miscarriage at 19 weeks

[Sophiehfz2805]

Hi , i've recently had a miscarriage at 19wk+1 not so long ago about 2 weeks ago and don't know the cause of it yet as i need to go into hospital for my appointment in 2 months time to get blood results and to see what may have been the cause..

But i was wondering has anyone had a late miscarriage like me and what was the reason for it?

I want to be able to ease my mind knowing other peoples situations and who have went through the same. Whilst i was in hospital going through the upsetting time, midwives and doctors told me it could have been an infection or weak cervix.. But how?:(

[AButterflyLightsBesideUs]

Mine was a toxoplasmosis infection. Probably contracted around about 14 weeks, and the damage occurred slowly, causing major growth retardation. We found out DD was dead at the 20 week scan. The toxo information was got from my blood tests when she was born and told to us at the consultant follow up 6 weeks later. My underactive thyroid was also detected at this point and certainly wouldn't have helped matters.

Have they taken a tissue sample from your baby or the placenta, or done a postmortem? Some other possible causes that could be deduced from these would be genetic abnormalities or structural ones eg heart defects, or a placenta with issues, eg blood clots. Blood tests on you would establish if you are affected by any clotting disorders (thromobophilias) that could cause this.

The not knowing is awful. I was warned though that it is not uncommon for the results to tell you nothing and your loss to be unexplained. I can't imagine how hard that must be, but was glad I was aware there may be no answers IYSWIM?

[Sophiehfz2805]

Thank you for replying back. How did the infection cause? Did it just happen out of the blue? And no i didn't want a post mortem done but they did take the umbilical cord and placenta for sampling to see if there was anything wrong. But midwife said my placenta looked healthy but they never know until they find out i guess. Im just so nervous. When i was in hospital they did tell me that when they took my bloods every 24 hours that i had an infection and was quite high but it dropped when the baby had passed away.. Then i gave birth and the infection went fully. I feel so nervous to know:(

[AButterflyLightsBesideUs]

I'm not certain how I caught toxoplasmosis, but apparently the most common way to contract it is from eating rare/not thoroughly cooked meat. I had no idea until the results, no illness or temperature - just chronic exhaustion but I'd had that from about 6 weeks.

If they've got the placenta then they will be able to check your baby's chromosomes and tell you if they were normal.

Did your waters break early then? I'm just picking up on your comment about being in hospital having regular bloods? If you'd had a PROM then there is a relatively high risk that infection will be introduced through the cervix I think. The fact that the infection was over as soon as you'd had your baby suggests it was to do with the pregnancy rather than an illness you contracted?

I'm so sorry you're in this position, it's so very difficult.I really hope there are answers for you

[Sophiehfz2805]

Hmm its weird to actually think about all the things that can go wrong with our bodies and infections and all sorts. Yeah it is a really hard time :( when did it all happen for you? Im sorry to hear about it by the way:( and basically what happened is one morning i woke up with a fluid type on my knickers and it didn't look like discharge at all more like water so phoned up local midwife she checked heartbeat and done urine sample. Everything was fine. Then it happened on going throughout the day so the next morning i woke up and went to hospital and spoke to midwife and they done a examination down below and found out my cervix was fully open when it should be closed at 19 weeks obviously and my waters had gone. There was still abit of water but it kept coming out then obviously it reproduces but it still loses it at the same time.. Then after that i stayed in hospital for around 4 days. They checked my blood pressure every 6 hrs and gave anti biotic along with that too but every 8hrs and then every 24 hrs checked my bloods. My baby boy passed away on the 28th may and then i delivered him 29th. Im just so nervous to know the cause if there is one but i have a feeling its because of an infection as thats what came through by my bloods whilst in hosp.. I dont know what infection though and can they tell if there was abnormalities with the baby through the placenta? I didn't know that! Thanks for letting me know by the way i feel more at ease and ready for when it comes

[AButterflyLightsBesideUs]

Gosh what a long drawn out experience you had I can't imagine how stressful and scary those days of waiting were. My guess (as an unqualified non expert!) would be that they will diagnose an incompetent cervix. I'm cringing writing that as I think the terminology is so hurtful and cruel. If that's the case they will be wanting to put in a cervical stitch next time at about 12-14 weeks I think to stop it opening up again. It's fairly common cause of late miscarriage as that's when the baby etc is all getting a lot heavier and the weight can be too much for the cervix. Once your waters go the risk of infection gets significant after a few days and can sadly have the effect you've found. Your poor little boy. Couple of links on the Tommy's site here and here that might be relevant to you, but I'm sure you've seen it all before.
For me it was in 2010. I had another little girl 10.5 months later who is coming up 5 years now. I then lost another baby at the end of last year - abnormalities identified at the 12 week scan, then diagnosed by the consultant as acrania (a lethal neural tube defect). We had a TFMR at about 13-14 weeks, and the placenta sample told us that our little boy also had Edwards syndrome. I'm now 7+4 with another pregnancy and just waiting to see how this one plays out. I'm more than a bit scared of the 2nd trimester.

Do make sure when you get your follow up appointment that you get the contact details for the consultant who sees you, as questions will often occur to you afterwards. Has your hospital put you in touch with their bereavement midwife? I found ours a help at the time, and a couple of years ago had some counselling from a charity that specialised in pregnancy/loss counselling.

[spankhurst]

How very sad for you, I'm so sorry.

I haven't had a late MC but I lost a pregnancy at 10.5 weeks (the day before my wedding..); they said it was because I have a bicornuate uterus and the embryo had implanted near the 'malformed' part at the top which probably had a weak blood supply.
I went on to have a problem-free pregnancy and delivery within 18 months, so even if it turns out you have a similar issue, it will probably be fine. x

[Sophiehfz2805]

Abutterflylightbesideus- yes it was really stressful but i kind of just new in my head that it was all going to go down hill because they couldn't do anything and plus the baby is too small and chances of survival are very slim at 5 months:( yeah i got told it could be a weak cervix but then how did my waters break? Is it because its open that infections can get there more easily or something? It makes me just shiver thinking about it, why does so many things have to go wrong:(.. Even if it wasnt a weak cervix do you think they'd still put a stitch in for me just incase? Thats so sad im sorry to hear:( so did the placenta come through with some abnormalities in baby? can it check for if the baby had any heart problems too or anything. Im just so scared/nervous to see whether there is no cause at all, im scared of them telling me its an unknown cause. I'd rather it be something so it can be stopped possibly next time. Congratulations :) I hope this pregnancy works out for you which im sure it will and dont stress or worry yourself out!! Yeah i thought the first trimester was scary knowing miscarriage rate is high. But now i'll be worrying throughout first and second in my next pregnancy. Im ttc already even though its only been over 2 weeks i just really miss being pregnant:( no my hospital hasnt put me in touch with a bereavement midwife. Ive got a midwife appointment at the doctors apparently at 6 weeks so in 3 weeks time im guessing to get more bloods done. But im surprised they need more, they already took 10 tubes after i gave birth ..

[Sophiehfz2805]

Spankhurst- that must have been devastating news for you especially near a day which is meant to be the most important day of your life aswell:( hope you are well. Did you find out on the exact day before your wedding or later on but estimated to be that day? How long afterwards did you fall pregnant. Im now ttc again, its only been 2 and a half weeks since it happened but i so badly want to be pregnant again i miss it and i just want a baby of my own. :(