I finally saw the rheumatologist (Dr V) who specialises in Thrombophilia. She is really nice to talk too... very empathetic and patient, just like Dr T. It's only my first appointment with her, but I feel totally at ease with her and feel that I can trust her. This is one of the things that matter a lot to me now. TRUST is a big word... I am not only trusting the doctors with myself, more importantly, I am entrusting in them my baby, my baby's future, and our future as a family unit. I only wish there are more doctors like Dr T and Dr V.
Dr V shared with me that her own sister miscarried at 22 weeks due to thrombophilia, and she recently gave birth to a baby girl. It wasn't a dream pregnancy for her though because she bled throughout the entire pregnancy and spent the last 5 weeks in hospital prior to delivering her baby at 34 weeks. But it's a happy ending at least. I guess with this personal experience, Dr V was able to relate and understand what I was going through.
I also voiced my doubts about how thrombophilia could be the underlying cause of my 2 miscarriages because I didn't exhibit any of the symptoms... Thrombophilia can cause first and second trimester miscarriage by creating blood clots in the placenta and depriving the fetus of oxygen and vital nutrients. It can lead to severe intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR), abruption, severe early onset preeclampsia, preterm delivery, etc. I didn't have any of these symptoms although I have thrombophilia.
In my case, both Lucas and Chloe were of the 'right' size/ weight at their respective weeks of gestation and they were both developing at the correct pace during all my weekly ultrasound scans. Both Lucas and Chloe were alive when I delivered them, i.e. the fetal heartbeat was detected. The cause of my miscarriages were due to Preterm Premature Rupture of Membranes (PPROM), but we don't know the exact cause of it.
Dr V agreed with me and thought that although I have thrombophilia, something else could have caused the water bag to break. Gosh... I think it is back to the old drawing board again. She took another 7 test tubes of blood from me to re-do all the tests... Yes it was very painful, but I'd rather they do all the checks they can at this stage. Honestly, needles don't faze me anymore. They will also put me (and Mark) on antibiotics once we commence fertility treatment, and if I do conceive, she will give me heparin and aspirin as she would with any pregnant women who have thrombophilia.
It is so scary now that she's confirmed my suspicions that thrombophilia may not be the real 'culprit' afterall. I wonder what other medical problems I have hiding in my highly unreliable body.
** Sidenote: I wore a dress to the appointment today and the nurse who took my blood asked if I was pregnant. This is the 2nd time someone asked me if I was pregnant when I wore that dress. It is NOT a maternity dress and I bought it only fairly recently. Although I really like it, I think I will set it on fire.
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