lupus & "old" placenta

[cookie]

Hi,

It has been a long time since I've been on these boards... Now I'm 28 weeks pregnant and since I few weeks I'm confronted again with my loyal friend lupus.
When I got an ultrasound at 23 weeks, the gyn told us that our baby wasn't growing as good as it should (2 weeks behind) and that the placenta was already in an extremely old stage.

I was sentenced to my bed immediatly, with control ultrasounds every monday. They told me it wasn't sure that I could keep the baby since 23 weeks is too young for her to survive on the outside.

Still, I'm going to the hospital every week, being nervous about the results. Every week I am afraid that our baby isn't growing any more and that she already has to be born. :wacko:

Is there anyone who's experience might help me ? This "old" (or calcified) placenta, is that a typical thing for us lupies ?

Thanks !

Cookie

[Hadley]

Hey cookie,

Sorry you are having a difficult time. I completely understand the problems lupus can have on pregnancy. :hugbetter: :hugbetter: Unfortunately I don't know what she is talking about with the plcentra. My son had growth problems too. they said it was interuterine growth retardation, the lupus would cause growth problems inutero for some people. He was delivered 1 day from 37 weeks at 4' 10 1/2 ozs., because I started developing toxemia. I have also had 3 miscarriages, so I understand your fear. I really hope things go well, I will be thinking about you. :love: :hugbetter:

[Paulin46]

Don't know the Answer cookie, but I just stopped by to give you a hug!


:flowers: :hugbetter:

(((((((((Cookie))))))))))))

[Anisah]

(((Cookie)))

I don't know anything about this but wanted to send you a gentle cyberhug.

God willing all will go well for you and the baby. I don't imagine bed rest will be easy but hopefully the time will pass as quick as it can. :coffee:

Congratulations on the baby btw!

take care,
Anisah
:flowers:

[jenawri]

Hello!
My sister and I have both experienced this. My sister had her first child in 1994 and at that time, she was in the early stages of being diagnosed with Lupus. She was not deemed a high risk and was therefore not closely watched during her pregnancy. At 31 weeks, her placenta essentially died and her daughter was delivered by c-section. She was very early, but healthy and after a longer stay in the hospital, she was fine!! (she is going to be 11 in two months) .
I experienced this also with my first pregnancy, however my experience was quite different than my sister's. At 28 weeks, they discovered that my placenta was calcified, but otherwise quite healthy and my daugher was doing fine. I saw many specialists and no other problems could be found. They felt that it was possibly due to the fact that I had a high dairy intake and was consuming a lot of calcium. Whatwever the cause I had a normal pregnancy until 37 when my daughter was born by c-section because she was breech.
Every pregnancy is different!! Hang in there and keep us posted!! Good luck!
Jennifer

[Knitter]

Hi Cookie

My son was interuterine growth retarded, and delivered by emergency c section. I was told he might have all kinds of problems, but he is eleven now, a perfectly healthy boy.
Best wishes
Knitter

[jude mack]

Hi CookieI don't have any answers for you, just sending hugs and prayers that all goes
well. Take care of yourself and baby. Jude :hugbetter:

[songbird]

Cookie,
I am 12 weeks pregnant and have just had my first visit with my rheumy. He mentioned to me that a lupus flare could affect my placenta and the flow of nutrients getting to my baby. I have also been told by my GYN that the baby is at risk for interuterine growth retardation because of some of the meds I have been on before I knew I was pregnant. (I think she said it was coumadin, not sure.)

I don't know if these things are relevant but hope they help you.

Good to hear that babies with IGR can still grow up to be just fine!

Songbird

[cookie]

Hi Everybody,

Thanks a lot for your kind reactions and hugs. It's really heartwarming.

I'm glad to read that baby's with IGR can turn out to be healthy kids. We sure keep our spirits up and every day that our little girl is staying with me, we consider it a bonus day !

I had another ultrasound this morning and the gyn told me that we are aming for 30 weeks now (I suppose that if we make it to 30,we will be aming at 32) but that we still have to take it one step at a time.

One question for Jennifer : if the placenta dies, does it happen slowly or is it just good luck that your sister had a check up just when ik happened ? Because I have controls every week, but if the placenta seems to be working on monday, can ik 'die' say on wednesday ? (and if so, how long can a baby survive without food ?)

Pf, stressfull times, being pregnant with lupus, don't you think ? But I'm sure it will all be soon forgotten once I get to hold our little girl.

Thanks again to all of you.

Cookie

PS To Songbird : CONGRATULATIONS :flowers: I hope you may have a wonderfull pregnancy without any lupus-worries !

[jenawri]

Hi, Cookie...
My sister was not monitored closely as you are. When my neice was born at 31 weeks, they felt that she hadn't really grown much after 28 weeks. The placenta had stopped working correctly, but they are not really sure how long it had been "malfunctioning" before my sister went to the Dr. I'm sorry I was so blunt, I hope I didn't frighten you. My sister's situation was much different from yours! She also went on to have another baby about 4 years after that and everything went fine! She was monitored very closely and there were no complications with the placenta, or otherwise. I hope all goes well for you! Hang in there, it sounds like your Drs are really on top of things!!
Jennifer

[Deborah Rumbles]

:love: Hi Cookie,
You have too remember that we are all different and to rest and try to think positively,as Stress is not good for you or your baby.I can only tell you my story as others have done and wish you millions of luck :luck: :luck: :luck:

Okay I am 36 with 2 boys aged 14 and 12, but when I was pregnant with them I had a lot of problems, but we are all her to tell you things do work out well when you are closely monitored, as you are.Ben (14) had too be delivered by emergency caesarien at 33 weeks gestation as I had an eclamptic fit I know in USA you call this toxemia.

My kidneys went in to distress also and I never saw Ben until he was 6 days old as I needed dialysis,The nurses took photos of him to the renal ward that I was in,and kept me informed of how he was as did my family, but from week 28 in my pregnancy I was given steroid injections too try to build up babies lungs incase he needed to be delivered early.

My placenta had also stopped growing and was elderly, but Ben made it through to 33 weeks,so 5 weeks extra.With my 2nd pregnancy I developed gestational diabetis, and again had an emergency caesarian this time because my placenta was previa, lying low and could burst and bleed.Again Sam is now 12 and healthy, I wish you all the best with your delivery and baby.Since then I have had a miscarriage at 14 weeks and I am now awaiting a hysterectomy due to endometriosis, but I am thankfull that I have the 2 boys, and thankful to the medical knowledge around then,it is even better nowadays. :flowers:

[Clare.T]

I'm keeping my fingers crossed for you Cookie. As you say every day counts :hugbetter:

When my daughter went in for 30 week check up they found placental failure due to clots. The baby was only getting 33% nourishment and weighed little more than at 26 week check.

It was an agonising time checking and wondering how the IUGR might have affected her with comments like "Oh its kidneys seem ok, it's just decided to save energy by not growing " We didn't know the sex.
After steroids to help the baby's lungs, she was finally delivered C section at 32 weeks weighing 2lbs 6ozs. Tiny but perfect. 6 years old today and thriving !

All the very best

Clare

[cookie]

Hi you all,

Thanks for the storys and experiences : that helpes...

I'm 32w + 5 today :jump: and our little girl seems to be doing OK (1kg900gr). Every monday another ultrasound, doppler and monitoring, but that doesn't bother me at all. Then I get to see her every week !!

So we're trying to hang in there and maybe make it to 35 weeks. Who knows. Anyway, I'll keep you posted !!

Cookie

[WalkingWolf]

Congrats Cookie,

Good news is soooo GOOD to hear. :jump: I hope everything continues to progress well for you. Take care of yourself and keep us posted.

GOD bless,

WalkingWolf

[Knitter]

Hi Cookie

Wonderful news! Best of luck!

Knitter

[Deborah Rumbles]

style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/laugh.gif I'm so happy for you , each day is a blessing so well done for managing another week, I hope all goes well with the delivery and you have loads of fun getting to know your little girl. style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/flowers.gif

[flowergarden]

Cookie, how are things going now??????? style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/overhere.gif style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/flowers.gif

[cookie]

Hi guys,

I just got home from my ultrasound and monitoring (twice a week now). 36 weeks now and still doing OK. My doc herself cannot believe what is happening, but we're not complaining of course.

My whole placenta looked as white as snow today and in that stage, it isn't supposed to work any more but it does. style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/foryou.gif

They are however pretty sure that I wont make it to 40 weeks, but if you'ver prepared yourself for a premature baby born on 28 - 30 weeks and you reach 36 weeks....

Thank you all for the support and maybe next time, I will be able to introduce you to our little girl !!

style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/cloud9.gif

Cookie