3rd consecutive miscarriage at 40 - any older mums out there who have gone on to have a successful pregnancy?

[Rosepip]

I am going through my 3rd consecutive m/c. My first two were very early, both at 4 weeks, in July and Aug this year. I picked myself up and got on with trying again, based on my GP's advice. This one is happening at 8 weeks and is taking its time, I've been bleeding lightly since Sat night, have had an ultrasound and vagainal scan at the EPU which showed me at 5 weeks with an empty sac, no yolk or fetal pole. I've had very little pain this time, if any, and so far, have passed no clots/tissue. My hcG reading on Tuesday was 6059 and today it was slightly increased to 6489. The doctor said it has plateaued but they want to check again in another 48 hours to be sure. They've checked my abdomen again today just to rule out ectopic and will now wait for my next bloods and will then decide how it is to be managed. As I've been bleeding steadily since the weekend, I assume this m/c is happening naturally and I won't need any intervention, but I am concerned that I've not passed the sac/tissue etc., yet. That's the hard part as I still feel pregnant, I desperately want the physical side of things to progress so I can deal with it in my head, if you know what I mean. My bioloigical clock is ticking, I'll be 41 next week, I am extremely blessed with 2 DC already but this 3rd baby is very much wanted by myself and DH. With my 2 DC and 3 MC, I fell pregnant straight away so I know my fertility isn't an issue as such, its the babies sticking that's the problem and I fear its my age and old eggs that could be the cause of it. I have been referred to see a specialist and my appointment can't come quick enough but I have been told that we'll have to wait another 3 months before we try again. When Mother Nature is breathing down your neck, 3 months will feel like 3 years! So, I really just wanted to know if there are any older mums like me out there that have had children. have suffered one or more m/c's and then gone on to have a healthy pregnancy and baby. Sorry for the long post and thank you for taking time to read this x

[headfairy]

So sorry you're going through this :(

I had two consecutive mcs when i was 39 and was told in all likelihood that it was age related. I think that makes it harder in a way, because there's nothing I can do about my age. After my second mc I didn't even wait for a clear cycle before trying again. I actually got pg the second cycle. That one stuck and dd is 21 months.

I wish I could help wrt your current mc, both of mine were incredibly straightforward thank God, and had completed themselves even before I got to the EPU.

Good luck with trying for dc3... the thing about age related egg ageing is I don't think they're all affected iyswim. It's just that some eggs don't age so well as others, I decided pretty early on that I would keep going until I found a fresh one. Luckily I didn't have to wait that long. I hope you don't too.

[bugsylugs]

So sorry for your loss. Lost my post. Have not got a positive story yet but am like you an older ( even older) mum mmc seems to be dragging have still got retained products.

Reason for posting do not know why you have been told to wait 3 months. Old advice and was never evidence based, possibly given so mums could grieve/ come to terms with their loss and regain cycles for easier dating. Evidence now is when is right for mum to be and her partner so no need to wait and also conceiving within 6 months does show increased likelihood of good outcome ie DS/DD. With the added caution of post from headfairy.

Best of luck be kind to yourself. and get cracking when you feel able

[pookiecat]

Please dont despair, I had my dd at 42 x

[Rosepip]

Thank you so much for your replies. I can't believe how crap I feel, if it wasn't for my 2 DC, I wouldn't bother getting out of bed. Sounds ridiculous really but I guess my hormones are all over the place and this black cloud will shift soon. Doesn't help that I'm still heavily bleeding and as yet, haven't passed the sac over a week on. Bloods are going down slowly and have to have another scan on Wednesday, symptoms beginning to disappear, its a double edged sword really, as you don't want them to go because it just reconfirms the pregnancy has gone but then you want them to go so you can get back to some form of normality and move on. Thank you again for your support :)

[ParadoxicalGirly]

I had two MCs at 39 and had tests which showed my egg quality and quantity to be what they'd expect to see from someone in their 20s. I had a very slight progesterone deficiency though.

The consultant said it wasn't enough to warrant me having progesterone pessaries though.

I had another miscarriage at 40. When I became pregnant for the 4th time, I was given progesterone pessaries, and I now have a 5 month old girl.

Best of luck.

[SageMist]

I has DS in my early 20s, then had 4 m/cs over several years in my 30s, had DD when I was 40, then had two more m/cs in the next two years.

So it is possible. But I was very laid back about the whole thing, if it happened, it happened, if it didn't, it didn't. I would have liked to have more kids, but it just didn't happen. Finally after an m/c while we on holiday, I decided I couldn't do it any more, and DH had the snip.

I now consider myself to be very lucky to have had DD at 40, it could have easily gone the other way.

Best of luck.

[HarriedWithChildren]

You could be me OP, so sorry you too are going through this, also 40, except I have 3DC, and just now having 3rd MC since April. 8wks, 5 wks and 10.5wks this time, am devastated as were getting so close and didn't feel it coming.
Likewise no probs conceiving so something at least is working in there.
I'm heartened to hear the happier stories on here but right now I'm not sure I can do this again. We will do the investigation just in case there is something seriously wrong with me but maybe it's time to call it a day.
We were told to start trying as soon as we felt up to it so glad to hear that confirmed by Bugsy.

[kellzi]

hi , i know what you are going through, am 41 and had a mc last week, started bleeding on tuesday and had a scan on thursday, external and internal, they said they could not see the sac but were concerned as fluid in lop?? could have been ectopic. had three blood tests since and still high, have further test friday and if hasnt reduced consultant on Tuesday. i just want to know what is going on. at this moment i dont know if i can go through this again, but it is early days and i think you should just give it time, feel good in yourself again get strong and then those feelings that made you long for another child hopefully should come back, thats what i am hoping for. good luck x

[beki1]

I can sympathize with all the sad stories, I had 3 miscarriages - 1st one at 39 then 2 futher ones at 40 - luckily all at very early stages. By this time God was definitely not my friend! But it was to be 4th time lucky for us and at 42 years of age gave birth to very health DD. Was worried about my age and effect on baby throughout pregnancy. DH really wants us to have a 2nd but i am so nervous there may be health issues for the next one and are we just being greedy when we have an amazing gift with the precious bundle we have already.. Good luck to all of you who are suffering. All I can say is try to stay positive. I found it hard but we are lucky enough to have a happy ending. x

[tallulah]

I had 2 mmc in a row at 42 but then had DD at 43. After the second miscarriage a senior midwife told us we were clearly too old and perhaps we should do something else . While we were dithering about trying to decide whether to try again or not I got a BFP