Navigating Fertility and Prematurity: What Families Should Know

November is Prematurity Awareness Month, a time to shine a light on the challenges faced by babies born too soon—and the strength of the families who love them. For families who have walked the difficult path of infertility, finally seeing a positive pregnancy test can feel like crossing the finish line. But the journey doesn’t end there. In fact, for many fertility patients, the next challenge can come unexpectedly: the risk of premature birth.

The Link Between Fertility Treatment and Premature Birth

Studies show that pregnancies achieved through assisted reproductive technology (ART)—like IVF—carry a higher risk of preterm delivery. This is due to several factors, including a greater likelihood of multiple gestations (twins or triplets), as well as age or underlying health conditions that contributed to infertility in the first place. Even single embryo transfers don’t eliminate the risk entirely.

For this reason, it’s important for fertility patients to be informed—not to worry, but to prepare and plan ahead. Understanding the potential risks empowers parents to ask better questions, seek early prenatal care, and advocate for themselves and their babies.

Awareness Builds Resilience

At Carolinas Fertility Institute, our focus doesn’t end with a positive pregnancy test. We want our patients to go on to have healthy pregnancies and thriving babies. Prematurity Awareness Month is an opportunity to talk openly about what can happen after conception—and how we can support our patients every step of the way.

That might mean:

• Referring patients to high-risk obstetric care when needed

• Connecting parents with resources if a NICU stay becomes part of their story

• Recommending emotional health support when the journey is especially complicated

Honoring Strength and Supporting Hope

For patients who’ve faced infertility, navigating a premature birth can feel particularly overwhelming. You’ve already fought so hard to get here. That’s why this month, we honor every parent who’s traveled both roads—through fertility treatment and the NICU—and come out the other side stronger and more resilient.

At CFI, we remain committed to patient-centered fertility care—rooted in science, compassion, and support for the full journey to parenthood. This November, let’s raise awareness, offer hope, and remind one another that every story matters—even the ones that begin a little earlier than expected.