QuestionI was surprised in '07 to find that I was pregnant after a miscarriage at 7 weeks earlier in the year...I was definitely worried about the pregnancy due to the fact that the miscarriage that I had just experienced months prior was so PAINFUL. At 12 weeks, I started to experience bleeding and some discomfort that came and went. The ultrasound showed the baby to be fine. I was back in the ER at 16 weeks with similar symptoms, but again, everything looked fine. The placenta was fine, the baby was fine, they couldn't figure out why I was bleeding. They told me that sometimes this happens during pregnancy. It was maddening!
The baby was moving and growing as scheduled, but at my 22 week ultrasound it was revealed that my amniotic fluid was LOW. To make a long story short, I had to stop my son's heart and have him evacuated 4 days later. It was the most miserable thing I've ever had to go through. To add insult to injury, I bled and was "sick" for 2.5 months after the procedure due to the fact that part of the baby was left behind. I passed the "mass" in the middle of the night after hours of excruciating pain on the bathroom floor. My Ob/Gyn said that I am one for the medical books because I was able to survive with this "mass" inside of me for as long as I did without getting infected or bleeding out.
I AM 6 WEEKS PREGNANT NOW AND I'M FREAKING OUT!
I want this baby so badly, but I can't come to terms with the fact that I actually AM pregnant because I don't want to get attached and have to go through everything that I went through at the end of '07. I have had 2 blood tests done and the Progesterone and hCG levels are good.
I don't know if mentally and emotionally I can handle any complications with this one. I want to just stay inactive and pop prenatal vitamins all day to make sure that nothing happens.
Do you have any experience with this type of situation? What do you think about this pregnancy going full term?
(The genetic testing on my son was all normal)
Thanks in advance.
AnswerHi Nicole
My goodness, what an awful thing for you to have to go through. I'm surprised they chose this method when you were so far on (even though it's performed up til 24wks, but it can be difficult the later on in the pregnancy you are), but the other option would be to give birth to the foetus which isn't much better. I do hope they didn't send you home to pass the remaining tissue - it sounds like it was possibly part of the placenta that was left, which would make you bleed for a long time. Bleeding during pregnancy happens often and sometimes for no reason, but it should always be investigated.
As for your 1st trimester miscarriage, this happens to 1 in 3/4 women and more so in first pregnancies. They think it may be as much as 1 in 2!
Looking on the positive side, congratulations on your pregnancy! Firstly, don't hold back on your feelings. It's the most natural & often unstoppable thing to bond with your growing baby - I trained myself to think this myself, like it was my last ever pregnancy. Emotionally detaching yourself will not soften the blow if any complications arise, if anything I believe it slows down the grieving & acceptance phases.
Secondly, it's great that your blood tests have come back with good results. If you feel like resting lots & popping the vitamins then please do so, but it is important to remember that complications are usually nothing to do with what the Mother/Father has or hasn't done. Remaining realistic is absolutely the key - please don't spend your whole pregnancy worrying about something that really is in the hands of Mother Nature. Enjoy every moment of it & take each day as it comes.
I can really relate to how you're feeling as I was the same, you must be positive for your own sake or you can make yourself ill with worry.
If the tests from your loss came back to show no abnormalities, then that is another point on your scorecard. I couldn't tell you why your amniotic fluid was low but with no genetic problems it means you're less likely to have the same problem than if there were abnormalities. It's possible that the bleeding & low fluid was connected as I have heard about this before, but I'm not medically qualified just going on experience.
It might be worth having a chat with your doctor about your losses & your fears for this one. They may be able to give you some more medical facts & advice which will put your mind at ease. Everything is in your favour & although nothing is guaranteed, you have every reason to remain strong & positive.
If there's anything else I can do for you, please just let me know. I wish you the very best of luck.
Kindest Regards
Sarah
