Dex has to be taken before your 7th week of pregnancy to be effective. Some doctors might say take it after 7 weeks and it might help but I think that you are going to be looking at surgery if you are 6 or 7 weeks pregnant and didn't take the dex earlier.  Because the sexual organs form so early in the baby. I am holding my baby that is 15 weeks old son and I took dex at about 3 or 4 weeks pregnant (I had the pregnancy blood test - that shows pregnancy earlier than the urine pregnancy tests). Adam does not have CAH but my other children did have it - Stephen age 7; Jessica - died at age 2 from adrenal crisis - she did not need surgery - and I took the dex; and Adam age 3.  Then I had an ultrasound (level 2 ultrasound) and it shows the gestional age or how many weeks you are pregnant and whether the baby is viable (growing right). The most important thing is to have a blood test from you, your husband, and your other child for genetic or DNA testing right now. Go to the web page on Dr. Maria New and it explains the genetic testing (there is link on this page below the banner or pictures called people or medical sites or something like that and click on Dr. Maria New. If you can't find it, let me know and I will email it to you. The blood is taken locally and sent to Dr Maria New. You need that first before they do an amnio or CVS.  CAH is inherited by both parents - both parents have to carry the gene and then there is a one in four chance or 25% chance that your baby will have CAH (again both you and your partner have to be carriers of CAH - if it is just carrier or affected person and then the baby would not have CAH). Also this is important to vertify the type of CAH your other child has and what type the new child will have or carry or not be affected at all. A carrier does not have CAH (parents are carriers). Anyway, the recommended dose of dex treatment is 0.5 mg three times a day.

Things to do: 

1. You need to call your OB or gyn or midwife or whoever you are seeing for your pregancy right now (mid of the night or whatever and start the dex). If you are more than 7 weeks pregnant, the dex will not help and I would not take it. And just plan on the surgery if it is a girl with CAH. Call Dr. Maria New and ask her first if that is the case but she is the expert in genetic testing and CAH. I would not just rely on any doctor to advise you on that or another parent like me. Call Dr. New office for the genetic testing. The samples are done locally and sent to her. They do the genetic testing for people around the world.

2. Tell the OB doctor (again the doctor that see for your pregnancy) that you need a genetic blood testing done for Dr. Maria New. You need to have this done before you do anything else.

3. Schedule the level 2 ultrasound at 8 weeks (you should see the heart beat and the gestional size).

4. Schedule the CVS at 9 to 12 weeks with a really good and experience genetic center that does CVS solely.  I had mine done at Fairfax Genetic Center in Fairfax, VA.   I had the CVS because I wanted to stop the dex sooner. I would not recommend an early amnio before 17 weeks pregnacny because there is not enough amnio fluid and it is too risky for the baby. You could miscarry - great chance too more than a CVS or an amnio done after 17 weeks. Ask about the statistics and you will see how risky an early amnio really is and it is too risky, believe me!! I saw the numbers and said no way!!  The chances of miscarriage with a CVS is very very low. I had it done twice.  The great thing about CVS - you know the sex the very next day!!

email - preston@kreative.net

if you want to chat about the CVS or anything.

What names do you have picked out?