Unfortunately, because of my history, I can not go to a regular obstetrician. When I had my first child, towards the end of my pregnancy I developed pre-eclampsia. I had protein in my urine and high blood pressure. Because of this, when I was pregnant with my son I had to go to a high-risk obstetrician, which is in a hospital that is about 30 minutes away from me.
When I was pregnant with my son, I didn’t get pre-eclampsia, but I did develop gestational diabetes. At the time, I was in school and I had an externship at an animal hospital. I had to take frequent breaks in between classes and at my externship to monitor my blood. I had to inject myself with insulin twice a day and monitor my blood sugar 4 times daily and it was just a lot. Then of course, after I delivered my son, the gestational diabetes went away but then I had the pulmonary embolism.
After I had pulmonary embolism, they explained to me that I developed blood clots because of the pregnancy. I had a blood test done to see if it was hereditary, and I was told it wasn’t. I was told by my hematologist that if I were to get pregnant again, I would have to be on blood thinners throughout my pregnancy. When I found out I was pregnant in July, my obstetrician told me that I had to contact my hematologist and let them know I was pregnant.
This past Friday, I had an appointment with my hematologist. I now have to take blood thinners while I’m pregnant with my baby until 6 weeks after delivery. Fear is the first thing that entered my mind and body. I don’t know anyone who has ever had to be on blood thinners while they were pregnant. With this medicine, I have to inject myself with the medication once daily.
I just have so many things going through my head. Is the baby going to be okay? Am I going to be okay? What if I need a c-section for this pregnancy? What if I deliver the baby vaginally and they can’t stop the bleeding? That last question is my biggest concern because when I delivered my son, the doctors were working on me for a while because I just kept bleeding.
I just don’t know. I’m scared, I am concerned for my baby and my health. I just want us to be okay.
I will keep up with updates, in case there is anyone else out there going through this alone.