Profile of live-born infants of in-vitro fertilisation

Abstract

Introduction: The Army Hospital (R&R) is the only service hospital providing in-vitro fertilisation (IVF) facility. Neonatal characteristics of live-born infants at this centre over a two-year period are analyzed in this study. Methods: Data on 504 consecutive live-born IVF infants over a two-year period (01 Feb 2007 to 31 Jan 2009) were analysed. Result: Of the 504 neonates, 190 (37.7%) were born by vaginal delivery, 156 (30.9%) by elective lower segment cesarean section (LSCS) and 127 (25.19%) following emergency LSCS. Maternal illness posing specific risk to the neonate was present in 165 out of 504 (32.7%). There were 239 (47.4%) preterm neonates. Males formed 51.8% of the cohort. Singletons accounted for 51.2%, while the rest (48.8%) were products of twin pregnancies. Small for gestational age neonates formed 22.6% (n = 114). A total of 20 (3.9%) infants had congenital malformations. There were 242 (48.1%) low birth weight neonates. A total of 128 (25.4%) neonates needed neonatal intensive care. Of the 504, there were 474 (94.1%) survivors while 30 (5.9%) did not survive. Twentynine (6.1%) neonates required readmission during the neonatal period. Conclusion: In our setting, neonates born following IVF appeared to be at increased risk of prematurity, multiple births and low birth weight. Proper obstetric and neonatal management can result in good neonatal outcomes.