Yesterday I met with my maternal fetal medicine specialist to discuss the results of the chromosomal screening of my last pregnancy and the genetics blood work panel he'd ordered for me. The good news is that my own genetics panel came back looking great. I don't have any of the genetic disorders they look for that would contribute to the losses we've had.
We also found out the our last fetus had triploidy, a disorder that starts at conception when the baby is conceived with two pairs of chromosomes. Most cases of triploidy result in miscarriage during the first trimester, and the rare babies that are born with the disorder are not able to survive for very long. It sounds very scary, I know, but the chances of having a triploidy pregnancy in the first place are extremely low - about 1-3%, and it's nearly impossible for it to happen to us twice.
So where does that leave us? Exactly where we were before I got pregnant the last two times, except with a little extra reassurance that there are no other mystery conditions at work making me lose babies. As nervous as I am about suffering through another loss, my doctor says that he's still highly optimistic about our chances of having a perfectly healthy baby in the future.
Of course, I couldn't just take that answer and leave it be. So I asked him what my chances really were. To make a long story short, he said that I should have about a 1 in 250 chance, at this point, of having another miscarriage. I am getting older, so the chances of chromosomal issues, like tripoloidy, are much higher than they would be for a woman half my age, but there is also a really good chance that my next pregnancy will progress as normal.
To make absolutely sure we are covering all of our bases, I'll be taking my lexapro shots on Day 14 of every cycle while we are trying to conceive. I'll continue to take the shots until each month's pregnancy test, and continue taking them if I do become pregnant. I'll also be taking a hefty dose of progesterone starting around Day 21 of each cycle to help make sure any potential baby has plenty of juice to get going. Add to this list my new zoloft regimen, a whole deluge of vitamins and supplements, and my daily allergy medication, and I'm pretty much a walking pharmacy.
My cycle resumed this month so we are officially trying to conceive again. Lend me your prayers, your strength, and your happy thoughts. I'm continuously reminding myself to be brave for the baby I know I am meant to have.
