PAL Mamas- Check in Here!

[bdoody11]

Hello ladies,

I thought I would start a thread for us PAL mamas. Pregnancy after a loss is such a roller coaster and I thought it would be a good idea to have a place for all of us to check in.

I'll introduce myself first:

Name: Bree
Due Date: June 6
# of losses: 2 (10/08 & 4/09)
Living Children: My DD who is 2 1/2
How are you feeling?: Pretty good. My last two pregnancies started with very heavy bleeding, followed by my positive test. I lost those babies at 5 weeks and 8 weeks. This pregnancy is the total opposite. No bleeding and pregnancy symptoms. It makes me feel a lot better. My betas started out slow, but they are happily doubling.
Ultrasound scheduled? We will hopefully see a heartbeat on October 16.

I look forward to meeting you all and supporting each other through our pregnancies!

[kbcain]

Name: Kyle
Due Date: June 1
Previous Losses: 1 confirmed (March 06), most likely 2 (Dec. '99)
Living Children: 1 son, 2.75 years


I m/c at 12w3d in March '06. I had a sono at 8 weeks, heard the HB, and got lots of pictures of the baby. Needless to say, I am/was very leary of getting out of the ENTIRE first trimester before telling anyone! We didn't tell anyone until I was 12w4d with my son.

When DH and I were dating in college I had a period that was two weeks late and absolutely horrible. I never took a test because I was only 20 and didn't know/think much about that... Looking back, I am relatively certain I miscarried. For that reason, reaching 6 and 12 weeks are both big milestones for me.

I'm feeling just fine, other than bloated and sometimes moody as all can be!!!

[NicolleLynne]

Name: Nicolle
Due Date: June 3
# of losses: 2 (5/08 & 3/09)
Living Children: Just the one in my belly (I hope)!

I've had two losses but never an "actual" miscarriage. My first pregnancy ended in a termination at 12 weeks after genetic testing (CVS) came back with a diagnosis of triploidy. My OB explained this was a condition "incompatible with life" and recommended terminating. It was a heartbreaking decision but in the end I made it and have no regrets, though I grieve for that child everyday.

My second pregnancy ended in a D & C. At my eight week ultrasound they found an embryo but no heartbeat. The last thing I wanted was another surgery but after waiting two weeks my body refused to miscarry naturally and my OB was worried about infection, so I went ahead with it.

I hope this isn't TMI... It's so hard for me to talk about these things with friends and family, I never want to make anyone uncomfortable or feel sorry for me... More than anything I just want this pregnancy to turn out okay. I'm so anxious about every little twinge! I feel like if I can make it past the ultrasound (October 20th), the genetic testing two weeks later and then out of the first trimester, I'll be able to breathe again. Right now, I'm just holding my breath and hoping.

Best wishes to everyone for blissful, uneventful pregnancies!

[cormama]

Name: Corinne
Due Date: June 6
# of losses: 1 (9-08)
Living Children: My DD Angelina who is 2 1/2
How are you feeling?: Good! A bit tired, but 3 days a week I watch a 7 month old from 7-5 so that could be why I'm tired also. I'm not use to getting up at 6am!
Ultrasound scheduled? 9 weeks I will have one

Hi everyone! I'm glad this is here for us. I m/c last Sept and didn't know until my 15 week appt that the baby had stopped growing. I think it was around 12 weeks that it happened. I tried to let nature take it's course and it mostly did, but a week later I had to go to the ER for labor like pains and had a D&C due to some excess tissue. I'm having more cramping this time...like AF cramps and wondering if it's from having the D&C??

[gen24]

I'm sorry, I don't belong to this thread but I just have a question for BDOODY11: my pregnancy just started with heavy bleeding (8 days after ovulation). I really thought it was a period until I tested and realized I was pregnant. I've been very worried and am wondering what this could be. Since it happened to you twice and ended in MC, it is not very reassuring. Do you know if there is a link between the bleeding and your MC?
Thank you and I am very sorry for your losses. I wish you the best

[Soul-O]

Hi Mamas:

Cautiously posting here...

Name: Tabitha
Due Date: June 3, 2010
# of losses: 5 total - 2 most recent were 7/09 and 8/09 (two chem. pregnancies in a row)
living children: four wonderful boys, ranging in age from 9 1/2 to 19 mos.

How are you feeling?: OK.. very tired, sore breasts that are especially bothersome at night and/or when my 19 mo old nurses, overactive sense of smell, mild nausea that comes & goes, frequent urination (also fighting a UTI right now). I'm taking Endometrium (progesterone) suppositories @ 200 mg/day, so some of my symptoms are probably related to the progesterone rather than the pregnancy itself. My betas started out a bit low, but are doubly nicely.

Ultrasound?: Likely sometime around the 15th of October. I'm with the infertility/high risk group at our medical center, so I expect lots of interventions.

[bdoody11]

Originally Posted by gen24

I'm sorry, I don't belong to this thread but I just have a question for BDOODY11: my pregnancy just started with heavy bleeding (8 days after ovulation). I really thought it was a period until I tested and realized I was pregnant. I've been very worried and am wondering what this could be. Since it happened to you twice and ended in MC, it is not very reassuring. Do you know if there is a link between the bleeding and your MC?
Thank you and I am very sorry for your losses. I wish you the best

Gen24, I wish I could answer your question, but I don't know if there was a link. My first miscarriage was most likely a blighted ovum or some other genetic abnormality since it happened so early, but we'll never know. My second was a partial molar pregnancy (one egg, two sperm) that was diagnosed after a D&C with cytogenetic testing. Both are totally random occurring events. My doctor never made it seem like the bleeding was a big deal. She said it can be a normal part of pregnancy. I personally was never comfortable with the amount of bleeding I had-- spotting I could see, but full on bleeding was disconcerting. I'm sure none of this is much help to you. I couldn't really find any information about period-like bleeding in pregnancy. It just isn't talked about or isn't that common, I'm not sure which.

I'm wishing you a very healthy and happy pregnancy.

[Pinoikoi]

I didn't see this thread... so this is copied from one I started (sorry!)

It is a topic I don't REALLY want to think about, but for me, it is my reality.. This is pregnancy 7, and I have had 3 live births. I know I am not the only one that is trying to carefully keep track of dates and symptoms and not get too excited too soon... or that conversely want to enjoy every second of pregnancy.

I had a loss prior to my first (suspected ectopic).
I had a loss after my first (baby had stopped growing weeks before and I dealt with severe depression about this as it was not a spontaneous miscarriage at 15 weeks or so)
I had a loss this year July 4 after a couple of days of spotting. It was easier though since I knew more about what to expect..

Usually my dp is so focused on his pregnant wife from the minute he finds out.. but so far he is kind of avoiding this conversation. I know he is trying to guard himself against his own emotions (he takes each loss VERY hard and he is usually the guy that can't wait to share the news and run to the grocery store in the middle of the night for cravings and talk and kiss his wife's belly).. so it is so sad to see him purposely disinterested. It makes me want to cry really. But I know he isn't trying to be hurtful to me.


Name: PK
Due Date: June 21
# of losses: 3
Living Children: DS 11, DS 6, Ds 5 (adopted), DS 4
How are you feeling?: Tender boobs, kinda nauseas... quietly optimistic
Ultrasound scheduled? Not sure yet. I have a blood draw scheduled and then will see what my OB says. I am seeing an OB until second tri then hoping to switch to a midwife for a homebirth.

[GoBecGo]

Name: Beccy

Due Date: June 1st

# of losses: 4 (June '02, blighted ovum @ 9wks, September '03 loss @ 6+2 but with spotting from 12DPO, July '09 chemical pg @ 4+3, August loss @ 6+4 with spotting from 5wks)

Living Children: DD born April 2006

How are you feeling?: Sick and exhausted, and very different to any pregnancy i've had before including DD's. I'm sitting with my jeans undone at 6+1!!! We wonder if it's twins. I'd like a singleton because it makes everything easier on me, but i would be blessed to be carrying twins and will certainly take 2 over none any day! I've had quite terrible nausea the last few days but bought seabands today and feel better. I am PRAYING they work longer-term because i was disabled with the nausea yesterday. I am not looking forward to filling in the hospital booking forms, where i will have to detail my 5 pregnancies and the one lonely only i have to show for them...

Ultrasound scheduled? not yet, will be probably 11-14 weeks before i have one on the NHS.

[Milk8shake]

Name: Jayde
Due Date: Mid June (TBC)
# of losses: 1 - 12.5wks in June 09 (unexplained)
Living Children: zero
How are you feeling?: Pregnant! I have sore nipples - yay. Today I'm feeling sick in the belly, and I'm bloated! Aside from that, feeling positive and very hopeful. Best of luck to all the Mamas, I look forward to hanging with you for about the next 8 months!
Ultrasound scheduled? TBC, about 6 weeks. I expect fairly regular scans this time round, I'm considered high risk.

[expatmommy]

Due Date: June 23
# of losses: my son was stillborn Feb 3 2009, early miscarriage May 2009
Living Children: dd1 (10), ds (7) & dd (3)
How are you feeling?: I'm feeling pretty normal, which is actually disconcerting. With all of my previous pregnancies, I've had intense nausea almost as soon as the hpt was +. So far, I'm a bit nauseaus midday & feel sort of crampy. The digestive system has s-l-o-w-e-d right down though. I'm taking a massive amount of vitamins as recommended by my naturopath, so I'm wondering if my high levels of B vits are warding off symptoms. I'm awaiting my 2nd set of betas tomorrow.
Ultrasound scheduled? I'd like one soon, just for peace of mind. Does anyone now how early I can do a non-vag one? All my previous pregnancies have been very non-medicalized so this is new territory for me. I'm trying to take it one day at a time.

[whozeyermamma]

Thanks for this! I need it!

Name: WYM (I like a little internet privacy!)

Due Date: June 22

# of losses: Thankfully, only one - at 7weeks in July. U/S showed it was 5 weeks 1 day not 7 weeks 5 days so it stopped growing and then it took a while for my body to let go.

Living Children: DD - age 6.

How are you feeling?: No PG symptoms at all, which is making me anxious. I can't remember when the morning sickness started with DD, but I think it was pretty late. Boobs a little fuller - but that happened with the last PG too. Trying to take it one day at a time, stay busy and keep calm. I do a hard walk every AM which makes me feel great.

Ultrasound scheduled? I go to the doc for my first blood tests 10/29. Probably an US around week 8 or 9. I don't want to have an US and they can't find the h/b b/c it's too early so I'd rather wait.

Looking forward to seeing all of us here for the next 9 months!!!

[Yaliina]

I guess I'll post here, too, though my situation seems different than other posters.

I have never m/c, but I had a son who passed away 17 hours after he was born (1999). The official diagnosis was meconium aspiration syndrome secondary to a localized and serious infection in my uterus/placenta. No one knew until I spiked a fever during labor that there was a problem, and even then, I labored for 40 hours without any fetal distress or anything. They finally took him via C-Section, and even then they didn't know there was any problem until he came out and didn't really cry- he whimpered once, and that was it. He lived on a respirator for 17 hours, until his heart gave out while I held him. It was undoubtedly the hardest thing I've ever done, and it was a pretty horrific experience, but it actually brought my DH & I and our two families much closer to each other & to God. It gave me a different perspective.

The birth of my second (living) son was especially difficult in light of the first, and unfortunately, my CNMs used my first son's death to coerce me into an unnecessary c-section on Christmas eve. This time, however, I feel that I have a better grasp on things, and I think having a live, healthy birth (even a c-section) gave me confidence. This time I'll HBA2C, Lord willing.

No planned u/s right now, though I'm sure we'll have one sometime. I have just spoken with a midwife, and I will call an OB some time next week or week after (so my insurance can pay for something).

[MuslimMama]

I definitely belong here!!

Name: Faiza
Due Date: 20 June

# of losses: 3 (1st @10 weeks, 2nd very early, 3rd @13 weeks but we found out @10weeks)

children: DS (13 months)

How am I feeling? cautiously optimistic Trying to realize that *I* am not in control. But still a bit guarded... waiting for 14 weeks when i will feel "safe"

u/s: mmm... not sure yet. With my last miscarriage I saw a heartbeat just to miscarry a week later. I am thinking I might just wait it out to hear the heartbeat on the doppler. still not sure.

[at_the_hip]

Hello,

Name: Cindy
Due Date: June 19
# of losses: 2 (1997 and 2002)
Living Children: 4 girls, dd10, dd8, dd6 and dd15 months
How are you feeling?: Nervous...but definite periods of nausea. My belly is pooching, back/leg cramps and achiness that comes and goes. This is the toughest part of pgnancy and the part I can do the least about other than pray!
Ultrasound scheduled? unless there is a specific reason, not until the big one in the 2nd tri (in Canada). Now I wait anxiously for about a month before I can look for the HB myself with my doppler.

[Sonnet]

Name: Just call me Sonnet - I'm a private person.
Due Date: June 3
# of losses: 1
Living Children: none
How are you feeling?: Exhausted, nauseated, terrified.

[cormama]

I'm getting my first u/s on Nov 6 Very exciting!! I'll be almost 10 weeks then.
I never got to see/hear my m/c baby so that's why I'm looking forward to seeing this baby! I really feel good about this pregnancy

[sharr610]

Name: Stephanie
Due Date: June 26
# of losses: 1 at 5.5 weeks, June 2009, most likely due to getting pg too soon after IUD removal.
Living children: DS, 2

I'm feeling ok. Just got my BFP yesterday. DH and I are still kinda in shock and not sure what to do. Its being referred to more often as the positive pregnancy test than anything else. I've been taking HORRIBLE care of myself and honestly, we weren't even really trying for this month...
But I'm feeling positive. The loss wasn't too hard on us. An obvious bummer, for sure, and we are being really cautious about telling people this time, perhaps even ourselves.
Yesterday, after I found out I was pg, I was out in our garden in the front yard. When we m/c in June, I planted a gorgeous dahlia, to remember the little bean that had passed. Someone stole it yesterday morning. As pissed as I am that someone took my plant, I am taking it as a sign that loss, for me, is over, and its time to embrace this pregnancy....at least, thats what I'm trying to think .

Thanks for starting this thread. I am not planning on U/s until 20 weeks. My body is going to do what it is going to do. What I am obsessing about is, when is this real? When do we talk about it with friends and family? I have to tell my yoga teacher next week so she can tailor the practice to me...is it real then?

[Pinoikoi]

Originally Posted by sharr610

# of losses: 1 at 5.5 weeks, June 2009, most likely due to getting pg too soon after IUD removal.

I have considered this same thing as well. How soon after the removal did you get pregnant? I had mine removed in March and miscarried at 9 weeks in July.

[Onthetrail]

Due Date: June 10, 2010

# of losses: 1, July of this year at 7 weeks

Living Children: DD (2.5)

How are you feeling?: A little nauseous, with a gnawing tummy. Very sore when breastfeeding my DD (who seems to want to nurse more than a newborn!) Nervous, numb. I feel strange admitting to the pregnancy...haven't really told anyone, didn't want to call my midwife, didn't want to post here...I feel like making it concrete might jinx it somehow. My loss was early, pretty physically easy also, but still leaves me afraid of celebrating new life too soon.

Ultrasound scheduled? No. Just to hear h/b on doppler. Likely one near 20 wks for gender and quick check-up. I'm a little nervous after having two rounds of food poisoning early on (staph at 3.5 wks, norovirus at 5.5 wks - the only I've had since about 20 years ago!) but from what I've read everything should be alright...

Thanks for being here Mommas, I wish you all the best!