Could my doc have caused my miscarriage?
I have a question -
I was in the hospital on Wed. for dehydration due to being so sick w/my pregnancy, (at that time I was 14 wks pg. This is my 6th pregnancy and my 1st miscarriage). My doc gave me bag after bag after bag of glucose water in my IV and later on blood was drawn for various reasons and a nurse came in and stopped my IV mid-bag and hung a dif. one. I asked about it and she said it had potassium in it and when I asked her why they weren’t finishing off the other bag first, she said it was b/c my blood sugar level was elevated. It was 338!!! And I am NOT a diabetic, nor have I ever had gestational diabetes w/my other 5 pregnancies!!! As soon as they stopped the glucose drip, my levels came soaring down immediately. About an hr later it was in the 160’s and an hr after that it was 109 and has been normal ever since. That evening the doc couldn’t find my baby’s heartbeat so she wheeled in an ultrasound machine. My baby had died!
I was told by someone else that high blood sugar can cause a miscarriage, is it possible that my doc caused the miscarriage by not regulating how many bags of sugar water I got? Or did the baby just die on his own? (Yes, it was a boy…I got to see/hold him). The last time we heard the heartbeat was a week ago, haven’t tried to hear it again until this last Wed. when we found out it was gone…
Filed under: Potassium and Being Sick
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High blood sugar over an extended period of time can cause problems during pregnancy. I really don’t think the glucose drip caused your miscarriage.
*Twins due 7/16!* : They may not check blood glucose levels if they don’t feel a need to. Unless a person has a history of any form of diabetes, it wouldn’t normally be an issue.
This is what is wrong in the medical world today. Everyone wants to blame someone/something when a baby dies.I’ve had 2 miscarriages so I understand wanting an answer when this happens. Sometimes we have to accept that things happen and there simply are no explanations.
EDIT: People, STOP! One instance of elevated blood glucose will NOT KILL A BABY! I am a Type 1 diabetic and on insulin. I was carefully monitored and had stellar blood glucose levels and I miscarried anyway. I was concerned too about ANY time my glucose went up, but when it’s brought back into control, it’s fine. The problems come into play when a woman is out of control with her diabetes before and during her pregnancy, and many times SHE has problems more than the baby does. There are many other potential causes of this miscarriage. That one time blood sugar issue would least likely have caused this.
STOP suggesting a law suit. That’s ridiculous.
Edit again: I had an ultrasound and we heard the baby’s heart beat. The next day I had my initial prenatal visit and a pap was done. Two weeks later an ultrasound was done and the baby had died, approximately 2 weeks prior. Should I SUE the doctor who did my pap? I don’t think so.
It’s possible, get a lawyer. You could sue for this.
You should definitely talk to the hospital staff about this situation. A friend of mine went in for dehydration at 38 weeks and went through 3 bags of glucose water and was fine, but every woman’s body is different. Definitely get a copy of your records and see the claims department at the hospital you attended, and maybe even a different hospital for a second opinion!
I am so sorry! And yes, very high blood sugar can cause miscarriage. I can’t believe they weren’t monitoring your blood sugar levels while they were giving you so much sugar water! I don’t know if you can find out what caused your miscarriage, but there is a chance it was your doctor’s fault.
I am sorry for your loss. I have experienced two miscarriages and its something you wouldn’t wish on your worst enemy. I do not believe your doctor caused your miscarriage. As hard as it is, sometimes they just happen. Doctors do gestational diabetes testing later in pregnancy because it doesn’t start to affect the baby until then. The most high blood sugar would do is cause a big baby or need for a c-section.
thats horrible, im so sorry to hear about that.
you should deffinatly sue.