Monitoring differently this time around?

linnea625

I'm not yet pregnant again after my loss, but my doctor said that the next time I do get pregnant I can come in as often as I want. She said to come in for the first appointment at 6 weeks and then I could have an ultrasound every week after that until week 12 if I wanted reassurance. I'm not sure if that's what I'll do yet, but I was wondering if you ladies are being monitored differently after your losses. I know having ultrasounds more often isn't going to change anything if things go badly, but at least I would know quickly if there were another mmc and be able to take care of it then rather than find out weeks later. Anyway, I'm getting a bit ahead of myself, but would appreciate any advice you have. Thanks!

jem8407

Hey Linnea, I am just over 5 weeks pregnant now after a crazy loss/situation in January. This time I have been approaching with cautious optimism. My ob is super laid back but we are checking hcg levels every few days (looking for the change in numbers). I also have been on progesterone. This was me advocating for myself.
I basically called after a few positive tests and said "I am freaking out and need reassurance; how about some blood tests" lol The nurse also said after we get these numbers, if they look good, we can schedule an early ob for monitoring.
The two facts I am focusing on are: it is 90% unlikely for a woman to miscarry twice and that once you hear a heartbeat you are much less likely to have another loss.
Much luck to you during this wild time.

sswartout

I have had 3 losses, and after the 2nd one the dr said I could come in as often as I wanted. I did ultrasounds every other week for the 3rd pregnancy so I found out right away at 9 weeks that there was no heartbeat. It doesn't make it any easier to deal with but it was better than going on thinking that I had a healthy pregnancy for weeks only to find out it was a mmc.

I am now 12 weeks pregnant and have been in 4 times for ultrasounds and heartbeat checks. We also had genetic testing at 10 weeks and the results came back low risk. Once I am into the 2nd trimester I think (hope) I will be comfortable with the normal once a month check up. Praying we all get our rainbow babies!

linnea625

Thanks for sharing your experiences @jem8407 and @sswartout. Fingers crossed for uneventful pregnancies for you both!

MCH77

I've had 4 losses (13w, c/p, 24w, 9w). I'm now 29w and have seen my dr every 2 weeks. They have me meeting with a high risk dr and I'm doing additional u/s.

I'm glad your dr is open to work with you, I'm sure you will find a balance that will help you.

GL!!

Vets1

I had a stillborn last November, & am almost 12 weeks now. I'm having weekly scans, & have been since week 9. It's reassuring but also really scary as every week I'm on edge waiting to see the heartbeat. My Ob gave me the option to do whatever I wanted, weekly just seemed right for me.

mrshinesokc

Prayers for all of you!

PlainJane8350

I'm sorry that happened to you. I did some blood work before and found out that I have a genetic folic acid deficiency. That didn't cause my loss, trisomy 13 did, but it could have caused a loss in a healthy pregnancy. So, I started taking a rx folic acid and, once I got a positive, checked my levels every other day for a week. I saw that doctor, a fertility specialist I was seeing (to get answers to my loss) until 12 weeks, now I see a high risk specialist. I didn't make it very far the first time, but my friends who have tell me that I'm getting way more ultrasounds, etc. Also, it sounds like you have a great doctor. I have myself a panic attack one week and the nurse let me come in to check on the baby. Never feel bad about that, that's why I switched from my birth month board to this one. Not everyone understands.

bspletzer

Have any of you had more than 1 mmc? I had one this march and am freaking out because I think im having another but everything im reading says its so uncommon to have one let alone 2 in a row! I go in for my first us tmw at 8 weeks and im so nervous i cant sleep!!!

MandersLuv17

Wow @linnea625, your doctor sounds amazing! I'm active duty army and during my loss I was treated like a number- I met the surgeon for all of 3 minutes before the surgery and she didn't even check on me afterwards.

Now I had to beg to get an ultrasound before 12 weeks! Last time, I found out at the ultrasound at 9 weeks so of course I'd want an ultrasound before that!

All of your doctors sound pretty great. Man army healthcare is just not that great

My first ultrasound is next Thursday- and yes I'm very anxious. I think everyone has a right to be anxious before their ultrasound after a mmc. And if your doctor wants to give you more ultrasounds- do it! But I hear those fetal Doppler monitors work pretty good around 10 weeks.

sswartout

@bspletzer I have had 2 mmc (with 1 chemical in between). How did your appointment go?

desiredshots

I had 2 mmc in a row and im 15 weeks pregnant with my third baby. No special treatment or ultrasounds here, dr is treating it as a normal, healthy pregnancy

jem8407

@linnea625 it can be a scary, scary process. @MandersLuv17 I am so sorry to hear the army is not treating you well. Thank you for serving our country and being a strong woman! Both of my sisters were delivered and cared for in Army hospitals (one abroad and one stateside); my Mother had very different experiences each time.

The update is that I am now 10w and have had some extra us but not too many. I had a bleed out a few weeks ago which they found was a subchorionic hemorrhage. They generally resolve on their own but can cause spotting and such afterward. After a loss, this is another unpleasant side effect to deal with but it could b worse. I have seen the gummy bear and a strong heartbeat and the hemorrhage has decreased in size.
Sending you all positive vibes.

rachrobertson

My doctor said he would see me around 6 or 7 weeks, then every 2 weeks for my first trimester to put my mind at ease. Now that I am actually pregnant again, I feel nervous about going too early and not seeing what I think I should see, then getting more nervous.