Just found out I'm pregnant

I just found out I'm pregnant - haven't even called my mom or sisters yet! I had Mirena inserted 4 weeks ago, and went in today for my checkup for placement, symptoms, etc. For the last 2 weeks, I have felt "morning sickness"-type symptoms -nausea, vomiting (only once), hyper sensitivity to smells, breast tenderness, etc. I had been dismissing these symptoms as part of my body's adjustment to the progesterone in Mirena.

I was supposed to be on my period during insertion, but 'Flo' decided not to show up that month. Nothing new...I am over 40, and my periods have not been normal since having my boys, 11 and 13 years ago. Mostly due to birth control pills though, which I was taking at the time of the insertion. So when I just spotted a little this month, again I figured it was due to adjustment to Mirena.

During the exam, the Dr could not locate the strings and sent me for an ultrasound. Boy was I surprised when I found out I was 9 weeks pregnant! The baby is implanted on the high side of my uterus, and seems to be normal. The Mirena is laying in the proper position on the low side of the uterus. So...I was already 5 weeks along when the device was inserted. Obviously, the IUD needs to come out now. But since the strings have moved up into the uterus, this will be complicated. I go to the Dr again on Monday to learn my options, understand the risks, and get a game plan together.

So right now I'm just a bundle of emotions, and I'm worried about what will happen next. I absolutely didn't want more kids at this stage of my life - obviously, or I wouldn't have had the IUD inserted :) - but now I worry that the process of removing the Mirena will cause a miscarriage. And even more scary - what will the effects of the hormones be on the baby? And of course, since I'm a woman of a cerain age, all the worries about Downs and other birth defects are rolling around in my mind.

But for now, it's back to Man Vs Wild (our favorite show - way too many men in my house!). I can't do anything about my situation right now, so I'll try to have a normal weekend, and I'll share my progress with the rest of you. Tweet