I met with my ObGyn on Tuesday, just a few hours after the news that has broken me. I had a few questions for her:
- Q: If we transferred two embryos, what additional risks (beyond a standard twin pregnancy) would I face?
A: No additional risks. In fact, if anything, your risk is lower because you never had any bleeding (even with complete placenta previa and placenta accreta) or pre-term labour (I never even had a Braxton-Hicks, let alone actual contractions), and you made it past 37 weeks. - Q: Given my medical history, if I got pregnant with twins, at what point would there be a discussion about selective reduction?
A: There wouldn’t be a discussion about selective reduction for twins. Only triplets or higher order multiples. - Q: Did my hysteroscopy rule out uterine scarring and/or Asherman’s?
A: There was no scarring, absolutely no Asherman’s. Your uterus looked perfectly normal. I was actually surprised by how normal it looked! - Q: So what I’m hearing is, you think my uterus is capable of getting pregnant and sustaining a pregnancy?
A: Yes, your uterus should be able to get pregnant. As for sustaining a pregnancy, we would have to rule out other issues, like hormonal issues, for example. - Q: Does RhoGAM, the prophylactic treatment for an Rh- mother, always work? / Have I developed antibodies that is causing my body to kill embryos?
A: It’s possible it doesn’t work, but it typically doesn’t cause problems getting pregnant, only further down the line in pregnancy. We can test you for antibodies. - Q: Is there anything else you can think of, even if it’s clutching at straws, as to why I’m not pregnant?
A: We can do a blood panel for autoimmune issues. You didn’t experience any autoimmune issues during pregnancy, but maybe something has changed now that you’re a bit older. I’ll put the order in right now.
“I’m so sorry,” my ObGyn said. “I know infertility is so hard.”
“It’s horrible,” I agreed.
I headed downstairs to have my blood drawn for anti-nuclear antibodies, factor V leiden, two mutations of MTHFR, protein C activity assay, prothrombin mutation, and TSH.
Later, I made an appointment with one of the top RE’s in the US for egg donation. Second opinion here we come…
One thing is for sure: next time we will transfer two embryos, but whatever tests we do before transfer will depend on my autoimmune results and what the second RE says.
Your OB is amazing and I’m glad you’re doing all you can . You always do . I always keep you in my thoughts and keep hoping all will turn out positively . Why can’t your donor donate again ?
Lauren, I know there is no getting around how much it sucks right now, and how time stands still in these situations. But I am encouraged by what you have posted here and the fact that you are also getting a second opinion. I just know that this is going to happen for you– baby 2 and maybe even 3…
Jackie
I really hope so. It’s just that if the embryos have been damaged, the best uterus in the world can’t get pregnant. And that’s my biggest concern—because if they’re damaged, the eggs might be too. And if that’s the case, I don’t know what our next steps are. Safeguard my hope a little longer <3
Good luck with the second opinion.
Largely this sounds like.. you should be able to get pregnant and its bad luck (at least from the physical perspective and not the egg or hormone one). So that’s good?
Yes, that’s what it sounds like. But, you see, if our embryos and eggs are fucked, then so are we. Because “another round of IVF” isn’t possible, because my eggs are useless. And even if we could afford a fresh DEIVF cycle, our donor can’t donate again. I just hope that maybe tweaking the protocol and transferring two embryos is the ticket. And there’s only one way to find out…
Your OB sounds fantastic. I hope a 2nd opinion gets you more answers. It sounds like your RE isn’t really working with you anymore.
Best of luck!
Right?? My ObGyn is, hands down, the best doctor I’ve ever had. I am so proud that her name is on my daughter’s birth certificate!