Hi everyone, can you give me some ideas on what questions i need to ask my obgyn when i go in a couple of weeks. I want to be prepared and need to know what the future plans are going to be for the birth and monitoring of our baby. Im now 26 weeks pregnant.
Thanks all
Just a few off the top of my head:
How will you monitor me/baby from now until birth?
Will I be induced? If so how?
Will I be allowed to go to full term or will I be induced early?
When do I stop my aspirin/heparin?
What interventions if any will there be?
When do I start back on my aspirin/heparin? (you should have adequate anti-coagulation for at least 6 weeks after birth)
Wishing you an uneventful and smooth ride to a healthy bub.
thank you tassie, much appreciated
Hi and congratulations!!!
advice from my experience
Are you on heparin shots?
You will be giving birth more than likely around 32 weeks. You will more than likely have a c-section because it's more controllable
Have they asked you about having your tubes tied at the same time? This is up to you, I've had 2 little ones!
Your little one will more than likely need to be in the icu for growth and monitoring for a little while. Your little one will need to gain the sucking reflex, which is all a matter of time too.
You can ask and see if the dr will put you in a "rest easy" room while your little one is in the nicu- just make sure YOU get the rest you need.
I recommend looking into kangaroo care while your little one is in the nicu. The skin on shin contact makes them grow faster along with sleep. Babies sleep because there's a sleep hormone released that aids in growth. That being said, the more rest you have the more rest your little one will receive, in turn, getting you all home faster!!
Talk with your doc about breast feeding too. I was able to breast feed for about a week and then with the blood thinners I had to take, I had to stop. This REALLY bothered me!!! Now looking back, I wish I knew more beforehand. Look at it like this- breast feeding takes ALOT out of you, although we want to- that is not what's always best for us or our family. Your newborn needs you to be healthy so being able to breast feed or not- do what's best 
this was extremely hard for me. Believe me your baby knows your heart! If you must bottle feed, take off that shirt, squish that little one up to your boobie and stick that bottle nipple in its mouth. That's what I did!
I totally believe in the skin on skin contact! Take a bath with your baby and sleep - everything! I'm so excited for you!!! It's the best!!
Lastly don't forget to take pictures!!! in all the craziness of birth we sometime forget pictures!
Wishing you and your "soon to be new arrival" all the best,
Xx mommaleda
thank you mommaleda, all your advice is very much appreciated
You can breastfeed whilst taking heparin and aspirin but not warfarin so try and stay on the heparin for the time that anti-coagulation is needed if possible.
It is quite common to deliver around 36-38 weeks so you can manage the stopping of the aspirin and heparin so you may not need NICU at that stage unless you deliver earlier and vaginal delivery is also common for us. ( I had a planned delivery at 38 weeks and a vaginal birth with my last bub).
Skin to skin contact is very important for all babies and a lovely time for both mum and bub.
These are all things you can discuss with your medical team and see what they can do to help you and bub have the best outcome.
There is probably a difference in how births are managed in different countries and cultures and even for us there is a huge range in what might happen so well worth talking through the scenarios with your health team so you know what you might expect in your particular case.
Hi there. Following diagnosis i had a further successful pregnancy with my third son and was given 2 x 5000 units per day of Heparin from 12 wks through to 6 wks post natal. I had a c-section at 37+5 weeks and was given inflatable boots and stockings to wear during the surgery and my Gynae Consultant liaised with my Heam Consultant to ensure that adequate measures were in place throughout. Exciting time for you!
Unless there are complications they will not induce at 32 weeks, that can be dangerous as the lungs are not developed. I had my heart attack at 20 weeks pregnant and was on a heparin pic line and was induced at 36 weeks. Lol my daughter weighed 9lbs 12.6 oz and was in nicu for 3 days. Typically, they induce so they can be in control of labor and delivery.
Dont worry Im sure your baby will not have to be born at 32 weeks unless there are life-threatening complications! I have APS and had a baby at 40 weeks this Feb, she would have arrived naturally had she not got stuck after 2 hours of pushing!! The main things i wanted to know about were induction (not neccessary) and what if I had taken my heparin injection and then needed an epidural within 12 hours- which did happen!! I had seen an aenestatologist who offered an alternative pain relief which was called remifentanil which is what I had when I was in labour instead of the epidural (and i had gas and air too) Good Luck
thanks everyone
Question regarding this site 
Concerning question for Hematologist
Question for those not on anti coagulants
Another breathing/sleeping question
sorry, another APS question
