Difficult Pregnancy and Still Have More?

I had a difficult first pregnancy - oligohydramnios (low amniotic fluid), premature rupture of membranes, premature labor, premature delivery via emergency c-section after 24 hours of very painful labor with a baby in the "sunny-side up" position, baby in the NICU unable to breathe on her own. Basically, I had to be monitored every two weeks at a facility 1.5 hours from my home, I was having contractions when I shouldn't have been, my water broke early, I was left to sleep and when a nurse finally checked on me it was too late to receive an epidural and they thought I would have the baby out in a few hours, 16 or so hours later I received several epidurals - none of which worked, finally I ended up with a c-section. The baby was in bad shape. She couldn't breath without assistance, her head was a smooshed, she had fluid in her lungs, couldn't maintain her temperature. She went to the NICU where she was very well cared for. She is a wonderful 4 year old now.

We had a second pregnancy that ended in miscarriage. We have a second daughter. I wouldn't say the pregnancy was planned but we wanted a second child so we had my IUD removed after the miscarriage and did not use birth control. I had pregnancy induced hypertension with my second child which resulted in bed rest, biweekly nonstress tests and ultrasounds every 2 weeks. I also had to use progesterone suppositories during the first half of the pregnancy to prevent premature labor. I delivered via c-section a few weeks early because of the high blood pressure but had steroid injections to develop the baby's lungs so no NICU that time. The baby is a splendid one year old.

I am soooooo done being pregnant. I am not willing to undergo any more complicated pregnancies which endanger my life and the lives of the babies.

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I had a very difficult first pregnancy and delivery. The complications were so severe that my doctor advised me not to have more children. I really didn't think I could get pregnant on my own (conceived our first by artificial insemination). I got a copper IUD just to be sure. After 5 years with the IUD, I started to have trouble with it and had it removed. I instantly got pregnant. The second pregnancy was just as complicated and miserable as the first, but the delivery went more smoothly. If you have any questions, feel free to message me. I'm so happy to have my boys, but my tubes are thankfully tied now. :)

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I suppose it depends on your definition.

I miscarried a lot. Usually in the first 3 months, a couple at 4 months, and a little girl in between 6 & 7 months (estimated apx 32/33 weeks). I nearly died a few times.

Then I went on to have my son.

I have NOT, however, had any more children/pregnancies SINCE my son.

BY him we'd figured out that my placentas grow waaaaay too big and rip away from the uterine wall (placental abruptions). So I was on low-activity (walking across the room, or from house to car to building to car, absolutely NO exercise, etc) and then modified bed rest.

FROM him we figured out that pregnancy hormones trigger a fast acting cancer in me (had to have a gazillion proceedures/leeps/surgeriess while I was pregnant to try and keep it down).

With my son I
- doubled my weight (because of the med issues)
- had cancer
- was at constant risk for losing him/bleeding out
- was the size of a quad or quint mum (my uterus was carrying 40lbs instead of the more normal 10/12)
- antepardum depression

Was he worth it? Yes! But I'm NOT going to willingly risk that/ go through that again for a second child (or yet another miscarriage, although I think we've gotten avoiding them down, it could have just been a fluke this time.)

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Went into preterm labor 3 times for no apparent reason, so I ended up on bed rest for 4 weeks. The longest 4 weeks of my life but well worth it.

I delivered at 37 1/2 weeks but had a 4th degree tear that was repaired 2x after the delivery. Still have problems with the area 12 years later.

I did have a 2nd but made sure there would be no question about a scheduled C-section. I was very careful the 2nd time. Lots of rest, lots of fluids but kept up a short workout a few times a week. my 2nd was totally different than the first and I am glad I did it!

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S.:

Greg's due date was 10 May. I went into labor with him on 27 Jan...I was on bed rest until he came on 26 March...since we knew he was going to come early - I was on bed rest for that entire time...it was sooo not fun. he was in the NICU for 5 days...no problems...

Nicky was due 9 Aug and came 9 July. He was in the NICU for 9 days - it wasn't the pregnancy that was difficult - HE was...he had pneumonia, flat lined in front of me in the NICU, it was a nightmare...but after our church started a prayer chain - he was off the ventilators and tubes in 48 hours...

I lost the last two pregnancies - Alexis at 22 weeks and the other at 12 to 14...

I wouldn't let my past pregnancies stop me from having more...only if the Dr said that I there is a high chance I would die or the baby would not survive - then yeah - but I can't live with the "what if's" - I can learn from history and try not to repeat it!! :)

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Yes. I have a severe uterine abnormality that causes a lot of issues while I am pregnant. My first was full of a million doctor appointments and a lot of what ifs. Bedrest starting at 28 weeks with an emergency c/s at 33 weeks. A 3 week NICU stay and a colicky baby. My husband and I thought long and hard about having another knowing that the pregnancy would be just as difficult. Did we really want to go through all of that again? Plus now we were a bit more informed about my condition which kind of made it worse. After discussions with my specialist we decided to go ahead and try.
I'm currently 32 weeks with #2 and this pregnancy has been worse. Surgery, weekly injections, in L&D at 23 weeks, high blood pressure, medication that almost put me back in the hospital due to an adverse reaction, bedrest starting at 25 weeks, weekly doctor appointments and BH contractions daily. Everyday is a blessing that this little guy is still inside cooking. We are expecting another preemie pretty much any day now. Pregnancy is not fun for me and I am very jealous of women who can have a "normal" pregnancy. But I do know that when he gets here it will all be worth it. Will I do this again? No I don't think I can mentally and probably not physically. This is a hard decision to make but for me and my family I think it will be a good one. I don't regret it.

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Dear S.,

I had a relatively easy first pregnancy but ended up with an emergency c-section and a subsequent infection that landed me back in the hospital, and my baby also had an infection and was in the NICU. It was a very scary experience for me at the time. We knew we wanted to give our daughter the gift of a sibling so we waited 2 years and I just had my 2nd child 3 weeks ago. The pregnancy itself wasn't so bad but there were many little scares along the way in the ultrasounds. In the end, it was a successful VBAC and our son is perfectly healthy. I think we'll probably try again for a 3rd when this little guy is around 16 months old, so that all the children will be spaced about 2 years apart. But I think after 3, I'll be done.

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I had severe Pre E with my first pregnancy and had to deliver at 36 weeks. My other 2 pregnancies I had no BP issues. But with my second she caused pelvis distress and had to be induced with her at 37 weeks. And Baby # 3 decided to stop growing and went 3 weeks w/o growth so induced with her at 39 weeks So I had issues with each pregnancy but I would say my first pregnancy was the most severe since it threatened both of our lives.

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My daughter is 14 - I had placenta previa, so bled anytime I did anything. I was on bedrest the last 3 months. I also had severe morning sickness almost the entire time. Delivery went fine. 8 years later I was pregnant with another girl, not planned and I was so sick with her, I was on in-home IVs the entire time. It was horrible, I can't imagine anything worse. Then delivery was quick and easy, but then I hemoraged - not a pleasant experience. I got divorced and remarried a man that has no children and I knew when we where dating he wanted at least one child, I figured I survived the other two, I can survive one more. I'm not 33 weeks pregnant and have had no problem, it's been perfect (except the morning sickness, but I would consider it "normal") and it's another girl. Each pregnancy is different. I swore I wouldn't have anymore after my second daughter - but here I am waiting on another. Good luck.

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Don't know if it counts but I had gestational diabetes with my first pregnancy and then didn't have it at all with my second.

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The beginning of my pregnancy with my oldest was a breeze! At about 25 weeks I started to develop some pretty severe toxemia. By 30 weeks I was on partial bed-rest and at 32 weeks full bed rest (could only get up to use the bathroom). They had to take my son via emergency c-section at 35 weeks b/c I developed so many problems with the toxemia/pre-eclampsia. At 35 weeks he was 7 lbs 8 oz and had strong lungs so he didn't even have to go to the nicu. From 25 weeks on I was in my doctor's ofc 2x per week getting blood draws and doing stress tests. This was my first pregnancy but it didn't stop me from having more :) my 2nd pregnancy was easy (and planned) and I did have slight toxemia and partial bed-rest at 34 weeks and I went into labor on my own at 38 weeks.

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I have a weird chest problem while pregnant.
I am in constant pain. Like a dagger under my breast.
The more I do, the worse it gets.
W/ my first they had me get my gallbladder and heart checked-not the problem. Eventually, they gave up trying to get an answer...
As soon as I delivered it went away.

I believe (and 1 of my midwives agrees) it is Costochondritis: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Costochondritis
brought on by untreated/undiagnosed asthma when I was a late teen.

Almost as soon as I got pregnant w/ my 2nd it returned. :(

Thinking about being pregnant again makes me physically weary. But I would like to have a 3rd. I think. Lol. ;)

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Yes. Our first was a very difficult pregnancy and delivery. I was 'lucky' to have enough complications that I got to stay in the hospital 3 days instead of the standard 24 hours at the time. I won't bore you with all the details, mostly because I don't remember much from the labor and delivery. But the doc did come out and tell my husband at one point that they would try to save us both!

Our daughter, 4 years later was a breeze all the way through! Especially labor and delivery! Yes, she was planned and had miscarried in between the 2. Now, I did have some bizarre infection a week or so after delivery that they never figured out. I had to go back in the hospital for 24 hours and was sent home with a home health nurse and IV antibiotics for a week.

But we did decide to stop with just 2, not wanting to push our luck anymore!

They are now 21 and 17 and amazing kids!

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my first pregnancy was a breeze. but when I was in labor with my oldest it was a nightmare. my BP went through the roof almost immediately, so they gave me the magnesium which made me sooooooo sick to my stomach. i stalled at 5cm about 10 hours into it and at that point my sons heart rate was starting to drop during contractions so we decided to do the c-section. the meds they pushed into my epidural to completely numb me made me super sick as well and i was vomitting on the table and choking plus i started getting heart palpitations. after I had my son, they left me in the bed, hooked up to a morphine pump and still with the catheter for 3 WHOLE DAYS, nothing on my feet or legs for circulation so of course at my 1 week post op check they found out i had a fairly large blood clot that landed me back in the hospital for 5 more days and i had to take coumadin for 6 months after that. as soon as i came off the coumadin and all the blood tests came back normal so we knew i didnt have some kind of clotting disorder we started trying to get pregnant again. It took 6 months but we finally got pregnant again, I found out about a week after our sons first birthday. At 8 weeks we found out we were having twins!!!!!! i had a really hard pregnancy but my delivery wasnt as traumatic. i would go for it again, but that is just my opinion.

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I don't have anymore children yet, but I did have a difficult pregnancy. I was on bedrest from week 18 until week 37 and ended up having to have an emergency c-section. Because I am the only child, I will definitely do it again, but I told my husband that I could only promise him one more time. I hope you have a less eventful pregnancy the second time around.

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Yes, my first I had extreme nausea the entire nine months. The delivery was horrible, I had to have a vacuum delivery and that sucker tore me up I could barely walk for almost a six weeks, plus I got severe carpel tunnel the last few months, I couldn't hold my baby for almost 2 months.

My second pregnancy was sooooo much easier and the baby was out in 2 little pushes and I only needed two small stitches.

My sister's first pregnancy/delivery was worse than mine, she had 3 more after that! Most were easier except the last was a doozy!

Every pregnancy is different!

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I'm not sure any of us are really qualified to help you with this. The health of your consecutive pregnancies really depends on factors that a Dr or Nurse Midwife should assess. Please see a Dr/CNM BEFORE you conceive for a thorough exam and ask them about your risk factors and how you can give yourself the best chance at a healthy pregnancy. Wishing you health and success in growing your family... Nurse Midwife Mom