Kind of freaking out already... (pregnancy mentioned)

[MarzipanCat]

Another 3 months of trying later, and I'm pregnant for the fourth time (other 3 were blighted ovum w/ d&c at 8 wks, m/c at 6wks X2). I keep vacillating between happy and freaked out. After m/c #3, they found MTHFR hetero, and I got sent to a fertility clinic. I just want this to work so bad. I'm on optimized folate, baby asprin, lovenox (since 3dpo), and progesterone (since + test) -- none of which I've ever been on during a pregnancy (folic acid, of course, but not the form that's better metabolized with MTHFR). My boobs are killing me more than they ever have this early, I've been peeing nonstop, and started feeling really overtired and weird over the weekend. Today I'd be 3 wks 3 days, so I'm hoping feeling symptomatic this early is a good sign... I go in tomorrow for baseline bloods and u/s. I guess I just need some encouragement at this point? Maybe some optimistic stories? Positive thoughts? Prayer?

[Kap7270]

Definitely sending positive thoughts and prayers your way. Sounds like the doc is being very proactive this time so that's encouraging. What is MTHFR? Let us know how tomorrow's appointment goes.

[MarzipanCat]

MTHFR stands for Methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase -- as I understand it, it's a gene mutation that makes it so your body can have trouble converting certain vitamins and amino acids into usable forms (folic acid being one of them), and it can also cause elevated homocystine levels* which can lead to increased blood clots. So you take extra folic acid (I take 2.8 mg/day -- vs. the "required" 400 mcg for pregnancy), and blood thinners. I also take a type of folic acid that is already converted to the absorbable form so my body doesn't have to convert it. There's no 'proof' that this is a problem, or that the course of treatment I'm doing will help, but anectdotally, it seems to - or at least doesn't hurt anything.

[* the hematologist was confused about why, at least at the time of the test, my homocystine levels were totally normal, but in reading into it more, it sounds like animal proteins contribute to elevation of homocystine levels, and I'm vegan, so that could be mitigating that problem. It could also be that it only elevates in conjunction with pregnancy.]

[slimy72]

Hugs. Hang in there. It's nerve wracking for sure. I sure hope they have found the problem and it works for you this time.

[MarzipanCat]

Ahhh just told my husband off. I have extremely minor dark brown spotting, and have been having minor cramps for days. Mind you, I'm still 4 days off from when my period is even due (11dpo), so it could be implantation, could be my cervix is irritated from the progesterone cream -- he says to me "Well now I'm not too optimistic" -- so I told him where he could shove that and if that was his attitude I just won't tell him what's going on.

What is with men, really?? As if I'm NOT stressed out enough and know VERY well what might happen here??

[Kap7270]

Hugs, again. Sometimes they just don't get it but you have sympathetic cheerleaders here!

[slimy72]

Honestly, I just don't think they get it. Even though it is their problem, it's not happening to their body and they often just say the first thing they think. My dh does it too, and I usually bite his head off. But I'm starting to figure out that he just doesn't get it and isn't trying to not be supportive, he just doesn't know how to be supportive.

[MarzipanCat]

He doesn't get it at all. I don't even know what to think about these pregnancies anymore. Spotting? Miscarriage. No spotting? Miscarriage. Tired? Miscarriage. Energy? Miscarriage. Feeling sick? Miscarriage. Feeling great? Miscarriage. Cramps? Miscarriage. No cramps? Miscarriage. I can't take comfort in anything since it seems like everything ends in miscarriage. This spotting is EXACTLY the same as the spotting I had the last pregnancy during which I used progesterone. I wonder if it doesn't just irritate my cervix when I'm pregnant? (Nurse said when they prescribed it this time, it can cause spotting) I guess we'll see what my numbers look like tomorrow.

[Kap7270]

Originally Posted by megatarian He doesn't get it at all. I don't even know what to think about these pregnancies anymore. Spotting? Miscarriage. No spotting? Miscarriage. Tired? Miscarriage. Energy? Miscarriage. Feeling sick? Miscarriage. Feeling great? Miscarriage. Cramps? Miscarriage. No cramps? Miscarriage. I can't take comfort in anything since it seems like everything ends in miscarriage. This spotting is EXACTLY the same as the spotting I had the last pregnancy during which I used progesterone. I wonder if it doesn't just irritate my cervix when I'm pregnant? (Nurse said when they prescribed it this time, it can cause spotting) I guess we'll see what my numbers look like tomorrow.

I'm sorry it has been so hard. Are you taking the progesterone vaginally? Have you tried the bioidentical progesterone via intermuscular injections?

[MarzipanCat]

Originally Posted by Kap7270 I'm sorry it has been so hard. Are you taking the progesterone vaginally? Have you tried the bioidentical progesterone via intermuscular injections?

It's transvaginal. They've never even found my progesterone to be low, they're just throwing everything at me that they can.