethan and Abigail are slightly behind in gross motor skills because they were born prematurely, their overall development is good. As their mother, however, Amanda remains concerned about possible long-term health issues.
Despite these difficulties, Amanda remains positive about in vitro fertilization. “If someone is considering IVF, I would still recommend it. Without IVF, we would not have our children. Even after everything we went through, I would not choose any other path.”
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