Archie,

If you recall I was in the Jan 06 board and I was induced due to fetal demise. As of now the doctors have not yet given us a reason for the demise. There were no outward signs of defect in the baby. They have taken samples of my blood and also baby's placenta for analysis as also autopsy. It will take another 6 weeks to get results. But the doctor has cautioned that due to death it is possible that tissue culture might not work out. So we might never know the reason for demise.

It is had been a difficult period but with my husband's support and the presence of my two-year old I am feeling better slowly. We would like to try for another baby. More so since I am already 32. But of course I am terrified that I will have a recurrence. We will decide about conceiving after 3 months. In the meanwhile i have some questions/comments on how to prepare myself.

1) I am continuing with prescription prenatal pills and over-the-counter folic acid. Though my AFP tests were pointing towards Downs and not spina bifida, there are a couple of studies which indicate that folate could also be related to down's prevention. In all I take 1.8 mg folate. Is that okay?

2) The blood for AFP was drawn on Aug 5 and they got a heartbeat on that day. But by Aug 16 there was no heartbeat? Do you have any idea whether the low AFP levels were a warning that the baby was close to fetal demise?

3) I am 20 lbs overweight. I will be working on that.

4) I have no confirmation if the baby really had Downs. But do you know of people who had Downs pregnancy, terminated it, but later had normal healthy babies? Am I being realistic or hoping for a miracle?

I will appreciate your comments. It was nice to receive your balanced answers when I was going through my crisis.

Thank you, Aarti archie replied. Dear Aarti,

Let me first make you suggestion on coming to a board named, \";waiting to try\";. That's suitable for you since you want to try in a few months.

Let me go with your queries one by one.

1. Check with your OB about prenatal prescription because it should contain Folic acid in it. YOu can take over 1 mg folic acid and not a concern. It's a soluble vitamin and will be flushed in urine what's not assimilated by body. There is no threat if you take more than required, but taking less than requirement is bad idea.

2. I don't think AFP low might have been a sign of upcoming fetal demise. But that was good indication of chromosomal abnormalities. Since AFP allows one to estimate chances of Downsyndrome and not others does not mean that fetus who is likely to have down syndrome did not have other chromosomal abnormalities. Some of the chromosomal abnormalities are fatal and better that fetus died in that stage than suffering after birth or you experiencing still birth. This may suggest that AFP abnormality could be a sign of another chromosomal abnormality but can't be 100% sure when saying this.

3. you need to go to gym and have rigorous exercise to shed this 20 pounds. I don't recommend dieting as you want to plan for baby soon in near future.

4. Regardless of downs confirmation your baby is no more and perhaps you should take it as a downs baby because you have abnormal afp readings at your hand.
Yes, you have pretty good chances of having healthy baby in future, only the downs chances have to be figured out around week 16 of next gestation. YOu are not dreaming for miracle to happen but being realistic.

Once again I could not stop admiring your courage and efforts to understand whole situation and taking it as easy as possible, bravo.

I think you must give 3 months time before you try for next.

YOu don't want to hold your toddler on your body when you find you are pregnant and keep as relaxed as possible and take plenty of rest.

Chromosome abnormalities are very common and most of such miscarriage takes place in 5th , 6th week under title of \";blighted ovum\"; or before first trimester is completed. But some abnormalilties may allow first trimester to pass but not let baby mature completely and therefore fetal demise happens in such case while in second trimester.

There is also a very good possibility that you may have had fetal demise due to hypoxia. Watch environment around you live, no smoke, no alcoholics and must be a clean and healthy environment.

Aarti, I want to be there whenever you need me. I visit 'waiting to try' board and can catch me easily. I am not visitor of miscarriage of child loss board.

If I have forgotten something you need to know meet me at waiting to try.
Archie