Elaine...Is testing really necessary now?

Hi Elaine, First off you have been so helpful to me! I am sure you remember me..I am now 33 weeks pregnant...yay!

Heres some background info. I am 39, healthy and have 2 daughters ages 16 and 13. Both full term normal pregnancies. Never had a miscarriage until recently. In the past year I have had 3 miscarriages in a row (with a new partner)all before I reached 12 weeks..

I was given a referral to see a genetic/fertility specialist but found out in Jan that I am pregnant again. So I am now 33 weeks pregnant. I never saw the specialist since this pregnancy has been fine. I took prog suppositories until 20 weeks and am still on low dose aspirin which I started taking on my own when I found out I was pregnant.

But the other day I saw a new dr still in residency( my ob was on holidays) and she looked at my past miscarriage history and suggested that I get a workup to see why the miscarriages were happening. Not sure why she brought this up since I was only there for my routine prenatal.

I guess I dont really see the point to seeing a specialist now since I am 8 months pregnant.  I guess I always assumed my miscarriages were most likely due to my AMA.

Do you think there is any reason to get further testing done? She mentioned that I could have a clotting disorder but do you think thats even probable since I have had 2 healthy births allready and this pregnancy is normal as well. I guess Im worried now because I do want 1 more child after this. I would like to know if its really necessary to go through testing after this baby is born?

Thank you so much!

[Elaine Brown, MD]

Hi!
Yay!  You are almost there!  At think at this point testing would be academic.  IF you develop pre eclampsia, or growth restriction of the baby or have any complications due to blood clotting, I would consider a work up.  (I hope I have not now given you a new list of things to worry about!!!) If this pregnancy is normal (which it sure seems to be so far!!!)
I probably would not bring up testing again unless you had miscarriages again in the future.
You are correct that the most likely reason for the miscarriages is AMA and there is (unfortutnately) no cure for that!  ;)
I'm so happy for you -- seven more weeks to go!
Dr B

[bellybliss130]

Thanks!

I know that there are bloodclotting disorders that can cause stillbirths. Like aps and other thrombophilias. I am most concerned about having that. Is it possible to have my regular ob test me for that during this pregnancy or do you think its unlikely that I need that testing done at this point?