Grieving Loss

I think the hardest part about early loss, especially for us first time mothers, is that we are just starting to get used to the idea of being pregnant and beginning our plans for the next year and then suddenly you aren't expecting anymore. One book I have talks about how it is helpful to recognize that you and your husband are grieving different things -- you each had your own hopes and dreams about your baby. Over the past week my partner and I have had some ups and downs, sometimes he's the only one I can talk to about it and other times I hate how he acts about our loss. Try to use your extended network for support and not just your husband, it can help a little in my experience. But do let yourself grieve.

A new article/research that looks into the role of progesterone and
estrogen as influencers of fibroid growth.

Sex steroidal regulation of uterine leiomyoma growth and apoptosis

[The abstract is available to anyone, the full text requires a
subscription or you can pay for 24 hour access.]


UPDATE ON ME
My beta dropped this week from last week from 543 to 289 (thurs to
tues) which is a good sign and the doctor says we can just wait and
do another blood draw on Monday (the other alternatives were a repeat d&c or methotraxate - yuck!).

The rest of my bloodwork came back normal, which is good since I've
been bleeding/spotting for a month.

My basel temperature also dropped for the first time since the
miscarriage (where it dropped just one day) and is the lowest it has
been since I got pregnant. Keep your fingers crossed that all goes
well and that I get my period in the next week.

I got measurement info about my fibroid, here's for the last 4
ultrasounds (approximately) -- in September 2002 it was 6x6 cm:

Feb 2004 - 6 x 6.5 x 9 cm

June 9 2004 -- 6 x 7 cm (day I found out I was 2.5 weeks pregnant,
with weekly acupuncture treatments and chinese herbs starting in
January)

July 8 2004 -- 9 x 9 x 11 cm (after 3 weeks on 100mg supplemental
progesterone and one week prior off to the ultrasound - 6.5 weeks
pregnant)

August 17 -- 9 x 7 cm (with beta still elevated post miscarriage)

Interesting Facts

Male DNA doesn’t kick in until day 3 of cell division…

“Surprising to many, the male genome (sperm DNA) is silent in the first 3 days of embryo development. The oocyte drives the development and cleavage of the early embryo. On Day 4, a critical switch occurs, and the male genome is turned on. At this time, the maternal and paternal genomes begin to work in concert to orchestrate the activities of the newly developing embryo.

It is at this time - Day 4 - when abnormalities in the paternal genome may begin to have what can be profoundly devastating effects on embryo development. Therefore, using sperm with abnormal DNA for ICSI may lead to normal fertilization and early embryo development yet be followed by embryo death expressed as a failure to implant (no chemical pregnancy) or early pregnancy loss (prior to an ultrasound-confirmed heartbeat.)“

from: ICSI and SCSA Sperm Diagnostics

http://www.inciid.org/newsletter/feb/scsa.html





Maternal RNA helps fertilized egg read DNA instructions

“From the moment of fertilisation, the embryo grows as the cells of the fertilised egg multiply. However, there is a problem. How can the DNA be read if the materials needed to read it have not yet been produced? The answer is that they are provided by the mother in the form of mRNA and proteins. The early stages of development are controlled directly by the mother's genotype for about the first three weeks, in humans, after which the embryo's DNA takes over.”

from: Conception and Development

http://www.gender.org.uk/about/04embryo/44_cncp.htm





Paternal DNA grows placenta and gestational sac, maternal DNA grows healthy embryo

“...These observations suggest that genes expressed by the paternal genome are directed towards the development of extraembryonic tissues essential to support the growth of the embryo, while the maternal genome appears to be geared towards expressing genes that contribute to proper embryo development. The opposing tendencies of the male and female genomes as well as the elucidation from mouse studies that Igf2 and Igf2r are imprinted genes with conflicting functions led to the development of the most widely recognized theory of imprinting, the ‘parental conflict’ hypothesis (Haig and Graham, 1991; Moore and Haig, 1991). This theory proposes that the paternal genome has evolved to express genes that favour the extensive use of maternal resources and lead to optimal fetal development and growth, thus ensuring transmission of the father’s genes to the next generation. On the other hand, genes expressed by the maternal genome serve to counteract the effort made by paternally expressed genes, and limit investments in embryo development and growth in favour of salvaging resources for future pregnancies.”

from: Potential significance of genomic imprinting defects for reproduction and assisted reproductive technology

http://www.humupd.oupjournals.org/cgi/content/full/10/1/3