Big Ultrasound

I had my big ultrasound today and the baby looked perfect and was moving all over. It was amazing for a little while but then after it went on and on as the technician took all these shots from multiple angles of all the body parts I wanted to cry as I was so ready for it to be over -- all that pressure on my sensitive belly.

We are really pleased though and it looks like we are going to have a little boy.


I had the technician check out my fibroid and its grown to be 5x8cm (!) but wasn't bugging the kiddo at all. It looked like there was another small fibroid up top. I'm waiting for the full ultrasound report -- it had to be reviewed by the radiologist and then my OB. Brother if there is but it was pretty small still.

My OB said we wouldn't remove the fibroid (big one) at delivery unless it was pedunculated which it is not. He did say that typically they grow a lot and then around mid-pregnancy the growth will taper off some, just like for the baby.

Fibroids, Painful Pregnancy and Birth Trauma

Being diagnosed with fibroids is scary enough, but when you are in the middle of trying to start a family or add new babies to your family it can be traumatic to be dealing with the unknowns, things that we see members here worry about week in and week out. Questions like, "was my miscarriage related to my fibroids?", "do I really need to have surgery" (oftentimes the first major medical experience we have in our lives), and "will I be able to have children with fibroids or after a myomectomy?" Additionally, there are complictions that arise during pregnancies such as extreme pain from fibroid degeneration, massive fibroid growth, etc. that can also be painful and confusing.

Regardless of if you conceive with your tumors in place or if you have had a myomectomy, childbirth might not be a straight shot vaginal delivery for many women with fibroids (and since 1 in 4 women in the US deliver via c-section today anyway, it isn't a given for anyone really).

I've personally found the whole experience to be a bit frustrating and disappointing and I'm still trying to conceive my first child. Now that I've had my fibroid out and I've been told I need to deliver all future pregnancies via c-section I find that frustration is building once again and I needed more info. I started researching more about the topic of c-section delivery and traumatic birth experiences (as well as uterine rupture risks -- which I will post separately about). I was also prompted in part by a online friend sharing her story of a traumatic pregnancy with degenerating fibroids -- she can't be the only one who has been left feeling deeply upset by her painful pregnancy with fibroids.

Below are a range of sites of organizations, research and counselors
focused on treating and understanding traumatic birth and postpartum
depression.

Traumatic Birth Experience

Victorious Birth - Cesarian and Traumatic Birth Support

Postpartum Depression and Maternal Birth Trauma

Depression After Delivery, Inc.

Birthing and the development of trauma symptoms: Incidence and contributing factors (Kreedy)
(there are links to the full study at the bottom of the page)

Birth Crisis Network (UK)
(Scroll down to the bottom of the page to links to more info)

Counseling for Reproductive Health and Healing - Deborah Issokson, Psy.D.
(She's in the Boston area, but does speaking engagements)

To a woman wanting to try the natural route with a large fibroid...

I tried the natural route and had some success with acupuncture and chinese medicine. But, when I did finally get pregnant my fibroid doubled in size. You think you are uncomfortable now, just wait as 80% of fibroids will grow during pregnancy.

I really think you should have it out, as scary as that might seem. After they get larger than 4cm they have a hard time getting rid of them through alternative therapy, though I'm sure there are exceptions. It is only because you are already uncomfortable that I'm telling you to have a myo, not every woman with fibroids has ones large enough, or positioned in way that set them out on a bad footing for pregnancy and yours sounds like mine.

I had mine removed in November and it was the size of a grapefruit (ack!) It is a big relief to have the fibroid out of there. Just the psychological stress of managing this fibroid that was going to keep doing its thing was a big burden. When I thought about getting pregnant with it in place again I just about had a panic attack, it was really uncomfortable and mine didn't have any degeneration.

I wish they would give out MRIs more easily as I think if I had seen how it was really positioned I might have had the surgery sooner. My fibroid was located right up against, but not engaging with, the endometrium. I don't regret waiting though since my miscarriage experience helped prepare me mentally for the surgery.

Here are some quotes from Johanna Skilling's book Fibroids about how fibroids can contribute to infertility:

"If a fibroid causes a miscarriage it's more likely to happen in the first or second trimester; in fact, fibroids can cause miscarriage so early on, you migh not even realize you are pregnant. Later in pregnancy, fibroids tend to cause pain or preterm contractions rather than miscarriage"

"How can fibroids cause miscarriage?...either by distorting the uterine cavity or by altering the blood flow that would normally be needed to nourish the growing fetus."

"Fibroids can release chemicals called prostaglandins, the hormone that triggers pain...Prostaglandins can also induce contractions of smooth-muscle tissue"

"...the cells of a fibroid divide faster than the "normal" cells in your body...This rapid cell division can trigger a response from your immune system--sending the body's natural defenses to try to deal with the perceived invader. This reaction is bad news for another "alien" in your body -- your fertilized egg."

Fibroids and pregnancy

Welcome to the club. I've met some women here who have successfully carried babies to term with fibroids in place, with some fibroid growth. I've also heard women report that they have had excrutiating pain from degenerating fibroids and the babies were fine but the pregnancy was rough on the mother. There are also a lot of women who have had miscarriages, which may or many not have to do with their fibroids -- myself included.

Doctors don't really know which fibroids will cause problems and which ones won't -- at least not beyond just normal clinical experience, the studies just haven't been done yet on a lot of topics. Some tiny fibroids can become really large during pregnancy. Large fibroids might experience some growth but not cause too many problems, or vice versas. I learned of one woman recently who had her fibroid removed during a c-section to deliver her baby -- the fibroids and the baby weighed the same. What you want to find out is where is/are the fibroid/s, what type are they (submucosal, intramural, subserosal)

The Babycenter.com fibroid message board has lots of posts from women who are trying to conceive with fibroids in place or post myomectomy (surgery to remove fibroids), as well as women having to deal with fibroids during their pregnancies.

Just because you have fibroids doesn't mean that you can't conceive and carry a healthy child to term, but it can make the journey a little less smooth.

I've posted a bunch of interesting articles about fibroids and fertility in the Links area of the NUFF uterinefibroids message group. Do check them out (subscription required).

Go out to the bookstore and buy: What Your Doctor May Not Tell You About Uterine Fibroids, and Sex, Lies and the Truth About Uterine Fibroids.

Oh, and I would seek the assistance of an RE (reproductive endocrinologist) if you have a diagnosis of uterine fibroids. They are more knowledgeable about hormone imbalances and specialize in fertility issues -- they are ob/gyns with advanced training -- and if you haven't had any luck with well-timed intercourse after a year the you should go for a consult anyway. They might try to push you for surgery and fertility drugs but it is up to you what you want to have done.

I'm feeling pretty good this morning. I wasn't on the computer over the weekend much, we were trying to have a life (we work on computers all week long and then some).

My blood tests came back in the normal range. I got the second HCG test result on Friday afternoon and the level had doubled appropriately.

This weekend I decided to not go to New York at the end of the month since traveling that far would be stressful and I'm really sensitive to stress. Besides, I don't know how I'll be feeling then. I called and told my parents, brother, grandmother, great-aunt (she'll be 96 in Sept) and the mother of the bride -- my mom's cousin (I was going east for this wedding). I thought my mother was funny, she asked me when I told her "Are you sure?" My goodness, what does she think? I told my dad first and he replied excitedly "tell your mother". My brother was blown away. They knew we were trying for a long time but maybe they thought we couldn't do it.

We also told my partner's mother, brother and sister-in-law, aunt, uncle and cousin. The clan has been notified and activated on both sides.

When my bladder is full in the morning and I'm lying on my back I can see my fibroid faintly on the right side because of my uterus being swollen. The fibroid isn't feeling active so I hope there isn't any competition for blood supply going on so our baby can get all it needs. My breasts are really full and dense, that's the biggest symptom by far. I have noticed that I tend to feel more cramps, queasiness, and waves of emotions in the afternoon so that will be the biggest challenge at work until we are ready to tell everyone.

I often felt desperate as medical practitioners offered up:

"Have you considered adoption?"
"I'm sure he has antibodies; it is very common post-vasectomy reversal. You won't be able to conceive without IVF/ICSI"
"We won't treat you unless you have your fibroid removed"

I was a wreck from the time I found out about my fibroid until 18 months later when I changed gears completely by:

Trying another RE who it turns out I love
Started going to acupuncture weekly
Started going to counseling several times a month
Got us on more vitamins and supplements
Reduced my stress level
Went for chiropractic (which helped with an old back injury)
and then we tried, and tried, and tried, and tried, and tried, and tried every cycle as much as we were able to fit in prior to ovulation

I'm amazed that we did it but here I am 6 days late and the tests say it is a done deal. Don't give up hope and if you want to stay natural just know that it is a game of odds and that it just might take time.

It is 6:00AM and my partner pushes me to move over and mumbles that I'm too hot. Too hot I think, that's kinda odd if I'm just about to get my period. So I take my temp and it is 98.6 - really high for being woken up an hour and a half early. So, I figure 34 day cycle, temp a little warm, still no sign of my period, I guess that warrants a pregnancy test. So I go down the hall to the bathroom and do. And I watch the paper fibers being saturated and it looks oddly bluish and it settles into two very clear blue lines. That's right, my first positive.

I have no idea what we are up against at this point because of my fibroid but I wanted to share. We have been trying for over 2 years, unprotected sex since February 2000 as well. This seems amazing and I don't really feel different. Not really. I guess that visit to the doctor will be for something else this afternoon.

My cycle average length is 30 days but the longest one since I've been charting was 33 days. I could be hours or minutes away from it starting though. Here's to cycles longer than 30 days though.

Is it possible to not have problems when pregnant with fibroid/s?

From all the stories I've seen shared fibroids seem to be problematic during pregnancy, in example:

* they may grow
* they may outgrow their blood supply and cause pain
* they could restrict the baby's growth
* they (in rare cases) could cause deformity in the baby (pressure on developing bones)
* they could increase problems with bladder, kidneys
* they could outcompete the baby for the blood supply and cause miscarriage (or otherwise cause a miscarriage)

Surely there are people who have had other experiences such as fibroid reduction, no growth, no complications...and lived happily ever after. Anyone got a story to share?