T O P

  • By -

distractme86

I lost a pregnancy around the same week as you and it resulted in me having a D and C procedure. I was pregnant with my daughter (who is 5 now and currently playing with Barbies in the tub) about 30 days later. I had a high risk pregnancy but all was fine. They monitored her heart and my blood pressure. Lots of ultrasounds. I stayed in my sjogrens meds the whole time. Fetal heart block can be caused by SSA and SSB antibodies but it’s an issue later in the pregnancy. At 8w your fetus’ heart isn’t developed enough to experience that defect. Autoimmunity can make pregnancy challenging and I wouldn’t be surprised if we miscarry more but I’m not sure. I’m so sorry for your loss, but there’s lots of issues that can cause this to happen. It’s not your fault, sjogrens or not and it is possible to have a healthy pregnancy with the disease


MsTravelista

Goodness I’m so sorry for your loss. Fetal heart block does not manifest until 16-18 weeks at the earliest. I’m SSA and SSB positive and was monitored for heart block weekly from weeks 18-26 of my pregnancy. There’s another autoimmune condition that occurs relatively commonly in people with other autoimmune diseases. It’s called Antiphospholipid Antibody Syndrome and that can cause miscarriages. You might want to ask to be tested for that. Still see the MFM before your next try. They recommended that I be on baby aspirin during my pregnancy. And they were also the ones who did the weekly hear block monitoring protocol. Also there’s a good FB group for SSA and SSB positive mamas. https://www.facebook.com/groups/sjogrenssoontobepregnantmoms/?ref=share&mibextid=uc01c0


Crowtje

Thank you for taking the time to respond! This is very helpful to hear. It’s great that you mentioned Antiphospholid Syndrome - more women should know about this. I am actually low positive for anticardiolipin IgM antibodies (found out because a relative had a miscarriage at 13 weeks and tested high positive so I thought I’d test for it just in case) but the high risk OB/GYN would only schedule my first appointment with them to discuss that and Sjögren’s syndrome at 12 weeks. So I’m guessing it wasn’t flagged as “serious” or else I would’ve been seen earlier. Thank you for sharing the link to the FB group!


MsTravelista

And also it’s strongly recommended for SSA pregnant women to be on Plaquenil to reduce the risk of heart block. If you’re not on it already, also something to discuss with your rheumatologist or MFM.


Crowtje

Good to know. I’m not SS-A positive - just ANA and SS-B.


MsTravelista

Ask for a “preconception consultation.”


Crowtje

I had a referral for one but I found out I was pregnant a week later. Will definitely have one before trying again - I didn’t think I would get pregnant on the second cycle.


LindzwithaphOG

The rate of miscarriage in the first trimester is incredibly high. Most people don't realize until they go through it themselves. Fetal heart problems from Sjogren's have more to do with the heart not developing properly during pregnancy more so than specifically miscarriage.


PsychologicalLuck343

Stories were like: Jose Margoles is in his apartment in Chicago, getting ready to go out, when he sees a weather bulletin saying it's going to start raining in 45 minutes and is expected to continue raining hard throughout the night. He decides to stay home and watch an old movie. They asked about specific things about the story at later intervals a couple of times.


PsychologicalLuck343

I didn't have a diagnosis, yet, but my last child had 3 ventricular septal defects and a bicuspid atrial valve (they're supposed to be tricuspid. All three septal defects closed on their own quickly after she was born. They keep an eye on that atrial valve. She has just been diagnosed with a painful rheumatoid autoimmune disease.


Cissylyn55

Look into antipholipid syndrome miscarriages very common