PAL after Recurrent Losses - come join us!

[Tasha]

Sorry girls, I was replying to Mrs R.

Thank you dairy. I think the only thing I can really do is change hospital. I was promised so much after Riley Rae died and it's just not happening. I feel like they did it to pacify me so I didn't sue them. I know that's really cynical but it does look that way. youre doing well to feel mostly calm, parl is scary no matter how many times you do it. Twins would be awesome, I always thought I'd have them.

Thank you so much Pip, I really hope you're right. I think it's a huge combination of things making me feel unsettled (the gut feeling, the getting close to when things went wrong for RR even though she didn't die until eight weeks later, the pains in my cervix, the broken promises by the hospital, them wishing to reduce meds and more), it's no wonder I'm crazy How is your cramps/contractions now?

 

[dairymomma]

MrsR-Cross posted with you and Tasha but in answer to your progesterone question, I was initially put on it without testing after my 3 consecutive loss. My m/c up to that point were all 7-9.5 weeks and the dr figured it was because my levels were too low to sustain things until the placenta could fully take over. I now know I was most likely having implantation issues as well which is why the placenta wasn't ready. With my later losses (7 & 8) and my last pregnancy, the dr started ordering progesterone levels to see what's going on and my levels were still low despite supplementing and an increased dosage. But I'm wondering if my hormones are balanced out a bit more this time because I'm not getting as bad of side effects as I did with LO. I'd take my pill and I'd be so dizzy and tired for the next hour/and a half that I didn't dare drive or even walk further than across a room without support. This time, I feel only a little bit dizzy and the fatigue isn't nearly as bad so it makes me wonder if I am using the supplement more efficiently/effectively. Does that make sense? Right before my bfp cycle, I was doing a bunch of health stuff focused on balancing hormones (estrogen especially) and I noticed my energy levels shot up, my moods got way better, my skin cleared up, and I just generally felt better. Oddly enough the dr didn't order a progesterone level on me initially this time. Just the betas. I'm not worried as I'm already supplementing but I'm curious as to what they are doing this time.

 

[Mrs Reineke]

Tasha, with what you've been through and with coming up to the point of where you were with RR, I think it's only natural to be very worried. My experience is NOTHING like yours, but for example the farthest I've made it is 6 weeks 1 day and I'll be 6 weeks tomorrow. I'm scared it's all going to end any time now. So I know that doesn't compare at all, but I get how getting over that hump feels. It's very scary.

I'm not really thinking about the progesterone thing much, but it's always in the back of my mind wondering ya know. When I had it checked on CD21 of a non pregnant cycle I was in the very much normal range and then when it was checked again when I got pregnant it had more then doubled, so I feel pretty good about that and think my body is doing what it needs to do naturally. So praying it continues to.

 

[petitpas]

Tasha, I really can't figure out your dose. What does it say on your syringe? Or on the box? Also, if you don't mind the personal question, how much do you weigh?
I can have a look at different recommendations and how it compares to my dose.
Otherwise, have they tested your anti X-a levels yet?

It might help to call your local warfarin clinic or DVT clinic (they use different names in different hospitals) and asking what their protocol is for pregnant women who have clotted before. Generally, obstetricians look from a purely baby point of view and do seem to feel a bit uncomfortable with prescribing higher doses of blood thinners. Haematologists, on the other hand, are intent on preventing another clotting episode in you. They have more experience in prescribing lmwh at different doses.

How much aspirin do you take at the moment? I don't know if you are aware but heparin doesn't cross the placenta so it can only prevent clots in you and on your side of the placenta. Aspirin crosses over and prevents clots on the baby's side. If you are only taking one baby aspirin a day, maybe ask if you can take two. It isn't a minor thing, though, so you need to discuss it with a doctor.

 

[Taurus8484]

Ginny - congratulations xx looking forward to pictures.

Ambig - good to see you here again. Dont know if you remember me but we were on this thread together when we were pregnant with our sons.

Dairy - a BFP?!?!?! Congratulations.

Tasha -

 

[DSemcho]

Thanks Ginny. I'm not good. I don't know where or who to turn to. I'm so scared. I know something is wrong, I knew with RR before it even happened and I'm here again. It's so scary as I know people think I'm nuts because everything is technically okay right now but I knew with H and I knew with RR and now I know with these one.

I've deactivated my fb for a bit. Just not coping with it all.

Thank you for thinking of me when you have a tiny little one. Are you all settling nicely?

Aw Tasha, I really hope it is just paranoia. But I agree with the other ladies, call your doctor as soon as you can and tell them how you're feeling. I'm hoping that because of your past they will be willing to look in and make sure all is well. Fx'd.

 

[kelly1973]

Hi ladies can I join please I've met a few of you from other threads and hoping this one will calm my nerves as they are through the roof at the minute.
Tasha I really hope you see someone today and get your mind put at rest xxx
I'm on low dose aspirin and progesterone which is self subscribed

 

[DSemcho]

I just got shocked by wood in my cash cage.... No metal around it at all... I hope this is not an indication as to how my day is going to go lol.

 

[Squig34]

Tasha, so sorry to hear that you aren't doing well & so anxious. I don't have anything helpful to say but thinking of you. I hope that they are really helpful & sympathetic at the clinic today. Big, big

Congrats, Kelly

MrsR, I'm on progesterone just because it's a part of my protocol for promoting implantation - my levels are fine as far as I know.

I have a scan tomorrow. Pretty anxious now as always beforehand but not helped by the weird cm I got this morning when I've more or less had none for the last two weeks. It was pinkish/brown/peach & pinky/peach. I'm 16 weeks by my dates so AF would've been due around now if I weren't pregnant. I'm afraid we'll go in & find something has gone wrong after baby losing so much growth last time, although my rational mind is telling me all is well & baby has probably grown pretty well if all the cramping I've had this past week is anything to go by. Can anyone offer any thoughts?

 

[newlywedtzh]

Congrats Ginny!!!

Squig- I had pink/peach CM around 14 weeks and thought for sure everything was doomed. All was well and didn't have anymore the rest of the pregnancy.

Tasha- Have you invested in a doppler to calm your fears in between scans? Or do you purposefully not have one? I'm a super anxious person by nature and thought for sure having a doppler would turn me into a crazy person but it ended up really helping with the anxiety. Don't know how I would have made it through without it.

AFM- I've decided to go part time. I've been back to work full time for a little over a month, and it still feels all wrong. My company is transitioning and I am expected to get laid off. Not sure what I will do after that- but I don't think working full time is for me. Just going to roll with it I guess... things always work out, right??!

 

[dairymomma]

Squig-sometimes the usual pregnancy discharge can look a little peachy/pinky/brown and it's just pg discharge. But if it's got you worried, then by all means at least call the doctor and ask for a scan. Or get a private one if you want. PARL anxiety is it's only weird beast and there's different ways of soothing for each PARL mom. I found scans helped for about 2.2 seconds with LO but I was only able to breathe a bit easier once I hit 15 weeks. I know a doppler wouldn't have worked because I would have walked around with that thing permanently attached to my belly for the first 4 months. The best way for me to calm down was just to write down my feelings, talk it out, and concentrate on making it through each day.
to both you and Tasha both and I hope you both are able to find something/someone that can help ease your nerves.

 

[DSemcho]

Have you ladies ever tried any if the home gender tests? Like the baking soda one?

 

[Mrs Reineke]

Good morning ladies,

Welcome Kelly! I totally understand how you're feeling as far as your anxiety goes. I feel the same way when we should be elated. But it's very hard for fear of it all going away.

DSemcho, I hope the rest of your day is less "shocking". Hahaha!! I haven't done any of the at home gender predictors. Do you have to be a certain amount along to do them?

Thank you for the info Squip, I am always curious about way some women are on progesterone and some, like myself are not. Everything at your scan tomorrow will be wonderful. I've got a friend who has had spotting from about 20 weeks and still gets it every now and then and she's now at 28 weeks. I think it's just all part of it and some women get it more then others. Please let us know how it goes!! It will be great!!

newlywedtzh, well that's a bummer you may be getting laid off. But maybe it's for the better so you can do something you really want to be doing and part time if that's what you prefer. It will be ok. Everything happens for a reason.

Probably a dumb question because I think I've heard what it means, but what is PARL??

 

[Tasha]

Mrs R, the time around when you've had loses is so hard isn't it? I didn't lose Riley Rae until 24 weeks but the eight weeks leading up weren't good so it's a big build up, then the waters breaking with Honey was at 28 weeks and she died at 36+6 so again a huge build up. I don't think I can build a sigh of relief at any point really.

It sounds like your body is doing what it's meant to with progesterone. If you're worried though ask for a repeat blood test.

Parl is pregnancy after recurrent loss.

Pip, it just said 80mg on the syringe, looked in brackets and that says 8000 so 16000 a day Im on. I'm 68kg They want to reduce that 16000 a day to 4000 a day. I've not had my Xa levels done, even though Professor Q says I need it done regularly (she said four weekly) but then I've never had it done in any pregnancy 150mg of aspirin a day.

Thank you for the advice Pip, it's much appreciated

Thank you D. I've not done the home gender stuff, some look fun though. Are you going to?


Welcome kelly x

Thank you squig. That can be totally normal. I hope the scan is good!

I went to prem clinic today, cervix is only 1 mm less so it's stable, that's good. Hb there, baby sucking it's thumb. I explained all my anxieties to him and he said I need those scans, that I need to see MY consultant (I've still not seen him yet just everyone else). So ive written a letter (email) with my concerns to my consultant and pals. Hope I get some where.

 

[newlywedtzh]

Good morning ladies,


newlywedtzh, well that's a bummer you may be getting laid off. But maybe it's for the better so you can do something you really want to be doing and part time if that's what you prefer. It will be ok. Everything happens for a reason.

Oh no I WANT to get laid off! Haha- I've actually asked my director to lay me off sooner if she can :-X I would get a bonus, severance, and unemployment so I could stay at home with the little one worry free for a couple of months. I would then plan on finding part-time work, as I need to bring in some kind of money but I want my full time job to be a mother and my part-time job to be working if that makes any sense. I'm just finding it really hard to balance working full time, pumping, doing all the housework, having some semblance of a social life and feel like the mother I want to be.

 

[Mrs Reineke]

Tasha, your little one seems to be doing really well!! I'm glad all looks good for you, but yes...the time right around your previous losses is very difficult. I lost my first at 5 1/2 weeks, so when I made it past that point with my 2nd I was like "ok, no worries here"...then i started spotting at 6 weeks 1 day and that was it. So honestly I'm scared to death inside wondering if it's all going to go away again. I've wanted to be a mom forever and with neither me or my husband ever having a child, it scares me to death that it won't happen.

newlywedtzh, I'm glad you want to get laid off then!!! Hahaha!!

Question for you ladies, I'm 6 weeks today and I am sitting here at work and I have a dull ache in my lower back. It doesn't hurt, it's just annoying. Is this ok?? Every new symptom scares me. I could have just slept weird too. If I wasn't pregnant I wouldn't think a thing about it as my lower back bugs me at times.

 

[Squig34]

Tasha, I hope the email helps & your consultant starts giving you the care you need & deserve

Newly, I hope it all works out for you then!

Mrs R, I've had lower back pain this whole pregnancy. Yes it can be a sign of something sinister if accompanied by other bad signs, but it can also be a perfectly normal pregnancy symptom so unless you're having a lot of pain/bleeding/cramping, then try not to worry. A hot water bottle at your back will help to ease it!

 

[petitpas]

Tasha, I still can't quite figure out your dose but I have a general idea. What they are proposing is according to the 'normal' protocol, giving you the preventative dose, not a treatment dose (preventing and treating clots, not in relation to miscarriages) but you can fight it in the following way:
Google "green top guidelines thromboprophylaxis". It should come up with a pdf on the rcog (royal college of obstetrics and gynaecology) website. If you look at page 4 you come under the highest risk category (single previous VTE plus thrombophilia), which means they should refer you to a trust nominated thrombosis in pregnancy team. That would normally be a haematologist. Wave this at your consultant and refuse to have your dose decreased until you have been seen by them. That should get you a reprieve.

Otherwise, can you get Prof Q to write a letter with instructions? Mr S wrote down exactly what anti X-a range he wanted me to be in and my haematologist's team check my blood every month or so and adjust my dose as necessary.

PS: The above is looking at the clotting angle as well as the miscarriage angle so be sure to mention how frightened you are of suffering another pulmonary embolism and dying...

 

[Mrs Reineke]

Thanks Squig, yeah no other symptoms along with it. When I'm up and about I don't notice it, it's just when I'm sitting down. I think I might have slept weird. I got a maternity body pillow when I found out I was pregnant the second time, but haven't used it. I may even try just putting a pillow between my knees. I normally sleep half way between my side and stomach with one leg pulled up. I'm sure that is my problem. LOL!!

 

[Tasha]

Newly I hope you get laid off sooner

Mrs R, your ligaments are softening up, you will probably have lots of niggles around your back and hips etc from now on. It is scary though.

Thank you Pip. I included in my email that I felt the reduction in blood thinners was putting me in danger as my clinical history shows that I need a greater dose than they are suggesting.

I will look that up xx