April DDC PAL Mamas - Page 6

[kalamos23]

Ok, update on my u/s - did an abdominal and baby measured 6w5d (which is totally fine - the abdominal one isn't as accurate as the vaginal). Heartbeat was 129bpm. Bad news is that there IS a hematoma and other semibad news is that all the repeat loss testing came back and I'm negative for everything - so basically they have no clue why I keep miscarrying. Good news is the hematoma is not huge, and it's in a good-ish place so there is hope that it will reabsorb like the one I had with DD did. It is bigger than DD's was though. Sac measured 7w0d, which is good, I want the sac to be bigger so that it can put pressure on the placenta and help it reattach.

I have another u/s in 2 weeks to see how things are going.

[Skippy918]

OK, I have an update too. I'm not sure what to make of the results. Baby is measuring 6w 1d, but I'm supposed to be 6w 5d. So now I'm due May 4th instead of April 28. Not sure if this is bad or not. H/b was 112. They found a clot in the placenta also which is scary. Is that the same thing as a hemotoma? I also have a follow up in 2 weeks. I'm so scared of losing this baby.

kalamos-I'm sorry to hear they couldn't find anything with your RPL testing. Hope your 2 week follow up brings you good news.

[Stayseeliz]

Glad you all saw sweet little babies! Sorry there are other concerns. FWIW we saw a small bleed on my u/s last week and the dr was unconcerned. He said that babies have to burrow into the side of your uterus and unless it's huge it's not a big deal. I did have a small one with my youngest as well and it resolved on it's own.

kalamos-They never found anything with my testing either. Who knows what it was. This time has been fine so far with no intervention at all. Hoping the same for you!

[Lauren82]

Kalamos23,

I'm sorry that your tests came back negative. It's frustrating not to have a reason for m/c, I'm in the same boat. I'll be praying your hematoma reabsorbs. Hopefully in 2 weeks that hematoma will be gone.

Skippy,

Is it possible your dates are off a little bit? If I recall, an u/s tech once told me that the measurements can be +/- a 3 day difference and that they are not exact. I'm not sure what a blood clot in the placenta is. Honestly I didnt even know we had placentas for the babies already, I thought those came later.

I'm so glad that both of your beans are there and good h/b today!!!

[kalamos23]

Skippy - did they put you on blood thinners? You do NOT want a clot in your placenta - it basically creates an IUGR situation in smaller scale. I've had hematomas (subchorionic in 3 cases, retroplacental in one case) and they range from not good to absolutely awful depending on a. how old you are, b. how old the baby is and c. how big the bleed is and if there is any clotting.

The younger you are, the older the baby and the smaller the bleed with the least amount of clotting = the best prognosis. Also, subchorionic (near the edge and around the sac) is better than retroplacental (where the clot is directly under the placenta).

My doctor is clueless about them (but that's another story) but from what I have read, you want to NOT clot, and you want to up the chances of the clot/bleed absorbing. Things that will help you do this and not aggravate the bleed are:

Pelvic rest (no orgasming at all for you even on your own - you don't want uterine contractions)
Drinking lots of water (if you get dehydrated, you can have uterine contractions)
Modified bedrest or keeping off your feet as much as possible and not lifting
Baby aspirin or blood thinners to help it NOT clot

Are you sure of your ovulation date? Is it possible you ovulated later than you thought? When did you get your BFP and how dark was it? Maybe you just ovulated later - 112 is a good HB for 6w1d!

I hope I didn't scare you too badly, I just wish someone had told me about this stuff before when I had a retroplacental hematoma that was blaringly obvious on the u/s and the doctor didn't even mention. If you want, I can link you to some studies on it, if you need some medical journal proof for your doc.

[Skippy918]

kalamos-I'm not bleeding. The doc wasn't specific about what kind of clot it was, just that it was small and that I will be monitored closely. My original EDD was based on LMP which was 7/22. I wasn't charting so I don't know when I O'd, but I tested positive on 8/21 with a digital test.

[kalamos23]

Skippy - I'm not bleeding either - it's not that type of bleed. You can have a bleed/clot from the placenta without any visible bleeding from your cervix/vagina. I'm glad your doc will be monitoring you closely, that is really good.

[alireb]

Hi Ladies,
I woke up with bleeding and cramping on Friday night and thankfully after a long visit to the hospital found out that everything is ok. I heard the heartbeat - 167 - at 8.5 weeks. I also have a subchorionic hematoma but am unsure how big it is. I have a follow up ultrasound tomorrow with my doctor to find out more info and to make sure everything is still ok. I haven't had any more bleeding since then, but I was sure that it was over.

The emotions around the bleeding were just awful, totally reminding me of my m/c last March. I'm still so anxious and not fully ready to embrace this pregnancy although my acupuncturist says I should really try to. It's like getting your heart broken by a man - I just don't want to put myself out there, I feel so vulnerable.

I'm hoping this is the most eventful thing that happens with this pregnancy. I don't know how much more I can handle. I just feel so fragile emotionally with this pregnancy.

[Lauren82]

alireb,

I'm pretty sure that's what I had with DD2 and had bright red spotting at 9 and then 16 weeks. It's scary, I know! That was also a PAL for me.

Hopefully the SCH will resolve itself soon.

[IdentityCrisisMama]

Originally Posted by alireb

I'm hoping this is the most eventful thing that happens with this pregnancy. I don't know how much more I can handle. I just feel so fragile emotionally with this pregnancy.

I hope so to!!

[IdentityCrisisMama]

Is anyone past the point of their previous miscarriage(s)? I have two weeks to go and that is a day I'm anxious for.

Is anyone foregoing any early tests? I am and feel good about it, especially after reading week 10 of the Mothering Newsletter.

I'm also getting sicker by the day (new for me) but must admit that crazy relief from being ill!!

[kalamos23]

I'm past the point of 2 of my m/c, but still have 2 weeks to go on the middle one - and then almost 4 weeks past that before I actually started m/c with the middle one.

I'm actually feeling really good - not super nauseous anymore, though still green at times. I remember this happening with the middle m/c (and it was NOT an indicator for the baby passing, as the m/s considerably lessened right at 7w, and the baby didn't pass until almost 9 weeks). I was reading Lennart Nilsson's A Child Is Born, and he made mention of the fact that the placenta starts taking over as early as 7-8 weeks. At the u/s on Tuesday, there was definite thickening/placenta over half the sac's wall, so that makes me feel better, maybe the placenta has just started taking over, or maybe my HCG isn't rising as quickly so my body is now more used to the levels.

Still worried about the SCH, but trying to not let it overtake my life. It's weird though, I'm almost waiting for the news that I am going to miscarry. I may call in and ask for another u/s next week just as a peek, because waiting for 2 weeks is going to be rough. I don't feel connected to this baby at all because I'm so scared that I'm going to lose it.

[IdentityCrisisMama]

Originally Posted by kalamos23

I don't feel connected to this baby at all because I'm so scared that I'm going to lose it.

I'm not that connected to this pregnancy either. Though I must say that I wasn't with DC (when the thought of miscarriage couldn't have been farther from my mind) either. I think I'm just a "not until you feel it move" type of bonder. I'm eating well and taking care of the baby in that way but I don't think there's anything all that unusual or "wrong" about not connecting in early pregnancy. I also have a lot of peace with my "if it happens it happens" outlook. I think it also has a lot to do with not telling anyone yet. That has a way of making it feel tentative still. That is not to say that I wouldn't be devastated - it's just that I'm not carrying a lot of worry around with me.

I wish I could remember exactly how many days I was when I miscarried. I think it was exactly 11, maybe. I know I got the 10th week newsletter (I searched my e-mail) but had unregistered by the 11th week so I'm getting close (I got the 10th today). I'll celebrate when I get the 12th!!

[Sihaya]

Originally Posted by IdentityCrisisMama

Is anyone past the point of their previous miscarriage(s)? I have two weeks to go and that is a day I'm anxious for.

I'm nearly there! I'm six days past the point of my second m/c and will reach the point of my first m/c on Saturday. I've been counting down to this Sunday for quite some time now!

Originally Posted by IdentityCrisisMama

Is anyone foregoing any early tests? I am and feel good about it, especially after reading week 10 of the Mothering Newsletter.

I let the OB do whatever blood tests they wanted at my initial 4w appt but am declining everything else except the GBS swab and the urine testing they do at every appt.

Originally Posted by kalamos23

I don't feel connected to this baby at all because I'm so scared that I'm going to lose it.

I'm feeling the same way. I finally pulled out the yoga ball for my terrible tailbone pain, dragged out the maternity clothes because I can't get away without them anymore, and started using the pregnancy pillow in bed out of necessity. But I'm not feeling up to any of the other pregnancy things I did at this point with DS like listening to Hypnobabies affirmations, doing prenatal exercises and yoga, taking belly pictures, etc. I'm hoping that hearing the heartbeat with doppler at our 12w appt will make me feel more comfortable about bonding with and preparing for this baby.

[IdentityCrisisMama]

Originally Posted by Sihaya

I'm hoping that hearing the heartbeat with doppler at our 12w appt will make me feel more comfortable about bonding with and preparing for this baby.

Me too!! I think I'm going to let it all hang out after that 12 week appointment.

[hannybanany]

I'm glad you all got to see your tiny babies!

I am past all of my m/c, the latest by just a couple of days, but that doesn't mean I'm any more relaxed. I think after my appt next week (11 3) I'll start feeling a little more confident.

I also do not feel connected. I felt the same way through DD2's pregnancy too.

kalamos, I'm glad you posted that about symptoms decreasing. Right around 8 weeks mine decreased, but in the past week they've come back. When I feel well I worry that something's wrong, when I feel like crap I worry that I'm still feeling symptoms but the baby's is dead. I can't win.

[alireb]

So I had my follow up appointment to my ER visit today and while it was a quick one, I got another u/s and saw the heartbeat again. I do have 2 SCH but my OB wasn't concerned with them b/c of how far along I am and the fact that I haven't been bleeding since the initial one on Friday.

I actually have my first appointment on Monday which will be more thorough. I'm past the point of when I m/ced before but still anxious. I don't think I'll be content until this baby is born!

[Stayseeliz]

I've way past the point of both my m/c since they were super early but I still don't feel "confident" about everything. I mean, I'm showing big time and talking to people about it but it's hard to believe. Some days are good and others not so much. I just have to keep keepin' on. I can't wait to be out of the first tri!

[IdentityCrisisMama]

Showing, Stayseeliz? I guess I am too but I'm in denial...I want to keep this to our little family until after the 12th week. I'm having to wear camouflage more and more.

[Stayseeliz]

Originally Posted by IdentityCrisisMama

Showing, Stayseeliz? I guess I am too but I'm in denial...I want to keep this to our little family until after the 12th week. I'm having to wear camouflage more and more.

I had a tiny little pooch going on before I knew I was pregnant. Now I'm full on showing. I had someone offer my their seat at the library yesterday since someone in "my condition" shouldn't have to stand. lol There's no keeping it a secret now!