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Toddlers: 24 Months+
Katie: 1/16/08 2lbs. 15oz.
Abby & Emily: 12/31/10 6lbs. 2oz. & 5lbs. 7oz.
TTC #2 plan in place....
I'm not pregnant- just wanted to set that straight first. Many of you may not know my story, but I delivered Katie at 33 weeks due to severe sudden onset of pre-e and Katie was IGUR as well. She was born at 2lbs. 15oz. and was in the NICU for 23 days. Anyway, here is the plan for #2....
I saw the high-risk OB doc yesterday for a pre-natal consult. I tried to schedule the appt about 2 months ago, but it keep getting changed. Argh! I was thankful that they were able to take me today. I spoke with my regular OB doc two weeks ago and both docs are in agreement on our plan for TTC #2.
I can't just go into this next pregnancy without any sort of plan since I will be labeled high- risk right from the start. So, here is what we are doing.
I have to lose 10 pounds, start taking prenatals right away and continue for two months before we even attempt to TTC. I will be getting a full blood work up to make sure that I don't have any clotting issues. He rambled on about this for a good 20 mins about some study with a link to certain blood clotting conditions.
Once we find out we are pregnant, I need to take a baby aspirin and 3 tums everyday for calcium. I will also be on a high dose of folic acid, taking 21 grams of fiber a day in the first trimester.
I will see both docs concurrently throughout my entire pregnancy with another consult with the two right when I find out we are pregnant to discuss everything again. I am hoping to deliver at St. E's if everything goes great, but if I do develop pre-e again I will switch over to be under Dr. Voss's hands and deliver at Good Sam again.
At 20 weeks, they will begin to do BPP ultrasounds every 4 weeks up until 36 weeks to make sure that my placenta's blood flow is adequately feeding the baby. This is due because Katie was IGUR and why she was so small. If the placenta's blood flow isn't strong enough, I will go on immediate bedrest for the remainder of the pregnancy.
There is a 40%-50% chance that I will develop pre-eclampisa again in the next pregnany. They are not sure if I will develop it earlier or later as they have seen both cases happen to women.
Basically, we are putting the next pregnancy in God's hands as there is no real treatment or cure for pre-e. We so badly want another baby. If I get pre-e again, we are done having kids.
I feel much better after talking with both docs. Basically I've got a 50/50 chance so I am just hoping that I will be able to experience a "normal" pregnancy and get to 40 weeks.
Katie: 1/16/08 2lbs. 15oz.
Abby & Emily: 12/31/10 6lbs. 2oz. & 5lbs. 7oz.
This discussion has been closed.
Re: TTC #2 plan in place....
The ultrasounds are because of the IUGR. The pills, losing weight, bloodwork are for pre-e.
I also forgot that I will be tracking my blood pressure at home for pre-e to determine if it would spike in between apts.
I would ask your doc if there are things you can take to either delay the onset of pre-e. Yes, they might be voodoo medicine, but I will regret if I didn't try anything.
Katie: 1/16/08 2lbs. 15oz.
Abby & Emily: 12/31/10 6lbs. 2oz. & 5lbs. 7oz.
Well lots of prayers and well wishes for you and baby #2. I'm glad you have doctors who are very interested and involved. sounds like a hell of a first pregnancy.
I, too, developed severe pree with my first. Mine was a gradual progression though. My s/s started around 31 wks (actually, looking back, probably more like 28wk, I remember my midwife being concerned about my "stress level" at a 30wk appt, I'm glad I requested one more OB visit before deciding who would deliver, I could decide between the midwives and the Obs in the practice), recognized at my 32wk appt and then worsened until induction started at 36w 5d (dd born at 37wk), I doubled my wt gain over the last 4 wks, highest pressures were 150s/120s, headaches, n/v, swelling (OH THE SWELLING, I looked like a beached whale), vision issues including blurred vision and seeing spots, hyper reflexes, 4+ protein (up to 1350 in a 24hr sample)... spent 36 hrs pp on mag, had high b/p for 6wk pp with the first 2 wks being higher than they were prior to the week of induction with nosebleeds and headaches. rough...
I got pregnant with ds when dd was 11 m/o. my husband was initially freaked out about the prospect of having another. I don't remember the delivery (delivered vaginally too) or the first day of dd's life. dh was freaked out... I have no pics. but eventually he agreed to another pg and we couldn't have asked for a better one! I still developed pree s/s (headaches, nosebleeds, labile pressures, swelling, but dipsticks were fine and no 24hr sample was taken), but not until 37 wks . My 2nd OB (we had moved) said when she did see it again, USUALLY it was later but more sudden onset. It developed later for me... I made it to 37wk and was cocky thinking we'd go on our own, I was 1-2cm at that visit w/ a b/p of 100/60, my baseline with that pg, my baseline with dd was 90/60 as I was in much better shape then (was 0 when induced the first time). lol. but the next day, nosebleed and high pressures.. by the end of the week I was completely on edge constantly, had labile pressures and vision issues. we were induced at 38w 2d and I didn't need mag! woo hoo! I was so much more energetic throughout my second pregnancy. I didn't realize how bad I felt throughout my first until I experienced my second. the newborn period was easier, I wasn't sick.. my b/p went back to normal right away. It was incredible. like night and day. I feel blessed.
prior to my second pg, I had asked a new gyno (we moved when dd was 3m/o) about underlying conditions and she blew me off. when I got pg with ds, I asked the NP about the perinatologist with their clinic.. was told we'll address that if we get there. the NP blew me off when I started feeling bad again and made me feel like I was just anxious and insane. The Ob took things more seriously, but did not even consult the peri , I'm assuming , b/c I was so late in the pg and not severe. But I still worry about another pree experience. Don't want to risk it even though dh would like more babies. IUD is in place. I think the second clinic didn't worry so much b/c they didn't have the hospital records from my first, even though my clinic notes showed 4+ protein and high b/ps and hyper reflexes.... ? I don't know. I'm still curious about underlying conditions. but my new gyn isn't addressing them either (we moved again).
The reason we had our two close in age... research. I highly suggest reading The Preeclampsia Puzzle . It's a great article on the recent (last 5-10 years) research on pree. Funny, we subscribed to the New Yorker for a few years and that was the first time I picked one up to flip through (DH likes it) and I found this article (dd was 6m/o at the time). and then the preeclampsia foundation is a great support group. can be freaky on there... some of the sad stories are hard to take and there are a lot of opinions... but there are some who were very optimistic and helpful throughout my 2nd pg.
GOOD LUCK!!! I'll definitely say some prayers for you!