Questions to ask at High risk appt..

ajustice25

Hello,I'm back with some concerns..I recently wrote on this forum abt my baby girl who I lost at 38 weeks.i just had my 4 week checkup last week and now I'm scheduled to see a high risk doctor in 3 weeks to do some blood testing..I'm young 23 yrs old I don't know what to ask..I need answers..me and my husband do plan to try again but I need to know what important questions to ask bc depending on the answers will make the decision on if we're going to give it another go..

jess123456

Hugs to you. I know that the follow up appointments can feel really overwhelming but a good doctor will go over everything with you thoroughly. I was actually told by my OB to get testing done by my RE office because I have had recurrent losses (two miscarriages and then we lost our daughter this fall to a genetic condition that she had). My RE then referred me to a high risk doctor. 

I am not sure what blood tests you have already done but they will probably do a full work-up from everything from blood clotting disorders and genetic carrier blood work to karotyping (chromosomal testings). If they do find something from the karotyping you might be referred to a genetic counselor. I would also be prepared that they will want to do a full family history check and sadly they will probably go over the results of your autopsy again. This was very painful to hear again but a good doctor will want to go over everything.

You could also ask if they need to do any exams. For example, they could do a SHG which examines your uterus and there are other physical tests that they could do as well. 

Other items to note are what are the chances of things happening again (if known), what if anything can they do to prevent things (such as a cerclage etc.), what extra precautions can you take this time such as medications in addition to prenatals etc.  How often would you be seen going forward and how many ultrasounds and how much monitoring will you get?

After meeting with my doctor and getting these tests done I did feel like I was getting the information that I needed to then decide if we wanted to move forward. I will be praying for you. 

 

jess123456

I should also add in that even through all of these tests, it is possible that you might not get answers and as difficult as that is to hear, you should be prepared for that as well. I have had vials and vials of blood drawn, tests after tests done and they can't seem to find anything that would point to a reason behind my losses other than "flukes". I really hate that word. My daughter did have a genetic condition that was also apparently a "fluke".

My point here is that I did get lots of peace of mind getting these tests done but to this day (three years from when we started our journey) I still don't have all the answers as to why this has all happened and that is a very difficult reality to face. My hope for you is that even if they can't find any answers for you that you will gain peace of mind knowing that you did what you could to try to get the answers too. It will then be up to you and your husband to decide how to best move forward.

ajustice25

Thank you sooo much Jess..this is very helpful.. My thing is,I have history of being high risk which I never knew until this pregnancy the loss of my daughter when I had my son 2yrs ago,I had gone into premature labor and had him at 23 weeks,and he has to stay in the NICU for 119 days..so when I became preg with my daughter,they made me do so much as far as over night stays at the hospital and given beta shots to develop her lungs a little quicker in case she came early,on top of I was given a progesterone steroid shot from weeks 1436 to help my cervix,then I was put on bedrest my 2nd tri bc of cervix shortening and ultrasounds every 2 weeks my whole 3rd trimester..I have a list of 17 questions to ask so far lol hopefully I'll get at least half of them answered..I dnt know if this is wrong to say and hopefully I dnt offend anyone but when I go to this appt,even though I love and miss my daughter to pieces and wld give my life for her to be her,I hope it was her cord that's the case of death bc she was perfectly healthy and active my WHOLE pregnancy..if it was her cord,I wnt be so freightened to try again..but if it was something genetic then that a little scary.

I cnt see myself being done with having children..I'm 23 yrs old and only have 1 biological with my husband and I have a step son..I want more children..

ajustice25

Thanks for giving me the heads up Nola..even though it will be rough and difficult to talk abt my baby girl,I'll do anything to get to the bottom of this I'd possible. If this can be prevented,I'll be sooo happy..

PinkCamino

jess123456:

Hugs to you. I know that the follow up appointments can feel really overwhelming but a good doctor will go over everything with you thoroughly. I was actually told by my OB to get testing done by my RE office because I have had recurrent losses (two miscarriages and then we lost our daughter this fall to a genetic condition that she had). My RE then referred me to a high risk doctor. 

I am not sure what blood tests you have already done but they will probably do a full work-up from everything from blood clotting disorders and genetic carrier blood work to karotyping (chromosomal testings). If they do find something from the karotyping you might be referred to a genetic counselor. I would also be prepared that they will want to do a full family history check and sadly they will probably go over the results of your autopsy again. This was very painful to hear again but a good doctor will want to go over everything.

You could also ask if they need to do any exams. For example, they could do a SHG which examines your uterus and there are other physical tests that they could do as well. 

Other items to note are what are the chances of things happening again (if known), what if anything can they do to prevent things (such as a cerclage etc.), what extra precautions can you take this time such as medications in addition to prenatals etc.  How often would you be seen going forward and how many ultrasounds and how much monitoring will you get?

After meeting with my doctor and getting these tests done I did feel like I was getting the information that I needed to then decide if we wanted to move forward. I will be praying for you. 

 

All of this.

I am so sorry for your loss ((HUGS))