DH and I are planning on "trying" in about a year. We are impatient so it may be earlier (our son clearly takes after us). I am going to see my OB next month for my yearly but because of my history with DS I'm wondering if I need to see a MFM. I want to make sure I am doing anything and everything I can to prepare my body for another pregnancy to avoid complications if that is possible. I KNOW it isn't always possible but if there is something I can do I would like to know.
Will my OB refer me to one or is this something I have to be proactive about? My first pregnancy was not high risk so this is new to me. (FWIW I will be 34 when we start trying so I could be 35 when I give birth .... hopefully if I can go to term this time so that may add to this since I will be at an advanced maternal age)
I've seen a few mentions of MFMs on here in the past so I was hoping you might be able to give me some insight. Thanks!
Re: MFM question
In my situation- DS being a preemie and small was most likely due to a clotting disorder. I have an appt set up with a hemotologist to make sure that we have a plan of action in place for when we try for #2.
Were you guys ever able to figure out why your DS was early? If so, you would have a better shot at being able to find the right specialist for your possible condition.
They called it severe pre-e with neuroligical complications but they aren't 100% sure it was pre-e. I had the crazy swelling and high blood pressure when I went to the hospital (because I was seeing spots) but the BP went down with meds and stayed down after the meds were stopped and even through delivery and after. What scared them was that I have a history of psuedotumor cerebri (or intracranial hypertension) which is an increase of spinal fluid which lead to my optic nerves being squeezed and almost going blind. That was in 2003. Even though I only saw the spots for a little while I had a headache which did not go away so they thought I was going to have a stroke and after I got my steroid injections for the baby they induced me.
My BP was normal throughout my pregnancy, at least at my appts, so we aren't sure if that was just a fluke and high because of the stress of the hospital and everything or if it was all in fact pre-e. So while they have some ideas they don't really know. I'm trying to lose some weight since I know there are thoughts that show that reducing weight can reduce risk of Pre-e in subsequent pregnancies but other than that I'm not sure what they'd do.