MTHFR/Prothrombin factor 2

carterh33

I just found out that I have a few gene defects. I have a MFTHR gene defect and a prothrombin factor 2 defect after two losses. Any one else have this? My OB refered me to an RE. What did your RE do about it? Did you have to take any special medications or any special procedures/blood work? Any successful pregnancies after?

ladipale

I am compound heterozygous for MTHFR. I was originally tested by a psychiatrist because about 5 years ago there was a theory that not enough bio-available form of folate/folic acid could cause depression and anxiety and I wanted to be tested for the gene defect before starting the new therapy. 

** TW - live children mentioned **
I have two girls age 5 and 2. I had a bit of trouble TTC the first but not the 2nd and had relatively normal pregnancies with both. I did not know about gene defect for first pregnancy but did for the 2nd. My OB recommended extra folic acid.. but that may not be the best course of treatment. I have since switched to taking a prenatal and extra Folate in the bio-available form (methylfolate)

At least for the MTHFR, it really depends who you ask. As someone who is highly educated, but not in medicine, I have found a care team I really trust and value and I know they have my best interest in mind. I really do - so I use their suggestions and medical recommendations. After my miscarriage, I had my homocysteine levels checked - its something in the blood that can indicate chance for clots, and it was in the normal range... It had previously been pretty high. So, for now, I'm just taking my vitamins, eating healthy (and avoiding 'enriched' foods) and trying to get pregnant again.

migdala

I am homozygous for MTHFR.  I switched my prenatal to one that is food-based instead of synthetic and has methylcobalamin and folate instead of cyanocobalamin and folic acid.  I have learned SO FREAKING MUCH about MTHFR in the last few months, I could talk your ear off but I'll try not to!!!  The biggest takeaway for me was that because of the MTHFR, my body can't uptake synthetic B vitamins, so I need the methylated or food-based forms of these vitamins.  Obviously B12 is a B vitamin (that's the cobalamin one), but I had no idea that folate is also a B vitamin, so I can't use folic acid, I need to use actual folate instead.

My midwife told me she is heterozygous for MTHFR and took baby aspirin through both of her pregnancies, but they later changed the official recommendation from "take baby aspirin" to "we don't really know, so do what you want".  I am on the fence about whether I should take it or not, and if so, when it makes sense to start.

NewMommyCoop

@migdala My OB told me the same thing last week about baby aspirin. She had some labs drawn after diagnosing me with RPL. I asked if there was any harm in me starting the baby aspirin now, instead of waiting on lab work. She said I could because they don't really know if it helps or not, but it wouldn't hurt in anyway, unless I had a bleeding disorder, which I don't. I chose to wait and all my blood work came back normal.

flipflopped

I decided to give baby aspirin a try this cycle as I don't have anything that would contraindicate it. My doctor wasn't really supportive, but wasn't against it. One co-worker had 3 MC and tried it and was pregnant with her rainbow the next cycle. Might have been concidence, but worth a try to me.

ladipale

@migdala- my ob recommended BA as well. I plan to start once I get a BFP but might also start after ovulation in a cycle or two...

dpjennifer

I started taking baby aspirin after my 2nd MC on the advice of a MFM specialist.  Basically same as you've all heard "don't know if it will help, but won't hurt."  However, I just had a chemical PG over the past weekend, so either baby aspirin isn't helping my issue or was doomed from the start.  Who knows?

NewMommyCoop

@dpjennifer I am so sorry for your loss. This process sucks and it shouldn't. 

RiverSong15

@dpjennifer I'm so sorry. One thing to keep in mind that even when taking baby aspirin, that doesn't prevent chromosomal problems, so you could have just had bad luck (again), even if baby aspirin is helping another problem. So many hugs

ladipale

@dpjennifer - i'm so sorry. many hugs to you

carterh33

Thank you all!