High Risk Check-In 1/17

Sugargirl1019

This is for those of us diagnosed with any type of condition that makes our pregnancy high-risk so that we can find support and companionship during this time! Feel free to comment at any point in the week and treat this as an on-going discussion.

1. Why are you high-risk? 

2. How far along are you? 

3. How is treatment going for you? 

4. How are you doing? R/R? 

5. GTKY: Are you going to be seeing a MFM? Or are you allowed to be under just OB/GYN care?

LaceyC1020

1. Why are you high-risk? I am considered high risk because of 2 prior losses. One with a very rare developmental disorder incompatible with life. I also have half a gene mutation for MTHFR which means I may not process folic acid as well as people without that mutation. It can also lead to blood clotting problems for some people. 

2. How far along are you? 6+3

3. How is treatment going for you? So far, so good. I'm on Heparin twice daily. I'm on progesterone injections because with frozen embryo transfers, your ovaries are suppressed and don't produce it like they should. I'm also on a prescription prenatal that has folate in it instead of folic acid. (Folic acid is the synthetic form of folate.) 

4. How are you doing? R/R? I'm doing much better now. I started having a little bright red bleeding over the weekend that really scared me. It only lasted a couple hours and then turned pink and is now brown. We had a scan yesterday and heard a heartbeat My doctor didn't know where the bleeding came from but he said about 50% of his pregnant patients bleed and everything is fine. He's letting me come back for another scan next week

5. GTKY: Are you going to be seeing a MFM? Or are you allowed to be under just OB/GYN care?
I will be leaving my fertility clinic and going to my OB in a couple weeks. From there I'll see the high risk MD but I'm not sure for how long. 

Love that we have this board for support!!

Sugargirl1019

1. Why are you high-risk? Type 1 Diabetes (WHY ARE THERE NOT MORE ?? :`( and I'm also heterozygous MTHFR too.

2. How far along are you? 6+5! Eeek!

3. How is treatment going for you? I am on a Medtronic pump with Enlite CGM, and I am keeping a journal of my blood sugars and specifically what I eat and why I take how much insulin and what my own thoughts are concerning trends. My blood sugars are doing much better overall than last pregnancy! I still sometimes go up to the 170s but that's usually because of site trouble.

I'm just on a daily baby aspirin, and +1 for the methyl-folate prenatal vitamins. I use Smartypants gummies (yummy!!!) plus folate sublingual tablets because I need more than 800 mcg of folate as a diabetic.

4. How are you doing? R/R? Good! I am having bad dreams sometimes about loss, or worried that my blood sugars are doing something crappy, but I am confident this week. My basal rates have not had to change yet.

5. GTKY: Are you going to be seeing a MFM? Or are you allowed to be under just OB/GYN care?
I asked this question selfishly so I could talk about it. All diabetics go to a MFM... but I don't want to. They're just going to make me feel bad about how my blood sugars aren't low enough for them. I'm definitely considering asking my OB if she'd let me not go to them. My endo manages my diabetes just perfectly and will actually yell at me if my numbers get too low. I don't need to be yelled at from both sides and hear it from a doctor who knows nothing about being a type 1. I'm a little fiesty. I need other ppl to talk about this with..

JustBored10

1. Why are you high-risk? 
I carry an antibody.

2. How far along are you? 
6+4 based on LMP 

3. How is treatment going for you? 
N/A.  Ultrasound and blood work next week.

4. How are you doing? 
This weekend was horrible.  I thought I ate something bad that gave me diarrhea but I am now thinking it is pregnancy related as my bowels have not been anywhere near the same since becoming pregnant this time. I also have no appetite. Nothing sounds good!  I have to force myself to eat.  The only time I feel like eating is when I am able to exercise but I woke up Sunday night with shoulder pain like I slept on it wrong so on the couch I have been with a heating pad

5. GTKY: Are you going to be seeing a MFM? Or are you allowed to be under just OB/GYN care?
I am currently seeing a midwife.  She told me as long as my titers stay low I will not need to see a doctor.

rainbowturtles

Maybe this is a good spot for me?
 *waves to @Sugargirl1019 * I wish there was another person with diabetes you could talk to

1. Why are you high-risk? 
Previous losses, AMA, connective tissue disorder that is likely classical ehlers danlos (but they never did the genetic testing), and not specifically high risk because of this but it can cause problems: celiac disease, which is autoimmune 

2. How far along are you? 
6+6

3. How is treatment going for you? 
I just saw my OB and he put me on aspirin and is sending me to my rheumatologist for more info

4. How are you doing? R/R? 
I honestly feel a lot better after seeing my OB because he seems eager to keep on top of things. There isn't a lot that can be done to prevent the possible complications but it will be important to monitor as some of the complications can be treated

5. GTKY: Are you going to be seeing a MFM? Or are you allowed to be under just OB/GYN care?
Yes, after I see my rheumatologist my OB will send me to an MFM

Sugargirl1019

@rainbowturtles Yes please hang out here! I'm sorry your connective tissue disorder and history are causing fun things for pregnancy. I hope your rheumatoid appt goes well. 

Yes I really do need more type 1s!! My previous 2 bmb's I got so spoiled! I'm so depressed there's no one here yet, and were just about to the end of Sept due dates

eeyorefan215

1. Why are you high-risk? 
I have Turner's Syndrome which should make me sterile, but my OB and genetic counselor think I have a very mild case and that some of my eggs "work". I have had 4 miscarriages which is why I had the genetic testing done - to get answers. Obviously not what I nor my OB was expecting since I had carried a pregnancy to full term previously with no complications. 

2. How far along are you? 
7+3

3. How is treatment going for you? 
There is no treatment for Turner's syndrome. I'm just taking it day by day and being thankful each day that I'm still pregnant

4. How are you doing? R/R? 
I'm sick as a dog. I feel like I have the stomach flu. I have been nauseous for 6 days straight and I actually threw up in my last class in front of my students - how embarrassing!
I'm also having super weird dreams. Last night I had a dream that a penguin got in my house and I locked it in my master bathroom. I called my husband to ask him what to do and he laughed at me. I called animal control and they didn't believe me. My husband came home and found the penguin and shot it. 

5. GTKY: Are you going to be seeing a MFM? Or are you allowed to be under just OB/GYN care?
I'm just under the the care of my OB/GYN as of now. She seems to think that this pregnancy will be a lot like my last one and will produce a healthy baby  

childcaremama

1. Why are you high-risk? 
I have an immune deficiency. Makes it very hard to fight off germs especially when pregnant. I also have gastroparsis so my stomach sucks sometimes. With my first pregancy my daughter had IUGR (they don't know why it happens so not related to my health). They thought she wouldn't make it but she beat the odds and hung in there until they induced at 36.5 as she was in distress. Once you've had IUGR it's 50/50 to have it again. Really Praying that this baby doesn't have it. 

2. How far along are you? 

6+4

3. How is treatment going for you? 

Seeing the MFM next week and will start blood thinner injections twice a day then. 

4. How are you doing? R/R? 
I'm actually freaking out. I'm just worried about IUGR for this baby and loss or micro preemie. I'm worried about people's reactions to me being pregnant (my daughter just turned 8 months) so soon after such a difficult pregancy with my daughter. I think people will be very judgemental and negative about the news. I know it'll just be because they are scared and they'll get on board when baby is here but still not looking forward to sharing the news this time. Also lots of stress about ending my job. I know I just need to let go and take things as they come. Working on it. 

5. GTKY: Are you going to be seeing a MFM? Or are you allowed to be under just OB/GYN care?

Seeing an MFM, the department head no less. He followed my whole pregancy with my daughter and was super great (he didn't deliver her but was there for all the appointments). Regular ob would be scared of me lol. 

kailapop

1. Why are you high-risk?   

I have type 2 diabetes that is only controlled with insulin. 

2. How far along are you? 

6 weeks tomorrow!!! 

3. How is treatment going for you? 

So so far so good. My sugars are still a little high, but nothing too crazy. 

4. How are you doing? R/R? 

Im so tired, and working with young children is so hard when you're tired. And then coming home to your own child. Tired. Haha. There's nothing like your first pregnancy where you can just focus on yourself and chill. 

5. GTKY: Are you going to be seeing a MFM? Or are you allowed to be under just OB/GYN care?

what the heck is an MFM? I'm so Canadian you guys! 

I am seeing an ob/gyn along with my family dr. I'm also seeing an endocrinologist who works in the high risk unit at my hospital. My current endocrinologist had to let me go till my baby is born since the hospital that she's at isn't a high risk one. 

Sugargirl1019

@kailapop Ah there you are! Theres a new type 2 floating around the high risk board and I told her to come over here and find you! @harleyquinn0612

"Maternal–fetal medicine (MFM) (also known as perinatology) is a branch of medicine that focuses on managing health concerns of the mother and fetus prior to, during, and shortly after pregnancy. Maternal–fetal medicine specialists are specialists within the field of obstetrics."

I've also heard it phrased as an OB is mommy's  doctor, a MFM is the baby's doctor.

Sugargirl1019

Omg as we speak, I have made a terrible error! I thought I could eat oatmeal!! Nope, my blood sugars are shooting up from 97 to 229 with double up arrows!!! Ahhhhhhhhh!!!!

JNR6510

1. Why are you high-risk? 
Multiple MCs, insulin resistant, and bicornuate uterus
2. How far along are you? 
5+5 
3. How is treatment going for you? 
Not much to tell so far. Our first appointment with the dr is on 1/24.
4. How are you doing? R/R? 
Good so far. Just impatient to finally get to see our LO.
5. GTKY: Are you going to be seeing a MFM? Or are you allowed to be under just OB/GYN care?
I will be under an OB's care as far as I know. I suppose we will know more after this appointment.

rainbowturtles

Hi @kailapop ! I am Canadian, too!! And they are sending me to an MFM 

@JNR6510 Hi there! I recognize you from one of the boards (ttcal?); happy to see you here

JNR6510

@rainbowturtles  Hey! Yep. I was over on TTCAL for a while. It's great to see fellow TTCAL buddies over here! :-)

kailapop

*waves hello to fellow Canadian* 

@rainbowturtles and @Sugargirl1019 THANK YOU for clearing that up for me. I've never heard of an MFM before (clearly). 

sableeg

1. Why are you high-risk? I had a 3rd trimester stillbirth due to severe early onset preeclampsia.  I also am heterozygous Factor V Leiden

2. How far along are you? 6+3

3. How is treatment going for you? Ok so far I think.  I'm on 150mg of Lovenox once daily, a low dose aspirin daily, calcium and vitamin d supplements.

4. How are you doing? R/R? I'm chugging along.  I'm not doing great.  My hematologist reminded me on Tuesday how high risk I am.  It's put me in a bit of a funk.

5. GTKY: Are you going to be seeing a MFM? Or are you allowed to be under just OB/GYN care? I will be seeing a MFM in addition to my OB.  I'll be alternating weeks at each doctor and getting sonograms every two weeks I think.  I'm not complaining about that!  The reason my daughter didn't survive birth before is because the preeclampsia restricted her growth so severely that she couldn't survive birth.  Frequent sonos will help stay on top of any growth restriction that *hopefully doesn't occur!*