3 miscarriages in a row. Waiting on miscarriage clinic appointment

[MollySxx]

Hi,
(Also posted this in miscarriage talk, but had no replies)

So a quick summary. In 2015 I was pregnant with Identical twin girls, I lost them at 24 weeks with TTTS (twin to twin transfusion syndrome) I gave birth to them both.

Fast forward to 2020, I fall pregnant in March and I miscarry at 9 weeks after a private scan showed no baby on the screen. An empty sac. We tried again in the June and it took us until October to fall pregnant again. I found out on October 24th and on the 31st I started bleeding and was told it was a chemical pregnancy because the hospital test came back negative, but I had positives the week before on blue dye tests and digital ones. I was 5 weeks pregnant. I then fell pregnant again straight after I presume, no period whole of the November, faint positives on tests, started bleeding heavily on December 13th and was told it was a miscarriage again.

And to now, I’ve had a pelvis ultrasound, came back with the lining of my womb fine, the womb fine, my ovaries just showed a small amount of cysts so was given blood tests to check for polycystic ovaries, got those results back and all came back clear and no further action needed. Had tests for Thrombophilia, also came back clear. And I’ve had a period since the December loss.

Due to Covid I’m having to wait a bit longer for my miscarriage clinic referral appointment to come through. My doctor has given me the all clear to keep trying in the meantime. But I’m so fed up and drained with it. I just need advice if anyone has been referred to the miscarriage clinic and what was the outcome, if any. Because I’m very doubtful I’ll get answers.

[HT1507]

@MollySxx

Sorry for your losses. I’m not sure on the process for miscarriage clinic, but I really hope you get answers! Wishing you all the best

[MollySxx]

@HT1507 thank you so much! Really get the hold up because of the current pandemic, but hopefully I’m not waiting to long. It’s torture

[Missingthebridegene]

I'm so sorry to hear this OP. I can't imagine the emotional pain. I'm sorry if this is an obvious question but have you had your thyroid checked? Xx

[MollySxx]

@Missingthebridegene yes, I have! I got that done when I got the Thrombophilia blood test, that came back normal and no further action needed. That’s why I’m so at a loss and just searching for an answer other than “it’s just bad luck”

[confusedcb]

Hi Molly,

I'm so sorry for your losses, i've had 3 miscarriages in a row myself - the first was an empty sac discovered at 11 weeks (anembryonic or blighted ovum I think they call it). The 2nd miscarriage was all fine, scan at 8 weeks showed a heartbeat. Follow up scan at 12 weeks showed heartbeat had stopped. The last miscarriage was at 6 weeks and happened naturally before i'd had a chance for a scan.

I was referred for miscarriage investigations and I have to say, for me they weren't particularly helpful. It took a long time, during which time we were told not to try (so I felt I was running out of time/eggs, i'm 39) and they concluded at the end that there was no known cause. This is quite common apparently as the investigations on the NHS aren't particularly in depth.

I decided to pay for a couple of private appointments with a fertility specialist (total cost was £240). I explained to her that our finances are limited so she decided to prescribe me a kind of blanket of medications, that cover all of the possible causes of miscarriages that might not have shown up. Apparently they don't do any harm taking these but can help prevent miscarriage. They include Cyclogest, Prednisolone and Progynova. She did suggest possibly taking low dose aspirin but i'm not sure about that, I have read that it can cause miscarriage so I might give that a miss.

We've paused trying because of covid but when we do i'll try those medications, if I manage to keep hold of the next pregnancy i'll let you know. If you can find the money for a couple of private appointments it could be worth doing this.

[Lovemylittlebear]

Sorry to hear about your losses :( I’ve had four miscarriages (all early thankfully). Waited on a referral that wasn’t moving anywhere and saw a private (lower end cost consultant). Went on progesterone, steroids, clexane and went on to have two more healthy babies (first child conceived fine with no issues). I am currently pregnant again 28 weeks and fingers crossed all looking ok following the meds again. Tried without when I fell pregnant last year and had another miscarriage. I don’t know why or which one is working for me but something has worked - thank goodness. Fingers crossed for you that you can receive some help and have a happy outcome too :) I have also done some stuff re fertility nutritionists as felt that this would only help. Very interesting looking at their tests and recommendations also.

[MollySxx]

@confusedcb so sorry we both relate to this🥺 I don’t have much hope for the miscarriage clinic as I’ve read that they don’t or can’t do much. My doctors have been really good, like I can’t fault my GP enough. On my 3rd miscarriage in December he had me in for HCG bloods and was getting everything in place, but I started bleeding the day before I was due the bloods and a miscarriage was decided.

My partner is really on the mark with ovulation tests and tracking it, but I’m just so careless of it all this month. I’ve got to the point where I don’t care because I just can’t set myself up for heartbreak for both me and him. I honestly feel so hopeless. I’m 25, 26 in august of this year and I know I’m young, but I feel like the clock is ticking and everyone around me is pregnant and I’m just failing each time.

Sending you so much love

[MollySxx]

@Lovemylittlebear oh my, congratulations! It’s so nice hearing a positive outcome. I’ve been looking at low progesterone funnily enough and some of the signs I can relate to. For example I get migraines, to the point I’m bed bound and I’m convinced I don’t always ovulate either. So I’m hoping and praying when I get the appointment and mention to them that they can get me in some form of medication and if it’s not that, at least I tried

[HT1507]

@MollySxx I had a miscarriage in November at 7 weeks so I have experienced some of what you’re going through. I have PCOS and had 5 years of a non-existent cycle, just random spotting for days/weeks or nothing. I finally got regular periods, went on Clomid, fell pregnant .. and now back to trying again. It feels like a lot of waiting around when TTC anyway, let alone when you have additional problems and require tests etc.

I’ve found reading other people’s stories and getting involved in threads on here quite therapeutic, also picked up on some useful information from other posts. I’m sure someone will have some useful information for you

[Moominmiss]

Hi,
I just wanted to say I’m so so sorry for all of your heartbreaking losses.
It’s great that you’ve had so many tests done already.

I have unfortunately suffered 4 miscarriages in the last 12 months.

After my third I was referred to a fertility consultant. She basically did lots of blood tests, a scan of my womb and ovaries, and a semen analysis of my partner.

All results were ok, and because I had children from a previous relationship I was told (as expected) that there was nothing more they could offer me on the nhs.

Had I not already had children, ivf would have been the next step.

I seemed to be able to fall pregnant easily, but not hold onto them.

I fell pregnant again after my 3rd loss and visit to the fertility consultant and tried to get in touch with them to ask what I should do as I’d heard taking aspirin could help, but didn’t want to take it without medical guidance. Unfortunately I never heard back and ended up with my 4th loss.

I then fell pregnant again this cycle and had already decided I’d start taking aspirin from ovulation. So so far so good, I’m taking daily aspirin and crossing everything this will finally be the one that sticks. I didn’t speak to anyone about taking it, I just did as I figured I had nothing to lose.

Whether that has helped, or whether it’s coincidence I don’t know. But all my other losses except my first, were pregnancies where my tests never really progressed, and the digital weeks indication didn’t progress as they should. This is the first time my tests were really dark and strong really early on, and my digitals have progressed as they should, if not earlier.

I truly hope you do get the answers you need when you finally get to see someone at the miscarriage clinic.

[HT1507]

@MollySxx it took me ages to write previous post as was multitasking .. there’s already ladies posted above me who have similar experiences to you and helpful information. I don’t have much to add apart from good luck with your journey take care x

[MollySxx]

@Moominmiss congratulations, that makes me so happy to hear. Might be a silly question, but can you buy the aspirin? I have been told by people and also read about it. But I thought it had to be medically given. So can I just buy it? I would be willing to try that. I take all my vitamins as well. Also got my partner taking them as well. We are 2 people on a mission😂

[MollySxx]

@HT1507 sending so much love to you x

[Moominmiss]

@MollySxx thank you. I’m not counting my chickens just yet as I’m still only 5 weeks so very much early and in the danger zone, but so far as I said things are looking more promising than they have done other times.

As for the aspirin I just bought it. I’ve bought it in the co op and in savers. I just bought 75mg tablets. They’re in a yellow box. I take 2 a day. It used to be that a 75mg dose was recommended but that guidance has changed and actually it’s now 150mg a day.

After so many losses that was my thinking, that what did I have to lose and I’d be willing to try anything. If I get as far as a midwife appointment I will tell them I’m taking it but tbh would be reluctant to stop. I’ve read lots of stories where once taking it, women have taken it until their third trimester.

I also take a high dose folic acid, high dose vitamin d, and 200mg ubiquinol (for egg quality).

[Missingthebridegene]

I was going to ask about progesterone levels OP but assumed you must have had those checked x progesterone and thyroid issues were discovered in my friend who had a number of miscarriages. It's so tough not knowing whether there is an underlying cause or just really horrid luck x

[MollySxx]

@Moominmiss well I know where I’m heading tomorrow after work, to get some aspirin😂 i am taking vitamin D and 400mg of folic acid currently. Didn’t know of ubiquinol, so I shall grab some of that also. Thank you so much for your help. Sending you all the love, it sounds so positive so far. Especially with your tests being so strong. Please keep me updated x

[MollySxx]

@Missingthebridegene progesterone is the only one I haven’t been checked for. I’ve had so many bloods and I’m 99% sure they haven’t checked on that. But I am going to mention it for sure

[Missingthebridegene]

That's good news that there's something else to try x I really hope it works out for you OP x

[Moominmiss]

@MollySxx I hope you get your happy ending soon.
I know that feeling of spending evenings trawling sites like this for any ideas if things I could try, that I hadn’t already.
I buy my ubiquinol online. I’ve no idea where you can buy it on the high street.
It’s not cheap. The one I buy is £60 for 2 months worth. You can buy it on Amazon and other places too. I don’t know if somewhere like Holland and Barratt would sell it.
Also progesterone was one of the tests I had done. I had a set of day 3 bloods, then day 21 bloods which checked progesterone levels.

This is where I buy my ubiquinol

www.naturesbest.co.uk/co-q10/co-q10/ubiquinol-100mg/?src=GONATO&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIuJ6nvLW17gIVgrHtCh3oVgj0EAAYASAAEgKJ2PD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

[Grognonne]

Hi, sorry for your losses. I have also had three miscarriages and was referred to the recurrent miscarriage clinic. They have been excellent. I had lots of tests, ultrasounds etc. Currently 24wks and fingers crossed, all is looking good!

[MollySxx]

@Grognonne oh my, that’s amazing! Congratulations. So happy to hear they were so good with you and are looking after you now you’re pregnant. Hopefully I’m not waiting ti long for my appointment. But we are just on the case and trying in the meantime. I think pausing is trying would just add to the torture

[GreenSlide]

I attended the miscarriage clinic after 4 losses and they found no cause but my vitamin D was low. They gave me a very high loading dose of vit D (50,000 units, can't remember the proper name weekly) and recommended better you 3000 vitamin D spray daily. Also started me on cyclogest from as soon as I got my next positive test. I'm now 14 weeks pregnant and all going well so far.

[ivfbeenbusy]

I also have to say I found the miscarriage clinic pretty useless. They are only interested in bog standard testing - they aren't interested in NK cell testing, progesterone levels, sperm DNA fragmentation, karyotyping etc. They wouldn't give me aspirin, progesterone, steroids or clexane and instead I was waved off with a "call us when you next get a BFP and we'll see you at 6 weeks" - by which point it's too late to make a difference if the issue is progesterone levels or NK cells. Also due to covid most miscarriage clinics aren't doing scans anyway so pretty pointless

In the end we turned to IVF and they did the testing we needed (for a fee obviously) and when I conceived naturally inbetween IVF cycles they did everything they could to try and prevent another miscarriage by prescribing all the things that the NHS clinic wouldn't (and actually did the same for another friend of mine who got pregnant naturally after doing an IVF cycle with the same clinic)

So I'd go with minimal expectations - some clinics are better than others and there is no consistency- but you might get lucky and have a good one x

[Thatsmybutton]

So sorry to read your post. I had three miscarriages a long time ago. Two consecutive and one after my first baby. After the third miscarriage I went to see a private gynaecologist who suggested taking low dose aspirin right away. He said that there there was no evidence to suggest it was harmful and wouldn't do me any harm. The next month I fell pregnant and I now have two healthy grown up sons so I would say try it.

[MollySxx]

I am going to try the aspirin. Already taking vitamin D and folic acid along with b12, so fingers crossed! I came off my period 2 weeks ago and I’m currently in the ovulation stage, so fingers crossed🤞🏼 Thank you all for your wonderful advice