Can I possibly have this baby?

[knwalter]

Please, somebody answer this question.  I have been all over the web, on various pregnancy sites and no one will respond to my questions.  I am a type 2 diabetic and I am 36.  I lost a baby at 22 weeks last year due to no ambiotic fluid resulting in genetic abnormalties (no kidneys, lungs and severely underdeveloped heart), I had to have a D&C done, which just about killed me mentally.  I am now somewhere between 11 and 14 weeks pregnant again (I go for an ultrasound this Friday 1/18/2008).  I had absolutely no control of my diabetes when I conceived (blood sugars were running high 200's to 300's) this was due to losing my job and health benefits and I couldn't afford my medications.  I was given an A1C test but do not have the exact number result, but probably around 11.  I am so concerned that this baby won't make it either or that it will have awful deformities.  I was put on insulin as soon as I found out I was pregnant (at about 8-11 weeks) and have had very good control since then.  I am so scared, last tuesday (1-8-2008) I had some spotting and made an emergency visit to my OB/GYN where I got yelled at for my high A1C test results and was told there was a good chance of a miscarriage, but the doctor heard a heartbeat and said he was very happy about how strong it was.  This past Saturday (1/13/2008) my husband and I had sex and after I passed 2 clots, about nickel sized and have been lightly bleeding (just when I wipe) since then and also some brownish, slimy discharge.  Like I said, I go for my first ultrasound on Friday.  Will they be able to see if the major organs are developed and will they be able to tell if the ambiotic fluid levels are o.k.?  Did the sex cause the bleeding and discharge (I've heard that can happen)?  Too may questions to post here, I could go on all day.  Basically, I just want to know if there is even the slightest chance of having a healthy baby in this situation or am I just building up false hope?  Please somebody respond, I really need some advice and someone to talk to.  Thank you and good luck to all the pregnant ladies!!!

[dsmommy]

Sounds like you've had your fair share of bad luck so its time for some good ju-ju!  :)  I really hope all is well w/ the baby and it sounds promising if your doctor was happy w/ the heartbeat.  I think the most important thing at this point is taking care of yourself (diabetes, not smoking, prenatal care, etc).  At 12 weeks is when we did the NT scan for our twins for downs and its amazing how formed the babies were.  They were kicking and moving all around and the doctors were not only able to get a good deal of information but also tell us the sexes.  So hopefully you will be able to see alot this friday!!  Keep your spirits up b/c stress is not your friend at this point.  lol.  i hope it all works out & pls let us know how it goes on friday!!!

Dottie
23wks 5days (boy/girl twins)

[orphanannie59]

I wanted to give you a resource that you may not be aware of in your state.  In Ga it is called the Medically Needy program.  In KY it is called "spend downs".  You are eligible because you are pregnant.  It is a kind of medicaid, but with a "deductible", but will help considerably with the 12,000 you are paying to your doctor.  Here is the website address  http://dch.georgia.gov/00/channel_title/0,2094,31446711_31945377,00.html

I work with Medicaid and know how it is for couples in your situation.  But when we are pregnant the govt does have some help.  Spend downs are a lifesaver.  Insist that you get this service!!!  

More than likely they will need your (and dh) wages for at least 2 or 3 months, something verifying you have no income, and a detailed bill from every provider you owe.  There will be more, but that it the basics.  You will have a deductible based on your income, and then medicaid pays the rest.  They can only do 3 months back, for example, they would look at Dec, Nov, and Oct    in January.  Once January is over they would look at Nov, Dec, and Jan (in Feb).  I also know how some medicaid offices are, they don't want to do the work, so read about it, call the local office and ask to speak to a medicaid worker, make a list of what you need to take and insist!!  I hope this helps you, and I wish you all the best with your little one.

[lhughes]

First off, let me congratulate you on your pregnancy!!!  I'm glad you are doing what you can to take care of yourself and get the prenatal help that is so important.

I had many, many ultrasounds with both my pregnancies...high risk both times, so I can tell you what you might see at each week.  At week 6 you should see a clump with a heartbeat.  Week 8 you will have a definition of the heart and a head, torso and arm/leg buds.  From then on, the baby develops quite quickly.  At around week 12, you can see pretty much all the stuff on the inside and determine if most everything "looks" ok.  You can determine sex around week 17 or so (if it's a boy, it's definitely a boy), otherwise it might be what they think...we all start out looking like girls.  They'll take measurements of the baby and of the womb to determine if everything is within the expected parameters for your timing.  Hopefully all will be as it should.

There are certain tests they can run, but some of those tests can have pretty high false positives.  That can add to your stress.  We chose not to have any testing other than ultrasounds for that reason.  We were going to handle whatever came along regardles.  You need to think about that and whether or not you want any additional testing.  It also will be your responsibility to pay for that since you aren't covered by health insurance.  Let me also say, I agree with you on the medicaid thing.  I'm sorry you are in such a spot, but you seem to be handling as best as you can.  Good for you!

Take a videotape along, some docs will tape the session for you.

I know it's useless to say this, but try not to worry about the "what ifs".  You've been given a wonderful gift, you seem to want this child very much.  It's in God's hands what will happen.  You have to trust that it will work out in some way.  

Rant and rave all you need, it's a wonderful/stressful time.  Drink lots of water, walk when you can, take your vitamins (take a B complex one for extra energy), rest, drink water (did I say that????), eat well but not for two!  :)

Good luck on the rest of your pregnancy.  I hope you have a beautiful baby, healthy and screaming it's head off!!!!  :)
Lisa

[knwalter]

Thank you for responding Jennifer.  It sure is nice to know someone out there is actually paying attention!!  I thought the clotting and spotting probably were due to having sex, but still experiencing it 2 days later is what scared me.  Congratulations on being 24w4d along, do you have any other children?  This will be my first, so I'm really anxious about every little thing.  It's frustrating to have everyone, from my husband to my parents to the doctors saying "take it easy and just don't stress out", how is that humanly possible in this situation.  Every single thing I feel scares me, from the excrutiating gas I've been having to the pains in my side if I stretch or move too suddenly!!  You have been a great help, it's nice to talk to someone else about all this, I think I call my mom everytime I feel like breaking down and crying and it's to the point where I just know she dreads me calling.  I will try the expert forum, I guess it's on this site?  I get caught up in reading all the posts and haven't really checked out the rest of this site!!  I'm sorry for your losses as well, how did you manage to pull yourself together after 2 m/c's?  After I lost mine, I was just depressed and angry at the whole world.  My diabetic OB/GYN made me make my own appointment for the D&C and never set me up with a doctor to talk with and kindof just forgot all about me!!  I was fine for awhile, (I got pregnant in January of 06', we lost the baby towards the end of May) but once I got back to work, I started smoking again and trying to make my life as it was before.  Around February of 07', I just all of a sudden lost it and couldn't do anything, I couldn't make myself get out of the bed, I didn't want to talk to family or friends, I missed so much work that my boss eventually had to let me go, hence losing my insurance.  It has also been really hard to find help without health insurance as well.  My husband and I don't qualify for medicaid or any kind of assistance as he makes around $40,000/year gross salary, which of course is nowhere near what he brings home!!  The government has treated us like criminals and it makes me sooooo mad, all the people I see who don't even try to work and make their lives better, get the whole world handed to them!!  Finally, I found a great OB/GYN who is letting me make payments and has just been wonderful.  It's still going to wind up costing us somewhere around $12,000.00 for everything, because of my diabetes and thats with a 40% discount which most of my doctors are offering for being self-pay.  It's alot of money, but like I told my husband, it doesn't matter to me as long as we can have a healthy baby, the worst that can happen is we pay pregnancy bills for the next 30 years!!!  HaHa!!!! (allthough I'm quite serious!!)  Well sorry to rant and rave, hope I didn't make you sorry that you wrote to me!!  Good luck with this pregnancy, I'll pray for you as well and thank you for taking the time to be a friend!!

[40smama]

I wish I had more advice to give you but I don't have type 2 diabetes.  There's an expert forum where you can get your questions answered by an ob/gyn that you should investigate.  I'm sorry for your loss also - that must have been hearbreaking!

As for your spotting and clots, I think that there's a very good chance that it was caused by the sex.  I had that happen to me at 9-12 weeks and it was scary as I've had two m/c's before.

Again, I wish I could be more help.  The ladies on this forum however are very supportive and will help you get through this - good luck and I'll be praying for you and your u/s on Friday! - jennifer (24w4d)