Guest guest Posted November 24, 2005 Report Share Posted November 24, 2005 Hi a, Thanks so much for answering my questions. I am so glad I found you. My doctor is Dr. Shabib, and he works through the General Hospital. I live about 60 min from downtown Ottawa, but I work downtown, so going in for regular checks is not a problem. I don't know if Dr. Shabib has experience with MAs, but I will ask. I have been going to him for years, long before I started to TTC. I feel very comfortable with him on the whole, but want to make sure I am getting proper care. What care should I demand? how often should I have cervical checks, etc? I have spotted twice so far with this pregnancy, both a small about of brown. At 9 weeks, then again a few days ago at 13 weeks. My doc thinks that is coming from the other side of my uterus, at the time of my menstral cycle and to not worry about it. He said I may spot again at 17 weeks. Right now, I am seeing him again just before Christmas, having an u/s at 18 weeks and then again at 24 weeks to check my cervix...is that enough. I gives me a lot of relief to find you and hear about your success story...I hope I have my own success story too. Thanks, Sherry 38 Complete SU mc at 8 weeks March 05 14 weeks pregnant now --- a paula.thompson@...> wrote: > Hi Sherry - I was followed by the maternal fetal > medicine clinic (high > risk clinic) at the General Hospital throughout most > of my first > pregnancy. At 30 weeks, as things were going well, I > was transferred > to a regular ob. With this pregnancy (I am only 7 > weeks pregnant now > with my second) I have started with the regular ob - > I am comfortable > with that as this is my second pregnancy, I know > what to look for, > what kind of care to demand, and am I confident in > my ob as she has > dealt with MAs (and me) before. > > I would recommend that you be followed by a mfm > specialist > (perinatoligist) at either the Civic or the General > campus of Ottawa > hospital, unless you are very comfortable with your > ob and they are > willing to provide you with 'extraordinary' care, > i.e,. frequent > cervical checks etc. It is a pain to go to these > clinics, esp. if you > don't live in central Ottawa, but it may put your > mind at rest > somewhat. Have you asked your ob/gyn what kind of > experience s/he has > with MAs? > > I understand being scared to death. I was terrified > throughout my > first pregnancy and to be honest I'm more than a > little worried about > this pregnancy as well (just had a bleeding scare > Sunday night). > However, information is power and the women on this > group have the > experience of dozens of peris and REs around the > world to guide us, so > feel free to ask any questions you think of, and > then demand > appropriate care from your ob/gyn. > > Congratulations on your pregnancy, and making it to > the 2nd trimester > already (a big step for us MAs). I hope this > pregnancy is uneventful! > > Cheers, > a > 36 > Complete SU > DD 16 months > 7 weeks prg with #2 > > - > > > > __________________________________ Yahoo! Mail - PC Magazine Editors' Choice 2005 http://mail.yahoo.com Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 25, 2005 Report Share Posted November 25, 2005 Hi a, Thank you so much for sharing your story and educating me. Knowledge is power...and I feel more enpowered now. I have had 3 u/s so far, first one at 6 weeks, transvaginal, to see if it was viable. The second one, at 10 weeks, I asked for b/c I needed reassurance. The third one at 12 weeks for the integrated prenatal screening test. A few days ago I had my first prenatal visit with Dr. Shabib, and heard the heart beat. So far, the baby is developing normally....and yes, there is only one baby...thank goodness. I don't know if they did a cervical measurement. I am guessing no, since I would have noticed that? I don't know. I will give Dr. Shabab a call next week to see what his plans are for me, and ask him a few of the questions you mentioned. My boss knows everything that is going on with me, since her and I are friends too, so she is preparing just in case I have to leave work early. Thanks for everything, Sherry --- a paula.thompson@...> wrote: > Hi Sherry, I've heard of Dr. Shabib, I'm sure he is > great. If you are > comfortable with him, by all means stay, much easier > that attending > the clinics. > > For my first pregnancy I had a baseline measurement > of my cervix taken > via trans-vaginal u/s at around 12 weeks. It you > haven't had an u/s > yet I would ask for one, firstly to get that first > cervical > measurement, but also to be sure you only have one > baby in there > (twins would require VERY serious monitoring and you > would definitely > have to be transferred to the MFM clinic at the > General). Twins are > more common among women in their 30s. > > After 12 weeks I had a cervical check approx. every > 2 weeks until 24 > weeks. Women with MAs are at a higher risk (although > still a remote > risk) of incompetent cervix. Some doctors believe > that monitoring the > cervical length is useless as IC can strike suddenly > without warning, > but I found it reassuring to have my cervical > measurements taken even > 2 weeks during the 2nd trimester. If your cervix > does start to shorten > before 20 weeks or so, a cerclage can be put in. > > After 24 weeks the main risk is pre-term labour, > followed by growth > restriction and mal-presentation (i.e., breech > presentation). You will > need cervical checks, probably every 2 to 4 weeks at > a minimum, to > watch for signs of PTL. The baby's length etc. will > be estimated > during u/s for signs of IUGR (growth restriction). > Finally, the > doctors will have to be sure the babe is head down, > if not, you will > have a C-section. > > I know this sounds very scary and overwhelming, but > you've already > gotten out the the 1st trimester, definitely the > period with the > greatest risk. Most of the problems I outlined above > are unlikely to > present, BUT you must be vigilent and aware of all > the possible signs > of ptl. I would have a long discussion with your ob > about this, read > all you can on the signs of ptl and if you ever are > worried that you > may be experiencing ptl after 20 weeks, contact your > ob or go to > labour & delivery at the General immediately. That > is what they are > there for. > > Some docs feel that MAs are no big deal and don't > require any special > care, perhaps except for breech presentation. Others > are at the other > end of the spectrum - MA pregnancies are terribly > high risk, mothers > should be off work by 24 weeks, etc. I think the > real situation is > somewhere in between - definitely MA pregnancies are > higher risk than > normal, but many of us have normal or near-normal > pregnancies. > Hopefully your ob agrees to be just a little more > vigilent than normal > with your care. > > My cervix did finally start to shorten/funnel around > 29 weeks. I was > ordered off work at that point. If you haven't > already, you may want > to start planning for the possibility that you will > have to leave work > early, possibly for the entire third trimester, just > in case. > > Let me know if I can answer any other questions. > > Take care, > a > Complete SU > DD 16 months > 7 wks prg > > - > > > > __________________________________ Yahoo! Mail - PC Magazine Editors' Choice 2005 http://mail.yahoo.com Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 25, 2005 Report Share Posted November 25, 2005 Hi a, Thank you so much for sharing your story and educating me. Knowledge is power...and I feel more enpowered now. I have had 3 u/s so far, first one at 6 weeks, transvaginal, to see if it was viable. The second one, at 10 weeks, I asked for b/c I needed reassurance. The third one at 12 weeks for the integrated prenatal screening test. A few days ago I had my first prenatal visit with Dr. Shabib, and heard the heart beat. So far, the baby is developing normally....and yes, there is only one baby...thank goodness. I don't know if they did a cervical measurement. I am guessing no, since I would have noticed that? I don't know. I will give Dr. Shabab a call next week to see what his plans are for me, and ask him a few of the questions you mentioned. My boss knows everything that is going on with me, since her and I are friends too, so she is preparing just in case I have to leave work early. Thanks for everything, Sherry --- a paula.thompson@...> wrote: > Hi Sherry, I've heard of Dr. Shabib, I'm sure he is > great. If you are > comfortable with him, by all means stay, much easier > that attending > the clinics. > > For my first pregnancy I had a baseline measurement > of my cervix taken > via trans-vaginal u/s at around 12 weeks. It you > haven't had an u/s > yet I would ask for one, firstly to get that first > cervical > measurement, but also to be sure you only have one > baby in there > (twins would require VERY serious monitoring and you > would definitely > have to be transferred to the MFM clinic at the > General). Twins are > more common among women in their 30s. > > After 12 weeks I had a cervical check approx. every > 2 weeks until 24 > weeks. Women with MAs are at a higher risk (although > still a remote > risk) of incompetent cervix. Some doctors believe > that monitoring the > cervical length is useless as IC can strike suddenly > without warning, > but I found it reassuring to have my cervical > measurements taken even > 2 weeks during the 2nd trimester. If your cervix > does start to shorten > before 20 weeks or so, a cerclage can be put in. > > After 24 weeks the main risk is pre-term labour, > followed by growth > restriction and mal-presentation (i.e., breech > presentation). You will > need cervical checks, probably every 2 to 4 weeks at > a minimum, to > watch for signs of PTL. The baby's length etc. will > be estimated > during u/s for signs of IUGR (growth restriction). > Finally, the > doctors will have to be sure the babe is head down, > if not, you will > have a C-section. > > I know this sounds very scary and overwhelming, but > you've already > gotten out the the 1st trimester, definitely the > period with the > greatest risk. Most of the problems I outlined above > are unlikely to > present, BUT you must be vigilent and aware of all > the possible signs > of ptl. I would have a long discussion with your ob > about this, read > all you can on the signs of ptl and if you ever are > worried that you > may be experiencing ptl after 20 weeks, contact your > ob or go to > labour & delivery at the General immediately. That > is what they are > there for. > > Some docs feel that MAs are no big deal and don't > require any special > care, perhaps except for breech presentation. Others > are at the other > end of the spectrum - MA pregnancies are terribly > high risk, mothers > should be off work by 24 weeks, etc. I think the > real situation is > somewhere in between - definitely MA pregnancies are > higher risk than > normal, but many of us have normal or near-normal > pregnancies. > Hopefully your ob agrees to be just a little more > vigilent than normal > with your care. > > My cervix did finally start to shorten/funnel around > 29 weeks. I was > ordered off work at that point. If you haven't > already, you may want > to start planning for the possibility that you will > have to leave work > early, possibly for the entire third trimester, just > in case. > > Let me know if I can answer any other questions. > > Take care, > a > Complete SU > DD 16 months > 7 wks prg > > - > > > > __________________________________ Yahoo! Mail - PC Magazine Editors' Choice 2005 http://mail.yahoo.com Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 25, 2005 Report Share Posted November 25, 2005 Hi a, Thank you so much for sharing your story and educating me. Knowledge is power...and I feel more enpowered now. I have had 3 u/s so far, first one at 6 weeks, transvaginal, to see if it was viable. The second one, at 10 weeks, I asked for b/c I needed reassurance. The third one at 12 weeks for the integrated prenatal screening test. A few days ago I had my first prenatal visit with Dr. Shabib, and heard the heart beat. So far, the baby is developing normally....and yes, there is only one baby...thank goodness. I don't know if they did a cervical measurement. I am guessing no, since I would have noticed that? I don't know. I will give Dr. Shabab a call next week to see what his plans are for me, and ask him a few of the questions you mentioned. My boss knows everything that is going on with me, since her and I are friends too, so she is preparing just in case I have to leave work early. Thanks for everything, Sherry --- a paula.thompson@...> wrote: > Hi Sherry, I've heard of Dr. Shabib, I'm sure he is > great. If you are > comfortable with him, by all means stay, much easier > that attending > the clinics. > > For my first pregnancy I had a baseline measurement > of my cervix taken > via trans-vaginal u/s at around 12 weeks. It you > haven't had an u/s > yet I would ask for one, firstly to get that first > cervical > measurement, but also to be sure you only have one > baby in there > (twins would require VERY serious monitoring and you > would definitely > have to be transferred to the MFM clinic at the > General). Twins are > more common among women in their 30s. > > After 12 weeks I had a cervical check approx. every > 2 weeks until 24 > weeks. Women with MAs are at a higher risk (although > still a remote > risk) of incompetent cervix. Some doctors believe > that monitoring the > cervical length is useless as IC can strike suddenly > without warning, > but I found it reassuring to have my cervical > measurements taken even > 2 weeks during the 2nd trimester. If your cervix > does start to shorten > before 20 weeks or so, a cerclage can be put in. > > After 24 weeks the main risk is pre-term labour, > followed by growth > restriction and mal-presentation (i.e., breech > presentation). You will > need cervical checks, probably every 2 to 4 weeks at > a minimum, to > watch for signs of PTL. The baby's length etc. will > be estimated > during u/s for signs of IUGR (growth restriction). > Finally, the > doctors will have to be sure the babe is head down, > if not, you will > have a C-section. > > I know this sounds very scary and overwhelming, but > you've already > gotten out the the 1st trimester, definitely the > period with the > greatest risk. Most of the problems I outlined above > are unlikely to > present, BUT you must be vigilent and aware of all > the possible signs > of ptl. I would have a long discussion with your ob > about this, read > all you can on the signs of ptl and if you ever are > worried that you > may be experiencing ptl after 20 weeks, contact your > ob or go to > labour & delivery at the General immediately. That > is what they are > there for. > > Some docs feel that MAs are no big deal and don't > require any special > care, perhaps except for breech presentation. Others > are at the other > end of the spectrum - MA pregnancies are terribly > high risk, mothers > should be off work by 24 weeks, etc. I think the > real situation is > somewhere in between - definitely MA pregnancies are > higher risk than > normal, but many of us have normal or near-normal > pregnancies. > Hopefully your ob agrees to be just a little more > vigilent than normal > with your care. > > My cervix did finally start to shorten/funnel around > 29 weeks. I was > ordered off work at that point. If you haven't > already, you may want > to start planning for the possibility that you will > have to leave work > early, possibly for the entire third trimester, just > in case. > > Let me know if I can answer any other questions. > > Take care, > a > Complete SU > DD 16 months > 7 wks prg > > - > > > > __________________________________ Yahoo! Mail - PC Magazine Editors' Choice 2005 http://mail.yahoo.com Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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