I didn't embolize to the lungs this time but I understand the anxiety. I still feel it after delivering, honestly I felt it prior to being pregnant too. Once you've had a clot, that fear never really goes away.
I finally wrote down all of my questions (about my treatment, blood thinners and delivery, how long would I be allowed to labour without anti-coagulation, likelihood of clotting again, what could happen if I clotted again in my left leg, hormone changes during breastfeeding, etc.) and gave the list to my doctor and said "answer these" - I found, with the baby brain, I was always forgetting to ask my doctors questions and I was so nervous about the delivery and the weeks that followed but would constantly forget to ask the questions I needed to ask. I was very fortunate in my case that my doctor was very good about being straight forward and there were a few things she didn't know so she contacted the specialists and had the answers the next week for me.
You still have lots of time to get those answers you need and hopefully that will help lessen the anxiety of it all. (Easier said than done though, I know!)
Are you on year long treatment for your PE? Sorry to hear that there is still cardiac damage, that must be weighing heavy on your mind as well.
Thanks for your reply, I do need to think of what I need to ask before I go but I guess a lot of my questions are more me wanting reassurance that things won't go wrong which they can't really answer. At age 43 this really is my last chance to complete my family.
I'm so glad you had your LO ok despite the added challenges of a car accident, it certainly gives me hope for a good outcome for myself. The heart damage is on my mind, although it doesn't seem to affect me I'm worried the strain of labour may cause problems.
I've been very lucky, I really didn't think I was going to make it, I don't think they thought I was going to make it. I guess it's just one day at a time and trying to stay positive, no point worrying over something that is out of my hands.
Congrats again on your LO
Keeping positive can do wonders but I understand the reality of how scary it can be and that some days you just can't get that fear out of your mind.
Very true, the doctors can give you statistics and scenarios but no one can say "Yes, this is exactly how it is going to play out" which can be terrifying. Hopefully you have a good support system around you to help you with the harder days, where the "what could happen" scenarios start running through your mind. Having someone to talk to about them (without having them trivialize your fears) really helped me get through my pregnancy.
How far along are you? Has your medical team come up with a delivery plan? (No worries if you're not comfortable discussing it, I know it can be a very personal decision.) Be prepared for your birth plan to go completely out the window though, mine sure did, hah! I still have a hard time talking about the actual birth as it was a long, traumatic experience, but the outcome was good and I think of that every day and am thankful. I have a healthy baby and I am healthy (although much chubbier!) so I am grateful every day.
I wish you the very, very best and hope you have a completely uneventful delivery and a healthy baby at the end.
Thank you for your positive thoughts
I'm not really going to have much of a birth plan, I've already been told I won't be able to go to the midwife led unit this time as I have to have constant monitoring. I'm just going to have a list of preferences, no epidural, no c-section, no unnecessary intervention. But I'm not a drama queen so will accept my doctors recommendations. My main concern is a healthy baby not the birth of my dreams.
