Nausea

I have been experiencing extreme nausea throughout the day, as well as extreme bloatedness and very painful wind. (I am 9 weeks pregnant).

My docter doesn't want to prescribe me anything - he says they 'try not to' unless the patient is hospitalised and not keeping anything down.

Do you have any suggestions? I have tried ginger nuts, peppermint tea, dry toast, etc. Nothing seems to work. Surely, a little medication can't do any harm just until the worst of this first trimester is over?

Regards,
Ludine

Dear Ludine,

The most sensitive time in a baby's development is the first trimester. Certain medications can cause severe birth defects. Most doctors (myself included) will not prescribe medication in the first trimester unless it is medically necessary.

The nausea and other side effects will go away by themselves, usually by the end of the first trimester.

Sincerely,
Amy

Fetal heart rate of 126

Hello,

A few moths ago I posted that we were tring to get pregnant. Well, we are! But Thursday I started lightly spotting ( brown) after attempting to have sex. I called my OB who ordered an ultrasound. The baby measure 1.24 cm(crl of 7w2d) my OB's only concern was the baby's heart rate was only 126. I am very aware this is low but need to know how concerned I should be. I am going to have another US this week after seeing the OB on Monday. All spotting has stopped. Any advice or informmation you could share?

David and Lee

Dear David and Lee,

Anywhere between 120-160 is considered a normal heart rate. While it is true that the heart rate tends to be higher in early pregnancy, 126 is not a sign of a problem.

There's no way to predict what will happen, though. Even after you see the heartbeat on ultrasound, the miscarriage rate for the average pregnancy is 10%.

Good luck.

Sincerely,
Amy

Getting pregnant after tubal damage

Can I still get pregnant after a tubal pregnancy surgery and one of my tube is tied up because it was damaged? My husband and I tried for almost a year now and are still not pregnant. What should I do?

DV

Dear DV,

It is theoretically possible for you to get pregnant with one tube, but if you have been trying for a year without success, your other tube may be damaged as well. You should make an appointment to see a gynecologist or infertility specialist to find out about the other tube and whether you will need further treatment.

Sincerely,
Amy

Cat has worms

Hi,

I'm a bit concerned as my partner and i are trying for a baby and my period is late, i have a cat and have just discovered she has worms which will be treated immediately, can this harm me or my baby if I'm already pregnant?

Thank you for any advice,
Kellie

Dear Kellie,

Cat worms should not pose a danger. The risk of cats during pregnancy is that cats can carry the disease toxoplasmosis, which is dangerous to unborn babies. Toxoplasmosis is found in cat litter, so pregnant women should not handle cat litter or handle it only with protection (gloves).

Sincerely,
Amy

Neotigason

Dear Dr Amy,

My partner is taking Neotigason for psoriasis. Is there any side effects for me if we were to fall pregnant. I notice in the information sheets that women who are taking the drug are at high risk of having serious birth defects.

Thanks,
Leisa

Dear Leisa,

Neotigason affects the developing baby if taken by the mother during pregnancy. As far as we know, it should have no effect on the baby if it is being taken by the father.

Sincerely,
Amy

Does cervical mucus change when you conceive?

Dear Dr. Amy,

My husband and I have been trying to get pregnant since June. I have been observing my cervical mucus for ovulation signs. My question is as follows: during ovulation, my cervical mucus is stretchy like raw egg white. If conception occurred, will the vaginal discharge also be stretchy like raw egg white or will it be milky and wet?

Thank you in advance,
Karine

Dear Karine,

Cervical mucus does not change in response to conception, so you cannot tell if you conceived by the way that the cervical mucus looks.

Sincerely,
Amy

Not pregnant yet

Hi Dr Amy,
My husband and I have been trying to get pregnant for over 9 months. I am 25 and he is 28. My periods have been very irregular since I went off the pill in January. When I was on the pill I had a normal 28 day cycle. Now I have 35 and sometimes 42 day cycles. My husband has only one working testicle so we decided to try having sex just on the day that I was ovulating. I purchased a home ovulation detection kit. Every morning I dip the stick into a cup of my urine to determine if I am ovulating or not. Well so far I've had not shown a positive test of ovulation. I had my last period on October 1st. Shouldn't I be ovulating by now? How can this be??! I don't understand what's wrong with me.

Very Frustrated,
Melissa

Dear Melissa,

When you stop the Pill, it can take months for your periods to return to normal. During that time, you may not be ovulating regularly, or you may not be ovulating at all.

Everyone is regular on the Pill. It's more important to know what your cycles were likely before you took the Pill. Did you always have irregular cycles? If that's the case, the underlying cause of the irregular cycles is still there. You should talk this over with your gynecologist to find out if you have a hormonal problem.

The fact that your husband has only one testicle should not limit his fertility. Every drop of semen contains 10s of millions of sperm and all you need is one. You do not need to restrict sex to the day that you think you are ovulating. In fact, it's probably better to have sex regularly since you can't predict when you are ovulating.

Sincerely,
Amy

Taking Provera every month

Dear Dr. Amy,

My doctor prescribed me Provera (10mg per day for 5 days) starting on November 1st. This would be my third time (May, August, and November) taking Provera. My doctor wants me to take it every month (the 1st to the 5th day of every month.) The reason my doctor prescribed this to me, because I wasn't getting my period. I actually didn't have my period in years. I was wondering, is it okay to take Provera this many times? I had a pap test done and blood work done, but everything came out good. I currently have high blood pressure and my weight is very high (371 pounds.) Can that be interfering with my period (me not having one?) Do you have any idea on why I haven't been getting my period? The only time I get a "period" is when I take Provera. That makes me have a period. I'm just so confused right now. Please help!!!!

Yours Truly,
Aleia

Dear Aleia,

It is safer to take Provera regularly than it is to miss many periods. That's because if you don't get a period for months at a time, you are at increased risk of eventually developing abnormal cells inside your uterus. Simulating regular periods with Provera reduces this risk.

Your weight could definitely be interfering with your periods. Fat cells can convert estrogen to androgens (male hormones) and these can suppress your periods. Losing weight will help get your periods back on track.

Sincerely,
Amy

Irregular period since I started trying to get pregnant

Hello Dr. Amy,

I am a 32 year old mom of a 2 1/2 year old. I am eager to get pregnant again and have been trying for 3 months now with no luck. Although I know it can take time, I am concerned because 1 month after I started "trying" my periods became irregular. I was getting my period every 28 days for as long as I can remember and now they are closer to 35 days. I am on day 32 now and am dreading getting my period. What could be going on?

T

Dear T,

It's not necessarily a bad sign. It could be that you have had one or more chemical pregnancies. A chemical pregnancy is another name for a very early miscarriage. You do get pregnant, but the pregnancy stops growing around the time you expect your period. You experience this as a late period. Chemical pregnancies are extremely common. In fact, that's probably what happens to many women in the months that they are trying, but haven't gotten pregnant. It has no impact on the getting pregnant in the future.

Sincerely,
Amy

Irregular periods

Dr. Amy,

I started my period when I was 11 years old, I am now 22 and I have yet to have a regular period. The only time I was able to regulate my periods were when I was on Birth control.

I am currently trying to get pregnant, so I have been off BC for about a year. I have been trying since Feb. 2005, with no luck. I have gone to my gyno and I have had all my hormones tested and everything has come back normal, my doctor put me on provera to jump start my period, and then he prescribed Metformin, I take 2 tabs twice a day every day that's 2000mg of metformin a day. The only problem is that I can't really afford the medicine every month it cost me $120 to get that prescription filled, so I have not been taking it.

My last normal period was April 2005, I have not had one since, and no I am not pregnant. My question is what could possibly be wrong? I don't have PCOS or endometriosis. I do however have herpes, but my doc said that would not interfere with my fertility. I also weigh about 270lbs and I have been heavy almost all of my life, but my doctor said that it should not play a big role in my fertility.

Do you have any suggestions of what I can do to regulate my cycle? I know all about timing of ovulation and everything I could possibly know about getting pregnant- I just can't seem to get my periods regulated. Please help!!

Thank You,
Rachel

Dear Rachel,

There are several things that you mentioned that suggest that you might have PCOS. You have a long history of irregular periods, you are overweight (a common side effect of PCOS), and your doctor prescribed metformin (a common treatment for PCOS). If you do have PCOS, it is not likely to get better on its own. The metformin may help you regulate your periods and may help you get pregnant, but there is no guarantee.

Another possibility is your weight. Fat cells can convert estrogen to androgens (male hormones). This can dramatically interfere with your cycles and make it difficult, if not impossible to get pregnant. If that is part of the problem, losing weight will help to start your periods again.

Unfortunately, there is nothing simple that you can do to regulate your periods. You will either need to pay for medication of some kind or start a weight loss program. The good news is that one or both are likely to be very helpful.

Sincerely,
Amy

Abdominal pain

For the last 2 weeks I have had pain where I would imagine my ovaries are (in the middle of my abdomen on each side). It happened the day after I had sex with my husband and it is continuing. We have had sex since its been hurting, but it will hurt during the day outside of sex. I can be sitting at my desk and start to get the pain. It doesn't last all the time, but every once in a while (quite a few times/day) its there. Also, during this time period my breasts have been very sore/tender.

I have also had weird digestive things happening. I had nausea for a couple of days and now my BM are not normal. Could all this be caused by stress/poor diet? I'm currently on birth control (the pill), and I have been for 9 years. It is a low estrogen pill. Last month my period was really short, it only lasted a day but I did bleed.

I'm just trying to figure out what all of this could be so that I can try to fix it. I really don't think I'm pregnant. Do you think any of this is worth a trip to my doctor? or do you think they'll just go away?

Thanks, Erin

Dear Erin,

I'm not sure what is going on. If you are faithfully taking the Pill, it is unlikely to be pregnancy or ovarian cysts. It is possible that you have an infection, but many infections are accompanies by fever. If it persists, you should definitely talk it over with your doctor. He or she may want to examine you.

Sincerely,
Amy

HPV

Dr Amy,

I have just been diagnosed with HPV. The thing is, I have only been with two men, one man with who I am currently, the other man was for the most part against my will. With my boyfriend, we have been together for almost two years. We have sex with a condom, have had anal sex once, and I performed oral sex on him once and he performed oral sex on me many times. With the other guy, he penetrated me anally one time, and put his penis in my mouth the other time.

Well now i have learned that I have HPV and the only symptom I have is precancerous cells in my cervix. Which man do you think I most likely got it from? It kills me to know i may have passed it on to my bf. And then again, I don't know if my bf already had it to begin with.

From what I know so far, I only have precancerous cells, and not warts. Could I have contracted that from anal or oral sex, or since it was in my cervix, could I have only gotten that from vaginal sex? I have only had vaginal sex with my boyfriend, but we used condoms. Is it most likely that I got it from him?

Please let me know what you think.

Sincerely,
Extremely Anxious

Dear Extremely Anxious,

It is most likely that you got it from your boyfriend. The fact that your only symptom is abnormal cervical cells suggests that you acquired it during vaginal sex. Condoms are only partially protective against HPV because the virus can be anywhere on the genitals, not just on the penis.

Most men never have symptoms of HPV, so they do not know they have it, and therefore do not know that they can pass it on. Anyone who has ever had sex can have HPV, since it is so common. It is not a sign of promiscuity.

Sincerely,
Amy

Pregnancy test positive, then negative

Dear Dr Amy,

I have missed my period by 4weeks. I did a pregnancy test a week ago and it was positive. I did another three tests a few days later and they were negative. How can that happen? I have booked in to see my G.P , but wondered whether this indicates a serious illness or could I be pregnant?

BH

Dear BH,

It sounds like you may have had a chemical pregnancy. A chemical pregnancy is actually a very early miscarriage. You got pregnant and the pregnancy implanted, but stopped growing at an extremely early stage. Most women don't know that they have had a chemical pregnancy. They just notice that their period has been heavier or a bit later than usual.

Sincerely,
Amy

Novotrimel

I was told by the doctor that I have a bladder infection and she prescribed novo-trimel. Is it oky to take this if you're pregnant?

Thanks,
RA

Dear RA,

No, novotrimel is not a good medication to take during pregnancy. There are other, safer medications for bladder infections. Talk it over with your doctor as soon as possible.

Sincerely,
Amy

Rash during pregnancy

Dear Dr. Amy

I am 30 weeks pregnant and haven't had many problems, but I noticed today that I have a unusual rash across my stomach. Do I need to worry or is this common?

Thank you,
Becky

Dear Becky,

Only someone who examines you can tell you what the rash is, but some pregnant women develop a rash called PUPPP. This stands for pruritic urticarial papules and plaques of pregnancy. This rash is most common in women expecting their first baby and usually occurs in the third trimester. PUPPP is not harmful, but it can be very itchy. Talk to your doctor about it at your next visit, or sooner if it bothers you.

Sincerely,
Amy

Not pregnant after 2 years

Dear Dr. Amy

My husband and I want a baby very much. I had a miscarrage about 2yrs ago, just after i went off the pill (i was on the pill at 17yrs old till after i got married in 2000 - 21yrs old). We really haven't been trying, but on the other hand we want a child. My periods come on the 25day of each month for about 3-4days, so days 10 - 16, their the best days, right? If so, then what the hell am i doin wrong! My mum say that i want it to badly. Is that right?

M

Dear M,

If you are not pregnant after 2 years of unprotected intercourse, there may be a problem. You should make an appointment with a gynecologist for an infertility evaluation. He or she can figure out the problem and prescribe the best treatment.

Sincerely,
Amy

Irregular periods after stopping the Pill

Dear Amy,

I had recently got off of the pill from being on it for over 2 yrs or so. I need to know since then, my period was off about a week or so. Then, when I started I was normal like before. Nothing too heavy and I was just on it for a week or less.

Then about two weeks later I started it again. Then on it for a week or less. Then two weeks later I started, again. This been happening for a month or more already. Now, I am on it again. This time I started three weeks, instead of two weeks later. I just would like to know if this is normal. I know that you may skip a month or so. Having starting my period for two weeks back to back, I am just confused. I haven't had my routine pap smear done. The last time, they said I was fine. Everything seems to be normal, just having my period like every two weeks instead of every month. I really would appreciate your help. Thanks!!

Respectfully,
Christina

Dear Christina,

After you stop the Pill, it can take months for you to ovulate (release an egg) again. During that time, many women have no period at all, but some women have irregular bleeding. You can talk to your doctor about this. He or she may suggests medication (Provera) to stimulate a normal period and that may get you back on track with regular periods.

Sincerely,
Amy

Irregular periods

Dear Dr. Amy,

I am 35 years old, married, with 3 children 12, 10 & 6. We don't want anymore children.
I have been using Encare Vaginal Spermicide suppositories, for the past two years. My husband doesn't want to get the vasectomy and i am still not thrilled with the idea of tubal ligation.

Since last March my menstrual cycle has been very irregular. Each month it is either 2-7 days early then it has been 2-12 days late. So far this month i am 8 days late from last months first day of the period which was sept 14th. I feel fine have no symptoms. I have been under enormous stress lately.

I just went to the doctor on Thursday Oct 20. However, she had to cut the visit very very short since there was an emergency at the hospital emergency c-section. However, she did give me a pap-smear test.

Would the pap smear test results be effected by my irregular periods or possibly even pregnancy? What effect does stress have on the menstrual cycle? I also have been skipping a lot more meals in the past 6 -8 weeks, so stressed not really that hungry, could that have an effect on menstrual cycle?

Thank you for your cooperation.

Sincerely,
Dianna

Dear Dianna,

The fact that your periods have been irregular for the last 6 months could be related to stress. It is also possible that you are in the early stages of peri-menopause and that is affecting your periods. Peri-menopause can last for 5-7 years or more before you actually go through menopause. During that time, your periods could become irregular, could be longer or shorter than usual, or heavier or lighter than usual.

Pregnancy does not sound likely, but only a pregnancy test can tell you whether you are pregnant.

A Pap smear is just a scraping of cells from the cervix. It would not be affected by irregular periods or a pregnancy.

Since your doctor had to cut the visit short, it seems reasonable for you to call her and talk to her at greater length about your concerns. Since she is familiar with your medical history, she may have additional ideas about what is going on.

Sincerely,
Amy

Sex after LEEP

I just had a LEEP done and the doctor said no sex for 3-4 weeks. Could climaxing set up an infection or would it be caused by the moving of the penis.

Thank you,
L

Dear L,

The concern is that any object in the vagina (a penis, a vibrator) could introduce bacteria that could cause an infection or could disrupt the healing of the cervix and cause heavy bleeding.

You should avoid sexual activity of any kind until the bleeding stops. After that, orgasm should not cause problems.

Sincerely,
Amy

Conception date

I'm am 8w6d pregnant from my last menstrual period which was August 19th. When I went in for my u/s at 7w4d the baby read 6w1d, which would be 1w3d off. That means I got pregnant 3 days after my period ended. Could that be right?

In July my period never came so the doctor put me on provera on Aug. 11th to induce a period. From what the doctor says i conceived on the 29th. What do you think? Also i'm 9weeks tomorrow and already I'm showing a little in the front but losing weight everywhere else. Is that normal sinceI'm eating healthy? Thanks.

Stephanie

Dear Stephanie,

If the first ultrasound showed you were 1 week and 3 days less than expected, that would mean that you conceived 1 week and 3 days after you thought you did. So instead of conceiving on September 2nd as you might expect if your last period was on August 19th, you conceived around September 12th. That's not surprising since the reason you got Provera in the first place was because you were not ovulating regularly.

The fact that you haven't gained any weight yet is not a cause for concern.

Sincerely,
Amy

Ovulation predictor

What would show up in an ovulation kit if I am pregnant? Would it still show two lines, one darker then the other, or the same color?

Thank you,
Milwifenlv

Dear Milwifenlv,

An ovulation predictor kit detects an increase in the level of luteinizing hormone (LH). If you are pregnant, you are not ovulating, so an ovulation predictor test would be negative. Of course, if you were pregnant, a pregnancy test would be positive.

Sincerely,
Amy

No symptoms at 6 weeks

Dear Dr Amy,

I am 39 years old and have a 7 year old son. The first day of my last period was September 6, 2005. I have taken 4 home pregnancy tests and all were positive. This puts me at 6 plus weeks pregnant. My problem is that missed periods and tender breasts are my only symptoms. When does the uterus start to grow where I will feel it? About two weeks ago I experienced some light pink watery discharge after sexual intercourse. Could this be a problem?

Thank you so much.
Kathy

Dear Kathy,

Every pregnancy is different, and the lack of symptoms this time does not necessarily mean anything. At this point, the baby is about 1/4 inch long so it is not surprising that you cannot notice your uterus growing. Some women do not begin to show until after the first trimester. The discharge you had two weeks ago does not sound significant since it went away by itself.

Sincerely,
Amy

By what age should you get your first period

What is the oldest age a girl should wait before going to doctor, before she gets her first period?

DM

Dear DM,

Most girls will get their first period between ages 9-16. The first period usually occurs about two years after the beginning of puberty (growing underarm and pubic hair), so you can estimate when to expect the first period.

If a girl hasn't gotten her first period by age 16, she should check with her doctor.

Sincerely,
Amy

When did I get pregnant?

Dear Dr Amy,

I am currently 16 weeks pregnant, & conceived in mid-July(my due date is april 4th). However, at the end of June, I had a positive home pregnancy test.

I believed I was pregnant when 3 days before my period, I had some light pink spotting. The next day I took a test which was positive, I had no spotting that day. The next day, I spotted again lightly. The next morning I started to bleed lighter than a period but bright red blood for 2 days. I then had another positive test on July 21st. So I assumed I would be 18 weeks, & I had not miscarried.

A few weeks ago I had my first sonogram, I was 14 weeks. So this was a new pregnancy.

The ultra-sound nurse told me that the incident before was probably a false positive & a normal period. However, I strongly feel that I had an early miscarriage. On the other hand, It had taken me 5 months to conceive, so if it was a miscarriage, I can't see how I got pregnant so few days after. I'm really confused. I feel like I want to mourn for a lost baby, but at the same time, I don't know if I ever did.

I was just wondering, which is most likely, because even though I am estatic about the baby I am carrying now, I don't feel like I can be totally at peace until I have an idea of exactly went on. I don't feel like I can forget that I may have carried a life before, even if for only a few days.

Thanks for your help,
Rosie

Dear Rosie,

It sounds like you had a chemical pregnancy in June and then got pregnant with this pregnancy in July. A chemical pregnancy is just another name for an extremely early miscarriage, one that can occur even before you miss your period. If that were the case, you would have had a period at the end of June and conceived again 2 weeks later. That would put you at 16 weeks now.

Chemical pregnancies are extremely common. In fact, that is probably what happens in many months that you don't get pregnant even though you are trying. You may have had additional chemical pregnancies in other months of the 5 months that you were trying to conceive.

Sincerely,
Amy

Symptoms of miscarriage

Dear Dr.,

What are the symptoms of miscarriage?

Thanks,
Ashika

Dear Ashika,

The main symptoms of miscarriage are bleeding and cramping occuring at the same time.

Sincerely,
Amy

Getting pregnant before first period

Can you get pregnant if you have never had a period before?

X

Dear X,

Yes, you certainly can. That's because you get pregnant when you ovulate (release an egg), and you ovulate for the first time two weeks before your first period. If you want to keep from getting pregnant, you must always use birth control.

Sincerely,
Amy

Accuracy of very early pregnancy tests

Dear Dr. Amy,

How accurate are pregnancy test that you buy off the Internet? I bought some because they were so much cheaper. This brand claims that it can detect hcg 6 days past ovulation. Is this possible? I am 6 days past ovulation and took one this morning and it was negative. I have been charting my BBT and did ovulation predictor kits so I know about when I ovulated. So should I wait and test again when my period is due?

Thanks so much!
Beth
I also love you new pregnancy quiz!

Dear Beth,

Theoretically, HCG can be detected in the bloodstream as early as 6 days after ovulation, if the fertilized egg implants at that time. However, most fertilized eggs will implant sometime between 6-8 days after ovulation.

I don't recommend testing before the day you expect your period for two reasons, even if you have a test that claims to test very low levels of HCG. First, the false negative rate is extremely high, so if you get a negative result, you still need to test again. Second, even if you get a positive result, the rate of miscarriage before your period (chemical pregnancy) is quite high and you will just be disappointed. There's no harm in testing before you expect your period, but you just have to keep these factors in mind.

I'm glad that you like the pregnancy quiz.

Sincerely,
Amy

Anti-E antibodies

Hi,

I'm 16 weeks pregnant and just been to the midwife who told me my blood test results were good, but they found traces of anti-e in it. As I'm rhesus negative I just wondered what that meant and if it gets any worse in my next blood test what that might mean for me and the baby.

Tracey

Dear Tracey,

Rh disease can occur if the mother is Rh negative and the baby is Rh positive. The mother can make antibodies against the baby's blood cells. These antibodies can cross the placenta and destroy the baby's blood cells making the baby very sick. There are many different Rh antibodies, but when we speak of Rh negative, we are referring the the D antibodies (most of the antibodies are named by letter).

A much less common form of Rh disease can be caused by E antibodies. That is a possibility in your case. Typically, though, the level of antibodies remains stable throughout the pregnancy, and there is no problem. Occasionally, the antibody level begins to rise indicating that it is possible that the baby is affected. In that case, the baby would be monitored with regular ultrasounds to be sure that he or she is still doing well. In the rare case that the baby develops anti-E Rh disease, it can be treated with a transfusion while it is still inside the uterus.

Sincerely,
Amy

Black bleeding after LEEP

Hi,
I recently had a LEEP procedure to remove high grade squamous and glandular cells from my cervix. After the procedure I was bleeding black like they told me I would. I have had two normal periods since then, but my third period is back to bleeding black and I can't find any information on what to do about it. Is it a complication of my LEEP or something else? I would greatly appreciate any information or advice you can offer about this.

Thank you!
Autumn

Dear Autumn,

The black material you saw after the LEEP is usually the result of the medication that is put on the cervix to stop the bleeding. It's hard to imagine that the medication is still there so long after the procedure, so I'm not sure what is going on. You should talk it over with your doctor.

Sincerely,
Amy

Weight gain during pregnancy

Hi,

I am 28.5 weeks pregnant and about 68kg. I was 55kg before I became pregnant. What proportion of my body weight now is attributable to the pregnancy?

Thanks,
Vicki

Dear Vicki,

The recommended weight gain for pregnancy is about 30 pounds. That would be the result of gaining 1/2 pound per week for the first 20 weeks, and about a pound a week for the last 20 weeks. Therefore, at 28 weeks, you should have gained 13 pounds. The baby accounts for only 2 pounds; the rest is increased weight of the uterus itself, amniotic fluid, increased blood volume, and more.

So far, you've gained 13 kg which is approximately 28.6 pounds. Personally, I think the recommendations are unrealistic. Most women gain considerably more than the recommended weight and then they lose it after the baby is born. In my experience, the amount of weight that you have gained is typical.

Sincerely,
Amy

Miscarriage of one twin

Is it possible to be pregnant with twins, but then have a miscarriage of only one baby, and still be pregnant with the other?

Thanks,
Victoria

Dear Victoria,

Yes, that does happen occasionally. If it happens in the first trimester, there are usually no effects on the surviving baby. If it happens later in pregnancy, it can cause problems.

Sincerely,
Amy

Morning sickness

Dear Dr. Amy,

I am 13 weeks pregnant. I have had severe morning sickness which my Dr. has given me Premesis to calm it down which i find sometimes only contributes to my all day sickness. I also have this this mucous in the back of my throat which causes me to vomit even more. The crackers, toast, ginger ale has not helped any. Any insight on this? It has caused me to lose some weight and i would like to avoid any more weight loss. My next appointment isn't for a few weeks i just wanted some feedback.

Thank you,
ALR

Dear ALR,

Morning sickness is extremely unpleasant, but there is not much that you can do for it. It tends to go away after the first trimester though, so hopefully it will begin to ease up soon.

Sincerely,
Amy

IUD and pregnancy tests

Hello there,

I am 26 years old and a mother of two boys. I had the IUD inserted 17 months ago without any problems. My periods are normally regular, I am two weeks late this time, I have done a pregnancy test and this shows negative. Is it possible to have a false reading whilst IUD in place.

Thanks,
Heather

Dear Heather,

An IUD has not effect on a pregnancy test. Certain IUDs contain hormones and these can cause you to miss a period. Talk it over with your doctor.

Sincerely,
Amy

Acebutelol

Dr. Amy,

I just had a miscarriage 2 weeks ago, and I have borderline high blood pressure. I would like to concieve again but I have been put on acebutelol to control my blood pressure. Will this have any effect on the fetus?

Sherry

Dear Sherry,

Uncontrolled high blood pressure can cause problems in pregnancy so it is important to keep your blood pressure under control. Acebutelol is considered safe in pregnancy. Talk with your gynecologist, though, to be sure that this is the best medicine for you during a pregnancy.

Sincerely,
Amy

Fluoxetine (Prozac)

Can I take Fluoxetine (20mg) during pregnancy? I have been taking this for the past year and have recently stopped taking it (for the last 2 months) I notice a HUGE difference in my everyday life. Fluoxetine has been very helpful for me. the reason i stopped taking it was because my husband and I would like to get preganant and i didn't know if this would be harmful in my system?Please let me know!

Kayli

Dear Kayli,

This is a controversial issue in obstetrics right now. On the one hand, there is a suggestion that some anti-depressants can cause birth defects. On the other hand, significant depression is a health risk, too. You need to talk with the doctor who prescribed the fluoxetine and with an obstetrician to find out all the risks and benefits in your particular situation so you can make an informed decision.

Sincerely,
Amy

Still bleeding 9 weeks after the baby is born.

Dr. Amy,

I had my baby almost 9 weeks ago. I know that afterwards my period will last anywhere between 6 to 8 weeks, but it going on nine weeks and i still haven't stopped. Is this normal?

MA

Dear MA,

No, this is not normal. The bleeding should stop by 6 weeks (it usually stops between 3-4 weeks) and women who are not nursing usually get their first period 6-8 weeks after the baby is born. You should talk this over with your doctor. It could be a sign that a small piece of placenta was left behind.

Sincerely,
Amy

Group B strep and fertility

My daughter-in-law has just found out that she was treated for strep b a year ago. Could you please let us know if carrying this virus would stop her concieving. Many thanks for your time.

Pam

Dear Pam,

Group B strep is a bacteria and when it is in the vagina at the time of birth can cause illness in a newborn baby. That's why women who carry group B strep in the vagina are treated with antibiotics. It has no effect on fertility.

Sincerely,
Amy

Can I find out if I had a miscarriage by taking a pregnancy test?

Hi,

I just recently found out that i was pregnant, but i lately i have had several symptoms of a miscarriage. If i took another pregnancy test, can I find out if I actually had a miscarriage?

Andrea

Dear Andrea,

No, a home pregnancy test cannot tell you whether you have had a miscarriage. That's because a home pregnancy test detects the presence or absence of HCG (the pregnancy hormone). The hormone can stay in your body for weeks after a miscarriage, so a home pregnancy test will still be positive long after the miscarriage is over.

A blood pregnancy test can tell you the actual amount of HCG. If you have two tests several days apart, and the level of HCG is falling, it is sign that the pregnancy is not normal and you probably have had a miscarriage.

Sincerely,
Amy

Do you ovulate when you take the inactive pills?

Dear Amy,

I take a birth control pill everyday. The pills I take are called Seasonale. They are great because I only have to have 4 periods a year. WoooHooo!!!! My husband and I had intercouse while I was taking my white pills. I was ovulating during this time. Is there a chance of getting pegnant during this time or am I protected with the pill still in my system?

Thank you,
Nina

Dear Nina,

You never ovulate while you are taking the Pill, even when you take the inactive pills. You are always protected as long as you faithfully take the pills.

Sincerely,
Amy

Angleman Syndrome

My fiance has a daughter from his previous relationship. She has angelman syndrome. What are the chances of the happening to us when we decide to have a baby? Should we do testing before hand? Thank you.

Amy

Dear Amy,

Angleman Sydrome is caused by a genetic problem that is inherited from a parent, often the father. Therefore, it could happen when you decide to have a baby together. You should see a genetic counselor, and your fiance should have genetic testing. That way you will know if he carries the defect and what the chances are of passing it on again.

Sincerely,
Amy

Pregnancy and heparin

I am currently 10 weeks pregnant with my 6th and only so far successful pregnancy. My mother is a Phlebotomist, and she had suspected with my previous pregnancies that I had a clotting problem which may have contributed to my miscarriages. I am also Rh neg. When I discovered I was pregnant again, I demanded my doctor put me on heparin. At first he was hesitant, but after talking to my mother about my blood work, he put me on 5,000 units twice a day via injection. I have seen a reproductive specialist up to this point. My CBC's and PTT's have continuously come back in normal range up to this point. My Specialist recommended I stop my injections when I am 12 weeks pregnant. I am having a hard time finding any information on my circumstance, and was wondering if you have ever had a patient in my scenario, or know if my blood starts clotting after 12 weeks, how detrimental that would be to my baby. Also do you have any resources on my condition. Thank you.

Tracy

Dear Tracy,

I'm not sure I understand what your condition is. Based on what you wrote, you are on heparin because you insisted on it. However, heparin is the appropriate treatment for specific conditions such as clotting factor problems or unusual antibodies (eg. factor V Leiden, or anti-phospholipid antibodies) . These tests are different from basic clotting studies like PT and PTT. You need to have a diagnosis in order to figure out whether you need heparin and how how long you should be on it.

Sincerely,
Amy

Spinal vs. epidural

Dear Dr. Amy,

I am 37/ 1/2 weeks almost 38 weeks tuesday. The baby will be c-sectioned, october.24,2005. This is my 2nd c-section and my doctor said I'm having a spinal not a epidural. Is the spinal better? What they will do and what should I expect because the epidural really hurt me.

Sincerely,

Lacy

Dear Lacy,

An epidural is recommended for labor because the anesthesiologist can add to it to continue it for as many hours as necessary. A spinal lasts for about 1 1/2-2 hours, more than enough time for a C-section. A spinal is easier and faster to put in, too. The needle is inserted in the same place on your back, but the anesthetic is simply injected and the needle is removed. There is no catheter (small tube) that is left in your back.

Sincerely,

Amy

Follow up question on premature rupture of membranes

Dear Dr Amy,

Thank you for the response, I went to see my doctor and also my consultant regarding me being 35 weeks now. it has been nearly 2 weeks since my waters broke and I asked if they were going to induce me. They told me to make another appointment for a weeks time and if i haven't gone into labour on my own that they will induce me when i get to 37 weeks. Will this be ok? They have not given me another course of antibiotics either. Can i do anything else?

Julia

Dear Julia,

I would ask about the risk of infection. Studies of prolonged premature rupture of membranes indicates that the risk of infection increases as the duration of ruptured membranes increases. Therefore, once the baby's lungs are mature, delivery is recommended.

I don't know if the recommendations are the same in your country, but I would definitely ask. The most important questions are:

What is the risk of infection in ruptured membranes? We know that if you get an infection it can have serious consequences for the baby.
What is the risk to the baby of being delivered now (as long as the lungs are mature)?
Which risk is greater?

They should be able to answer these questi