After How Many Weeks IVF Pregnancy Is Safe?
For those undergoing in vitro fertilization (IVF), the journey to pregnancy can be filled with anticipation, hope and also anxiety. One of the biggest questions on an expecting mother’s mind is when is the pregnancy finally “safe” and the risk of miscarriage starts decreasing. This concern is valid, as studies show the miscarriage rate for IVF pregnancies in the first trimester is estimated up to 11-14%. However, there is good news – the odds start improving dramatically after reaching certain milestone weeks.
What Impacts IVF Pregnancy Success Rates
There are various factors that play a role in influencing the viability and safety of an IVF pregnancy, including:
- Maternal Age – The older the mother, the higher the chances of chromosomal abnormalities leading to miscarriage. At age 35, risk is 15%. At 40, risk increases to 34%.
- Embryo Quality – Embryos graded higher have a better chance of resulting in an ongoing pregnancy without miscarriage. Top quality embryos have 85% viability.
- Number of Previous Failures – More previous failed transfers or miscarriages reduces future viability rates. After 3 failures is considered “recurrent implantation failure”.
- Lifestyle Factors – Smoking, alcohol abuse, high BMI can adversely impact IVF pregnancy rates. Optimizing health improves safety.
Miscarriage Risk by Week in IVF Pregnancies
Here is how the miscarriage risk changes week-by-week after a positive pregnancy test following IVF:
- Week 4 – 1 in 4 risk of loss
- Week 5 – 1 in 5 risk
- Week 6 – 1 in 10 risk
- Week 7 – 1 in 15 risk
- Week 8 – 1 in 25 risk
- Week 12 – 1 in 100 risk
As you can see, once an IVF pregnancy makes it through the first 8-10 weeks, the odds start going down more significantly. By week 12 the risk is just 1%.
After How Many Weeks Are IVF Pregnancies Considered Viable
Generally speaking, IVF pregnancies are considered viable once they reach these two essential milestone weeks with a heartbeat confirmed:
- Week 6 – At this point, the risk drops to 9-11%. Considered a “chemical pregnancy.” The embryo has implanted successfully but still very early days.
Week 8 – Now the risk is under 5%. Embryo is developing rapidly into a fetus with recognizable heartbeat on ultrasound. Considered the time most doctors feel confident about viability. By week 9, the risk drops as low as 2%.
Therefore weeks 6 to 8 are critical hurdles for an IVF pregnancy. If you have a healthy ultrasound showing embryo growth and heartbeat by your 8 week appointment, you have crossed an essential viability threshold. However miscarriage risk will never be completely zero until you give birth. After week 8 the risk just keeps progressively decreasing each additional week the pregnancy continues.
Reducing Risk Factors Once Pregnant
The weeks following your first positive pregnancy test are crucial. Here are proactive steps you can take to help support your IVF pregnancy during the critical first trimester:
- Continue Progesterone Supplements – Most doctors will keep you on supplements until at least week 10 as progesterone helps sustain pregnancy in early days.
- Start Prenatal Vitamins – Essential vitamins and minerals support embryo development and reduce defects. Mainly folic acid and omega-3’s.
- Stay Hydrated – Dehydration can impact early cell division and growth. Drink plenty of purified water.
- Prioritize Sleep – Getting consistent deep sleep helps lower stress hormones that can impair pregnancy.
- Adopt Healthy Lifestyle – Follow balanced nutritious diet, exercise moderately, and do relaxing activities. This nourishes your body to nurture the pregnancy while also keeping stress low.
The first trimester requires diligence and tender love of your body. Once you have a healthy first ultrasound, you can finally start bonding more with your future baby! Before you know it, the weeks fly by and risks continually fade as you get one day closer to holding your little one.
Conclusion
The journey towards motherhood through IVF is filled with anticipation and anxiety about when an IVF pregnancy can be considered viable and safe. As covered in this article, generally after 6-8 weeks is when the risk of miscarriage drops considerably and doctors confidently reassure patients that their IVF pregnancy is now safe to continue carrying to term. Specifically after 8 weeks, when a healthy heartbeat is detected, the chances of loss are under 5% and after 9 weeks under 2%. So for those eager moms wondering “after how many weeks ivf pregnancy is safe”, be assured that your long-awaited dreams of parenthood are well within reach around the 2 month milestone in your pregnancy journey ahead. Continue treasuring the miracle growing within you, stay diligent about your health, and trust that before long you’ll be embracing your beautiful IVF baby that made the odds and came to fruitful life.