keeping a pregnancy!

[feroluce.livejournal.com]

ok, i'm asking for help for a family member again :)

my cousin is 25, and 5 weeks pregnant. she's been trying for this for MONTHS, so it's definately a good thing. her first daughter is almost 4 and it's 'bout time, hehe.

the dilema is that she's had some light spotting and was told that her progesterone levels are too low. she's been using a progesterone topical cream and that's DEFINATELY helped, taking her levels from 600 to 3600. i dont know what these numbers mean, but it must be good. however, not good ENOUGH aparently.

she had some serious bleeding issues after her last pregnancy (because the idiot doctor RIPPED out the placenta, after inducing birth probably too early so he could get to his vacation) and after 3 days of GOLF BALL SIZED clumps that she was told were normal, was finally given a D & C to stop it. she also had the evil E, epesiotomy. so, there's been some complications, but none that her midwife (currently, thank god no more hospitals...) said would inhibit being pregnant again.

anyone have any hints for KEEPING a pregnancy?

Comments

[ninaf.livejournal.com]

Spotting is VERY normal in the first part of pregnancy. I would make sure her doctor is aware but unless the blood is bright red, she should be fine. It sounds like her doctor is watching her hormone levels closely so thats good!

[melebeth]

*disclaimer - I am NOT a physician and could totally be off the mark here*
This may sound like a stupid question, but does the midwife know her full pregnancy history? I only ask, because she sounds like she might be considered if not high risk then at least moderate risk and therefore not necessarily the best candidate for full midwifery care without the supervision of an M.D. Although obviously not one as idiotic as her last M.D.!!!!
*second disclaimer - I'm fully in favor of midwifery. In fact, I desperately want to be a midwife and, given a choice, would prefer midwives to deliver any future children I may have*
The second question is purely for curiosity sake and is whether her midwife is a nurse midwife (generally has backup M.D. support available, deliveries generally but not always in a hospital setting) or a lay midwife (M.D. support usually available but less immediate). I'm asking because you said "Thank god no more hospitals." I have no constructive suggestions though, just curiosity!
(and random word question : is the word "curio" related to "curiosity?" it just occured to me that it would make sense if it were, but i'd never noticed before)

[gigglinggorgon.livejournal.com]

tee hee, Curio is indeed a shortened form of curisoity. In vicotian times, they had little cabinets of drawers in which to keep 'curiosities' generally to amuse grandchildren and nieces and nephews... eventually, it was shortened to curio cabinet and bacame an open display case again, for odd, interesting, curious little objects ;)

*Good Lord, I love words, heh! What I geek I have turned out to be!*

Re:

[feroluce.livejournal.com]

the midwife is a lay midwife, but works in a birthing center. this particular birthing center has nurse midwives, md's and lay midwives, and anyone who comes to them can have the choice, but still have the backup of a doctor THERE at all times if anything happens. she wanted to have the baby at home with a midwife, but it was suggested that she go to the center, because then she can still have things as she wants it, in a very comfortable setting, but there'll be a doctor in the next room just in case.
everything should hopefully be taken care of :)

[sabbysteg.livejournal.com]

Possibly bed rest or at least no strenuous activity? Folic acid? I don't really know for sure, but can't the midwife recommend what to do to increase the chances of bringing this pregnancy to term?

Re:

[feroluce.livejournal.com]

oh definately, the midwife's doing all she can. i just wanted to ask here to see if anyone else had any additional suggestions. never too many brains when something like this is involved.

Re:

[sabbysteg.livejournal.com]

oh, okay. i wish your cousin the best, good luck and hope and all that jazz.

[zhivago.livejournal.com]

Wow! It's as if you had telepathy! I've been wanting to post this same question. I am myself almost 7 weeks along, and have been spotting. Very light, almost a discharge discoloration that is pinkish / brownish; too light to need a pad, for sure.

I sympathize with your cousin. There really is nothing worse than being on a rollercoaster of "will I keep this baby, or is it leaving?" I've heard the spectrum on this particular problem from it's perfectly normal to some women, to I must be having a miscarriage....all from "professionals".

She's lucky to be monitored so closely. The docs haven't even wanted to check my hormones yet, and I'm really nervous because I know that my cycle irregularity is due to low progesterone levels. Hmmm.

My only advice is to try and relax-- now if I could only learn to follow it! Aiee. With pregnancy, it seems nature takes a pretty clear path-- that can be such a helpless feeling, but I'm trying to focus my energy on visualizing a happy, healthy baby.

Best of luck to her-- if she wants to e-mail me to talk about this (I would welcome it!) the addy to use is gaipan@hotmail.com

Re:

[feroluce.livejournal.com]

yea well amusingly enough (but not really) 2 hours after she found out she was pregnant she found out that our cousin Jill had just been killed in a car accident, so she spent close to a week after that doing the funeral circuit and being surrounded by the stressed out family. which is WHY we're all being so careful with her... it's kind of nice having this little bit of life in the middle of all this crap.

i'm not supposed to know about this right now (my mom sort of slipped, heh) but i'm sure she'll tell me in a day or two when she visits again. and i'll be sure to pass on what youve said, thank you so much!

[nnnslogan.livejournal.com]

Some articles on progesterone from the VRP web site:

Natural Progesterone: The 'Feel-Good' Hormone (http://www.vrp.com/scripts/vrpMoreNews.asp?ART=602&K=progesterone)
Using Natural Progesterone Cream (http://www.vrp.com/scripts/vrpMoreNews.asp?ART=306&K=progesterone)