Are IVF Babies Less Healthy? What the Research Really Shows | #180

In this episode of Healthy As A Mother, Leah and Morgan unpack one of the biggest fears many women have when considering IVF: Are IVF babies less healthy? They explore what the research actually shows around premature birth, low birth weight, NICU admissions, congenital heart defects, allergies, eczema, asthma, and autism.

More importantly, they ask whether those outcomes can truly be attributed to IVF itself. They discuss the many variables that can complicate the research, including the underlying causes of infertility, parental age, sperm and egg health, metabolic and autoimmune conditions, pregnancy complications, and the amount of medical intervention surrounding IVF. They also cover epigenetics, microbiome health, induction and C-sections, baby aspirin, pregnancy monitoring, and why optimizing both parents' health before IVF may matter.

Ultimately, this is a conversation about moving beyond fear and black-and-white thinking to look at IVF with more nuance, critical thinking, and hope. The hosts also share their personal experiences with IVF and why they believe it can be an important tool when it is truly needed, while still questioning how intentionally it is used.

00:00 – Trailer & Introduction

03:45 – Are IVF Babies Less Healthy?

05:34 – The Fear of IVF and Baby Health

07:05 – What the Research Actually Shows

09:26 – Relative Risk vs. Absolute Risk

10:33 – Is IVF Really the Cause?

10:59 – The Underlying Causes of Infertility

14:32 – Sperm Health, Egg Selection & Epigenetics

17:47 – Could IVF Itself Affect Health?