3 miscarriages in a row / recommendations for recurrent miscarriage clinics

[PJ12]

Hi everyone.

I am currently going through my 3rd consecutive m/c. I have a 2 yr old DD that we conceived on our 2nd try and it was a text book pregnancy. When she was 1 we decided to try for another one. I got pregnant straight away, started spotting at 7 weeks and miscarried at 8. I the. Got pregnant again a couple of months later, again starts spotting at 7 weeks, but had a scan at th hospital that showed a healthy heartbeat. Spotting continued, a week later a had a bleed and miscarried again. My GP told me that it was just bad luck and to try again. We did, again I got pregnant straight away but started spotting at 6 weeks and have just miscarried a couple of days ago. My GP is referring me to a Recurrant miscarriage clinic and I am just waiting for my appointment date to come through. Apparently the wait is quite long and as I'm 37 I think we are going to go the private route whilst we wait.
Has anyone been through anything similiar? I have no issues getting pregnant, each time I got pregnant on the 1st or 2nd try. I just can't seem to get past 8 weeks. I don't know what's changed between DD and now.
Does anyone know what tests I will need to have and the cost?
Thanks so much!

[bluegreeniris]

Professor Lesley Regan is one of the most experienced doctors in the UK around recurring miscarriages.

www.imperial.ac.uk/people/l.regan

I've got an appointment with her through private insurance, not because i have had miscarriages, but I am hoping she can advise me on blood thinners because I do have Factor V Leiden and that can cause miscarriages.

[PJ12]

Thanks bluegreeniris. I was hoping my insurance could cover some test but I was told by Bupa that insurance companies don't usually cover anything related to pregnancy/fertility? I might give them a ring again.

[Dozer]

Very sorry you're in this situation.

Suggest a fertility website for info. After a bad experience at my local hospital (large london teaching one but not specialists for mc) I went privately to the st mary's clinic in paddington, which was excellent, but obviously if you live far from london that's tricky for appointments and things.

My insurance didn't cover anything fertility related.

By far the most expensive blood tests are the genetic ones for you/DP so if you can at least get those done on the NHS (in parallel) it'll save you money!

[TinyTear]

I would wholeheartedly recommend going to talk to Prof Quenby and Prof Brosens in Coventry.

www2.warwick.ac.uk/fac/med/research/tsm/bru/clinic/

I had my DD2 after treatment with them - progesterone and clexane until week 12

I was also seen by Mr Rai in St Mary's London, but they didn't give me any treatment, I was just lucky after seeing them and got DD1

[PJ12]

Thank you ladies. Has anyone seen Dr. Shehata? I've seen a lot of women on here mention him and he always gets a lot of praise. I know his treatment has to do with NK cells but I'm not very clear on how it all works. Is it a different treatment than what you would get at St Mary's? There is so much information out there I'm just not really sure where to start :(

[TinyTear]

I know someone who has two children after seeing dr shehata.

st Mary's don't look for NK cells.

Coventry look for uNK cells (through a uterine biopsy) while Dr Shehata as far as I know just does a blood test.

[TinyTear]

(my story is mc, mc , mc St Mary's DC1 and mc, mc, Coventry DC2)

[PJ12]

Thank you TinyTear. Do you know if there is a difference on whether you have a blood test or a biopsy to check for NK cells? Just seems like a blood test would be so much less invasive. What made you chose Coventry as opposed to Dr. Shehata? Also, what was the cost at Coventry? I'm just trying to wrap my head around how much this is going to cost us.

[TinyTear]

I chose Coventry because I also knew of success stories and I had read (can't remember where) that uNK is more reliable as it measures uterine NK cells, also that the biopsy and 'uterine scratch' can help implantation.

In Coventry it is a 'self funded NHS appointment' and in 2014 it was £360 for the appointment, biopsy and phone consultation when the results came in. then they sent me a letter with my treatment plan which I showed my GP and got my 6w scan before starting clexane
(I am London based)


it seems you might be eligble for the trial - look here

www.tommys.org/our-organisation/what-we-do/our-research/miscarriage-research/take-part-our-clinical-trials

But i am a flag waver for Profs Quenby and Brosens

[m33r]

My private insurance covered investigations but not treatment so it's worth a phone call to check. Good luck

[Dozer]

I wasn't sure about the NKC idea or taking steroids, but would've likely tried prof quenby next.

Think the St Mary's docs don't think the theory is correct.

[KittensandKnitting]

So sorry to hear this OP

I've had six in the past year, but no live births and would suggest first step is via your GP. I was seen very quickly by a local consultant and given lots of tests, it rules out lots of the more simple things/could uncover something simple it maybe that just taking progesterone in the very early days will help you or the heparin injections.

I have been reading a great book recommended to me by a lovely lady on the NK cells board called

Is your body baby friendly by Alan E Beer

it may help in someway?

Next steps for me are Coventry, but I would suggest the local reoccurring miscarriage clinic first as if you also have a nearby EPAU you will be given early scans and lots of support.

So sorry your going through this

[mrsdiddlydoo]

I'd recommend trying Coventry or a Tommy trial whilst you wait for your local rmc.

Shehata has a good reputation. You can ask your gp to refer you to his NHS rmc which I think is at Epsom. You can choose where to be referred. Not everyone realises this. You might not see him but one his registrars but they follow his plans.

[mrsdiddlydoo]

You might find some helpful information on this thread www.mumsnet.com/Talk/miscarriage/2461442-Recurrent-Miscarriage-Support-Thread-30-Support-for-Tests-Treatments-and-Trying-Again?pg=1&order=

[trinabosein]

Dr Shehata treated me. I had 3 miscarriages within week ten for 4 yrs and now i have one monkey. All because of Dr Shehata. Absolutely brilliant. I dont know if I can give my email id here but pm me. I ll give you all the details

[tina431]

To anyone considering seeing Mr Shehata... please think again . He is the kind of doctor that is capitalizing on our misery and desperation to find a solution to our repeated miscarriages. After paying several thousand pounds for appointments and test, I sent him a question about the medication by email and his assistants told me that in order for him to answer I have to pay 250 pounds . I told them I don’t live in the Uk and I can’t trav l there just for an appointment, and that I did not need a consultation it was just a clarification about medication he had already prescribed and sold to me. Still he refused to answer without payment , puttting me in a corner and now I am totally lost and not sure whether to continue the medicine or not, and this after he had told me that I could email him if I had any questions as I live overseas. I feel duped and tricked and taken advantage of. It’s not about the cost , I just can’t believe he would refuse to answer a patients concern unless he gets payment first . Especially as it is not a new question or issue it’s a simple clarification of what he had already prescribed . I cried for hours today feeling very lost and upset that I let myself be tricked by this unethical so called doctor that is making money of our misery and helplessness. He’s a crook . Stay away