Any High-Risk Mamas out there?

JessErinF · November 2016

Hi ladies, spent yesterday in the hospital with super high blood pressure. it eventually came down, but now i'm on lebetalol with weekly office visits and my OB is referring me to a perinatologist for high-risk pregnancy. I'm so upset. Everyone wants their pregnancy to be smooth and problem free, especially the first one! and this is just so disheartening especially so early on. :-(

EmeraldNC · November 2016

My first pregnancy was very "involved" it seemed like. I ended up with gestational diabetes and pre-eclamsia... after 28 weeks, I was going to the doctor three times a week. 1 day was for non-stress tests, 1 day was for ultrasound, and 1 day was for the endocrinologist. I am so thankful my job worked with me, because I felt like I was missing so much work. It got to be very stressful, and I actually ended up on bed rest before finally being induced at 37 weeks because my blood pressure was SO high. I am starting out this pregnancy with high blood pressure and diabetes, BUT since I knew about it before hand I have started off in a MUCH healthier place than I did with my first. You just really have to pay attention and take care of yourself! Hugs momma!

JessErinF · November 2016

@EmeraldNC thank you, this makes me feel better. Are you on any medications, especially for the hypertension?

Xath · November 2016

Yep; my 3rd high risk pregnancy. Hypothyroid with a history of pre-term labor, early placental calcification, and uterine rupture. More dr appointments means I have more opportunities for assurance that baby is ok.

JessErinF · November 2016

@Xath true. i was hoping for a scan yesterday or at least baby heart monitor, but no such luck. didn't even get that benefit. maybe next week.....

hmhierholzer · November 2016

I have had one miscarriage and one preterm birth at 35 weeks, so I'm being treated as high risk this time around. I am trying to focus on the positive like @xath is. with having a prior loss, I need all the reassurance and monitoring I can get.

EmeraldNC · November 2016

@JessErinF Yes, I am on meds for diabetes, hypertension and anxiety/depression. My family practitioner (who's literally been my doctor since I was a child) and I both think it is important for me to stay on my anxiety/depression medication throughout this pregnancy. I went off of it last pregnancy during the 1st trimester and it was absolutely terrible. But my OB really wants me to come off of it. I know it is a category C (some listed it as category B even) but I just think the benefit outweighs the risk. I am having to switch my blood pressure medication, but she said we would talk about that at the next appointment.

@Xath I agree. Although the appointments seemed excessive and overwhelming to me at times... I am the only person I know after 28 weeks who got to see their baby weekly on an ultrasound! I use to look forward to those appointments so much! And it is reassuring with all the appointments to know that your baby is growing and healthy.

LAMCH1980 · November 2016

I'm considered high risk. I went into preterm labor at 28 weeks and spent the rest of my last pg on bed rest, being monitored several times a day. I'm also AMA, have PCOS, experienced previous loss and had blood sugar issues so had GD. I'm learning that pregnancy isn't the smooth sailing experience I always dreamed it would be, but it's so worth it!

JessErinF · November 2016

Thanks ladies, this is very reassuring. I guess I feel a little better.

EmeraldNC · November 2016

@JessErinF Feel free to reach out to me anytime if you need to chat! It is hard sometimes, and not everyone understands... especially if they haven't experienced it!

JessErinF · November 2016

@EmeraldNC I will thank you!

kfry22 · November 2016

I'm considered high risk because of a blood condition I have. I have blood work drawn all through out my pregnancy to make sure my clotting factors are ok before delivery. If not, then I am risk for not clotting after. Not as high of a risk as you others but high enough.

Waiting4Fred · November 2016

I'm high risk because I have a bicornuate uterus and a large mass on one of my ovaries. Luckily, this time it's only one baby in there. I was super high risk when pregnant with twins.

allywat · November 2016

I'm sure I will be considered high risk this time since my son was born at 32 weeks.

MotherofDragons · November 2016

I was born with a heart defect and will be followed by high risk to rule out any defects in baby.

JessErinF · November 2016

So I made a few calls and found a new practice that is willing to take me on permanently and see me right away. I already like them much better so that is certainly a huge relief and weight off my chest.

Xath · November 2016

@JessErinF That's great news!

thatlauragirl · November 2016

I'm high risk as well. Dealt with pregnancy induced tachycardia and preeclampsia with my first pregnancy and now I'm tagged as AMA as well. I keep reminding myself that all the additional monitoring itself isn't necessarily a bad thing.

JessErinF · November 2016

@thatlauragirl what is AMA?

BelhurstBride · November 2016

advanced maternal age, @JessErinF

JessErinF · December 2016

Hey Ladies! Had my first trimester screening ultrasound today, omg AWESOME! Super nervous to get the results next week, but the U/S itself was amazing. Little baby was jumping and dancing and kicking and swaying all over the place! did not want to be measured hehe. Omg amazing. We saw the NP not the doc, but she was amazing (so glad i switched, phew) and she said that as long as my BP continues to be controlled as it has been the last 3 weeks, that there is no reason to think i am at higher risk for preecclampsia!!! *PHEW* omg so relieved.... the medicine makes me feel like CRAP but I"ll take it for the wee one!

sls · December 2016

I'm technically high risk since I have twins, but the extra tests don't start until the third trimester if everything is going fine earlier (which it has so far). Let's hope it stays this way.

Last pregnancy, my blood pressure was skyrocketing, so I had to go on Labetalol and have non-stress tests frequently in the last trimester. And then they decided to induce me at 38 weeks. O.o 3 days of waiting around for labor to start, and then half a day of labor. Everything ended up fine, but it was all very irritating. Especially since the hospital didn't tell us what was going on and just made us go over here and wait, go over there and wait. The other stuff I could deal with, but the level of communicativenessness was unacceptable.

Make them talk to you! That's my only advice.

JessErinF · December 2016

sls thank you! that is very helpful! I hope I make it to 38 weeks that'd be awesome! Doc mentioned that the perinatologist may want to do a fetal echo around 22 weeks because I have a congenital arrhythmia as well, but that's about it. But yea, we will see how it goes and hopefully it continues to go as smooth as this week!! :-)

merrylea · December 2016

Hello Ladies!!! I may be joining your little group as my doctor might be giving me the boot! (Not sure how I feel about that.) Anyways, I'm AMA and overweight (Dr said she wasn't to worried about that.) At the 12 week checkup, however, she noticed a heart murmur that I had as a child has come back more pronounced while I'm pregnant (and she wants me to see a cardiologist) AND found out I had several seizures in college and while is was in the Peace Corps (last one was 11 years ago) which also has her worried. Doctor made me feel bad for not disclosing the seizures and murmur to her earlier, but it's honestly not something that I think about because outgrown them both! I do feel comfy with her and her style, and I really don't want to have to find another doctor. Ahhhh!!!

JessErinF · December 2016

@merrylea well you are of course welcome!! But that sounds silly... My doc sent me to the perinatal group, but I am still seeing her for the normal stuff!!

merrylea · December 2016

@JessErinF - thank you and I agree! I think it is because she is a family practice doctor (DO), and not an OB. She would of course continue to be my doctor after the baby is born, but not during the pregnancy. Sighs.... we'll see what happens. Hope you mommas are having a wonderful weekend!!!

JessErinF · December 2016

@merrylea OH ok that makes more sense now, would she have been the one to deliver the baby then? But yea that does suck having to find a new doc. I did it because i hated my first OB! But believe me, when you find the right doc and the right practice, it feels like family....

neludelu · December 2016

Yep I am. I have hypothyroidism and will be monitored very closely starting at 20 weeks. It's scary.

JessErinF · December 2016

@neludelu was that diagnosed only during pregnancy or known before? Thyroid issues run in my family so i'm wondering if i can expect that to pop up too

Knottie42089123 · December 2016

I'm hypothyroid too and my OB only checks levels once a trimester. So I'm going to my pcp every few weeks so they can check and manage my thyroid. Annoying, but I wasn't going to put my fate in the hands of testing once a trimester

Xath · December 2016

Knottie42089123 said:

I'm hypothyroid too and my OB only checks levels once a trimester. So I'm going to my pcp every few weeks so they can check and manage my thyroid. Annoying, but I wasn't going to put my fate in the hands of testing once a trimester

Yeah, it should be every 6 weeks at this point and every 4 later on. I've already had my meds adjusted once already and I'm hovering on the border of needing to go up another 25mcg. Definitely get checked regularly; it can have a huge impact on your pregnancy.

Xath · December 2016

JessErinF said:

@neludelu was that diagnosed only during pregnancy or known before? Thyroid issues run in my family so i'm wondering if i can expect that to pop up too

I'd ask them to run a full panel if you have a family history; sometimes pregnancy can trigger the onset. My OB recommended the panel after my daughter was pre-term, as TSH levels can come to play there. That's when I was diagnosed, and it's gotten worse with each pregnancy. Ask them to run the regular AND the antibody screening. In my initial tests my TSH was normal, but my antibodies were about 900% higher than they should have been.

neludelu · December 2016

JessErinF said:

@neludelu was that diagnosed only during pregnancy or known before? Thyroid issues run in my family so i'm wondering if i can expect that to pop up too

I was diagnosed 2 weeks before I found out I was pregnant. My levels are still insanely out of control so I'm getting tested every 10 days until I level out. I also have a goiter with nodules so I'm going for a second ulteraound and possibly a biopsy this week.

Other hypo moms- what were your TSH levels when you conceived? Did everything turn out ok?

My doc said she thinks everything will be fine because it was caught so early but there was still a chance for "catastrophic" events. That's terrifying.

Xath · December 2016

@neludelu I don't remember my specific numbers but I know I was on the higher side (2.5ish) before I found out I was pregnant. Because of my MC last year, I had standing orders from my Dr to increase my dosage by 25mcg as soon as the stick was positive. It's good they're testing you regularly until your levels normalize. All the best to you.

neludelu · December 2016

Xath said:

@neludelu I don't remember my specific numbers but I know I was on the higher side (2.5ish) before I found out I was pregnant. Because of my MC last year, I had standing orders from my Dr to increase my dosage by 25mcg as soon as the stick was positive. It's good they're testing you regularly until your levels normalize. All the best to you.

The first reading by the specialist was 44. I had already been on 25mcg for 8 weeks so she was concerned about what the initial reading was. I'm at 14 now and I'm taking 137mcg.

Xath · December 2016

neludelu said:

Xath said:

@neludelu I don't remember my specific numbers but I know I was on the higher side (2.5ish) before I found out I was pregnant. Because of my MC last year, I had standing orders from my Dr to increase my dosage by 25mcg as soon as the stick was positive. It's good they're testing you regularly until your levels normalize. All the best to you.

The first reading by the specialist was 44. I had already been on 25mcg for 8 weeks so she was concerned about what the initial reading was. I'm at 14 now and I'm taking 137mcg.

The good news is that if necessary, you can use Levo to completely replace all of the hormones your Thyroid would produce. So it is manageable. I'll keep my fingers crossed that your levels balance out shortly.

owensmom0807 · December 2016

Has anyone had Preeclampsia the first pregnancy and not the second?

JessErinF · December 2016

@Xath thanks that;s good to know. i dont know if i've ever had an antibody test.... My levels were borderline at one visit and then normal at the next so they decided not to put me on anything, but that was all before pregnancy. I have to check my recent blood work and see if they even checked thyroid... I did tell them it runs in my family but didnt ask for the test specifically.

neludelu · December 2016

JessErinF said:

@Xath thanks that;s good to know. i dont know if i've ever had an antibody test.... My levels were borderline at one visit and then normal at the next so they decided not to put me on anything, but that was all before pregnancy. I have to check my recent blood work and see if they even checked thyroid... I did tell them it runs in my family but didnt ask for the test specifically.

I would insists that they check it. I've been reading about it a ton and it's a very over looked issue thatcan have serious consequences.

jc_twomamas · December 2016

High risk over here too, super complicated first pregnancy with severe placental abruption and preterm labor at 27 weeks (cause unknown). Spent 10 weeks on bedrest in the hospital until DS was delivered via c section.

I have a sub chorionic hemmorage this pregnancy as well. Lots of extra monitoring, especially in late 2nd tri/third tri.

I started a high risk check in a while back just to see who was out there. Do we want to start it back up again or wait a few more weeks? Thoughts?

teacher mom-2 · December 2016

devow27 said:

High risk over here too, super complicated first pregnancy with severe placental abruption and preterm labor at 27 weeks (cause unknown). Spent 10 weeks on bedrest in the hospital until DS was delivered via c section.

I have a sub chorionic hemmorage this pregnancy as well. Lots of extra monitoring, especially in late 2nd tri/third tri.

I started a high risk check in a while back just to see who was out there. Do we want to start it back up again or wait a few more weeks? Thoughts?

Stuck in a box. Maybe wait a few more weeks until more people get their NT scans done. That is when a lot of people become high risk for the baby's sake

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