Over Spring Break, Robbie and I met with Dr. Allbert, the maternal fetal medicine specialist that we saw when I got sick during my pregnancy. We wanted to discuss the risks of me getting pregnant again. There are a lot details we learned that I wanted to share. It's a lot of information so you may want to "skim".
First, he said that women with pre-eclampsia at my gestation (started at 26 weeks) have a 60-80% chance of re-occurance which at first freaked me out. However, he said that usually those cases happen later in the next pregnancy. It turns out that I have a strong genetic pre-disposition to pre-e because my maternal grandmother had several auto-immune disorders (lupus, scleroderma, and rheumatic fever as a child) and lost 4 pregnancies after my mother due to toxemia (pre-e). Also, my father has rheumatoid arthritis. Since pre-e is basically the body's immune system attacking the placenta, my family history of auto-immune diseases pre-disposes me so I'm on the higher end of likelihood of reoccurance but again he stressed that if it happens again, it should happen later in the pregnancy.
We talked about stress. Apparently stress can really impact the body's reaction to pregnancy. Robbie and I had already talked about me working part time next year and he was encouraging of that as long as it reduces my stress level.
He also suggested we get pregnant within 3 years of Campbell. Apparently it's kind of like having a vaccine. Since my body has already been exposed to being pregnant with Robbie's baby, I am less likely to reject it while I have the "antibodies".
I also learned after some bloodwork that I have something called Factor V Leiden. FVL is a blood clotting disorder that makes it more likely for me to have blood clots, especially when I'm pregnant. According to Dr. Allbert, the connection between FVL and pre-e is "controversial" so we can't say for sure that it caused it. But it does mean that if/when we get pregnant again, I'll have to give myself daily shots of heparin or something similar. Fun. So, now we're doing research on FVL and trying to educate ourselves on it. Hopefully the heparin will help delay the onset of pre-eclampsia or even prevent it.
So, all in all, despite the FVL news, I'm very happy. He was very encouraging and told us that he knew we were going to do well and he loves appointments like ours. So, I feel more empowered and prepared. It also helps to know that we have all of your support and love.
7 comments:
Thanks for the update! You should be able to be a doctor by now with all of the medical "training" you have received over the past year and a half. Things sound promising!
Sorry for those BAD maternal genes but I can just imagine my mom looking down from heaven and saying "I watched over you the first time and I'll be there for you again." I know she's so proud of Campbell and all her greatgrands and only wish they could know her loving touch. We will be awaiting your good news. Love, Mom
P.S. Maybe you better not tell Campbell. She may not be thrilled.
Lots of luck heading your way!
Martha, i had pre-e with Nicholas (although he was born at 37 wks - not quite as early as sweet Campbell) and I had the same odds when I got pregnant again with Jackson but I did not develop it..he went full term (39 wks) so my odds went down when I got pregnant with Spencer...but I developed it again & he was born at 37 wks...Dr Shaver was my MFM (he is the head of MFM at Presby & Dr Allbert is in practice with him) & Dr Shaver said toxemia/pre-e is really a mystery sometimes but beat the odds the 2nd time so keep your positive thinking & know that we will keep you in our prayers. Mandi
You two are always so well-informed and educated when making decisions. I think with your faith, family, friends and information you'll be prepared as best as you can. We'll be praying for an uneventful pregnancy it that's what you decide. :)
Martha, were you able to discern if he meant 3 years from the time you got pg or 3 years from when you gave birth? Just curious how many months I have left in that window:)
yea!
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