Complications and Miscarriages

Updated on January 05, 2009
L.S. asks from Saint Charles, MO
18 answers

Newly pregnant I have found out that I have low progesterone levels. I understand this helps the baby's development, had lost one last year because of development. I have been prescribed to take medication to assist with this. Has anyone else had low progesterone, taken medication and no problems during pregnancy? I could use some encouragement.

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So What Happened?

Its a week later and I had another miscarriage and we still don't know why this is happening. I am trying to focus on the future and believe that it was not meant to be. I have to be strong to get through this.

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G.B.

answers from St. Louis on

I also had very low progesterone levels with my 1st pregnancy. The doctor did put me on a low dose progesterone pill until I was 12 weeks. After that, pregnancy was normal. He is now 5 1/2 and all boy!! The progesterone pills did not affect me much. Just a little nasuea but hard to differenciate that from normal pregnancy morning sickness. I found it best to take them at night before bed with a glass of water. Good luck!!

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L.S.

answers from St. Louis on

This happened to my little sister. She had a miscarriage and then a year later found out she was pregnant again, she had low progesterone so she just took a pill once a day for a couple of months. She just gave birth to a healthy baby boy on 12-28. Hope this helps!
Good luck!

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B.M.

answers from Wichita on

I had a couple of miscarriages and then with my 3rd pregnancy they checked my levels and my progesterone was low, so they gave me shots 3 times a week until week 14 and all was well, my daughter is now almost 6 1/2 :o)

I am currently 9 mo pregnant with #2 and this doctor just had me do progesterone pills/supositories just in case, and all has been well so far, due anyday now!

Hope this helps! Good luck!!

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D.T.

answers from Kansas City on

If you are interested in a natural boost in progesterone, then try Young Livings Progessence Cream. Here is the info...
-----------
Progessence™ Cream contains only safe, natural ingredients formulated to rejuvenate skin, including progesterone, antioxidant wolfberry oil, herbs such as wild yam and black and blue cohosh, MSM, vitamins, and a powerful blend of therapeutic- grade essential oils. Because of their unique ability to penetrate into the heart of cells, essential oils increase the effectiveness of this soothing formula.

How to use: Apply 1/4 to 1/2 tsp. one to two times daily for 21 consecutive days. Discontinue use for 7 days then repeat. Massage cream thoroughly into soft tissue areas of the body until absorbed. Individual needs may vary. Application intended for external use only.
Store in a cool dry place. Keep out of reach of children. If pregnant or under a doctor's care, consult your physician.

Ingredients: Deionized water, MSM (methylsufonylmethane), caprylic/capric triglyceride, sorbitol, wolfberry oil, shea butter, glyceryl stearate, aloe vera gel, sodium PCA, stearic acid, calendula extract, chamomile extract, rosebud extract, orange blossom, St. John's wort extract, Ginkgo biloba extract, grape seed extract, algae extract, tocopheryl acetate, linoleate (vitamin E), hydrolyzed wheat protein, locust bean gum, allantoin, lecithin, kelp, retinyl palmitate, ascorbic acid (vitamin c), lecithin, progesterone from soybean extract, geranium†, fennel†, yarrow†, sage†, eleuthero (Eleutherococcus senticoccus), trace mineral complex, organic flax see oil‡, wheat germ oil, wild yam extract, black cohosh, and blue cohosh.

† 100% pure therapeutic-grade essential oil
‡ Organically grown in accordance with the California Organic Foods Act of 1990

* This statement has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.
-----------------
It comes in a 1.4 oz. jar and costs $40 plus S&H. I can order it for you or you can go to Young Livings website and sign up as a customer (use my Dist. # ###-###-####) or I can order it for you and have it drop shipped to you.

Best of luck with you pregnancy, remember we aren't as old as they make us feel. Being in our 40's and pregnant, the Dr's treat you like you are 70 and having a baby.

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J.W.

answers from Kansas City on

I had very low progesterone levels and now have 2 healthy baby girls with no other complications with pregnancy. My mom had low progesterone with her pregnancies so when I found out I was pregnant I had them check mine that same day and I was also very low - my doctor gave me a synthetic progesterone it was a tablet like suppository that you use v**. for the first 12 weeks. Its a bit yucky, but a small price to pay for a healthy baby. The faster you get on the progesterone the better - my levels went up right away. Call your doctor and be aggressive with it. Good Luck!!

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M.B.

answers from Kansas City on

I took the progesterone pill for the first 4 months of my pregnancy. I took it at night, it made me tired and a little sick to my stomach, so taking it before bed helped. I also had weekly blood draws to make sure it was increasing. I know it's stressful, try to rest. My daughter was healthy. I also had 2 misscarages and 2 eptopic pregnancies before she came. Hang in there, good luck.

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A.D.

answers from Kansas City on

I'm assuming you found out about the low progesterone levels via your doc? If so, they should be able to offer progesterone supplementation if they think it is low enough to cause miscarriage or complications.
Congratulations on your pregnancy!!!!

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A.H.

answers from St. Louis on

Good Morning L.,

I have had two miscarriages before I had my son. With the first pregnancy, I was only five weeks, so not sure what happened there. However, with my second pregnancy, my progesterone levels were very low. My OBGYN put me on a progesterone supplement to counter act the difficency. He explained to me that sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't due to complications with the baby. He told me that if the progesterone supplement didn't help, then there was something wrong with the pregnancy. IF the supplements work, then it was my body's inability to produce the levels of progestrone to keep the baby from aborting. With my second pregnancy unfortuately the supplements didn't work and I lost him at 15 weeks. So with my third pregnancy I was monitored much closer and when my progesterone levels began to drop, I was put on the supplement. This time it worked, which means my body doesn't produce progesterone like it's supposed too. Progesterone helps the fetus attatch to the uterin wall and keeps the pregnancy from terminating. If you are put on supplements, you only need to take them the first trimester. That's when it's crutial to the pregnancy. So after 15 weeks I didn't have to take them anymore. Talk to your OB about supplementation, because it could save your baby life like it did mine. My levels were so low that till this day the doctor believes my son is a miracle because he should have aborted. Your body may not produce progesterone like it should. That's ok as you see there are ways around it. My OB explained to me that no one really knows why some women can produce everything they need for a pregnancy and why others can not. We just need a little help. I urge you to call you OB right away and discuss progesterone suppliments. Progesterone levels drop by half every 2 to 3 days. I Hope this gave you the awnsers you were looking for. Good luck to you and your baby L.. I will pray for you and the baby.

A. H.

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J.B.

answers from Kansas City on

I know you've already had some testimonies, but thought I'd share mine. Two months before I got pregnant with our daughter, one of my best friends had a miscarriage and they determined it was low-progesterone related. When I got pregnant, since I was over 30, my OB did some extra blood tests and found out I had the same issue. Since they discovered it right away, they put me on medication for it. We had a beautiful, healthy, full-term baby girl nine months later! It can certainly be distressing to hear there are any complications when you are pregnant, but luckily this is one that I think is fairly common and resolved easily. Congratulations!

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A.P.

answers from Kansas City on

L.,
I had low progesterone levels with my first pregnancy (I had 2 periods before we found out I was pregnant). An ultrasound showed I was 8 weeks along and ended having an uneventful pregnancy. My son is now a healthy 4 year who is tall and slender. I tried progesterone supplements but they made me nauseated as did prenatal vitamins. Good luck (I kept small snacks like crackers & cereal with me most of the time).

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A.B.

answers from Kansas City on

I had two miscarriages in a row, both were between 6-7 weeks gestation. I never had my progesterone tested, but I used progesterone suppositories for my next pregnancy from the moment I tested positive until 12 weeks. I had a healthy baby boy. I am pregnant again, they tested my levels, and they are fine. I am still pregnant at 9 weeks without any supplementation. Good luck!

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L.H.

answers from Lawrence on

Low progesterone levels are not uncommon, many women have them and do not know until they have had one or more miscarriages. Progesterone supplements are very effective in helping maintain the pregnancy and are usually taken until at least 12 weeks. During the first trimester the placenta does not produce all the hormones necessary to maintain the pregnancy and develop the baby's organs so it depends on the body for the extra progesterone needed. When your progesterone level is low, there is not adequate levels to maintain the pregnancy until the placenta can take over all the necessary hormone production. Women who have low progesterone levels are also more likely to have preterm labor in third trimester. Some health care providers also recommend progesterone in the third trimester. Prescription progesterone is available such as you are taking, but it is also available in a non-prescription pre-measured dose at many health food stores or vitamin companies. One of the side effects of taking progesterone is the fatigue but it gets better as the weeks go on. While I did not have low progesterone levels I have worked with many women in my years in health care who did have low levels and had successful pregnancies. Good luck.

L.

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S.M.

answers from Kansas City on

Your doctor can prescribe you progesterone and you will be on it for at least ten weeks and ir will help you out. My best friend's daughter in law was on it and it helped her out alot and she's doing well with her pregnancy and will be delivering her baby sometime late March or early April. Talk to your doctor about this and it your doctor doesn't want to help out in this matter or doesn't act like they want to do this then it's time to talk to them about it and let them know that you will be looking for a different doctor and why. You are the patient and they need to listen to your concerns.

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R.H.

answers from Kansas City on

Usually if ur levels are low, Dr's will prescribe progesterone supplements for you. I'd ask about this.

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J.G.

answers from St. Louis on

I don't know about progesterone in pill form, but you can take NATURAL progesterone topically. I take this all the time, days 10-26 of my cycle. It is common to be low in progesterone. You can probably get a natural version from a natural-minded doctor or chiropractor, or maybe a health food store. I get mind from a friend who is an Arbonne rep. There progesterone is good & my chiropractor recommends that kind too.

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L.D.

answers from Topeka on

Sorry to hear L. about the previous miscarriage. I have not gone through this but a friend has she was given a progestrone cream by her doc to rub on her arm or thigh for the first trimester, simple fix she has 2 very healthy boys

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P.K.

answers from St. Louis on

I had low progesterone levels and was put on meds to bring them up. At age 31, I gave birth to a very healthy baby boy. I also have a friend who is 21, who also had low progesterone levels and was put on the same meds to bring them up, and she gave birth to a very healthy baby boy, also. Not sure if this has anything to do with having taken those meds or not, but we both had contractions nearing the end of our pregnancies, and were put on another med to help stop them. But all in all, we did well. :) Just be consistent with the meds, and listen to your dr (bedrest, if need be, etc.) and you should be good to go! :) Good luck to you!!

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L.B.

answers from Kansas City on

Hey L.! Happy New Year and congrats on the pregnancy!

My BIL & SIL just had a son born Nov. 6 after multiple miscarriages that turned out to be due to low progesterone levels. With this last pregnancy her doctor started her on prog. suppositories as soon as she got a positive pregnancy test. Not sure how long she had to use them, but I know not for the duration of the pregnancy.

Best wishes to you and your new family!!

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