5 CHEMICAL PREGNANCIES

[cocothomas1234]

Just had my 5th 'chemical pregnancy' in a row. Can't quite believe it now, it's just becoming the norm for me. I can't ever imagining seeing that little line get progressively darker the way it should. I'm testing positive 9-10dpo each time and each time the line gets stronger for a 3-6 days days then all of sudden my symptoms stop and the line fades away. I went to the doctors and she said it's a 'good sign' my bodies rejecting bad cells and that I'm getting pregnant so easily in the first place, but whats the point if I can't hold them?? I'd rather not get pregnant at all… my body and my hormones are in a total mess and this is starting to affect my relationship. Whats stopping my little one's from hanging on? They can't all be bad cells, something must be stopping them. I just don't know what to do. I'm on all the best vitamins and I even tried baby aspirin this time round. I just don't know what to do anymore...

[wannaBe]

honestly? stop testing so early. I can't find the articles now because am on phone, but it's actually incredibly common for the egg to fertilise and then just not implant Just look at the stats for e.g. IVF where actual embrio's of some days are put back, usually two at a time, and even then only one in three cycles will result in a pregnancy where those embrio's implant, and even then more often than not it's only one that does. And that has nothing to do with something being wrong with the woman's body, or embrio's being rejected or anything like that it's just the balance of nature and probability.

My personal belief is that early pregnancy tests are the work of the devil and should never have been invented. they are designed to exploit women's desperation (and wallets) by giving them hope of a pregnancy, and women buy them by the packet-load so they can test for five, six days before their period is even due in the hopes of seeing even a vague line.

Stop buying them. stop testing before your period is due, stop trying to convince yourself that something must be wrong. On average it takes a year to fall pregnant. It stands to reason that during that time some eggs will fertilise and not implant. Knowing when that happens is not helpful to anyone, it really isn't.

And spend that early hpt money on chocolate instead.

PS: I ttc for thirteen months for my ds and six years for a second (unsuccessfully), so I do know something of the wish to be pregnant, but there is honestly nothing to be gained by allowing it to cause you so much stress.

[cocothomas1234]

Thanks Wanna. A chemical pregnancy is when the egg actually does implant, you don't start producing the HCG hormone until the emryo has actually implanted and it's from that moment that you are 'pregnant'. So those statistics don't apply to me, I've had 2 of these losses with strong and definite 2-3 week digital results, the stages you are talking about are post implantation and long before the stage I am reaching and have now reached 5 times. Chemical pregnancies are common, but if 2 or more happen in a row then there is usually an underlying cause (beyond the possible bad chromosomes), this can be a lack of progesterone, thicker blood or your uterine lining being too thin for a start, all of these have solutions and need to investigated. Trust me if I wasn't getting pregnant at all or just had one or two of these 'chemicals' I'd be happy to wait another year or two but unfortunately I've now been pregnant 5 times and lost them all, the chances of these all just being because of cell abnormalities is very low. I don't necessarily agree with testing early, but, regardless of the tests each time I new I was pregnant anyway because of the early symptoms I was getting from the hot flashes, nightmares and nausea to the implantation bleeds. So, if I do (as many women do) fine that for example my progesterone levels are too low to conceive, simple gels can resolve this and help nature on it's way for someone who otherwise would be trying for years without knowing there was actually, a problem

[sizethree]

Hi coco, sorry you're having such a heartbreaking time.
I do have to agree with wannabe.
One bit that confused me about your post is that you mentioned you'd reached 3-5 weeks on a digital test. That actually in real terms means you'd reached up to 7 weeks (as you'll know digis work from when HCG is produced but pregnancy us dated from your last period). So this specific loss wouldn't have been a chemical pregnancy, it'd be classed as a miscarriage.
Have you had any testing done for recurrent loss and been referred to the recurrent miscarriage clinic? Or as most are such early losses do they not get registered?
I've suffered three consecutive (12, 8 then 9 weeks) and although had all the testing done, as well as full genetic karyotyping on both me and DH, there is absolutely nothing medically wrong.
So do just be prepared that you may not be given a solution.
It's just a big old lottery. But maybe you could protect yourself a bit by only starting testing the day your period is due or a few days after.

[wantingno2]

I coco I've had eight miscarriages befor I had my son and there's nothing wrong with me or my partner it was just pure bad luck and each time I got between 8 and 12 weeks so ino your pain it's hard.

[sparechange]

I'm going to go against the grain here and say you need to go back to your GP and ask to get referred to a recurrent miscarriage specialist.
Call them early miscarriages rather than chemical pregnancies and demand to be taken seriously.

One chemical pregnancy might indicate a chromosomal problem, but this many in a row could mean something more serious. Your doctor dismissing it as 'bad cells' is ridiculous.

Have you had your thyroid tested? There is a strong base of evidence that having a TSH level above 2.5 is linked to early miscarriage, so as a very minimum, your GP should check that, as well as referring you to a consultant.

[cocothomas1234]

Thank you ladies, I've booked to see a different doctor next week, I don't know where the line is drawn between a chemical pregnancy and a miscarriage so I'll back track and work out all my dates and make sure I'm armed when I go in.

Sparechange thanks for tip, I'll make sure they do a thyroid blood test just incase.

Wanting I'm hoping like you there is nothing wrong, maybe just finding out there is nothing else going on might make things a bit easier. My hormones are all over the place, every time they go back down they seem to shoot right back up again and while I know it's not my fault I am starting to think get really low and I feel like somehow me or my body is against me on this :( xxx

[PotteringAlong]

As a different point, the line on a pregnancy test shouldn't get progressively darker. It's positive or it's not; how dark it is doesn't matter.

[sparechange]

coco
Just another thought, but I wonder if ttc back to back has some baring on it?
If there is still small amounts of HGC in your system, that could be interfering with the usual hormonal cycle and interrupting how much ostrogen you are producing mid-cycle, which has an effect on your lining, or how much progesterone you are producing post-ovulation and that is having an effect on implantation?
I know I've had friends who were advised to get a clear HGC blood test after a MMC before trying again to avoid complications, so just a thought

[wantingno2]

I hope you get the answers you want I'm loving proof that I will happen eventually and like I said befor it was just Purley bad luck for me. me and my partner had all the relevant tests done and both of us are very fertile and relatively healthy sending lots of baby dust your way x

[Jaffacakey]

Coco any news on this?

FX for the result you want

[cocothomas1234]

Hi Jaffa,

It's been a weird couple of weeks… the 5th chemical I thought I'd lost when I started this thread hung on fading in and out for another week and a half, I started cramping and bleeding 2 nights ago and am now on a full period sling quite large clots… it's breaking my heart to think that's another little baby gone, lost this one over a week after AF was due so it tried a little harder to stick than the others but still didn't quite make it. I knew something wasn't right as the lines weren't getting any darker and were barely visible a couple of days ago. I went to the doctors today (a dif one for a second opinion) and she hadn't even heard of a chemical pregnancy, she said she'd just class these as an early miscarriage. She want to refer me to fertility clinic but is currently finding out whether I am eligible as we've been trying for under a year… I don't think I'm going to be… regardless of the losses I don't think they are particularly interested unless you've been trying for over a year. I don't necessarily want a fertility clinic I just want my lining thickness and progesterone levels etc checked… I don't think the clinic will be able to help me as I clearly fall easily I just can't seem to keep them past 5 weeks. I have a feeling I'm going to be left on my own for this one up to the year mark. I just don't know what to do :( xxx

[Turi1983]

I am so so sorry to hear this - I can't imagine the emotional highs and lows you must be feeling. My heart goes out to you.

Have you considered contacting the early pregnancy unit of your local hospital directly? Mine told me they would investigate if a woman had more than three miscarriages.

I hope you're able to shed some light on what's going on soon. Not knowing makes you feel a bit bananas, doesn't it?

[Marchgirl]

Hi coco
I posted on your other thread but just wanted to say I'm so sorry to hear that this has turned into another early mc. Totally agree with your second opinion doc that these are early mcs, and very at your first doc for suggesting these were a good sign!
You need to be referred to a recurrent miscarriage clinic, not a fertility clinic (as you are getting pg, so the fertility lot are unlikely to do anything for you). If you want to chat about possible testing, come and see us on the rmc thread here
In the meantime, I hope you are getting lots of support IRL. It's heartbreaking to go through this time after time x

[willitbe]

Hi Coco

Sorry to hear about your recurrent losses. The recurrent miscarriage clinics I have been to (been to a few!) normally don't count anything less than 7 weeks as significant (chemical pregnancy normally chromosomal, is what they say, and happens greatly)
Between 7 and 12 weeks it is termed an early (or 1st trimester) miscarriage.

It would be important for you and your partner to have genetic testing. As if this is the situation, then it is a totally different scenario from hormonal or immunological issues.

Do try to get referred to a recurrent miscarriage clinic rather than a fertility clinic.

[cocothomas1234]

Thank you all so much, still waiting on my doc to call back then I'll ask if I'm being pointed in the right direction, don't think the fertility clinic is for me but at the very least maybe they'll do a couple of bloods and maybe get one or two things ruled out out I don't know.

Hugs to you all xxx

[kanelindsey]

Hi there coco i have just come across your post and thought id post as im having similar issues...my son was stillborn at 32 weeks last year and since then ive had 6 chemical pregnancies.
Im currently under the care of a gynecologist whos special interest is recurrent miscarriage. He believes that i might have abnormal/elevated nk cells. Ive had the test done and will hopefully get the results on friday. If he is right; i will be started on a treatment plan to include steroids and blood thinners. I would love to stay in touch with you to see if you get any resolution. Am so sorry for your losses xx

[doobeedee]

My fertility clinic definitely does deal with this. I had multiple chemical pregnancies as my obulation wasn't strong enough to produce enough progesterone to sustain the pregnancies. I needed one cycle of Clomid to produce a stronger egg. Some people have success taking progesterone after ovulation but the Clomid goes on the idea of treating the cause in the first place which will naturally produce more progesterone. Having said that, some people also take both.

[cocothomas1234]

Thank you Kane and doobee, I've been referred so just waiting to be seen now. I'm ovulating today and we are going to give it another shot in the meantime.

I'm so sorry to hear you've both been through this too and Kane to lose your son so late must have been devastating for you, I'm so sorry.

I'll keep you all posted on this cycle, here we go again with the dreaded 2WW :( xxxx

[cocothomas1234]

Also, doobee is this your first you are trying for? I mentioned the progesterone issue with my GP and she said there won't be an issue with that as I have a 2 year old who we fell with straight away so that's proof my levels are fine, I'm guessing as she said that they can't suddenly change but I don't know.

[doobeedee]

My son is 2. I'll be trying again soon but I suspect I'll have the same issues as I still have a short luteal phase.

[kanelindsey]

Get you gp to check your progesterone at 7dpo anyway just so you can rule it out....ot wont do any harm and my gp was more than happy to complete a hormone profile but my progesterone was fine although i have heard on another lady who also needed stronger ovulation like you doobee and it worked for her as well. Ive had mine checked thou and they are fine which is why we are heading down this route now....the tww wait is awful! Fingers crossed for you please keep us posted xx

[Kaytee1987]

Sorry for your 5 losses. I know it doesn't help but I would stop testing early as it's just upsetting for you. It used to be that u had to miss 2 periods before a doctor confirmed pregnancy - probably saved a lot of heart ache. Do u know how long your luteal phase is? I read somethng that said if it's less than 10 days then it's harder to maintain a pregnancy x

[cocothomas1234]

I'm back again and I've just had another faint positive test :) AF due in 5 days xx My fertility appt is booked for 7th Jan but there's always a little hope a sticky bean will take before then. Luck and love ladies, here we go again! xxx BE POSITIVE!!!

[Loki17]

Good luck coco!

[kanelindsey]

Best of luck to you!!! Xx