Confused About Miscarriage and Birth Control
QUESTION
Dear Midwife,
I'm 38 and have 2 kids which are 7 years apart as we tried for years to have our 2nd and had many miscarriages. My miscarriages were mostly very early losses. Eventually fertility drugs did the trick and we had baby # 2 in Dec. 07.
Recently I found I was pregnant again (not planned this time). I found out early, the day of missed period. I took a test a few days later and it was very, very faint, much lighter than the first. I saw my doctor and had an HCG of only 6. A few days later I had my 'period' about a week late. One week after my HCG of 6 I had another blood test and was told my HCG was under 2. I went on birth control pills when I started my period (or early miscarriage). I've been on the pills for 3 weeks now.
Suddenly I was having pregnancy symptoms again so I took an home early test and I have (again) a faint positive much like the one I had when my HCG was 6. Is this the birth control pills? I'm wondering if I didn't miscarry 'everything' due to the pills?
We've had no sex because we were waiting 30 days for the birth control pills to fully cover us. I'm so confused and afraid my doctor will think I'm nuts!! I feel kind of nuts!
ANSWER
You are NOT nuts. It can take quite a while for all the pregnancy hormone to leave the system, especially if you are overweight, as women do this job at their own pace.
I'd suggest talking to your doctor about your concerns. Chances are your new "pregnancy symptoms" are just the common side effect of the pills that many women experience. But I understand that you want to put your mind at rest, so give them a call.
-- Cynthia, CNM. PhD.
Cynthia Flynn
Cynthia Flynn, CNM. PhD, is the General Director of the Family Health and Birth Center which provides prenatal, birth, postnatal, gynecological and primary health care to underserved women and their families in Washington, D.C. Recently Cynthia served as Associate Professor of Nursing at Seattle University. There she not only taught, but remained in full scope clinical midwifery practice at Valley Medical Center where she cared for pregnant and birthing women, and practices well-woman gynecology, family planning, and treatment of sexually transmitted diseases.
Cynthia founded Columbia Women's Clinic and Birth Center, where she took care of pregnant women and infants up to two weeks of age and attended both birth center and hospital births. Before Cynthia earned her CNM, she worked as a registered nurse in labor and delivery and postpartum and is a certified Doula and Doula trainer.
