selective reduction

JUSTYSMOM · Oct 29, 2003

Being an IVF infertility patient myself, I am well aware of the risks of multiple's. However, IVF clinics have become very attuned to keeping that risk to a minimum. That is why now most clinics only transfer 2-3 max on women under the age of 40. Even women in their forties are now down to 4 maximium.

To think that we are irresponsibly killing innocent babies is so far from the truth of why we are going to a fertility clinic to begin with! We WANT a baby. But we certainly don't want to risk our lives in doing so.

The truth of the matter is this- Selective reduction is a very personal matter between husband & wife. In fact, we have to sign forms regarding our intentions of selective reduction.

If I got pregnant with more than 2 embryos, I would most definetly have a selective redution. I already am a mom to one little boy. I am in a high risk category (due to age, weight and past pregnancy complications). I would not chance maternal death just to try to have triplets. I would not want to leave my son motherless.

But the point being, infertility patients really don't have a "choice" as to how many embryos will or will not stick. This is our only way to have a baby.

PegRNBSN · Oct 30, 2003

I guess it's all in how you view life and when life begins. If I asked you if you would have two babies but had to kill one shortly after birth for the other to survive, I am sure everyone would say no, they wouldn't do that. If the question was you had to kill an 18 week twin to let the other survive it becomes much more unclear to many what is the answer.

My whole point in this argument is that when life is deemed dispensible to obtain a perceived greater good, we are devaluing life. We are playing God.

While I feel for those who are unable to conceive without in vitro,( close friends and relatives among them) I do not believe that the desire for a baby supercedes the responsibilities to the lives that are created.

We recently had a case where a man received a stronger sentence for cruelty to his dog than a young girl who threw her baby in garbage can to die. I sincerely believe that society views a baby's life as disposable and it is very difficult to punish those who could have legally killed the baby a few weeks earlier.

fourbirds4me · Oct 30, 2003

Just a clarification..... The McCaughey septeplets were not implanted. She concieved using an ovulatory stimulant namely pergonal.

I think this is an ethical delima that all of us have to deal with in our own minds. I have had to take part in several "terminations" for fetal demise and one for "lethal fetal anomolies". The anomolie infant was born "alive". It was very hard and I originally didn't think I could do it. In the end I found myself being clinically interested and very sad that the parents had to go through this ordeal. It was a loss for them. The outcome of that pregnancy was the same whether is was an 18 week "induction" or a 26 week demise. Very difficult choice. Probably not one I would make but thank God I've not had to make it.

imenid37 · Oct 30, 2003

Thanks for the clarification 4birds. An ob/gyn dr. I work with told me the septuplets were implanted. See how much you learn from all these smart nurses here!