High chances of abnormal pregnancy!!

[Angelinas_mummy]

I have recently had a baby with spina bifida,( unfortunatly she is no longer with us) but now I have a very high risk of having another child with spina bifia. I was also put on medication for depression which increases my risk even more and also put the unborn baby at risk of heart complications. This is a pretty upsetting subject for my husband and I because we wanted to have our kids really close in age and travel when they are older.
We just dont know where to go from now.We badly want more and I know I have to get better before we do. I dont know if Im being greedy, I mean Ive already got one healthy bootiful 15 month old little lady and had the chance to meet my little Angelina. I really just dont know what to do next. Anyone have any ideas?

Hollie

[moonblossom]

I really think you need to take time for YOU. You've had a really tough time, and only time will help you come to terms with what you have had to endure lately.

I know from your post that you know you have to get yourself well physically and mentally before any major decisions can be made. You have all the time in the world. Believe me things will get better, and you will have another healthy child, it just takes time.

My thoughts are with you, you are a wonderful open woman, who has shared your story and were here to support you when you need us.

With your life experience, you will be able to reach out and help others if the time ever comes. Our dreams do come true, just sometimes not in the time frame we would like.

Many blessings Hollie, to you and your family.

[My3kids]

Hi

The chances (now this is what i was told) of having another baby with NTD is 1 in 1000 for a anyone, Now for you and anyone else who has had a baby with NTD it's 1 in 100 if you take the high dose of Folic Acid 5mg, if you don't take the folate it's 1 in 20. And also was told if you did go on to ave another baby with NTD it may be not the one you had before so eg. you could have had SB than end up having Ancephaly or visa verse (i think there are 3 NTD)

Anyway to brighten this subget up i have had 2 Heathly babies after losing my zachary to a NTD. So cross fingers for you, If you don't stress (which i know is hard to do) You will find in no time you will have a healthly baby in your arms (which will never replace the loss of angelina) Good luck & Best wishes.

My ears and shoulder as always there for you Hollie.

[Lunar]

I think once you fall pregnant and have some tests they will give you better odds.
My DD has Down syndrome and after having her my chances of it happening again were 1:100. After falling pg and having an NT scan my chances are now 1:4600. I don't know how it goes with NTD's but I would assume that it would be similar.

But then again if you look at it as if you have 99% chance of it NOT happening again it does make it a little easier. Also if you both want another child why not go for it?(Of course give yourself time to grieve and recover.) Trust in mother nature, you WILL have another baby and everything will be as it should.

Good luck.
Bless you and your beautiful family.
(((hugs)))

[Angelinas_mummy]

Hi everyone,
It has been a while since I have been on and I just thought Id give an update and ask for a bit more advice.
I am now sucsessfully on a medication that is relativly safe in pregnancy and now all the bad stuff is now out of my system. I havent started on the folate yet, that will be happening within the month. I have vowed to myself that I will not, under any circumstances, be pregnant for my 21st in August. My last two birthdays I have been pregnant and this time I just want to hang loose and not have to worry about much.
We have left our options open after my birthday so if it happens it happens.....but I have these days where I think I really really dont want another one because I dont want another baby to replace Angelina. Plus Casey is like a mini cyclone and just destroys anything and everything that she can get her mitts on. She now climbs onto the dining table by climbing onto the chairs and when I try to tell her that it is naughty and that she will hurt herself ....she laughs and 5 mins later does it again.

I just dont see how women do it. Id love to know and at the moment I really would love to have another one but I can just imagine Casey climbing onto the table, calling over seas or shoving washing powder down the loo (like I done when I was her age), and in the meantime Im so tired trying to feed a screaming baby and not realising or really caring what Casey is doing.
Life seems so hard sometimes!!
Hollie

[Mummy-2-2]

Oh sweetheart, nothing will replace Angelina, nor is it meant to.

I cant say I know what you are going thorugh with the SPina Bifida thing, but I DEFINITELY know what you are going through with the 18 month old thing, and they are all like that! I have a 19 month old and a 3 month old and yeah, its havoc here sometimes!.

Goodluck with what you decide to do, and good on you for letting nature take its course (post august!!)