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VanessaVH
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| Posted: Jan 04 2013 at 11:44am | IP Logged
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My GP had me on an over the counter progesterone cream for low levels before I became pregnant. Once I got a positive test, she told me to keep taking it until I saw my OB and they said to stop.
We just found out it's twins, and the OBs office is now telling me that I should discontinue the progesterone, because they don't support it's use in twin pregnancies  The only thing I can find online is that it isn't shown to help with twins being born pre-term, but right now I am more worried about miscarriage, especially after the spotting.... (and their office as a whole, doesn't really seem to think much of using progesterone to start with)
Any one have any similar experiences or even web information you could point me in the direction of?
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Wife to Mark, Mommy to 4 boys:Luke '05, Eric '07, Nicholas '09 Nathaniel '11
http://butterflyandbullfrogs.blogspot.com/
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JodieLyn
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| Posted: Jan 04 2013 at 2:04pm | IP Logged
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Well, my understanding is that the OTC creams have not shown any clinical evidence of being enough to sustain a pregnancy.. better than nothing if you can't get the better kind..
how far along are you?
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Jodie, wife to Dave
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Aagot
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| Posted: Jan 04 2013 at 2:10pm | IP Logged
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I would ask what their reason for stopping the progesterone cream is. If they can not come up with a reason why it would be harmful, thinking it doesnot work would not convince me to stop.
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Mackfam
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| Posted: Jan 04 2013 at 3:02pm | IP Logged
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I don't know anything about the cream, but I would be extremely cautious about stopping progesterone if you've been taking it and are at the beginning of a pregnancy.
As a general rule, if you've been supplementing with progesterone, oral or vaginal suppository, you do NOT stop until you have heard a heartbeat. My OB is a little more cautious and goes to about 11 weeks even though we've usually heard heart tones for a couple of weeks.
I'd want my progesterone levels checked daily if I agreed to stop and I'd want a prescription for a vaginal suppository of progesterone in my purse (or a good relationship with my OB/nursing staff to know they'd call in a RX immediately - usually suppositories have to be compounded at a special pharm. Also, the suppositories are compounded from a natural source of progesterone - they aren't synthetic proges.) so that I could fill it quickly if my numbers started approaching low. I'd request a standing order, and that my progesterone numbers be run with stat orders and a call from the nurse the same day with results. Go to the lab first thing in the morning - your doctor will have results by lunch easily, and that gives you time to find out if numbers are low and get a prescription that day if needed. These are NOT unreasonable requests to make! And of course, going to the lab daily is a drag...but I'm sure we'd all agree that it's worth it - and it's just temporary!!
Three of my youngest children, including the one I'm carrying right now, are here ONLY because of early intervention and supplementation of progesterone. So, if I encountered an office that didn't think much of monitoring progesterone and supplementing when needed, I'd move on...but then that's something I know I battle each and every pregnancy. My OB is actually very pro-active with his newly pregnant mama's and watches their progesterone closely. Most don't need help...but those that do he can address easily and with really good results in saving a pregnancy and a little one. As a result, his practice has the lowest rate of miscarriage in our city. It's proven and effective and such a straightforward treatment! Do follow up on it!!!!
I'm praying for you and your littles, Vanessa!
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Jen Mackintosh
Wife to Rob, mom to dd 19 , ds 16, ds 11, dd 8, and dd 3
Wildflowers and Marbles
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Mackfam
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| Posted: Jan 04 2013 at 3:07pm | IP Logged
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I should have asked, Vanessa - how far along are you? That may make a difference.
If the doctor has heard the twins' heartbeat in the office via doppler, then he's following what the OB community generally acknowledges: that once the heartbeat is heard, supplementation of progesterone is no longer necessary. The placenta begins to take over manufacturing progesterone around 8 weeks (around the time you can hear the baby's heartbeat), but many OB's/midwives believe that the placenta is probably fully in control of progesterone around 11/12 weeks...which is why you generally have to supplement progesterone (if it is needed) until around 11 weeks.
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Jen Mackintosh
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JodieLyn
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| Posted: Jan 04 2013 at 4:43pm | IP Logged
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OK I couldn't stand it any longer.. I started hunting.. I found Vanessa's post about being around 10 weeks pregnant on Dec. 12..
So about 13 weeks pregnant..
 spotting is so scary any time.
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Jodie, wife to Dave
G-18, B-17, G-15, G-14, B-13, B-11, G-9, B-7, B-5, B-4
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Mackfam
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| Posted: Jan 04 2013 at 4:53pm | IP Logged
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JodieLyn wrote:
OK I couldn't stand it any longer.. I started hunting.. I found Vanessa's post about being around 10 weeks pregnant on Dec. 12..
So about 13 weeks pregnant.. |
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Ok - so that may be one reason they're *seeming* so relaxed and nonchalant...your placenta should be making progesterone at this point in the pregnancy. I think for my peace of mind I'd probably still ask for some labs, but I think that at 13 weeks the progesterone shouldn't be an issue.
JodieLyn wrote:
| spotting is so scary any time. |
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It is! And I just went through it myself...very light spotting. An ultrasound and exam didn't show any obvious reasons for the spotting and the baby is fine, but it was very unsettling!!
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Jen Mackintosh
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Wildflowers and Marbles
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VanessaVH
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| Posted: Jan 04 2013 at 9:08pm | IP Logged
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Thank you so much for the input!
We saw them on ultrasound last week, and they measured right at 12 weeks,so I am about 13 weeks today  so the risk is less, but when we miscarried in 2010 it was at 12 weeks, after I stopped taking progesterone (many more factors, Dr didn't think that caused it, but it's enough to make me more cautious about stopping too early just in case!)
I have decided to keep taking it until I talk to them at my appointment next week. I am just not comfortable making that big of a decision on information passed along by a nurse over the phone, from a different Dr than my own (in the same practice) I can't find any reason that it would hurt, and I just don't want to take chances!
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http://butterflyandbullfrogs.blogspot.com/
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Mackfam
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| Posted: Jan 04 2013 at 10:31pm | IP Logged
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You are right, Vanessa, any extra progesterone can't hurt your babies at all!
Prayers continue for you and the little ones!
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Jen Mackintosh
Wife to Rob, mom to dd 19, ds 16, ds 11, dd 8, and dd 3
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4Real Forums : Our Lady of Good Remedy and Care
Topic: Twin Pregnancy and Progesterone
