IVIG -Intravenous immunoglobulin and sustaining pregnancy

Some entries ago, I have promised that I would post an entry on IVIG. For those sweeties out there who have been following my blog, you would have known that IVIG is the recommended procedure by my gynae when I am pregnant. I am supposed to get IVIG drip estimated four drips during my first trimester in order to sustain my pregnancy. But alas, in this year of break from work, I did not manage to get pregnant so I forgot about  my promise to you. Today, on a lazy Saturday, I remembered my promise. Why do I need to research on IVIG and do a post? Why can't I research on wikipedia the relationship between IVIG and pregnancy? Because such articles are usually biased towards a view. If I find out based on the questions in my head, I would have a clearer understanding.

 Have you ever had this experience that when you are desperately finding something, you just cannot find it no matter what you do or how much you try? The moment you stop looking for it, it will pop up one day and delight your heart to no end. This is exactly how I am feeling now while deciding whether I should continue to pin for my yet to exist child.

 What is IVIG?
IVIG contains the pooled immunoglobulin G (IgG) immunoglobulins from the plasma of approximately a thousand or more blood donors. Wait a minute, so, what is IgG?

 Bingo! I found a relevant answer. 

 "IgG antibodies are found in all body fluids. They are the smallest but most common antibody (75% to 80%) of all the antibodies in the body. IgG antibodies are very important in fighting bacterial and viral infections. IgG antibodies are the only type of antibody that can cross the placenta in a pregnant woman to help protect her baby (fetes)." http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/210367-overview

 How does IgG protect the foetus?

 "The mother's IgG protects the fetus and infant until the infant's immune system can produce its own antibodies. Also, IgG is the most common class of antibody used in treatment." http://www.merckmanuals.com/home/immune_disorders/biology_of_the_immune_system/acquired_immunity.html

 "The aim of the present review is to provide information on the development of human placental function during pregnancy, the immunology of human pregnancy and the role of the placenta in providing the fetal tissue with antibodies (IgG and its subclasses 1–4), which are required for the passive immunization of the newborn." http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/780615

 Cool! I did not know that IVIG is injecting something into my body to protect my foetus! I thought it was to shut down my immune system or to teach my immune system to behave properly which I thought was crap when I first heard it from the reproductive rheumatologist.

 I thought this information is useful: "The implanted blastocyst in the uterine tissue will be supplied from the maternal circulation with oxygen and metabolic substrates, which are required for embryonic developing growth." 

 Metabolic substrates has something to do with metabolism. I have always suspect my metabolism is very low. I gained fat easily without exercise, especially with carbohydrates. Maybe I shall do a post on Metabolism and Pregnancy. 

 (I am a bit tired from reading the medical articles. I shall take a rest. I am happy with my findings so far.)

Comments

  1. Lorenz Moore2 March 2021 at 01:46

    Ralista Tablet is utilized in female patients experiencing breast cancer. The medication is otherwise called a specific estrogen receptor modulator or SERM.

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

TCM Physician Tan Siew Buoy 陈秋梅 - What is she like?

I saw many visitors on Dr Tan's posts. In fact, it is my most popular post. I shall do a detailed post of what a visit to her clinic is and I hope that this would benefit you if you are considering to consult her. First of all, the address in Chinatown - Health and Beauty Pte Ltd 康得美 38 Upper Cross Street, Singapore 058341, Singapore 6534 4137 Two days ago, I received a call from her clinic. They would always do a reminder before the appointment. I went to Chinatown and managed to find a lot. Her clinic is situated within a large Chinese Medical Hall called Health and Beauty - Kang De Mei. I tore out a coupon of an hour as the car park attendant is rather active in that area. I will always park along Mosque Street. I walked along the row of shops and reported to the receptionist. The lady would ask for my number (every patient has a number) and write my name on a piece of paper. She would then place the paper according to the sequence of appointed time with the other
Read more

TCM Physician Tan Lee Kee of Ying Chuan Chinese Medical Hall in Jurong

I was growing increasingly impatient with Dr Tan Kian Sing for reasons stated below. Once again, just like Dr Ang Mui Choo's prescription, I experienced no improvement in my health and cycles. I was still ovulating late and my BBTs were not ideal.  It was dubious that the prescription would be the same for every woman. I thought the best part of TCM was that the doctor could prescribe individual medication according to the body's constitution? I got increasingly uneasy over eating tablets that were unnamed, let alone regulated. I was okay with eating herbs but I really had no trust in those tablets.  Dr Tan's prediction of my ovulation was not very accurate. I hated the long waiting time at the waiting area. I disliked sachets of powdered instant herbs mixture. They were awful to drink to the point of gagging at times. I also read bad reviews of instant herbs mixture online. Furthermore, those sachets were made in China and recently, there were so much bad press abo
Read more

The cold wind blows

Image
When I woke up in the morning, I took my temperature and realised that it had dipped to 36.6 (look at the graph from the smart app "Fertility Friend"), I felt disappointment creeping into my otherwise, well rested body. Dipping around Day 30 always means an impending period. Yesterday night, by 10pm, my body shut down and I slumped my body on my bed. I realised that it is not the number of hours that matters but the time that you sleep. If I sleep at 12 and wake up at 8, it is not as refreshing as sleeping at 10 and waking up at 6.  I brushed my teeth and drank water. I sat down on the sofa, still thumping the disappointment down. "Hey, 36.6 is not that bad. Don't think so much," I consoled myself. I switched on the fan and the cold wind blew. I took my phone and checked Facebook as if it was my morning devotional material.  "Ah another friend is expecting and is hinting online," I whispered in my head. I didn't bother to wri
Read more