Before trying to get pregnant

[MCGrad2006]

I think my husband and I are going to start trying to have a baby soon. I am sincerely ready and would love one. He is a little more hesitant, but I know he will be fine. So I am still on BC, probably won't go off of that for a few more months. Is there anything you ladies did at this point to get your body ready? I am hoping to start trying maybe in the fall or winter. How did you know the time was right for you? Was there a better season of the year for your health? I would much rather be pregnant during the winter months I think, because the HOT HUMID weather really bothers me. But I am open to hearing your experiences!

I have always been regular with my periods even off of BC...how long did it take your body after stopping BC to get back to a regular cycle? I have read about people using mucinex and preseed. Did you use them right away? Or did you wait a few months before trying with those? Did you track your cycles? I don't want the whole process to stress me out and make me less able to get pregnant, but I want to increase my chances. When did you start taking prenatal vitamins/folic acid? I have NO problems with vitamin deficiency...I only take one sourceCF a day (and even before that took nothing, and levels were fine).

I have spoken with my CF doc and he is all for it. My lung function hovers between 75 and 80. I would like to be back up to 85-90 before pregnancy, but I think either way I am healthy enough to sustain a pregnancy. I go back in June to see what my levels are. Hubby and I have yet to speak with a genetic counselor, which we will do before we start trying. I am hoping to do that this summer sometime. Oh...also, did you meet with a High Risk OB BEFORE getting pregnant/trying? I am going to ask my doctor to set me up with one at my appt in June I think because my current OB is awful and does not do babies (it was the only place in my area that took my insurance at the time...I did not want to have to travel to my clinic hosp once a year for that, I do have better insurance now though).

Sorry for all the questions, but I want to be prepared. I want to make sure I am at my best and able to stay healthy as long as possible if we are able to have a child.

 

[littlemisssilly]

Congratulations on your decison to start trying for a baby!

I don't know about other people but in terms of being 'ready', that was a question that I personally found almost impossible to answer. I just decided that we were ready to start trying. I think having CF forces us to really consider so many critical variables / scenarios that other potential parents probably do not turn their minds to. I found it a never ending quest trying to answer all my 'what if's' (if that makes sense). We were both incredibly sensible and sought all the relevant medical support, I was already incredibly proactive w my health and was (and still am) at a stage where I respond to treatments and exercise and maintain relative good health "for my age" as they say.

All other variables considered such as stable relationship, home life and finances, career were all in check so, I just forced myself to take the plunge otherwise for me personally the anxiety of all the unknowns would have left me in a constant limbo. That may not work for you, but it worked for me. I'm not suggesting for one second that women w CF should just get pregnant, just that for me, I was never able to reach the true 'readiness' stage that other women seem to talk about.

In terms of preparing my body, it took a few months to really monitor my CFRD and play around with insulin doses to get my HbA1C perfect, my vitamin levels were all closely monitored, I remember having a bone density scan done. I saw a high risk OB to get the go ahead to start trying (although if I ever went round 2, I would probably not go down such a highly medicalised pregnancy). Important to note re Folic acid, you need to start taking this for at least 3 months PRIOR to conception to minimise risks of spina bifida to the baby.

My husband underwent screening for only the commonest CF mutations as the full panel screening is not available in Australia yet. In the end, we did IVF as I was unable to conceive naturally. I didn't use any of the mucinex or chart my cycles. Like you, I have always been regualar with my cycle depsite years of birth control but just found it impossible to conceive so, we went IVF.

I didn't get breathless during the pregnancy, my lung function didn't drop, I felt the best I had in years. I didn't stop any of my CF meds and went full term. Now, I am a very proud mum, exhausted like never before, but very happy. Good luck.

 

[kross10911]

I personally started taking a prenatal, and took 1 source CF/AquADEK,I would take one in the morning and one at night to space it out.( check with your doctors on what they think is best, because too much vit a is bad for a baby). I also learned how my cycle was. Just because it is regular doesnt mean you always know your most fertile days, which does end up being important to know. My cervical mucus was never an indication as to where I was in my cycle.
I personally went off my BC last July, we tried just by tracking my fertile days,I would buy the ovulation indicator strips from amazon, and I believe they worked and were right on when I compared it to my cycle. granted we had only tried for 6 months, and then we decided to use the preseed and mucinex which did work for us the first time and now Im due in October.
I know I got lucky to conceive so quickly. We had my husband tested for CF and were able to do the entire panel which was nice, and got lucky that the insurance covered it in full and thankfully he isnt a carrier which we figured since he has three sons from a previous marraige with no signs of bein carriers.
My lung functions were 75-80% and I have had some issues with keeping them up. The pregnancy has taken a lot out of me, more than I had expected. My sister always said being pregnant makes you tired,and the first trimester I could barely get myself off the couch. And I still managed to loose 8 pounds which was fine because I had extra. Thankfully I didnt have barely any morning sickness. Now my weight at 18 weeks is stable and has been for a while.
As far as my meds go, I stopped taking the zithromax. I felt that even though it has been deemed safe for pregnancy, that they hadnt studied the long term use of it so I personally wasnt comfortable. And as most would say overkill, I didnt do any inhaled meds besides my xopanex for the first trimester ( maybe this is why I had issues with my pfts dropping). I am now on tobi and cayston every other month starting pulmozyme once a day.
Sorry this is so long, I just always want to help others who are considering having a child because I fully believe it is something women with CF can do. Its exciting and nerve racking at the same time trying to figure out what is best for your self and a growing baby. But it is all worth it. Now that I can feel my baby girl kicking it is the best reminder and motivation.
Good Luck!

 

[wynter89]

what does the musinex do... does that help with cervical mucus??? i have 1 daughter but am wanting another one with my husband nd this time seems like nothing is working daughter 2 no cf me wynter 22f with cf husband 25m no cf

 

[kross10911]

yes the mucinex helps thin the mucus in the whole body. If you try it make sure its just plain mucinex, and not the DM or any of the other kinds. Or some use Robitussin. Either way you are just wanting plain old guafenesin ( the active ingredient in mucinex and robitussin). I took name brand and not store brand because of the higher amount. I think equate brand is 400mg vs Mucinex 600mg.

Drink A LOT of water if you do try it.