First of all, congratulations on your successful embryo implantation!!!!!!
We are looking forward to your successful pregnancy as much as you are!
And we are also excited to elaborate on the IVF pregnancy symptoms you will face week by week which will be of utmost help to you.
Before diving into the week-by-week symptoms of IVF pregnancy let us make this clear to you: IVF PREGNANCY IS THE SAME AS NORMAL PREGNANCY.
Yes, IVF involves artificial assistance. However, it is only up to the stage of embryo implantation. Once the embryo gets implanted in the uterus successfully you will have to continue the pregnancy as any normal pregnancy journey.
You may need some help from your fertility specialist with the weaning off from your IVF hormone treatments. Other than that you are good to carry on as any normal pregnant woman.
The Trimesters:
Trimester is a common term you will hear around the event of pregnancy. The trimester refers to a period of three months.
The changes your body undergoes during pregnancy can be significant over every three months.
The gestation period is classified into:
- The First Trimester: 1 to 12 weeks
- The Second Trimester: 13 to 28 weeks
- The Third Trimester: 29 to 40 weeks
A normal pregnancy ranges between 38 to 42 weeks of conception or embryo development.
All the Best for your IVF Journey !
Symptoms During The First Trimester Weeks
- The first trimester is crucial for monitoring and managing early symptoms to ensure a successful outcome for mother and baby.
You may be very excited in the initial days after hearing the sweet news of successful conception. But these are the days you must be highly careful as well.
The first trimester is around 1 to 12 weeks of pregnancy. This period is crucial as the risk of miscarriages is higher.
Look after the early symptoms of pregnancy and follow the prescriptions of your fertility specialist and obstetrician.
Week 1 to 4:
The early symptoms of IVF pregnancy are similar to that of normal pregnancy. Some early pregnancy symptoms include mild abdominal cramps and light spotting
Abdominal cramps are normal symptoms of pregnancy. They occur due to hormonal changes and the growth of the embryo. Mild abdominal cramps are fine. If it gets severe, consult your fertility specialist to check for ectopic pregnancy or other factors.
Spotting is harmless light bleeding. It occurs because of the embryo implanting on the wall of the uterus.
Week 5 to 8:
Your embryo grows rapidly during this phase. You can experience symptoms such as breast tenderness, fatigue, and nausea.
Breasts tend to become tender or develop soreness at this stage. This is because the normal tissues of the breast begin to change into milk-producing tissues.
You may also experience constant tiredness due to the increase in progesterone level. Get plenty of sleep and rest.
Nausea, dizziness, and morning sickness are also common symptoms around this period. Incorporate an appropriate diet that does not let you dehydrate.
Weeks 9-12:
Your embryo turns into a fetus around this period. You can experience heightened morning sickness and a sense of smell. This can disturb you and make you feel irritated. You can also avoid certain foods due to strong smell.
Symptoms During The Second Trimester Weeks
- In the second trimester, early symptoms often subside, leading to a more stable pregnancy focused on fetal development and maternal changes.
All the pregnancy symptoms begin to subside during the second trimester. Your pregnancy also becomes stable with a lower risk of miscarriage.
Your IVF specialist may suggest a regular obstetrician for you to visit too.
This period is around 13 to 28 weeks.
Week 13 to 16:
You may begin to get the pregnancy glow and appearance of a baby bump. There will be an increase in energy level also.
Spotting is harmless bleeding. It occurs because of the embryo implanting on the wall of the uterus.
Week 17 to 20:
You can feel your baby’s movements during this period. You can also begin to experience severe back pain.
Back pains occur because your body is preparing to face labour. Your ligaments become softer and stretch straining your lower back and pelvis and leading to back pain. If you are having a doubt about straining affect your embryo transfer, it’s important to discuss this with your healthcare provider to ensure you have the best care and advice.
Weeks 21-24:
Organs begin to develop in your fetus. You can gain weight and see changes in your skin.
With weight gain, you can face stretches on your skin which usually go away after pregnancy. You can use sunscreen or other cosmetics your physician recommends to apply on your skin.
Symptoms During The Third Trimester Weeks
- In the third trimester, the womb expands, causing physical changes and increased pressure on organs, making regular obstetrician visits and birth planning essential.
With the third trimester, your womb enlarges. This can put pressure on the organs in your chest and abdominal cavity.
The third-trimester ranges from week 25 of your pregnancy to your delivery day.
Regular visits to your obstetrician and considering birth plans become essential around this period.
Week 25 to 28:
During this time you may experience shortness of breath. The womb may press against the internal making it harder for your lungs to expand. Also, the increasing weight of your body can make you feel short of breath after any activity.
Week 29 to 32:
You can experience false labor pain due to your uterine contractions around this time. It is called Braxton Hicks contractions. They help your body prepare for labor.
Weeks 33-36:
Your baby comes to a head-down position inside your womb. This can press against your bladder making you frequent the restroom often. You may also experience fatigue.
Weeks 37-40:
Your baby begins to dive deep into your pelvis. Your breathing will become easier as the womb weight gets shifted down. Your obstetrician will guide your labor from this phase.
Conclusion
To reiterate, the symptoms of IVF pregnancy are the same as that of normal pregnancy. The only difference you can experience as an IVF patient is that you will receive extra prenatal care during the first trimester which is only a boon.
Also, it is not mandatory to experience all the possible signs of pregnancy. Some may experience few to no symptoms and others a slew of symptoms.
Follow your obstetrician’s guidance carefully for a healthy pregnancy and delivery. And don’t worry—having a normal delivery after IVF is possible..
Wishing you a successful delivery!
To know more about the week-by-week symptoms of IVF pregnancy get in touch with a fertility specialist.
FAQs
Usually, a pregnancy is safe after the first 12 weeks of gestation. A miscarriage or stillbirth can still happen in the later period of pregnancy. Yet the chances of miscarriage after 12 weeks of pregnancy are a little low. The same goes for IVF pregnancy as well.
You can get pregnant naturally even after failed IVF. The ovarian stimulation and hormonal treatments given during IVF can extend help even after the end of the treatment. Even if you do not get pregnant immediately in the next month right after failing IVF you will still be able to succeed in the following months. You can also choose to go through another cycle of IVF treatment to achieve pregnancy.
Your pregnancy becomes stable after an initial period of 12 weeks of gestation. The risks of IVF pregnancy are the same as that of normal pregnancy. For IVF pregnancy your fertility specialist may advise an ultrasound examination every one or two weeks. You may be advised to stay extra careful during the first trimester as well.