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#26. Posted 1/20/2004
Hello! I am the mommy of two healthy little girls. During both pregnancies I experienced low progesterone levels and was medicated with prometrium. Basically, between 5-6 weeks of pregnancy, I began spotting. My OB ran HCG tests to determine if my levels were increasing(ie, viable pregnancy) and also checked my hormone levels. In both cases, the levels were low. I was prescribed prometrium and a few days later retested with a level that was consistent with pregnancy. I took prometrium during my entire 1st trimester both pregnancies--the spotting/bleeding occured in both pregnancies until around 11-13 weeks. I was taken off the progesterone at 13 weeks and never had another problem during either pregnancy.
Tarissa
#27. Posted 1/20/2004
i am suffering through my 3rd M/C as i type this. feel free to use it on your site. this time i didnt know i was pregnant, just like the first time...
the first time (1997)i noticed i was a few days late, i was not trying to get pregnant at the time. a few days later i started having terrible pain in the right lower abdomen (i always have this pain now, thats usually my first clue i may be pregnant). my first thought was ectopic. went to ER, blood test confirmed i was pregnant (i estimate 6-7 weeks), however, nothing showed on US. they did a d&c that night and i went home. a year later, i tested positive on a home EPT. i called my OB right away because i was already starting to have pain. he had me come into the office the next day, blood test for pregnancy (no progesterone test) and again, nothing on US. i was sent home on bedrest. i asked about progesterone because i worked for an ob/gyn for a year as a receptionist and i remember she prescribed it for her patients. he told me he does not prescribe progesterone, and that there is no medical documentation that it works. i layed in bed in pain and spotting, but my numbers were going up, but very slowly. they never got higher than 450 at 9 weeks. i went into the drs office and on this visit, after laying in bed in pain and praying for 2 weeks, the numbers started to drop. i was so mad at the dr i just requested a d&c and my medical records. i found a new gyn, and made sure he presribed progesterone. he too said there is no proof it works, but prescribes it anyway (it cant hurt you he said).
i had not been pregnant since 1998, so imagine my surprise when i had a positive EPT on 1/13/04. this was shocking since my last period was 12/31/03. this was the week i should be ovulating. the pain was so familiar to my last M/C, i took the test and it was positive and i started spotting the same day. i was at the drs office that morning. they were very helpful fitting me in and getting the testing started and giving me a sample of progesterone until i make it to the pharmacy. however nothing again on the US, and my blood test was 540. sadly my test 2 days later was 320. my period, in hind sight was 3 days late(should have come 12/28/03), but since i had not been pregnant in so many years i had overlooked it. had i started the progesterone as soon as i noticed the lateness, the pregnancy may have been saved (maybe). i have an appt on wednesday for blood work, US and exam, and im bleeding heavier now, so i know its lost, i stopped taking the progesterone for now. my fiance and i will try again soon.
i find so many sites with conflicting information on progesterone use for LPF (lutal phase defect). the bottom line is my mothers opinion...if progesterone doesnt hurt you or harm the embryo, why not give the patient the option to use it... AT LEAST GIVE IT A CHANCE DOCTORS!
raqui
Virginia
#28. Posted 1/20/2004
Cathy:
I have an 8 year old and a 6-year old. The 8-year old was conceived on Clomid after about two years of trying to become pregnant. The 5-year old was a surprise, I got pregnant on my own. With both the 8-year-old and the 5-year-old I was on bed rest with Brethine last trimester due to preterm labor, they were born at 37 and 36 weeks respectively, small but healthy (5-11 and 5-8), only needing minimal NICU follow-up the first 24 hours. Both were vaginal deliveries with no complications, although my labors were very fast, 2 hours. When I was trying to get pregnant with my 1-year old I was unable to after 18 months, so I got on Clomid again and was followed closely. I got pregnant after 6 months on Clomid, but miscarried at 8 weeks. I got pregnant again six months after that, again on Clomid, and at 36 weeks gestation I had a beautiful baby boy, but it had to be a C-section, as he was feet presenting and was unable to be turned. I went into labor early and he was delivered right away C-section, as I was dilating quickly. In fact, theygave me Brethine to slow it down, which worked at first. He had a hard time breathing at first, but after 8 hours in the NICU he was doing great. When he was 10 months old I conceived again, on my own this time, and miscarried at 16 weeks, which was very traumatic. Laboratory reports showed the baby died around 12 weeks, unknown reason, but that didn't make sense because I had an ultrasound at 12 1/2 weeks and the baby was moving all around and looked completely formed. But the sonogram was not done by a tech, only by the midwife to get a heartbeat, which she couldn't get by doppler. So who knows what happened there. When I went in for follow up after the miscarriage the nurse midwife explained the importance of progesterone during the pregnancy and that the next time I got pregnant they would put me on progesterone via suppository. Through all of this pregnancy/miscarriage I never saw a physician in the office, only a nurse midwife. In the hospital ER I was cared for by the ER doc and an OB/GYN resident, never saw my doctor or midwife from the practice then either. I felt like I didn't get the proper care, but tried to be patient with them. During my HCG follow-up after the miscarriage, they were terrible about letting me know my results and if I needed to get more levels drawn, as you have to keep getting blood work drawn to make sure your HCG goes back to >5. So NOW..... I am pregnant again. When I found out I was pregnant I called my doctor to start the progesterone suppositories they had told me about. A week and a half later no one had called me back, and they couldn't get me an appt either, said they wouldn't see me until my first OB visit at 8 weeks. I called them back and they called me back that night on my cell phone (while I was out Christmas shopping) to tell me where they could call in the suppositories and that I should come in at eight weeks gestation. I called the next morning to make my first OB appt, which they couldn't get me in until 9 1/2 weeks, that was their first opening. I called a few days before my appt date to make sure I could talk to a midwife about my concerns, either over the phone or in the office, and they said I could the day of my appt. So I was patient, went in and thought I would give it a chance. There was no one to see me at the office besides a medical assistant, who did nothing but ask me a few questions and give me my due date. She casually told me I had ketones in my urine, but said nothing about it. She tried to get blood from both my arms and was unable to (which has never happened in my life - OUCH!), so now I have to get my lab work done elsewhere. The midwife had gone out for a delivery and no one else was there that day. So the med assistant said the midwife would call me that night, but I never got a call, it has been two days since then.
So to answer your question, they called in the suppositories site unseen, no previous levels drawn, to a local pharmacy. So that is why I am taking 100 mg twice a day. After my bad experience this last time at the doctor's office, not seeing a midwife or doctor, not being able to have my blood drawn, etc., I called another practice, who between the receptionist and a nurse, talked to me for about 40 minutes about what I should do.... and I decided to try to transfer my care to them.
So there is my story. Don't know if you needed all that, but I figured I would put it all down. I assure you I am not a whiner nor a difficult patient... but I just feel like I need to be very proactive in this case... seems like other women I have heard about with these complications are getting much more care than I have and I would feel terrible if I lost this one and hadn't spoke up. I am 38 years old and don't feel like I have that many more years of fertility left. Although the LORD has blessed me with three beautiful children and a wonderful husband to provide for us, so HIS will be done.
Thanks for your support. I hope this story helps your cause! Keep up the good work!
Terri
#29. Posted 1/21/2004
Cathy and Caneel,
Thank you so much for being a voice of awareness out there for so many women. Here is my story.
My name is Amie, I'm 27, and I live in W Texas also. After getting married in 1994 at the age of 18, children really wasn't part of my plan, but in December of 2000 I found out that I was expecting our first child. At first I was traumatized then excited at the prospect of bringing a life into the world that our love had created. Sadly, I lost that baby at 11 wks and a D&C was performed Feb 2, 2001. I was devastated at the loss of my dreams.
We didn't really "try" for a while then again in December 2001 I once again found out I was pg, but not 3 days later, my period began. I hadn't yet gotten used to the idea but was still upset over the loss. My OB at the time was primarily concerned about my HCG levels and did not want to order any testing because "2 miscarriages is not indicative of a problem" and I being niave didn't know to ask. After my 2nd loss I was more determined to become pregnant so in June once again I was pregnant and once again I lost this baby just a few days after testing and once again my OB was not concerned that there was a problem and I still was not "strong" enough to force the issue.
In October of 2002, I became pregnant again and this child I believe was meant to have survived. I called the OB's office and asked for an HCG and progesterone test and an early appointment, at this point I had become aware of my options through a wonderful support group on Ivillage, and the nurse was reluctant but gave in to all except the appointment, she wanted me to wait until 12 wks. I went in and was never told my numbers and the nurse said "your progesterone is fine but we will give you a supplement anyways" This made me feel better, atleast they were willing this time. At 8wks 2dys I began spotting. I called myOB's office where the nurse said, "well we are giving you prometrium so if your going to miscarriage there is nothing we can do to help you". I was totally crushed, I had to beg to get a 2nd HCG. And her response to that was..."it's not going to do you any good."
That next day I walked into my OB's office and actually demanded an ultra sound. I was so proud of myself for standing up for me and my baby. My OB agreed to do the scan and I was able to see my first heart beat. It was the most awesome and precious thing I have ever seen. All the while, the nurse stood smugly looking over his shoulder at me, her look was that of "you stupid first time mom's" My OB was quick to burst my bubble as well. He said you still have a 2:10 chance of losing this pregnancy. Yes, 2:10 not 1:5. But he assured me that everything looked fine. He did though make me feel better when he said "you should have been in here at 6 weeks" But I still didn't say, I tried but nurse hatchet there wouldn't let me.
He wanted me to come in every 2 weeks for monitoring, so at 10wks 3dys I was back in to have my world shattered. That precious little heart had stopped. I had a D&C the next morning Dec 4, 2002. Finally he recommended testing.
On January 7, 2003 I began seeing Dr. Sandra Bello. She was an angel sent, I believe to help me. She immediately began the scores of tests to try to find out the source of the problem and was quick to point out that she would have liked to have seen me after my 2nd miscarriage. All of my tests came back normal. As a precaution I was placed on 81mg of baby aspirin and 200mg 2 times a day of prometrium to begin at 3 days post ovulation. We were to begin trying almost immediately and I still hadn't had my first period since my D&C on Dec 4. To ensure that my lining was adequate and that no chance at miscarriage was taken I was to have biweekly scans of my uterine lining to check for thickness. Before my first period, my lining was 6mm, too thin to sustain a viable pregnancy. So onto the next cycle, this time with an estrogen patch. My lining checked out to be 7.6mm, just a hair under the preferred 8mm, Dr Bello being as cautious as she was didn't want to chance it, so onto the 3rd cycle and an increase in the patch. My lining decreased.
We were to begin taking FSH injections, but due to the cost and my insurances unwillingness to cover the cost, my husband and I decided to hold off until October when our financial situation would be changing. God had other plans. On August 17th, I found out I was pregnant again. Because we weren't actively trying, I wasn't taking progesterone, aspirin, or my prenatals. I was scared to death.
Dr Bello's office got me in immediately for an HCG and progesterone test. My progesterone at 19 dpo was 52, well above normal. We did a follow up and at 21 dpo it was 40 but my HCG did not quite double 495 to 940 (double would have been 990) Dr Bello was pleased but cautious and changed me from Prometrium to progesterone suppositories 3 times a day and no further blood tests were done. I was scheduled to have weekly scans to check my progress. I had a few bouts of bleeding but mostly unremarkable until my 8th week scan. I had no corpus luteum. In order for a pregnancy to be sustained the corpus luteum must persist as it is the bodies only source of progesterone for the first 11-14wks. It was absolutely critical that I keep taking the progesterone.
At 12 wks, I was weened off of the suppositories and had bleeding at 13 wks. No cause was ever found, possible subchorionic bleed but my levels were checked again and it was 21.5. But on Jan 7, 2004 we found out that we will be having a healthy baby boy in April. And I have a wonderful new OB who actually cares about his patients!
I am constantly out there trying to make other women aware of the benefits of progesterone and to be proactive in their healthcare.
Thank you again so much!
#30. Posted 2/22/2004
Hi Cathy- I too am a Cathy!
I saw you message on the baby center boards, and am hoping my brief story might be something you're interested in:
I had two m/c in 2002- both before 10 weeks, with light spotting followed by D & C's. My Ob sent me for a hysterosalpingogram (ouch!), and the routine blood tests. All came back normal. His next suggestion was that maybe I had a LPD.. and therefore not enough progesterone to sustain pregnancy. As the tests for LPD are invasive, painful and often not accurate, his advice was to continue with TTC, THEN when pregnancy was confirmed supplement with Prometrium (400mg Progesterone taken orally each day) until I reached 12 weeks.
We followed his advice, and we lucky enough to conceive in Feb last year. I started the supplements at 4 weeks, and continued until just over 12 weeks. However, I still had spotting, followed by a heavy bleed with clots, so feared the worst- right up until our daughter was born on Nov 15!!!!
When I look back (which I try not to do now), I certainly do wish we could have tried the supplements in our second pregnancy.... and as you suggest, a routine test for falling progesterone levels would have prevented all of the pain from the out set.
Good luck with your research, and please feel free to contact me again if you wish.
Best wishes,
Cathy.
#31. Posted 2/22/2004
Thank you for your site. Feel free to post my story. I hope this information helps in the quest for more research on progesterone and miscarriage. This includes the details on my first pregnancy. My initial bloodwork was done on Nov. 4, 2003. The OB office would not schedule me for my first exam until I was 10 or 12 weeks along. Due to my travel schedule, my first exam was around 12.5 weeks (Dec. 15). The doctor could not find the heartbeat with the handheld Doppler, and they attributed that to my retroverted uterus. As a precaution, they tested my HCG level. At my next checkup, which was at almost 16 weeks (Jan. 6), my doc still could not find the heartbeat. She explained that this was not unusual since my uterus was way in the back. She ordered an ultrasound to be done at a radiology clinic. All of my recent blood work was considered "normal."
On Jan. 9, the ultrasound showed no fetal activity. The baby measured at approximately 12 weeks in development (I was 16 and 3 days). I had not had any bleeding or cramping -- the only sign that I think I had was a burst in energy after passing the first trimester and some back pain. My uterus was growing, and I was moving into maternity clothes. After the US results, another appointment with my OB was immediately scheduled for Jan. 12. My doctor recommended checking my progesterone level. After the news of the ultrasound, my body started showing signs. I had mild cramping and spotting leading up to a D&C on Jan. 15. After what I've read, I've come to the conclusion that my doctor is ahead of the curve by even suggesting that progesterone might be an issue. My level was 10, and she told me the normal during pregnancy was considered 11 to 45. She recommended that if we decide to try again, she will (as a precaution) prescribe progesterone. I hope this helps!
Karen
#32. Posted 2/22/2004
I lost my baby one month ago. It was Jan. 5th when I went in for an u/s only to see a beautiful little baby with no heartbeat. Two weeks prior I had seen my beautiful baby. He moved and had a strong little heart. His heartbeat was 167 beats per minute. This baby was my dream come true. We had been diagnosis infertile. I had done fertility treatments and everything but still no baby.
So, when I took the test and got a postive I was beyond excited when I had an u/s at 4 weeks I was beside myself. There was this little sac with this tiny little dot.
I had another u/s when I was almost 9 weeks and it was the greatest thing in the world! It was so awesome and I had never experience joy like that before.
So, I was devestated when they told me they were sorry. My whole world came crashing down and just like that my whole world changed.
I like everyone else wanted answers. I wanted to know why. Why would a perfectly lively baby just die! There has to be a reason!
So, Jan. 6th when I went in to have a D&E performed I asked that they do a chromosome test on the baby. I wanted to know was it a girl or a boy. And why it happened.
The test never got done. My doctor never ran the test.
When I went in for my follow up, I asked her about the test. She told me the test only showed maternal chromosome. I was crushed. After, we left the appointment. I realized things weren't right.
I did not understand why she asked us about Progestrone when she was the one who told us that it is contriversial supplement. That you could still m/c. She also said that it is said to make boys be born with small penis. She said she has never written a Rx for it but it is very common in a lot of Dr.'s office to. She told me that I had enough Progestrone to maintain the pregnancy it on the low side but well in range. So, I told her since I had never done this before that I would follow her advice. So, it confused me when she asked about the Progestrone. And I did not understand why she only got maternal chromosome from my baby?
I called the doctor back and asked these questions. I was told by the nurse the chromosome test was never done.
I told them I wanted to see my chart. I had questions.
My chart showed my progestrone level was 13 which is in range. But, on the low side. But, this is what gets me. My progestrone several months before I got pregnant was higher. It was 16. And I was only test once for progestrone even though it was on the low side.
I was 3 mos pregnant when I lost my baby! And my best friend who is due only 10 days before I was due is showing. She is going in a couple of weeks to do an u/s and find what she is having. We should be doing this together. We should be talking about our pregnancies and planning our baby shower. The day I lost my baby is the day I lost my best friend. And that was so wrong! I still see her because she is my sister-in-law. But, she tries to hide her pregnancy. And I always try to hold back my tears. I try and act like she is not pregnant. And that is not right!
So, there is my story.
I believe with all my heart that if I was given Progestrone. I might be still planning the birth of my Miracle baby.
Raquel
#33. Posted 2/22/2004
I had a m/c due to low progesterone and low hcg levels. This pregnancy I had to take progesterone suppositories due to a lack of progesterone for the first 12 wks. I am happy to say though that I am now 37 wks. pregnant and anxiously awaiting our baby girl!
Phyllis
#34. Posted 2/22/2004
It is wonderful to finally find other couples in our same situation. My name is Missy and I am 30. My husband is Terry and he is 35. We are still newlyweds, married 6/14/03. This is our story:
On 9/4/03 (a Thursday) we were surprised to find out we were pregnant. I had been cramping the entire week prior but just assumed it was because my cycle was on it way. The next day (Friday) my Hcg came back as a 38 (and I was supposed to be 5 weeks along). My dr. said I needed to see an ob/gyn right away to rule out an eptopic pregnancy. We then called my sister in law (who had just told us she was 5 weeks pregnant w/ her 2nd child, she works for a fertility specialist/ob-gyn as the ultra sound tech). She was able to get us an appt with her dr, but that appt was not until Monday 9/8. Over the weekend the cramping was still there and I began to spot Sunday evening. By Monday morning the bleeding and cramping had really picked up. I knew what was happening but this was both of our 1st time in the pregnancy department, so we were hoping she was going "fix" it. Like a bad dream we were told at the appt I was in the middle of a miscarriage (at 6 weeks 2 days). I was sent for ultrasound to be sure all of it was gone, and it was. We headed home in complete dis-belief that this had happened.
In October I had an enometrial biopsy done which confirmed luteal phase defect/low pregestrone. I was given 100mg prometrium every day until we become pregnant again thru the 2nd trimester. I was told we had to WAIT to TRY for 2 cycles. Well December 2003 had FINALLY arrived, we found out 1/12/04 we were again 5 weeks pregnant. We did not tell anyone for fear something was going to happen. My Hcg checked in at 238 and pregestrone at 21. I was now told to take 200 mg of prometrium and we were to retest blood work at 6 weeks. The more morning sickness and tired I felt was a GOOD sign. (but I did not feel any??) On 1/19/04 I retested on my lunch break, I waited for our nurse to call all day and finally my husband called me at work w/ the news. We were once again were headed to a miscarriage. My Hch was 58 and progestrone was 11. I stayed in bed hoping it would stop, we were to retest on Wed 1/21 and increase pregestrone to 400mg. The heavy bleeding and cramping began the morning of 1/21. I was schedule for a D & C and our Sept arrival was gone.
I am so happy that you are trying to have a progestrone test as part of the 1st prenatal visit. It would save some couples the sadness of a miscarriage. Our current ob/gyn is referring us to a Reproductive Endochronoligist (?) to make sure there are no other problems. We are anxious to try again, maybe in late summer, after giving our hearts some time to heal. I agree with the statement that most doctors would not do ANY test until 3 miscarriages have happened. Which is awful. I was only able to find out about my luteal phase defect/low pregestron because my sister in law worked at the doctors office. Or we may still have been waiting for the 3rd pregnancy or loss to come along. THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THIS TO EVERYONES ATTENTION!! FEEL FREE TP PRINT OUR STORY OR CONTACT US FOR MORE INFORMATION!!
Terry and Missy
#35. Posted 2/22/2004
Thanks so much for taking this on. I feel comforted knowing about your pregnancy which you took the prometrium. I recently to found out I am pregnant. 6 1/2 weeks along. If it weren't for previous miscarriages and research to ask about progesterone check, I may have suffered another one. My levels came back at 8. I am taking 200mg twice daily. With my history though they started me on prometrium right away.
Anyways here is my story. I have a son who is 6. Since then I have had several miscarriages. My last miscarriage was the one that baffled me the most. I was on chlomed to get pregnant, which succeeded in a pregnancy, however I miscarried about week 5. The doctors office was notified about week 4. They set me up an appointment for 10 weeks, the receptionist was really rude, I asked her if I could get in sooner since I normally didn't carry the baby that long. She pretty much told me that if I was having a problem to call back and would get me in sooner then hung up on me. Anyways I called back a week later with bleeding, I was losing the baby. I got into see the doctor the next day. And the doctor told me that I should have been on progesterone. I was very angry. At that time I didn't have the knowledge then about progesterone to know to ask for the levels to be checked. He was my doctor, why didn't he have me on progesterone with the chlomed. That was 3 1/2 years ago. Now to our surprise we are pregnant, and because of that situation, I knew to call and ask for the test. Which at the new office I go to they would probably have ran it knowing my history.
Thanks again for what you are doing
Blessings
D
#36. Posted 2/22/2004
add me to the list!
my 1st m/c I had no testing, m/c naturally at 9wks. my 2nd m/c I had no testing, d&c for missed abortion at 12wks, baby died at 9wks. my 3rd m/c I was tested and found to have a progesterone level of 9, started suppositories but it was too late (7wks). 4th m/c Dr still would not prescribe the suppliment until I was 5 wks, but I lost her at 9wks because of Turner Syndrome. I am suspicious that O+ blood type is more susceptible to prog. deficiencies, esp. non-secretors, as this is something I have learned informally, through a miscarriage support group I founded, and later learned that 90% of my girls were O+.
I hope my story helps.
April
#37. Posted 2/22/2004
Hi, I am writing on behalf of my daughter and my sister , who both have had low progesterone levels, and both had miscarriages. My daughter was 18 years old when she had her miscarriage. My sister was 36 years old. My sister's level was 9.2, it took 1 week for her results to come back, she miscarried before the results came back. She lives in Hazard, Ky. , and they send their test to Cal. to be tested, therefore I believe this is the reason she miscarried,too long to get results back.She was told by her Dr. if your progesterone level drops below 10 you will miscarry. My daughter is 22 now and this is her 1st pregnancy since the miscarriage at 18. She is 10 weeks now, Her Dr. called today to say that her progesterone is 11.5, too low, they said it should be around 15.She was prescribed Premetrium until she is 12 weeks. I hope and pray this will help her because the miscarriage took her years to recover, which I believe you never really recover. My daughter lives in Tennessee,it took 2 days for her Dr. to contact her, much sooner than my sister's results took. I believe it does need to be mandatory to test ALL pregnancies ,PLUS there has to be a QUICK time frame on the results coming back. I will update on my daughter's pregnancy.
Marsha
#38. Posted 2/6/2004
I do not have much to document, but am 39 and had a m/c in Nov 03 after much spotting 4-6 wks. The doctor did not take a Progesterone blood test, but told me as soon as I thought I was pregnant again, to come in right away and he would put me on Progesterone Suppositories. He had great success with older women taking these. I am almost to week 7 with a heartbeat (no spotting).They cause no harm and frankly, I am glad to not have to have spent thousands on the infertility tests???
?Claudine
#39. Posted 2/6/2004 (Pasted here from emails received 2/25-2/26)
Cathy:
I am in my seventh week of pregnancy and I was put on 200mg of prometrium before bedtime a week ago today because of progesterone levels which dropped from 18 to 10.8 in my 5th and 6th week. My HCG also didn?t go up 66%. It did go up but not as much as it was supposed to. I prepared myself for blighted ovum but went to ultrasound last Thursday and saw a baby and a heartbeat. The doc said the heart rate was a little low, at 102 but I thought the progesterone was saving me. I went for another ultrasound yesterday and the heart rate was only 97. The baby was measuring only slightly long CRL than five days before - only 6.6 when it should have been 7.2. They told me miscarriage is probably inevitable and to stop taking the progesterone. I believed them because it didn?t seem to fix my problem. My baby was still not thriving. My concern is that I?m not sure if they could be off on days and the heart rate, although it should be higher, is still not completely out of range for so early in pregnancy. Does anyone know what their heart rate or HCG were when they went on progesterone and if they were both low, as well, did they have a healthy baby? This is my concern. Is stopping the progesterone the best thing for me if miscarriage is inevitable anyway? I don?t want to have a D&C when there is still a heart rate. If you have any information from your stories, please let me know. Thank you very much.
Patty
Cathy: Thank you so much for personally getting back to me regarding this situation. Much has happened since I first wrote you yesterday. My doctor, who suggested the D&C on Tuesday never got back to me yesterday because she was in surgery all day. After I got my hormone level results back, my progesterone only up to 13.3 after a week of taking 200mg prometrium oral before bedtime, I really wanted to talk to someone about what was going on. Especially since my HCG was up. I called and asked to talk to a doctor who saw me when I first came in for cramping two weeks ago and who did my initial two ultrasounds and blood work. She seemed to disagree strongly with my doctor and was very upset that my doc would suggest the D&C, obviously. She also told me of a friend of hers,a resident at our practice, who had low prog and HCG and a low fetal heart rate in the first trimester and her little girl is now 3 years old and doing fine. She said that the HCG going from 7895 to 14,181 in a week isn?t going up as much as it should be but that the doubling isn?t as consistent over 10,000, so it?s hard to say. She is also the one who told me after my first levels last week that 10% of women do have low levels in the beginning and carry just fine. She said she would not have taken me off the prometrium. I think my doctor took me off because she thought the baby wasn?t growing correctly, but that?s the other area of concern. At my first ultrasound 3 weeks ago, the sac and yolk sac had me measuring at 5.2 weeks. Then at last weeks ultrasound when we did see a baby the baby?s CRL was measuring 6.4 wks. This week a different US tech said the baby was only measuring 6.6 weeks, but if they were off the week before when I should have been 6.2 weeks and they said 6.4, then 4 days later when they did the most recent US 6.6 weeks might have only been off by a day or so. The doc I spoke with yesterday said it?s just so hard to get a good heart rate this early and she wouldn?t touch me as long as there?s a heartbeat. My doc is supposed to call me back today, and although I?ve always liked her in the past I?m afraid to hear what she has to say now. I think they should up my progesterone (I started taking them again last night after talking to the other doc), especially since my levels were a little low, at least until they do another US. Do you think the suppositories are more effective? Maybe I should ask for those. I know you are not a doctor, but any other advice you may have for me or concerns you think I should raise to the doctor would be appreciated. ?Patty
Cathy: My doc called me back this morning and I asked her about upping the prescription and about the suppositories. She said she would ask the fertility specialist and it turns out they called the suppository prescription in for me. I just took my first one (inserted). It?s like a capsule. I?m supposed to take them twice daily - 200mg. each. I hope this helps. I?m having bad cramps right now and not feeling so hot. I hope it?s not too late. No bleeding, though. I?ve never had any.
Thanks for your advice. I go for another US next Tuesday.
? patty [Patty will update us soon. Best Wishes, Patty]
# 40. Posted 2/6/ 2004
Cathy, Hello, my name is Jennifer. I read your story and got your email address from a babycenter.com message board. I have an interesting story to share, and feel very strongly about early progesterone level testing and early doctors visits. My husband and I started trying to get pregnant in August of 2001. I had been on birth control pills for many years and had stopped taking them in February 2001 to give my body plenty of time to adjust and prepare for pregnancy. After stopping the birth control, I noticed that my cycles were getting longer and longer, reaching 45 days long. I went to my doctor in September of ?01 to discuss the issue and was told that I probably wasn?t ovulating and I was to start taking Clomid the next month once I got my period. Well, I never got my period, I was pregnant. But since my cycles were so long to begin with, testing at 28-29 days was never a thought in my mind. By the time I realized I was pregnant it was the first week of November and according to my LMP I was 7 weeks. I went in for blood work, but no results were brought to my attention and I don?t know if my progesterone level was tested. I was sent for an ultrasound to determine exactly how far along I was. The baby only measured 5 ? weeks, not 8 like it should have. I was told that I must have conceived later than I thought, but I knew it wasn?t possible because my husband and I hadn?t had sex since the beginning of October. I was never told that there was possibly a problem with the baby, so I didn?t worry about it, just assuming that everything was ok. Until about a month later when I started bleeding. It was a Saturday, no offices were open and my on call doctor told me to rest until Monday when they could do an ultrasound. Why they didn?t tell me to come down to the hospital is still a mystery, I should have just gone anyway. Monday came, the bleeding had stopped, but the ultrasound showed that my baby had died. I was scheduled for a D&C and the next day, Dec 11, 2001 my baby was taken from me, with no reason other than it must have been a chromosomal problem. No explanation was given to me, I was simply told that this happens all the time. I was devastated, and angry at how I was treated. I will never know if low progesterone levels played a part in my miscarriage. Months went by and our efforts to conceive again had failed. I changed doctors, going to one my friend referred me to. I charted my BBT, used ovulation predictor kits and even bought a fertility monitor. But still no luck. I was diagnosed with PCOS and was given Clomid to help me ovulate regularly. At the time I didn?t think anything of it, but Clomid naturally increases your bodys level of progesterone after ovulation and during a pregnancy if one occurs. After 4 months of Clomid, I was finally pregnant! My doctor saw me right away and ordered blood work, and nothing was out of the ordinary.
I had tests and ultrasounds done all the way up to the day I went into labor. On May 13, 2003 my beautiful son was born. He was healthy, and we were the happiest parents in the world. I nursed for 6 months, weaning for various reasons, but one was because we wanted to start trying to get pregnant again in February of this year. I had only had 2 periods after my son was born, one in August (an anovulatory cycle) and another one in December. I was going to start keeping track of my cycles to see how long they would be again. 30 days came and went, so for the heck of it I took at test on cd 32. It was positive! We were pregnant again! It was only one month sooner than we wanted so we were very excited, especially after the heart wrenching loss and issues we went through to ttc again afterwards. A surprise pregnancy was very nice, since we anticipated having trouble conceiving. This time we conceived on our own, no fertility drugs, charting or monitors were used. Again, I was taken into the office right away and sent for blood work. This time, my numbers were really low. My progesterone level was 5, when it should have been more like 13. I was put on progesterone supplements, 200 mg of Prometrium twice a day. My Hcg levels were ok, not quite as high as they wanted to see, but it was acceptable. I went back for repeat prog. test after 5 days of being on the Prometrium and my level was 71! It was sky high, and my doctors were very happy. I went for an ultrasound and at 5 weeks and 5 days the baby measured right on target. We even saw the tiny heart beating. We were reassured that things were looking good and a repeat ultrasound was done 3 weeks later. Everything is going perfect, and I am due on Sept. 24, 2004! I have a few friends whose doctors don?t see them until 7 or 8 weeks for the initial visit. Blood work is done, but a progesterone test is not routine. Thankfully my doctors added it onto my panel of tests, otherwise we might have lost this baby too. But I question whether it would have been added on if I hadn?t had a miscarriage or other fertility problems. Progesterone is what keeps the pregnancy going until the placenta takes over around 12 weeks. I can?t help but wonder how many miscarriages could have been prevented if a prog. test were included in the routine OB blood work. It?s vital to the pregnancy?s outcome, so why is it so often overlooked? I will never know if my progesterone level was to blame for my miscarriage. And I am almost 100% sure that because it was my 1st pregnancy, a progesterone test was not done because I had no previous history of problems. But how does a doctor know if a patient has a problem that can easily be corrected if no test is done in the first place? I will also never know if the Clomid was the reason my progesterone level was ok in my second pregnancy. All I know is that I believe that the prog. supplements (and my doctors? smart decision to test my prog. level in the first place) is probably the reason I am still carrying a healthy, strong baby. I want to help in any way I can, if I can prevent this from happening to even just one more woman, it will be worth it. Please contact me with any information on how your project is doing, and how my story will be used.
Thank you.
Jennifer
angel 12/11/01 Son 5/13/03 Edd 9/24/04 "Mother love is the fuel that enables a normal human being to do the impossible."
#41. Posted 3/10/2004
I am 25 years old and pregnant with my second child. I experienced two miscarriages a few years ago, both very early (7 weeks and 4 weeks) and never had any testing done, because I hadn't had three yet. When I became pregnant with my son in September of 2001 I started spotting pink and cramping at about 5 weeks. Again, they did no tests other than HGC counts, they just told me to take it easy and wait and see...I had several episodes during the first trimester of pinkish spotting and almost constant cramping...needless to say it was a very stressful three months. Then at about 13 weeks things got a lot better (this is when the placenta begins to produce it's own progesterone) and my son was delivered healthy at 39 weeks (although I did have problems with pre-term labor at 31 weeks (magnesium sulfate for 4 days and then nifedipine for 6 weeks). When I became pregnant this time, I didn't even know I could get pregnant because I had not yet resumed my menstrual cycles (I was still nursing my son) but I noticed light pink spotting that went away after a few days and I began to wonder about my nausea. Sure enough I was 5 weeks pregnant, and I called the doctor to make an appointment. This new doctor asked if I had a history of miscarriage, and when I said yes she told me I needed to take a blood test for progesterone levels right away (I hadn't mentioned that I was spotting yet)...I had never heard of this test for progesterone levels, but I went in for the test and my results came back low...they were 11.9, my doctor told me they should be around 20. She put me on progesterone suppositories, and the spotting stopped immediately. The cramping has subsided, and other than my nausea, I feel great now. I have had two ultrasounds so far (my doctor does them every two weeks for women on the progesterone) and everything looks good, the baby is growing and the heart is strong. I am almost ten weeks now, and hope that the pregnancy continues to go well...I know now how much I lost when I suffered those miscarriages, knowing how much I love my son, and how much I would have loved those babies is heartbreaking. I don't know for sure if low progesterone was the cause of my first two miscarriages, but the symptoms were so similar that it seems highly probable...and I know that with future pregnancies I will insist on progesterone testing as soon as I know I am pregnant. Thank you for collecting these stories, I wish I had been aware of this possibility when I was pregnant the other times...Good luck!
Monica
Update from Monica, sent Dec. 2, 2004. Congratulations, Monica!:
Dec. 2, 2004
Hello, I am writing to update my story (I believe it's #41 in your postings)...just wanted to let you know I delivered a healthy baby boy at 38 weeks in September :-) I had problems with preterm labor with this pregnancy, similar to my first, but again medication was able to stop/control contractions and he held out until he was almost full term. I am so glad I found the doctor I did and that I took the progesterone supplements...I don't know for sure that I would have lost this baby, but I thank God every day for this miracle because I know I could have lost him, and I will definitely get tested for progesterone levels before I try to get pregnant next time. Thank you for the good work that you are doing, I am sure many women will be helped and many babies saved because of these stories...
MONICA
Posted 3/10/2004 (Story #38)
[Update to story posted 2/6/2004] We are sorry, Patty! We wish you the best and hope you can get on the progesterone sooner next time.
Cathy,
I just wanted to thank you for all your advice the last few weeks. I wanted to update you and let you know that we went for another u/s last week and the baby had no heartbeat and stopped growing at around 7 weeks. I have been devastated but I guess I got on the suppositories too late or more likely they just didn't help with my situation. At any rate, I had a D&C Wednesday and I fell okay physically, no bleeding and very little cramping. Emotionally, I could be doing better, but I'll manage. The doctor said to wait two cycles and on day 21 of my second cycle she wants to test my progesterone. Then as soon as I get pregnant again they want me to demand to come in to have my levels tested. Hopefully I will never have to go through any of this again.
I did read something of interest written by a doctor on the Internet about all the estrogen in our society making our bodies create less progesterone. From steroids in meats, to chemicals, pesticides, and more we have become an overly estrogen influenced society and it's effecting all women negatively. I'm sorry I had to learn this the hard way, but thank you for making women aware of this growing concern. Good luck to you.
Thanks again.
-Patty Callahan
angel 3/2/04
#42. Posted 04/23/2004
Hello, My name is Kari and I got married at 19 and my husband and I started to try to have a family. I suffered 4 devastating miscarriages by the 7 week mark. I was so discouraged and did not know what I was going to do. I thought I would never have children. My husband entered the Air Force and we got sent to Oklahoma and a wonderful doctor there HELPED ME!!! No other doctor had shown any concern, but when I got pregnant there I went into see him and he immediately started me on Progesterone Suppositories. I had a healthy baby boy full term with NO PROBLEM!!!!! I have since had another son and had to be on the Progesterone again. We have since moved from Oklahoma and are trying to conceive #3. I am just hoping that my doctor here in Mississippi is as helpful as my doctor in Oklahoma. I had no trouble what so ever getting pregnant, it was staying pregnant that was my problem. Thanks to a proactive doctor who went out on a limb for me and it worked. I hope that my story can give someone hope. I had 4 miscarriages and have 2 healthy boys as a result of a doctor who cared enough to check some things out!
Kari
#43. Posted 04/23/2004
Dear Cathy,
I have been searching the internet for any and all pertinent info for progest. therapy in pregnancy for weeks. I am so relieved to have found your site. Thank you for all you are doing to bring this condition to others attention and also give those of us who are going through, or have experienced, prog. therapy and/or pregnancy loss, a place to share and collaborate our stories. I have had terrible insomnia for 5 weeks but after reading the stories on your site, I was able to find some peace of mind last night. Here is my story, I hope someone may find that shred of comfort and sisterhood in it.
I am 34 and live in Michigan. I have two healthy children, 5 and 3. Although I did have a small amt of short lived spotting with first child at 11wks, they were otherwise fairly normal with only minor, if any, morning sickness. In early 2002 we became pregnant again. I felt much more nausea and constipation than before, but otherwise all was well. First visit to OB at 10.5wks we couldn't catch the heartbeat with doppler. Prepared for worst and went for U/S. Relief at hearbeat and perfectly sized baby. Started feeling physically better, thought "Thank God this morning sickness has passed" and looked ahead to a new baby. At 13.5wks had U/S for national study, and was shattered. There was that perfect baby sized to 10.5wks with no heartbeat. Had D&C next day, no suprises and fetal testing was done and normal. Tried again, took awhile... then July 2003 became preg. again. Same early nausea and ridiculous constipation, but at 8wks the numbers were good. Did not believe could happen twice, the same way, but at 12wks, no hearbeat and a baby sized to 10.5wks. Had D&C next day and again testing was normal.
I was lucky enough to be referred to specialist and all testing was normal, except a luteal phase defect(of 6 days) and high prolactin levels(26-38). Therapy suggested was clomid and progesterone. Our first month trying we were successful and I am 8wks2dys preg. with twins.
And of course, a nervous wreck. Physically I feel much like I did with first 2 preg. hardly any sickness. Have been on prog.supp 200mg 3xday since conception. At 5wk6dys I started spotting, very light and sporadic. That U/S and one at 7wks3dys have been good. Now I am having spotting, again very light and brownish, mostly noticable a couple of hours after taking the suppository. MD's office says "could be normal, call us if there is a change", which is just so hard to hear. So here I am "taking it really easy" and praying that on April 5 we hear 2 heartbeats with the doppler.
Michele
# 44. Posted 4/7/2004
Hi my names is Amy and I am from Eureka, California. I was very excited to find your website online. I recently suffered my second miscarriage in the last six months. My Dr is going to start hormone testing here in a few days. My first pregnancy started out ok I had a little bit of spotting and was kind of worried so we had an ultrasound done at 5 weeks and everything seemed fine. Well two weeks after that i went in for my regular schedule visit and it seemed as if whatever was in the sac had absorbed. So I had to have a D & C done. Well the last pregnancy was going really good until about 10 weeks then i started spotting and cramping. Previous to this i had an ultrasound done at 8 weeks and everything was fine we saw the heart beating and the Dr said everything looked great. Well after the spotting it went for a couple days and I ended up in the ER with bleeding and cramping so they did an ultrasound only to find that the fetus inside the sac was getting smaller. My Dr. said that it's more than likely a hormone problem so he is going to do the testing soon. Your site was very informative. The Dr really didn't go much into the hormone issue he just wanted to do testing but I am very curious to know what is going on with my body. I think it's great that you are collecting information to help people. Before this i didn't have a clue that this stuff goes on, i think that women should know what is going on with them and how they can help to prevent miscarriage. This should be testing that they do in early pregnancy along with everything else they do. I appreciate your site and I am sure many other women do also. Thank you
Amy
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#45 . Posted 4/7/2004
I'm so happy to find this site... My name is Yvette I have had 3 miscarriages in less then a year.. I have an 11 year old son from my first marriage, it was an uneventful pregnancy, no bleeding no spotting but I did deliver about 4 weeks early.. put I was going through a divorce at the time so my doctor chalked it up to stress.. after being single for about 10 years and moving to NC, I meet my sweetie, Scott he had also been married before and had a three year old daughter.. we both knew we wanted children A.S.A.P and started trying right away, since I'm older (36) I just knew it would take some time to get pregnant.. but to our surprise it happen the next month.. we where so happy. I took a hpt( 3/1/03).. which was positive.. but I was bleeding and cramping I went to the emergency room and was told that my hcg levels where not high enough and that I was miscarrying and to go to my doctor in three days to have my levels checked to make sure that they where dropping. My doctor tested them and they jumped from 265 to 1000 and they kept going up from there the next week he did an u/s and we saw the heartbeat.. but I was bleeding and cramping the whole time, but my doctor said it was ok. he never did any testing other then my levels and he could never detected a heart beat through the Doppler but we could see it on the u/s. At 15wks the bleeding had almost stopped and we started feeling like things would be ok.. but 3 days later Scott and I where in bed and a gush of fluid came out.. I knew my water had broke.. I called my doctor who told me that if I was not bleeding or in pain then to take it easy and he would see me on Monday (this was Saturday) the next day I went to church (still no bleeding or pain) when I got home I was tired and I could not keep anything down.. about 11pm that night I was in so much pain I could not walk. and I new I was in labor.. my husband rushed me to the emergency room, I just kept praying that it was an infection or something minor.. but in my heart I knew.. they did an u/s and I could see the heartbeat, so I asked the tech did he see any fluid in the sac.. he told be he could not say and that the doctor on call would answer my questions. After an hour the doctor came in the room.. .. I don't have good news... I kept hearing it over and over again.. my water had ruptured and infection had set in.. I had a temp of 101.3 he told me that they where going to have to induce labor and that my baby would not survive.. I just kept saying no.. I would not do it. because I saw the heartbeat. and I knew my baby was still alive. and I refused to let them touch me. it took my mother and husband plus the ob on duty to convince me.. to let them take my baby.. after about 8 hours I deliver my son (5/12/03) David James Garofalo, my angle in heaven. when I went back to my doctor 6week later he told me it was just a fluke (jerk) and still did no testing, we waited a couple of month and tried again this time I miscarried at about 6wks (8/03).. this time my doctor said we tried to soon and to wait 4 months.. so we stared planning our wedding which helped take my mind off the baby thing. my sweetie and I got married on 12/6/03 it was so beautiful we had a small ceremony in our home surrounded by family and friend.. a week later we went on our honeymoon I was hoping that I was pregnant.. but I started spotting. a couple of day later once we got home I was sitting at my desk and my back started hurting and I started cramping I went to the bathroom and a gush of blood came out along with a very large clot.. I called my doctor who told me to come in because he thought I might have a bladder infection (jerk) the nurse tested my urine and also did a pregnancy test which came back positive.. but a couple of day later I miscarried again 12/03)..still no testing one of the nursed was leaving to go work for another OB she pulled me to the side and gave me his card and told me to make an appointment with him... It was a blessing and I will always be thankful to her.. the first thing my new doctor did was run test and low and behold I have PCOS I have to many male hormones I had every symptom, ache, crazy weight gain, facial hair plus male pattern baldness(lovely) and my progesterone levels where 0.6.. This man took the time to ask the questions to get to the bottom of what was going on and took to the time to answer any questions I had, you don't know how many times I had asked my old doctor about progesterone.. and he always blew me off.. now I'm with a doctor who is on it.. I just stared clomiphen to help me produce better eggs and to help increase my progesterone. once I become pregnant he will start me on progesterone at high doses.. I love this man.. we are hoping that things will be better this time and we will be blessed.. Ladies, doctors do not know everything that is why they are called practicing physicians. I try not to get angry.. but there was no reason for me to suffer like I did .. I know that most doctors have large practices and can be extremely busy.. but a few simple test would have been all it took.. Ladies be demanding and if you have questions ask.. do not let them shoo shoo you off as if you do not have a brain in your head.. because you dare have the nerve to question them.. This is your body and the life of your child.. do what you have to do. After reading some of the post, it gives me hope that we will be blessed with a baby, It's been so hard getting your hopes up and then having them come crashing down, but I have faith.. everything for a reason I pray that my David was not if vain,, if just one women reads my story and starts asking questions that saves her baby then that's the blessing.
Lots and lot of baby dust.
Yvette
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#46 . Posted 4/7/2004
Hi my name is Amanda and I am from Texas. I have a beautiful 5 year old son and am married to the most wonderful man on earth. After trying for a year to conceive we found out that we were expecting. Within 2 weeks of taking the test I started bleeding. I haven't even found an OB yet. I was referred to a doctor who immeadiately did an ultrasound and at 5 weeks he showed that the baby had a heartbeat. Each week I went in for an ultrasound. As the weeks passed I continued to bleed more. After bleeding all over his table the DR admitted me into the hospital. I stayed there a week and was told I had partial placenta previa and was told to quit my job and stay on bedrest- this was at 17 weeks. After a few weeks and started feeling pressure down below. I went into the hospital again and was bleeding worse than ever. After 2 transfusions I was told the hospital was not equipped to handle me and was transported to a teaching hopsital. Immeadiatley upon arrival they did an ultrasound and my water had been broken and I had to deliver! After 24 hours of labor I delivered my son at 21 weeks and he did not live. We were advised to wait 4 months to try again. Our due date was March 17th and on March 9th we found out we were expecting! My NEW OB immediately issued a prenatal profile and progesterone test and it came back 11. The next week he did another and by the 3rd test in 2 weeks it dropped to 8.5. He immedaitely put me on prometrium capsules and so far so good. We had our 2nd ultrasound and the baby is growing. I am so thankful that this DR took immeadiate action unlike my other one. He didn't even test my progesterone. Any women I know I will tell how important progesterone is. And thank you for your site. I have searched the web for information on thsi and you were just what I needed.
Amanda
#47 Posted 5/8/2004
Cathy,
What a blessing this has been to find your sight! My name is Lorrie and I'm currently 6 weeks pregnant and this is my first! When I
discoverd I was pregnant I called my doctor to let her know that I "thought" I was pregnant because I saw a very faint line on my pregnancy test. She told me to come in and do a blood test to be sure. The results came back and she said my progesterone level was at an 8 and that I was at a threatening level, so she put me on Prometrium 200mg a day. I talked to all my girlfriends and none of them had heard of this or had to take this medicine! I ended up calling a friend of mine in another city who is a OB for questions. I noticed in a lot of the stories people expressed concern why certain doctors did not put them on this medicine! Well I learned from my Dr friend that there are 2 schools of thought when it comes to Prometrium: 1)Some doctors believe for example, that you are pregnant and they will treat this as a normall pregnancy and that your body just isn't producing enough progesterone, therefore they will treat the problem with Prometrium.2)Other doctors belive for example, that you are having an abnormal pregnancy because your body would produce the correct levels of progesterone if this were a normal pregnancy, therefore they do not treat an "abnormal" pregnancy with Prometrium because they don't think it will help! I found both schools of thought to be very intresting! I went in for antoher blood test this week and my Dr uped my dosage to 400 mg a day. I find hope and encouragement in your site and everyones stories. I pray that mine will be a sucess story too!
Thank you!
Lorrie
#48 Posted 5/8/2004
Cathy:
I cannot thank you enough for the information that has been made available by you. I think you are going to be a key part in me having a successful pregnancy this time around. My name is Kara, I am 28 years old, and I live in Florida. I have two daughters (10 and 7). I never had any problems with bleeding or threats of miscarriage with them. I did suffer with hyperemesis gravidarum (which is severe dehydration) and I was hospitalized with both of my girls for a week. After four months passed in both pregnancies, my terrible morning sickness subsided, and I went on to have 7 pound babies at term.
I am remarried now and my new husband does not have any of his own children. So, it was very important for us to have a child together. We began trying soon after we married, and four months later I was pregnant. (October 2003) At 5 weeks pregnant, I started bleeding heavily, and I experienced early labor pains. I was so upset because I never experienced this in my other two pregnancies. I went to my OB'soffice, and they did an ultrasound. There was nothing in my uterus. My little baby had died, and I had already naturally miscarried it. I was told to wait three months before trying, but I joked with my OB (since we have a good relationship) and I told him that he knew that I wouldn't be waiting.
In December 2003, I became pregnant again. I had a scheduled OB appt at 9 weeks. Two days shy of my appointment, I started bleeding. It wasn't very heavy, but it was alarming because of what I have already gone through. I was given an ultrasound and I got to see my little baby's heartbeat. It was strong as ever, and I cried tears of happiness. Even though I was bleeding my baby was still thriving. I was diagnosed with a threatened miscarriage, but I was given high hopes that the baby would survive since there was a strong heartbeat. I was put on bedrest for a week. The rest seemed to be helping because my bleeding had improved. So, I went back to work the next day. I had a stressful day, and I came home with major back pains. It felt like early labor because the pain was very intense. I had a heavy flow of blood, as well. I was 10 weeks pregnant, and my OB told me to come in right away. I did have to wait until the next day to get an ultrasound. They did the scan, and I saw the little baby floating in the sac. This time there was not a heartbeat. I totally lost it. I started hyperventilating. I couldn't breathe. It was awful!! I just couldn't believe this was happening to me again, and this time it was worse because I fell in love with that baby once I saw its little heartbeat just a week earlier. After my D&C my husband and I met with a Chaplain. She prayed with us, and she said that it helps in the grieving process sometimes to name your baby. So, we named her Grace. I was jaded on trying for another baby again, but with a lot of prayer and support from family and friends, my husband & I started trying again.
My doctor did send me for bloodwork to check me for lupus and other autoimmune problems, and the tests came back negative. So, I'm lucky not to have those problems.
I am now pregnant again. I am 5 weeks pregnant. It is bitter sweet because I don't want to be happy about it yet. Recently, my demeanor has changed though because I found your website. I called my doctor at 4 weeks pregnant and I told him that I wanted to be put on progesterone right away. It never occurred to me that I possibly wasn't giving enough progesterone off to my little babies, and in the transition from luteal stage to the placenta taking over, it just couldn't do its job. I've never been checked for progesterone levels, but I will be demanding this now. I asked my doctor for a progesterone prescription, and he put me on Prometrium, 200mg. I have started taking them, and I hope that I have caught it early enough. I will keep you posted as I progress. I really hope that we can prove the skeptics wrong. I would have never thought about this treatment, if I hadn't seen your website. Thank you so much for bringing it to my attention. KNOWLEDGE IS POWER!!! I'll keep you posted!!
Much love,
Kara
(Ashley 08/10/93)
(Allison 04/14/97)
(Angel 10/2003)
(Grace 02/2004)
#49 Posted 5/8/2004
I am 24 years old and am the mother to a beautiful 14-month-old girl. Her entry into this world was not an easy undertaking. My husband and I started trying for a baby when I had just turned 21, and since we were both young, we thought it would be easy and we'd be parents in no time. It didn't take long to get a positive pregnancy test, but our naive dream came crashing down just days later when I got my hCG screen back and learned I would miscarry. Sadder but wiser, we were told that "these things just happen" and we just needed to try again and everything would be fine the next time.
We didn't even wait a full month to ttc again, and before we knew it, we were looking at another positive pregnancy test. The hCG levels looked great and we were hopeful. When I started bleeding at 8 weeks, our hearts sank. The baby had stopped growing at 6 weeks and I had a d&c,then insisted on getting some blood tests done to see if there was any problem. Nothing showed up (but progesterone was not tested). The doctor insisted that it was just bad luck and instructed us to try again.
I was beginning to get suspicious of what I'd been reading online: that supposedly most miscarriages were caused by genetic errors in the baby. I was only 21 years old -- and supposedly if I DID get pregnant my baby would have something like a 1 in 400 chance of having a genetic disorder, so I couldn't believe that random chromosome errors were really responsible for my two consecutive miscarriages. I sought out a progesterone test from a different doctor at 8dpo of a cycle that I coincidentally turned out to be pregnant for the third time in. I know it's under debate, but most doctors concur that an 8 dpo progesterone level ought to be at least 10 and even more say it should be around 15. When I learned I was pregnant a week later, I frantically called and asked about progesterone level since I hadn't yet received the result. The progesterone level came back at ***8***. This doctor INSISTED that this was normal, but agreed to prescribe 20 mg progesterone suppositories just in case. I took these suppositories and returned to my normal doctor who also tested progesterone about a week later. That result TOO came back at 8, at the same time as I learned the hCG levels had stopped rising and I was going to miscarry for the third time.
I was quite frustrated at this point. Having discovered a progesterone problem, I suspected that the suppositories prescribed to me by the alternate doctor hadn't been absorbed, had been started too late, or perhaps had been in too low of a dose. I cut off contact with my OB for the time being and switched to seeing a reproductive endocrinologist, who heard my tale of the progesterone woes and agreed that could be the source of the problem. Lupus anticoagulant antibody was also discovered but the circumstances made that unlikely to be the cause of the miscarriages, plus I'd had an earlier negative test for the antibody.
This reproductive endocrinologist tended to approach progesterone issues from the point that he tested for the level very early in a pregnancy and supplemented if there was any suspicion of a problem, so he told me to call him immediately when I learned I was pregnant again. That happened a month later.
I was completely frantic and emotionally in turmoil. It was 13 days past ovulation and my period wasn't even due yet, and I was already convinced I was going to lose my baby again. My hCG level came back at 113, which was perfectly good, but my progesterone was a little bit low at 15.4. My RE felt it needed to be above 20 to assure the best odds of a good outcome. He prescribed 200 mg/day of progesterone and had me come back for another test in two days. The level rose only slightly to 17. Suspecting a problem, especially since it hadn't risen higher, my RE doubled the dose and had me come back 2 days later. The level was finally above 20, which was where he felt it should be. All the while, the hCG looked great.
Taking 400mg/day of progesterone, I nervously awaited an ultrasound at 6 weeks. I'd never seen a heartbeat in any of my previous pregnancies.
However, luck changed and this time we saw the little flicker on the ultrasound screen. I saw the RE every couple of weeks for the rest of the first trimester, continuing on the progesterone, and everything was fine. The rest of the pregnancy proceeded normally, and my daughter was born healthy. I will be ever thankful that I was bold enough to dump my previous doctor's advice and to be aggressive in seeking out care. It kills me to think that my daughter might not be here if it weren't for those prometrium pills. It's very haunting to know that my third baby could have possibly been saved if the doctor had been a little bit more proactive and if progesterone had been tested before I got pregnant again. When I start trying for another child, I will locate a doctor who is going to be ready and willing to test my progesterone and if needed, prescribe prometrium right away as soon as I call and say I'm pregnant. I only hope that this will become a standard part of prenatal care someday. If we test newborns for diseases that only occur in 1 in 60,000 births, we ought to be testing pregnant women for low progesterone.
-Krissi
#50 Posted 5/8/2004
Hi,
My story is not what you're looking for, I think, but I need to tell it, and ask that you please let me know if you have heard others like mine. I am doing research also to find out whether progesterone supplementation is not for some women.
I am 35 and have three children, 15, 9, and 2. I have struggled with irregular periods and infertility for many years. After my son stopped nursing in 2003, I became pregnant again. I was placed on 400mg Prometrium daily. I was advised to stop the dosage at 13 weeks, as the placenta is making progesterone by then. We found out at 17 weeks that the baby I was carrying died at 14 weeks. The tissue testing my OB ordered showed that we were carrying a healthy boy. I became pregnant again a few months later. Again, my progesterone was low, so Prometrium was prescribed at 400mg daily. My levels were still lower than my OB liked a couple of weeks later, so he increased the dosage to 600mg daily. I was advised again to discontinue the drug at 13 weeks. We found out at 15 weeks that this baby had also died at week 14. We are currently waiting for the results of the tissue testing to come back, and also for my first OB visit after my D&E to ask many questions of him.
I saw a Maternal Fetal Medicine Specialist with this last pregnancy, and after telling us of our loss, he called my OB and suggested a possible course for a future pregnancy (Heparin injections) and told him that he didn't know what was going on in our case, as all of my blood work was normal.
We are in the process of doing research to find out if there is a chance that Prometrium either caused the deaths, or if the sudden removal of the drug did. I have communicated with others that have had babies die the week after their Prometrium supplementation was stopped, so I am not an isolated case. I agree that research should continue in this area. Hopefully it will help those of us that have not had successful pregnancies with progesterone supplementation also.
Any information you can offer would be appreciated.
Thank you,
Leah (35)
DH (36)
DD (15)
DD (9)
DS (2)
DS Lost at 14 wks 9/03
Baby Lost at 14 wks 4/04
*Note in relation to this story: According to research we have done and what some doctors have told us, some women need progesterone longer than the standard first trimester/13 or 14 week mark. Caneel’s doctors kept her on it until 16 weeks, beginning weaning slowly off of it a few weeks before. (In the case of her second child, she was put back on another form of progesterone at 21 weeks until 36 weeks to help prevent pre-term labor.) Sudden drops in the levels can very well do damage.
Disclaimer: We are not medical professionals. This website is for information purposes only and is not a prescription for your particular needs. Consult with your health care professional if in doubt or if you have questions. We do not try to overrule the advice of your health care professional and can only say that if you question your doctor, you need to get a second opinion.
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