DEVELOPMENT OF IVF CHILDREN

With IVF, fertilization and the first development of the embryo take p lace outside the mother's body. This has raised questions about the ph ysical and psychological development of NF children. Does IVF lead to an increased risk of congenital defects or to retardation in the cogni tive and motor development in the child? Does parents' strong desire f or a child lead to overprotection or exaggerated expectations? Does th e unusual conception history result in a deviant parent-child relation ship? In this review, various studies concerning these questions are a nalyzed. The conclusion, based on the studies to date, is that no seri ous problems have arisen concerning either the physical or the psychol ogical development of NF children. On the contrary, there are indicati ons of superior parental competence and warmth. (C) 1998 Academic Pres s.