Conference moira::parenting

    I remember talking to my doctor last year about when to have a
    cholesterol screening done before/after pregnancy. She said that
    cholesterol levels are skewed greatly both during and after pregnancy
    (after, due to breastfeeding) because of hormone levels.
    
    Bottom line, I would not view a cholesterol level screeening during
    pregnancy as accurate . Talk to your OB.
    
    

    I had a cholesterol level of 252 2 months prior to becoming pregnant.
    The doctor suggested I lower it before conceiving. I then got pregnant
    and they never checked it again. And they never told me if it had any
    affect on my pregnancy. I figured that you could transmit it to your
    unborn child because cholesterol is in the bloodstream. I haven't heard
    anything other than that, and my daughter (now 2yrs. old) had a blood
    test done at 18 months and nothing ever came back about her cholesterol 
    level. 
    
    Sandy

I read this in "What to expect when you're expecting".  

When your pregnant, your cholesterol level increases.  The baby NEEDS 
cholesterol to grow so your body starts producing more.  It actually says
this is one time that you should eat as much cholesterol loaded foods as
you want.  

Pam

    
    
    My regular doctor said not to even bother having my cholesterol checked
    while pregnant because he said it wouldn't be a true reading of my
    regular/non-pregnant levels.  He seemed to think that the foods we need
    or are more likely to take in during pregnancy may not be part of our 
    regular/non-pregnant diet therefore, raising the possibility of 
    skewed readings.  
    
    NF

    My doctor told me the same thing, don't bother because it's way up
    during pregnancy. 
    
    Cholesterol isn't a "bad" substance -- it's critical for the
    development of brain and nerve tissue, among other things -- and
    if your body isn't getting enough in your diet, it will
    manufacture it. 
    
    With the unborn child's brain and nervous system developing, I
    imagine the need for cholesterol would go way up.  It wouldn't
    surprise me if it contributed to other things as well. 
    
    --bonnie

Barb,

One pregnancy ago - back when you were here - Gina Maxson talked me
into having my cholesterol checked while pregnant.  I went from 137
{non pregnant} to 233 {4 months pregnant}.  The technician at the DEC sponsored
health fair gave me a fairly hard time about it. 

I spoke with my OB and he emphatically said 
"NO CHOLESTEROL SCREENING WHILE PREGNANT OR NURSING!"  
Wait at least 6 months post breastfeeding to test your cholesterol. 

Rochelle

    Another factor to keep in mind is that you need to get the
    breakout of your total cholesterol...HDL/LDL/Trigliceryds (sp?)
    
    My chol is 240...non-pregnant...my HDL (good chol) is 150...the 
    average is 60...my dr said I have a better chance of getting hit 
    by a car than developing clogged arteries....even though my total 
    number is high...my body is prodcuing more than enough good chol
    to protect my arteries from plaque build up....A person whose total chol 
    is 170 and HDL is 8 has a greater risk of developing problems 
    because their body is not developing much of the good chol and will 
    need to watch their diet.
    
    So I say phooy! to that nurse who gave you a hard time...did she
    give you your breakout?
    
    I never had my chol checked when I was pregnant...anyone know whether
    it is the HDL or LDL that increases?
    
    Kristen

Well, I finally checked with my OB.  Like everyone else here, she said
DON'T GET IT CHECKED WHILE PREGNANT.  She showed me the level at around
12 weeks and at that point it was high.

Anyway, thanks for the responses.  I feel much better about this now.

Barbara