We’re boosting our precautions for my third trimester of pregnancy

I’m more than halfway through my pregnancy, which seems to be going incredibly fast. The egg retrieval procedure was last year, and our first embryo transfer was last June. My partner and I were lucky the first transfer worked, and now I’m over 23 weeks pregnant. It’s been an exciting change in our lives despite the worries we have because of my Cushing’s disease.

I met with a high-risk OB-GYN early in the process. Although my baby is low risk, I’m considered high risk and have to take extra precautions. The second trimester has been the easiest so far, but we’re ramping up for big changes as the third and most dangerous trimester approaches.

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Medication

I’m currently taking baby aspirin daily to take care of my heart and decrease the risk of preeclampsia, a condition marked by high blood pressure and fluid retention. My doctor said these two tiny pills have decreased my risk of preeclampsia by about 50%, which is amazing.

However, when I’m approaching the time to give birth, I’ll need to stop taking them because they can thin the blood. That could lead to bleeding issues during labor, which we’re hoping to avoid. Depending on how I’m doing, we might stop these at an earlier date than other pregnant patients.

We also plan to increase my Synthroid (levothyroxine sodium) dosage during the third trimester, which helps regulate my energy and keep my thyroid in check. This should be safe for both the baby and me, and the increase shouldn’t be too dramatic. I started at 50 mg a day and am currently taking 75 mg. I’m expecting to increase to between 100 mg and 200 mg, although nothing is set in stone.

Monitoring

My monitoring will increase dramatically during the third trimester. My OB-GYN says that due to Cushing’s disease, I’m at a higher risk of stillborn birth, early delivery, birth complications, and high blood pressure.

Due to that, we’ve implemented a plan that will start in November. I’ll start seeing my doctor more and have blood work done more frequently than I have been, which has been about every six weeks. I have additional tests, including more thyroid, hormone, and general workups, than patients without Cushing’s. I’ll check my blood pressure every day at home.

My doctor’s instructions were that if my blood pressure indicates either (not both) 140 on top or 90 on the bottom, I need to reach out to them. If it indicates either 160 on top or 110 on the bottom, I need to immediately contact triage and head in to be checked.

Knowing how much they want to monitor me is a little nerve-racking, but I’m relieved that I have such a thorough team.

Lifestyle changes

I’m also implementing lifestyle changes in November. The main one is that I can’t travel by plane or long distances in a car due to an increased risk of heart problems and blood clots. Therefore, I’m stuck in Michigan for three months, which I’m actually looking forward to. We need to get our house in order before the baby arrives, and I’ve been traveling a lot during my pregnancy. It’ll be a relief to focus on us for now and always be near my doctor in case of an emergency.

I’m also going to be consistent with my workout. I have high inflammation, and I recently gained access to a pool that has been wonderful. There aren’t any risks with swimming (other than the possibility of falling around the pool while wet), and it’s great to stay active and safe as long as my doctor approves. I’m excited to keep this going and hope to swim until February, when I’m due.

Pregnancy is tough, and having to make all these changes is a lot. But I’m glad that I’ve been able to carry my little one this far, and hopefully, there won’t be any extreme complications before my baby comes.

You can also follow my journey on TikTok and YouTube.

Note: Cushing’s Disease News is strictly a news and information website about the disease. It does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. This content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website. The opinions expressed in this column are not those of Cushing’s Disease News or its parent company, Bionews, and are intended to spark discussion about issues pertaining to Cushing’s.