What would you do? re: natural progesterone

[rlandnl]

I am not looking for medical advice I am looking for a what would you do type of thing.

I have had low progesterone in the past. I am currently almost 7 weeks pregnant with my 2nd child. My first baby was conceived with IVF and like usual for that sort of treatment I was on progesterone shots for 12 weeks. This baby was a miracle, we were told because of my husband's infertility in combination with mine we could never conceive without IVF.

With this baby, I started spotting at about 5w5days, it was only when I wiped, and it wasn't ever red but still spotted. I went to the ER and they didn't see anything "wrong". When I first found out I was pregnant I asked for a progesterone test and the Dr denied it saying there was "no reason" and then when I started spotting I asked the ER doc and he didn't do it. And then when I called again this past Monday I asked if I could just be put on progesterone as a precaution, they said they don't see the benefit of that, and don't believe that progesterone would make a difference.

I happen to disagree with the office, and I dont' really understand what it would have hurt to do the progesterone test or the progesterone just in case. So I ordered some natural progesterone cream and I got it last night. the spotting has since stopped (fingers crossed!) So I was going back and forth last night about the cream.

So my questions:

1. would YOU take natural progesterone cream "just in case"?

2. If you know anything about progesterone cream etc, am I right in assuming that if I don't have low progesterone that extra progesterone can't hurt anything?

3. If you started taking it, when would you stop, and would you wean off or just stop?

4. If you started taking it, would you tell your doctor lol

Thanks all!

[MaerynPearl]

to be honest... Id just find a new doctor. One who actually listens to me.

[rlandnl]

Originally Posted by MaerynPearl

to be honest... Id just find a new doctor. One who actually listens to me.

I REALLY wish that was an option. Unfortunately I already left the only practice closer to me, and am driving an hour to get to this one, because the last OB/GYN was a terrible person. I don't know how she was as a doctor, but I was VERY depressed after we had a frozen embryo transfer that failed, and I was expressing to her how I was so depressed and didn't want to get out of bed etc, and she looked at me and said "look you aren't going to have more children, so you need to either adopt or get over it and move on with your life".

We live in a rural area in maine and there aren't a lot of choices for doctor's I am looking to see if there is anyone else going in the other direction that accepts my insurance. I HATE this. I want my old OB where we used to live lol but that's 4 hours away I think that's a bit too far

[LZP]

rlandnl- first, YAY that the spotting stopped!!!! That is something that definitely deserves your cautious optimism.

second, i will answer your questions:

1. Whole heartedly yes.

2. I think so, that's been my finding through what I've read so far. The amount that you're getting in NPC isnt going to make your hormones go insane or anything, and progesterone is vital in pgncy.

3. I am taking it (prescription kind at night, and NPC during the day for extra support), and I was told to use it until I was finished my 12th week. If I still have some, I will take it until I'm finished with the scrip. Probably, I will continue the NPC indefinitely, bc again, it can't really hurt. Progesterone rises continuously during pregnancy, so a little more would help in my situation. (Like, it can cap out at over 200 by the end of the 3rd tri in some women, or even higher in some cases)

4. Hmm. Well, I guess so, yes. then, if he/she has concerns about it being "too much," tell him/her to do a blood draw to determine your levels! (with an "I told you so" snicker.)

Now the background: I have low progesterone. it was 38 at 13DPO, and after the end of my usual LP, it had plumetted to 9.7 I started supplementing and now it's up to 30. It does help, and we might have lost this pregnancy if I didn't start the supplements. I really believe that. I just dont make enough naturally. (It might explain the ridiculous mood swings during the LP and the serenity I feel once AF arrives.... huge fluctuations in progesterone.) it was low in my first pgncy that I lost, and i wasnt using the NPC during the day. It could be coincidence, but i dont care. I like knowing I'm doing something to keep the little bean in there. He/She is thriving now.

If you're meant to miscarry, then supplements arent going to stop it from happening. BUT If the baby is meant to stay (which he/she probably is, your little miracle in there!), then it can be the difference between keeping your baby and not. IMO, of course.

[MiaMama]

Disclaimer: I am not a medical profesional, and I am mostly using logical reasoning based on what I have read.

I also have had low progesterone issues before getting pregnant. I wonder if some of the problems I had (miscarriage, some problems with my daughter's preg) were due to hormone imbalance, especially progesterone.

When I read opinions about progesterone from medical professionals who do not advocate it, they usually say something along the lines of well, if progesterone is dropping early in preg, then there is usually nothing you can do to stop it, and the miscarriage is happening for a medical reason.

Well, that does not seem perticularly relevant for women who struggle with chronically low progesterone. It is not that progesterone is dropping because there is something wrong with the preg, it is that some imbalance exists in the mother. If I had low tyhroid, they would treat that, and not just say, oh, you are not meant to have healthy kids.

Having said that, I don't really know the side effects or risks of supp progesterone, so I don't have enough information to advocate for one course of action or the other.

[frontstreetmama]

also disclaiming: I am not a medical professional..

I have been doing a lot of reading on NPC because I read that using it topically on breasts can help with insufficient glandular tissue that can create supply issues for bf... everything I've read says that NPC is fine until 38 weeks? I guess b/c it can inhibit labour coming on? not sure... but that's what I've read and I have a call into my naturopath (sp?) to find out definitively about the brand that she carries...

my (non-professional) two cents.

[frontstreetmama]

you could also contact the manufacturer directly and see if what they say!

[LittleBirdy]

Originally Posted by rlandnl

We live in a rural area in maine and there aren't a lot of choices for doctor's I am looking to see if there is anyone else going in the other direction that accepts my insurance. I HATE this. I want my old OB where we used to live lol but that's 4 hours away I think that's a bit too far

Just wanted to say I hear ya - not sure where you are in Maine but I am in Bangor and it's hard enough finding a good health care provider even here.

I had some issues with spotting and have had some issues with low progesterone in the past. My family doc had me try the natural progesterone cream (this was before ttc) and I had some pretty ugly side effects - after a couple of days on the lowest dose I started crying and couldn't stop for two days. I stopped using it after that. When I got pregnant I spotted from implantation right on through to week 7 or 8 when I had my first appointment with my midwives. One of them is a master herbalist and she had me use wild yam root. She said after about 4 days the spotting would stop and she was absolutley right.

Please keep in mind this is just my personal experience and if you decide to go this route I would definitely consult with an herbalist. Best wishes to you mama.

[rlandnl]

Originally Posted by LittleBirdy

Just wanted to say I hear ya - not sure where you are in Maine but I am in Bangor and it's hard enough finding a good health care provider even here.

I had some issues with spotting and have had some issues with low progesterone in the past. My family doc had me try the natural progesterone cream (this was before ttc) and I had some pretty ugly side effects - after a couple of days on the lowest dose I started crying and couldn't stop for two days. I stopped using it after that. When I got pregnant I spotted from implantation right on through to week 7 or 8 when I had my first appointment with my midwives. One of them is a master herbalist and she had me use wild yam root. She said after about 4 days the spotting would stop and she was absolutley right.

Please keep in mind this is just my personal experience and if you decide to go this route I would definitely consult with an herbalist. Best wishes to you mama.

Thank you everyone for your thoughts. I did end up using the emerita pro-gest. A low dose of 1/4 teaspoon and we will see what happens. I have my ultrasound tomorrow morning and will know whether or not the pregnancy is viable or not. PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE.

I am about 30 miles north of Auburn littlebirdy, not too far from Farmington, Bangor is a nice place but you are right there aren't many good providers there either, we lived in Orono/Old Town during college and even finding a vet was a chore. I wouldn't go to the Farmington hospital if my arm was falling off haha, so that leaves Auburn/Lewiston area and I am seeing someone at CMMC. It's really my only choice at this point unless I want to travel to Portland but that's too far.

Thanks again everyone I really really appreciate it.