Ask Me Help Desk - High risk pregnancy

I've tried searching online for anywhere I could speak with high risk pregnant doctor online and I'm not sure you can help me. I have a very urgent and serious matter. I'm from AL and I've been to 2 hospitals who give me no hope and have convinced me the only option is termination of pregnancy. My prognosis is: my unborn babies kidneys are not functioning, there is no amniotic fluid due to kidneys not functioning which will result in lungs not developing, heart is working overtime and taking up most of chest cavity. That's a short summary of issues. Before I make a difficult decision terminate, is there a center I should reach out to that could offer expert advice on possibility of experimental treatment etc... Anything I'm reaching for anything at this point. I doubt we have the best high risk doctors in AL and I guess id rather get some other opinions before moving forward. Are you able to offer anything?

Not sure you have the right facts. Kidneys do not produce amniotic fluid. The waste from the kidney is removed through placental interchange. The amniotic sac is the "bag " wherin the baby is contained, floating in Amniotic fluid. How far along are you? It is hard to accept but the Doctors may be right as total loss of Amniotic fluid in early pregnancy does not bode well for fetal development. You may be getting better info from your OB than can be possibly expected from the Internet. Serious medical decisions are best handled face to face.

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Kidneys do not produce amniotic fluid

Oh, but they do! Little amniotic fluid is called oligohydramnios. The fetal kidneys cause the baby to urinate, thus producing amniotic fluid.

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By the end of first trimester (between 8 and 11 weeks), however, an increasing proportion of amniotic fluid is the result of fetal urine production and later on production and expulsion from the fetal lungs. At the same time the fetal kidneys become the major source of amniotic fluid production,

Amniotic Fluid - 1 - The Basics | Fruit of the Womb | Healthline

By AL, I am assuming you mean Alabama, correct? If that is the case what is your general location in Alabama? I may be able to assist in finding you a high risk pregnancy OB.

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Originally Posted by J_9

Oh, but they do! Little amniotic fluid is called oligohydramnios. The fetal kidneys cause the baby to urinate, thus producing amniotic fluid.

Amniotic Fluid - 1 - The Basics | Fruit of the Womb | Healthline

By AL, I am assuming you mean Alabama, correct? If that is the case what is your general location in Alabama? I may be able to assist in finding you a high risk pregnancy OB.

Birmingham area!

I've been to UAB and Brookwood. I just wish I could get saline injections and steroids to boost lungs and then I understand we would still have the kidney dialysis when he's born, I was just hoping to hear a miracle story from someone or experimental treatment or way to save this baby. I'm 38 so this may be my only chance being pregnant. It's been terrible to hear this news!

Unfortunately I was going to recommend UAB or Brookwood. It sounds as though you are getting top notch medical advice. While betamethasone (steroid used for lung function) would be appropriate, saline "injections" would do nothing to increase amniotic fluid production.

I'm sorry I don't have better news for you.

It's just hard to face... Especially when his heart is still beating away. Very hard to terminate but I know carrying him longer would only be a bad ending as well... I understand there seems to be no good ending. Can you tell me the pros and cons to terminating compared to letting him go naturally etc.. my main question is this: if he won't survive anyway why terminate now? Would someone not do better waiting it out just in case? I know you can't make that decision for us Im just trying to weigh the options I guess.

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Originally Posted by Dionne75

It's just hard to face... Especially when his heart is still beating away. Very hard to terminate but I know carrying him longer would only be a bad ending as well... I understand there seems to be no good ending. Can you tell me the pros and cons to terminating compared to letting him go naturally etc.. my main question is this: if he won't survive anyway why terminate now? Would someone not do better waiting it out just in case? I know you can't make that decision for us Im just trying to weigh the options I guess.

I really hate to give advice like this because it's really a judgement call, one no one else can make for you. It's all based on personal feelings, other people you know, and it either gives someone too much hope, hope that will likely be squashed in the end, or it will take away all hope.

How far along are you? I don't think you mentioned that. How many doctors have seen you, and how many have given you this prognosis? Do any of them say there is hope?

I can only tell you what I'd do. Me, I'd carry the child to term, only because I have had a few people in my life that were told that they should terminate, that their child was either Down Syndrome, or wouldn't be born alive, and they chose to carry the pregnancy to term and delivered a perfectly healthy child. The Down Syndrome friend had 3 different doctors tell her the same thing, and her child did not have Down Syndrome.

Then again, there was a neighbor up the street that was told her child wouldn't survive delivery. She saw 4 doctors. Three told her the baby would be stillborn, one told her it wouldn't. It was. A friend of mine just went to the funeral of her nieces baby, she had a situation much like yours where she decided to carry the child to term and it was stillborn.

This isn't an easy choice. If there's really no hope you'd be better of terminating now, letting your body heal, letting your heart heal. Giving birth is not easy, and walking out of that hospital without a child, is even harder. I worry about your mental health if you have to deal with giving birth to a stillborn, or a child that will die shortly after delivery.

I hate writing this post. I don't feel like I've given you advice that's worthwhile, and I feel like I may be hurting you even more than you're already hurting. But you did ask. Still, it's hard to post because there's no way anyone can tell you what will happen, if there's any hope, and there's no way for anyone to make this decision for you.

All I can do is wish you the best of luck, and tell you how sorry I am that you're facing this.

Bless you and your child.

Thank you all I can do is pray and hope I make the best decision here... And by the way I'm now 23 weeks so if they induced labor now I know the baby may live a few seconds... But I could wait longer I guess to 28 weeks maybe the baby would live a minute? I don't know and I don't know if seeing him like this would help but I guess when you've carried one this long you at least want to see. Also docs at brookwood and UAB say they really think there's little hope.. exact words "It would take a miracle upon a miracle". I guess if getting pregnant was so easy it may be a little easier to cope but I know at 38 yrs old that could be it. Ill continue to pray hard these next few days. Im meeting w High risk docs at Emory Hospital in Atlanta next week and they said they'd induce labor to terminate if I choose to go that route. I just don't know if I'm ready... I wanted them to review the ultrasound 1 last time and give me their opinion.. I have not been to Atlanta yet. Anyway I'm getting the same answers from everyone.. The problem is no fluid and the lungs can't develop.. Even if he did make it there could be issues due to so much lack of fluid such as muscular development etc. I hear all the answers but I keep hoping ill be that one a miracle falls from the sky for... It's a tough call either way and I really appreciate your time and advice. Me and my husband will get through this and continue to pray for Gods strength!

I'm so very very sorry that this is happening to you. I really am. Whatever you decide, never question the decision. You're doing all you can, as are the doctors. I really wish you would have a miracle, but don't count yourself out of having a child just because of your age. You still have a chance. That's little comfort now, but that chance is there.

I wish I had the words to comfort you. I can only pray for you, and hope that whatever happens, you'll have the strength to carry on.

All my best to you. Here's hoping for a miracle.