This is my 5th pregnancy (4th live baby, one tubal) I have been having severe cramping from the begining. At 5 weeks along I had an ultrasound and they found that there was hemmoraging at the base of the placenta. The blood leaking onto the uturis wall was causing the cramping I was told. They also gave me a 50/50 chance of carrying until 5 months. Well sunday we were in the ER due to the severe pain and cramping and they did another ultrasound and they found that the hemmorage is healed up, so that isn't causing the cramping anymore. But they did find that I have "Bacterial Vaginosis". They said its a bacteria cause from the Ph levels being out of wack (as they put it). My dr said he doesn't want to treat it at this time. Sometimes it will go away on its own, and treatment can cause premature birth. I was ok with that until I looked it up on a web site just to get some more info. In the website it said that more than 3.5 fold are likely to miscarry in the first weeks of the 2nd trimester... 13-15 weeks. 5x greater risk to miscarry at 16-24 weeks. Right now I'm at 13 weeks. I called back my dr and talked to the nurse and she said they aren't worried about it at this point. As for me, I'm so scared. Here I had 2 days of being happy that Im going to be able to carry the baby full term after getting over one hurdle and now I'm faced with another. If anyone has had this or knows someone who did and can let me know how it turned out... good or bad please let me know. Thank you
Thank you everyone who wrote to me. It was helpful and it helped calm the nerves to see that its more common than I realized. Everyone around me had never heard of it. Thank you again! You ladies are great!!
I had that when I was pregnant with my 3rd baby. It was at my first visit I was 9 weeks pregnant at the time and my midwife treated me. I carried my baby full term and he was fine, he's now 2.
I didn't know I had it until I went into labor at 33 weeks! The doctor was sure it was what caused the preterm labor, and I was treated with antibiotics after delivery. My daughter will be seven (where did that time go?!?!) near the end of the month and she is the most wonderful little girl I ever could have gotten....and who still does everything on her own time, so she may just have been ready to be born early, who knows?!?!
I had it with both my pregnancies. For my first, I had it on week 12 and by week 15 it went away. For my second pregnancy, I had itat week 8 and my doctor chose to treat it with oral antibiotics. The antibiotics gave me a terrible yeast infection! It was horribly painful (and the vaginosis wasn't either time). Then I had to take more risks with treating the yeast infection.
I remember reading a lot about it after that, and coming to the conclusion that letting it go for a few weeks would've been better. I recall reading that it's very common to have early in the pregnancy, but if it hasn't gone away by week 15 or 16 it's best to treat it. Maybe ask your doctor if there are some natural things you can do to treat it like changing your diet or wearing a skirt and no underwear, at least around the house (I've heard this is good for the skin thereto prepare for the birth, as well as pH levels). I remember reading in a book by Dr. Bradley that avoiding baths (taking showers instead) and not using soap down there can help your body re-balance your pH level in that area.
Bacterial vaginosis in pregnacy is extremely common! Happens a lot, I had one and I was treated with flagyl. If it is just bacterial vaginosis and NOT thricamonis??sp, which I doubt it is, they would have told you if it was sexually transmitted, it does not mean it is an STD!!! I would be inclined to get another OB/GYN's opinion. Who do you see for care OB/GYN? Or Family practice? If family practice I would see OB/GYN as this is there area of expertise. Just my opinion. Hope all goes well, my understanding is that if it is left untreated it can cause problems.
I had this when I was about 6 or 7 weeks along. My doc treated it with a 3 day suppository. I think it might have been clindamycin??? My son was born happy and healthy. There's pretty low risk with the treatment, but there is a risk, of course. I'd definitely get a second opinion, and hopefully get it treated.
Regarding bacterial vaginosis, I have never had it during pregnancy personally,,,but I have had it before. But ladies, please be advise, if you use tampons, please do not use the Tampax Pearls. Tampax switched from the regular compact tampax to compact pearls, in which I liked the compact because it's small enough to put in your pocket. Anywho, I started using the pearls because it was compact and for the life of me, I couldn't figure out why I kept getting this infection. Long story short, according to my Doctor, she said that their was something in the fabric in which changed the PH levels in our body because she use to use the tampax pearls and she also got an infection. So after I stopped using the tampax pearls, then the infections stopped.
There is actually something over the counter you can use called Rephesh. I had it too during my pregnancies and used metrogell with no side effects whatsoever. It's not an std just a chemical imbalance in your ph.
Get it treated!!! I had it with my first pregnancy at 8 weeks and treated it with a antibiotic cream. My son (now 4 1/2) is normal and highly intelligent. I am currently 24 weeks pregnant with my second and have had it 3 times - 10 1/2 weeks, 13 weeks, and 21 weeks!!! Each time I've treated it with oral flagyl. My doctor says it is important to treat it because it is a leading cause of preterm labor! The antibiotic is low risk -category B. It gives you a terrible taste in your mouth and I hate taking it as I won't even take Tylenol while pregnant, but the risk with the antibiotic is much lower than the risk of preterm labor. My 20 week ultrasound shows a completely normal baby in there. I had a level 2 performed because of my age, so they really got a good look. Don't risk the preterm labor, get it treated.
Do beware, though, that I've gotten two yeast infections after the antibiotics. Uncomfortable, but not risky to treat.
I have had constant problems with it and aside from having to have an antibiotic IV (to keep the baby safe) during birth, i don't feel it caused me any problems.
I did have this once, but wasn't pregnant at the time. I looked it up (here's the site http://familydoctor.org/234.xml).
If it were me, I'd get another doctor's opinion. here's a snippet from that site....
"Does it have to be treated?
Yes. If the infection isn't treated, the bacteria may get up into the uterus or the fallopian tubes and cause more serious infections. Treating bacterial vaginosis lowers this risk. Treatment is especially important in pregnant women."
I didn't have vaginosis as early in my pregnancy as you did, but I had it in my last three weeks. It did eventually go away on it's own. There is nothing wrong with seeking a second opinion, maybe from your OB if you saw your family practice doc, if you aren't feeling confident this issue isn't receiving the attention it deserves. Best of luck.
I had it twice. Once when I was about 15 weeks along then once again when I was about 30 weeks...yuck. Metrogel cleaned it up both times...My midwife told me both times that b.v. is not a big deal at all....My daughter is now 5. Perhaps get a second opinion and try not to worry! best of wishes!
I am not sure why some are saying it is an STD, because it is not. I had it. I was treated with a shot of Penasillan (sp?)
I turned out fine, and I have a healthy 7mo old little boy. I would however see a second doctor, at a different hospital if you can, if you are really scared or nervous. If nothing else but to calm your own fears.
Good Luck
