Those who have m/c prior to this pregnancy....

[Karennnnn]

Hi girls
I think there are about 3 of us who were on the March boards who are now on the June boards, isn't that funny?
I was wondering what testing you were either opting for or NOT during early pregnancy.
I plan on using a midwife for a home birth but when I had my m/c in August, I decided to go to an ob for care during and after. She told me to call her when I got pregnant again so they could monitor my hcg to make sure it was rising, and at 6 weeks get a sono to rule out another blighted ovum.
I called yesterday to make my appt for the sono and they asked if I wanted to do the lab work weekly too and I decided not to. I'd rather not stress over numbers as much as I LLLOOOOOVVE having betas drawn This was before I ever had a loss though.
The u/s I've hemmed and hawed about. I'd rather not have one but I also want some peace of mind.
When I was pregnant a few months ago I felt like I was lying every time I told someone I was expecting. That was my intuition telling me something was wrong; now it's because I'm afraid I'll end up with another loss.
So, what do you all plan to do this time?
Take care,
Karen

[Meli65]

I had a very early m/c last time, before I had a chance to see anyone (besides my homeopath -- she wound up prescribing ignatia, for grief, for me). It came as a complete surprise. (i would have been due about now.)

This time we are telling people just about right away since it was really sad telling people who never even knew I was pregnant that I had miscarried -- it wasn't something I wanted to keep to myself.

As far as testing, the jury is still out. At 39 I am certainly in the "high-risk" category for birth defects (I guess) but am loathe to go do all that stuff just because. We are planning a home birth but I haven't really done much about it besides attend a meeting last week with a lay midwife, and plan to go to another next week to get ideas. I'm eating well, taking vitamins (haven't bought a prenatal yet -- my roommate tells me they are tres cheap at Costco), and getting rest and exercise.

[Karennnnn]

Melissa!
What an interesting point of view because of what happens. Usually those who have had a m/c wait, but I totally see why you want to tell everyone right away.
I have been taking prenatals for MONTHS. I started with Rite Aid brand which were about $12 for 3 months worth. Then I got an RX for I think Stuart Prenatals from the ob. Of course I could only get a month's supply at a time with my insurance and they were $16 for 30! I almost freaked out!!! I probably should have sent the rx out via mail order to get the 3 month supply but never even thought about it. I figured "Gee, this insurance is costing us $700 per month I'm sure I could get SIX months if it was written that way.". Not so.
Any prenatal I think is probably as good as the next. With the exception of some that you find in health food stores with extra herbal goodies. The ones I got an RX for were the same as Rite Aid brand except that they had a higher level of folic acid, or a different KIND or something. That's what the pharmacist said. Had she told me that they were the same I would have gladly told them to keep the vitamins. Which I probably should have anyway but oh well.
I'm rambling
Take care,
Karen

[IntoTheRoseGarden]

I did the same thing; I called everyone the first week that I knew. My loss was so early that only a few people know about it (my mom doesn't even know); and I think that made it harder in some ways.

Before the m/c, I was debating whether or not to get a u/s at all. At the very beginning of this pg, I had a little spotting and thought I would go for a 6-week u/s. Now my mind is more at ease, so I am waiting until later for my first appt, and I will go from there. So basically I have no idea what I want! I just can't wait to hear that heartbeat!

[doulanichole]

I am planning another hb, but will also be doing dual care with an ob/mw practice. I had a very early m/c in August and would have been due in April. When I thought I was having a m/c, I called the ob's office and they wanted to check hcg levels, but I opted for the u/s instead since I knew what it would show...nothing.

This time, I went to the ob/mw last week and did the initial blood draw and she did an internal exam. I will be having an u/s next Wed. for peace of mind. That is unless this bleeding increases significantly and it becomes unneccessary. Not sure who has read my other post, but I have been having some very light spotting. Concerns me a lot since the only other time I have ever had any spotting was when I m/c'ed.

I plan to have another u/s at about 20 weeks to check the chambers of the heart, etc. Other than that, I am a test-free sorta girl. I refuse everything and most in the ob practice love me for it!

[aja-belly]

ok, first of i want to say a big THANK YOU to the women here who are telling people early even though they have had losses. i have actually had people ask why would would tell already since we have had losses. we have done it both ways, and lemme tell you, for us it was way easier emotionally when people knew what was going on.

on to your question karen. we were working with a reproductive endocrinologist, and had a beta drawn before we knew we were pregnant (before my period was due) so that we could plan the next cycle of treatments if i was not. i went in two more times that week to make sure my numbers were doubling, and to check my progesterone because i needed that. i have had two very early pregnancy losses, and one a little further along. i am going for a sonogram in about a week, but that's it. i'm not getting anymore blood drawn, and i'm not having a pelvic exam. i feel an exam is unneccesary, and i almost always cramp and spot after one, and i really don't need that right now. our doctor has been great at the sonograms though, and we want to find out if there are twins. i am planning a homebirth with a midwife, but i will probably choose a hospital with a cnm or an ob if i am pregnant with twins.

aja

[mclisa]

I have my first appointment on November 2 when I'll be 9 weeks along. I've toyed with calling and asking for an u/s earlier, but just haven't done it. I wouldn't have seen much with the u/s until now at 7 weeks so I am half considering it. With the m/c I never got to the stage of being nauseated so for me as long as I feel that I could puke I assume that my hCG's are doubling as the should be. That being said, today I've only felt a little nauseated so my anxiety is rising. Might have to give my doctor (a family practice doctor) a call.

My standard has always been when people ask the question of who should you tell when: tell those you would want to know and be there for you if you should miscarry. I always took those words lightly, because I wasn't going to miscarry. Then I did. We hadn't had a chance to tell my parents or anyone at that point. I would have really liked to have had her should to cry on, but the Sunday I was miscarrying my little sister announces she is pregnant. Who am I to rob the joy of all that from my family so I held back. It was hard at the time, but for the best for me not to say anything.
Still haven't said anything yet. DH and I said November so I think we are sticking to that.

Michelle