High Risk...

smorzandoj

I haven't seen one posted so I am posting.  Hope no ones panties get in a twist given all the rules....back in Sept 2011 we had no rules....

Anyone else high risk?  How are you feeling?  Why are you high risk?

I am high risk because I am almost 2 years post multi-level spinal fusion due to spondylilothesis.  I am so afraid of the pain that this pregnancy may cause.  With my other pregnancies I had not been diagnosed with this although based on xrays it appears that I had the condition for some time without my spine becoming unstable.  Of course I was cleared for pregnancy or I would have been way more cautious about getting pregnant.  Hopefully this will be smooth and with very little pain.  I am interested to see what the doctors and anethesiologist will say about a plan for birth.

theglitteredpterodactyl

High risk is so stressful! I hope everything goes smoothly for you. I was high risk for my last and for this one, both because I take a medicating that had a pretty low risk, but still a risk, of heart complications. Last time I stopped taking it firing the heart development but this time I'm not and there's so much anxiety in that choice. I know I'm making the right choice for me but still. It's stressful. I'll have a fetal echo around the 20 week mark to look for any problems but until then it's sitting on my thumbs and hoping for the best.

smorzandoj

Heart issues are so incredibly nerve racking!  I hope everything turns out perfectly!

My second son I was also high risk but because of a heart issue with him.  I know how stressful that is.  So much more than I think my spinal issue is this time.  He was actually 4 weeks early via emergency csection because his heart wasn't recovering on monitors during my weekly NST.  Thankfully he only spent a day in the NICU and as expected after the fetal echo his heart issues were resolved very shortly after birth. 

SaphireSweetie88

Right now we're assuming that I am not going to be a high risk pregnancy (I think my doctor would have warned me if I would be) but we're keeping the thought that I might be in the back of our minds because both DH had congenital heart defects when we were born. 

I was born with a Ventricular septal defect = defect in the septum between the heart's two lower or pumping chambers (ventricles). AKA hole in the heart.

DH was born with Transposition of the great arteries = the two main arteries going out of the heart—the pulmonary artery and the aorta—are switched in position,

We're both fine now. I had no issues after my initial surgery as a baby but DH had 4 open heart surgeries by the time he was 18 but nothing since.

mslynn2012

1) I love the way you started this thread. I've never seen "rules" on a board, guess the ttimes are changing?!?
2) I have been high risk during all 3 of pregnancies. First one for low PAPP-A hormone levels, same with my 2nd pregnancy. Not sure if my levels this pregnancy, but I'll be AMA (35) before baby is born so I'm once again considered high risk.

all it means to me is more appointments, NSTs at the end of my 3rd trimester, and more chances to see the baby (via US) 

Cejiml

Hi all.  Yes being high risk is scary but I appreciate all of the extra monitoring and u/s that come with it. 

Im high risk as well. This is my 7th pregnancy. 4 losses in first try and 2 children. I have 2 clotting disorders( MTHFR and anticardiolipin) as well as a unicornuate uterus. And a partiridge in a pear tree

Cejiml

Also bump deleted 1/2 of my post. Currently finding a new  MFM in a new city. 

Glad to have a few mom as to bounce stuff of of. Any one in Raleigh, NC by chance? 

TalesOfASocialIntrovert

I am considered high risk due to Type 1 Diabetes.

It's been a huge stress factor and so incredibly different than I anticipated, despite years of planning. Basically, the higher my blood sugars, the higher the risk to LO for birth defects or still birth. Which also basically means lots of breakdowns when my BS just won't come down and I feel like I'm doing terrible harm. I'm actually very well controlled but it's scary, and lonely 

I will see my endocrinologist ever 2 weeks through the whole pregnancy (that's 17 appts scheduled as of today!). I'll also be referred to a Maternal Fetal Medicine doctor (MFM), I'm assuming after my next US. I know that will bring a whole slew of appts as well, but I don't know the frequency yet.

Also, I do hope a couple other T1s show up. I realize high risk is high risk to a certain extent, but everyone will have quite the varied degree of medical monitoring and/or intervention based on why they are considered HR.

Edited to add: Is anyone else having a hard time with work understanding the need for an increase in appts? My work seems annoyed and requested a note for every single appt stating from my doctor that it's medically necessary.

smorzandoj

Ugh. Work sucks!  I haven't told anyone at work. But I'm in a lawsuit over denial of FMLA back when I had spinal surgery that is supposed to settle tomorrow so when they find out I doubt they even think about giving me a hard time. Luckily my planning is 3:15 and school lets out at 4:30 so I should be able to make appointments later in the day without an impact on students or other teachers/staff. But...my only suggestion is document everything you give them and everything they say. 

RobinaCee

I'm high risk as well due to my age (43), and IVF.
I'm a two time surrogate. 

star_beagle

I'm probably going to be considered high risk because I'm obese. 

KM2J

@TalesOfASocialIntrovert - My 4 year old was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes this past year.  I totally understand a lot of the stresses that go along with this disease.  I will keep you in my T&P for your pregnancy and would be happy to be a listening ear if you ever need.  

@RobinaCee - Kudos to you for being a surrogate.  As someone who has struggled with fertility, I think it is so awesome that there are people like you out there.  

I am considered high risk as well due to a previous ectopic and due to IVF.  

TalesOfASocialIntrovert

@KM2J Thank you. I'm sorry to hear your daughter was diagnosed recently and I hope she (and you) are doing well. It's a shity disease but I think we're lucky to live in a time with so much technology available to support us.

Edited to add: I was diagnosed when I was 10, I'm now 30. I've lived 2/3 of my life complication free. It's definitely a struggle at times but I think there are certainly worse things in life. I hope this gives you some hope for your daughter!!

Kelsey813

I may be depending on how my rhuematoid arthritis is during pregnancy. It's a good chance it will go into remission during the pregnancy, but if not I will probably be considered high risk. My rheumatologist is having me hold off on my Humira so I'm hoping for the best.

kfry22

smorzandoj said:

I am high risk because I am almost 2 years post multi-level spinal fusion due to spondylilothesis.  I am so afraid of the pain that this pregnancy may cause.  With my other pregnancies I had not been diagnosed with this although based on xrays it appears that I had the condition for some time without my spine becoming unstable.  Of course I was cleared for pregnancy or I would have been way more cautious about getting pregnant.  Hopefully this will be smooth and with very little pain.  I am interested to see what the doctors and anethesiologist will say about a plan for birth.

I'm lurking from the June 2017 board but thought I would share. I have almost my entire spine fused due to scoliosis when I was 13. I have yet to meet anyone else on my current or last BMB with a spinal fusion. 

With my last pregnancy, everything went well except for a lot of sciatic nerve pain. I have always had that though. I refused an epidural though. I felt that with all the metal hardware in my back I wanted to avoid having a needle put into that area as well. 

Feel free to PM me @smorzandoj if you have any questions or want to chat about anything!! Hope your pregnancy goes well! 

smorzandoj

kassyfry said:

I'm lurking from the June 2017 board but thought I would share. I have almost my entire spine fused due to scoliosis when I was 13. I have yet to meet anyone else on my current or last BMB with a spinal fusion. 

With my last pregnancy, everything went well except for a lot of sciatic nerve pain. I have always had that though. I refused an epidural though. I felt that with all the metal hardware in my back I wanted to avoid having a needle put into that area as well. 

Feel free to PM me @smorzandoj if you have any questions or want to chat about anything!! Hope your pregnancy goes well! 

I really hate that I am excited someone else near my due date has had a fusion! So you went unmedicated vaginal?  I would also be a VBAC so I don't know how much convincing its going to take.  Good luck!  PM me as well if you would like @kassyfry

akbride09

@smorzandoj, @kassyfry....I also have a spinal fusion (T4-12), due to scoliosis. Our hospital has (and hopefully still has) an amazingly skilled anesthesiologist. He put my epidural line in early in my labor, because my amniotic fluid was leaking and we didn't know if I'd need a c-section so would need that in anyways. It was totally fine, I don't even remember pain with it. I'd given him/the hospital copies of my x-rays ahead of time and my OB let him know I'd be coming.

kfry22

@smorzandoj yes I was completely unmedicated and vaginal birth. I had back labor during transition and it was pretty rough for about 30-45 minutes before I could start pushing. It helped for me to have pressure on my back with something cold. I would suggest asking your ob about a consultation with an anesthesiologist and showing them your X-rays. They basically told me they would not garuntee that an epidural would work and I went with the mindset that it wasn't even an option. 
 
@CAdreamin13 I also have a clotting disorder. Mine is Von Willebrands. I think that is factor 8. Everything was fine for me for my first pregnancy, just a lot more blood work and extra appointments with my hematologist. Feel free to reach out to me if you would like! 

TigerCakes

I am considered high risk due to a massive fetal maternal hemorraghe with my son.  Although the chances of having it happen again are low, there is also nothing to prevent it from happening again so I will be having lots of extra monitoring in the third trimester.  

LimeKrazy

I'll be high risk due to age (35), my clotting disorder (prothrombin 20210G>A), and because DH is a carrier of a genetic translocation.

ladipale

High risk because of age (35) and gestational diabetes which I know I'll have again because my fasting blood sugar is never below the threshold

mamadcb

How seriously do they consider 35 high risk? My last pregnancy I was 33/34 so it wasn't an issue, but this time I turned 35 a few days before conceiving. I will obviously ask when I have my first appointment, but if anyone knows what I should expect to be different this time around I'd love to know!

irishrose54

TW loss mentioned

I am borderline high risk. I ended up at a preconception visit with the Mfm dr after my previous miscarriage. I was sent to her by my regular ob due to recurrent miscarriage and previously uncontrolled hashimotos. she told me to come see her when I get pregnant again but that even with my hashimotos and history, that she'd probably transfer me back to my usual ob. Sooo I have to wait and see. I'm fine either way but happy to have the extra tlc from my doctors. I feel like this time around they are really looking out for me (I switched all my docs after previous bad experiences and am happy w my decision).

JAM85

I am high risk due to Lupus even though it is well
managed and I have markers for antiphospolipid syndrome (blood clotting disorder I take baby aspirin for currently)  I also have hypothyroidism and last pregnancy I had pregnancy hypertension (I really just think I have insane white coat syndrome as I check mine at home) but I have to be watched for pre-e this time as well. Mostly this time I am worried about the costs of the MFM and all the scans I know I have to have towards the end. I had two twice a week for the last month but I was on pregnancy Medicaid due to many issues then but now will basically have to pay full cost for all of them until I meet my deductible which won't be hard with that many. 

kghusker1003

@JAM85 I had pregnancy induced hypertension with DD1, and I swear I also have major white coat syndrome as well. My OB had me taking my blood pressure at home, 2x a day and it was NEVER as bad as it was in the office. 

awillis13

smorzandoj said:

kassyfry said:

I'm lurking from the June 2017 board but thought I would share. I have almost my entire spine fused due to scoliosis when I was 13. I have yet to meet anyone else on my current or last BMB with a spinal fusion. 

With my last pregnancy, everything went well except for a lot of sciatic nerve pain. I have always had that though. I refused an epidural though. I felt that with all the metal hardware in my back I wanted to avoid having a needle put into that area as well. 

Feel free to PM me @smorzandoj if you have any questions or want to chat about anything!! Hope your pregnancy goes well! 

I really hate that I am excited someone else near my due date has had a fusion! So you went unmedicated vaginal?  I would also be a VBAC so I don't know how much convincing its going to take.  Good luck!  PM me as well if you would like @kassyfry

I had a spinal fusion too!  Not my entire spine, but T9-T12 (fractured vertebrae in a car accident).  My last pregnancy the scar tissue was a minor inconvenience for the epidural, and I ended up with a spinal headache afterwards.  I don't wish that on anyone.  It was enough to make me want to go med free this time around.

JAM85

@kghusker1003 yes thank you! They never seemed to care that it was different at home. I also made them take it by hand because the machine always had a higher reading. problem now is that when I go in I am so nervous they're going to get a high blood pressure reading that II of course get a high blood pressure reading

tugglek23

I will be high risk for a while... we have history of heart disorders in both our families. We'll have to get a fetal echocardiogram to ensure this babe's heart is developing properly. We'll need to get additional kidney scans as our daughter has kidney reflux. I also had our first at 35 weeks without medical reasons, so I'm sure I'll be getting progesterone shots this time around to keep this babe in as long as possible.

Dcwtada

My OB refuses to catergorize anyone as "high risk" - she doesn't care for the label, she would say some just have more complications and every pregnancy has its risks.

I had preeclampsia and severe hemorrhaging with my first (needed two blood transfusions) and pregnancy induced hypertension and hemorrhaging again but not as severe with my second but with my second I got pregnant only three months after I had my first so I definitely had my fill of extra appointments, NSTs and visits to L&D at the hospital. 

BoTor091314

Hi ladies!  My pregnancy was achieved via IVF.  And I will be 35 before the baby is born (I'm 34 atm).  You'd think that I'd be classified as "GMA" rather than "AMA" the way my RE was talking when we started this process...I don't see what the issue is...so many women are having children a bit later in life and having to rely on ART.  It was a blessing for us!

My mom is convinced that I will have severe complications bc I am overweight - thanks mom! She mentions it each time I see her - which is more often now that DH and I have moved back to my hometown (Houston).  I had been in San Francisco for 13 years.  Now I am regretting the move as I do not have many friends around.  I work from home so I am alone 90% of the time.  

It certainly seems that most of you ladies are going through waaaay more than I am - you are in my T&P!  Hopefully everyone will enjoy smooth sailing!

Creepy internet hugs to all!

chloe97

I have no diagnosis yet, but I'm having symptoms of an autoimmune disease-dry eyes, dry mouth, severe insomnia, skin changes,limbs that fall asleep easily, joint and muscle pain. I had testing done yesterday by a rheumatologist and hopefully we will know more this week.

 TW I've lost my last 2 pregnancies before 13 weeks in the last year,so we worry greatly about this one. Particularly, because I went 7 days on less than 2 hours of sleep a day. I ended up in the ER with delusions and and they eventually gave me a prescription for ambien. I hate that I have to take it, but my OB is adament that the risk of no sleep is greater than the risk of taking the drug (and yes I tried benedryl and unisom at first).

ladipale

@chloe97 - I've been thinking about you. sorry about the symptoms.. hope you get answers and sleep ASAP!