Dr. Marjorie Greenfield
Specializing in pregnancy and birth.
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 Ask Dr. Greenfield
Daughter Got Pregnant while Taking Depo-Provera | | | QUESTION | | | Dear Dr. Greenfield,
My daughter is 22, and she has been taking the Depo-Provera shot. She is now pregnant, and I am worried about the effects on the baby. The doctor thinks she is in her fourth or fifth month. She did not have a period so did not know she was pregnant until she felt the baby move. HELP.— Worried Mom in Nicholasville, Ky | | | ANSWER |
May 25, 2001 | | | Dear Worried Mom,
It is unusual to get pregnant while taking Depo-Provera regularly, but pregnancies sometimes occur before the shot is given, and then go unrecognized (as in your daughter's case) until there is an obvious sign, like fetal movement.
We used to think that in these situations Depo-Provera could cause birth defects, but it turns out that there is no evidence of any real risk for a woman who gets pregnant on Depo. Your daughter will need an ultrasound to figure out her due date, since she doesn't have a normal last menstrual period to time it by, and hopefully seeing the images of the baby will also give you some reassurance.
While there are never any guarantees for a perfect outcome, the chances that your daughter's baby will be healthy are as good as anyone else's. So you can stop being the Worried Mom and start getting ready to be a Happy Grandma. Congratulations!— by Marjorie Greenfield, M.D. |
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