Beer's protocol (preg ment'd)

[loved2life]

Hi immune vets...

Just wondering if anyone can tell me how long Dr. Beer's suggests continuing lovenox (30mg twice daily), prednisone (10mg twice daily) and lexapro...Also, is there anything else Dr. beers recommends as the pregnancy progresses? I have had a history of low betas, but they have always doubled in less than 48 hours...I have my first u/s 12/19...I'm already on baby asa, and folgard type supplements that I have put together from OTC supplements...

Also, for those on lexapro...how many milligrams are you on daily?

I am trying to provide something to my immune skeptical RE and eventually my perinatologist that will give them a guide to continue my treatment...anyone know of any journal articles or 'official protocol' documents that I could present...that would carry more weight than my own opinion/desires??? I truly believe that the only reason I am pregnant is because i have followed Dr. Beer's treatment suggestions...most of which i have read about from you guys!! After 3 failed IVF's, and numerous other failed cycles, I just want to be sure I am doing all I can to prevent early miscarriage...I have a hx of Crohn's disease, endometriosis....

Anything is much appreciated!!!!

[Tabithalyn]

Hey Michelle!! : ...I'm so happy for you with this successful prg. you are experiencing...

Try to answer as I can:

You ask:
Just wondering if anyone can tell me how long Dr. Beer's suggests continuing lovenox (30mg twice daily),
-Dr.Beer's practice and the standard form of practice is to continue the lovenox right thru to delivery -some RI's believe blood thinner should be stopped 12 hours prior to delivery to avoid excessive bleeding or hemorrage altho' so long as a doc is aware of your being on lovenox they could administer coagulant meds if necessary. The lovenox is usually kept up after delivery for a post-partum period of up to 6 weeks as it is a time of great hormonal shifting and woman may experience clotting side effects (I know this one as I did develop a post-partum DVT in my leg due to jumping off blood thinner meds immediately after giving birth)
prednisone (10mg twice daily)
I was kept on prednisone at 20 mg. until around 13 wks and then I gradullay was weaned off by taking 5 mg less a week until completely off prednisone by end of week 16. Some docs start the weaning a little bit earlier so that you are completely finished the prednisone by end of first trimester..I was a bit neurotic and so my doc let me remain on full dosage until the end of first trimester and then wean...
and lexapro...
I have no idea what this is sorry I can't help!

Also, is there anything else Dr. beers recommends as the pregnancy progresses? I have had a history of low betas, but they have always doubled in less than 48 hours...I have my first u/s 12/19...I'm already on baby asa, and folgard type supplements that I have put together from OTC supplements...
I think the only other thiing that I could suggest that my RI did was to increase the lovenox/heparin dosage during the 2nd trimester just by 10 iu's x2 per day so when you say you're doing 30mgs x2/day my doc would've increased to 40mg x2/day just for the 2nd trimester as the fluids and blood levels are increased so much in that trimester. He then decreased it back to normal (ie., 30mg x2) in the 3rd trimester after doing all appropriate testing throughout of course for APTT and platelet levels, etc. Otherwise I think you are on an excellent course of treatment that seems to be bringing you good results... keep positive and yes there are dozens of written articles and medical journals that give this same type of protocol... Have you visited Dr. Beer's site for any of these things??... or at any of the other posted sites....???
let us know if you require specific articles I"m sure someone will post links for you to print if you can't find the material at those sites....

Best regards and we will be thinking of you and want to hear back after the upcoming u/s okay? ...
Ally

[Lauren2005]

Just wanted to chime in here...

Dr. Beer's protocol is -- to some extent -- individualized per person. For example, I have a friend whose APA's only show up when she's actually pg, so her protocol from Dr. Beer involves starting Lovenox only after a confirmed pg. Compare that to me, who has to start Lovenox on cycle day 6. Some women are told to get mandatory planned c-sections at 38 weeks, others not. Some continue baby aspirin through labor and everyday for the rest of their lives; others stop late in pg. You get the idea. So do please be very careful not to make tooooo many generalizations about his protocol... I definitely recommend actually becoming his patient so that you can be 100% confident in your own proper protocol... and Ally's comments are fabulous as usual!

Best wishes to you
Lauren

[Nit]

Lauren is right, each patient is different and not everyone have the same protocol. I don't think you should take any chances with your baby. You should consult with DB to ask him about your case. There might be a possibility that you might need more meds than you are actually taking. DB did not increase my lovenox but his protocol changes all the time. Good luck to you in whatever you decide to do.