Is chemical pregnancy a miscarriage?

[shazzaren]

Hi

Tested positive with 4 tests last weekend, they were all faint but definitely there, dp checked so i know I wasnt going mad. Then 3 days later I tested again just to check line was getting darker plus period 4 days late but tested negative then next day had bad cramping and a 'period'. I know this must have been a chemical pregnancy, I am putting it behind me and just treating it like a period and looking to the future for my next cycle to get on with things. Is this normal? My partner seems really gutted. Am I in denial and should this be treated like a miscarriage?

[HappyThoughts]

Hi Shazzaren

I would say this is a miscarriage, yes. I have suffered this sort of scenario twice and certainly all the health professionals I dealt with classed this scenario as a miscarriage.

Having said that (and I really don't want to sound harsh because I know exactly what it's like to go through), personally I don't see any benefit to dwelling on it and mentally building it up to be something bigger than it was IYSWIM. I think your idea of putting it behind you and planning for your next cycle is spot on, and that's exactly what I did with both of mine.

Even though it is technically a miscarriage, it can't really be compared to the emotional and physical suffering of a later miscarriage. I have also suffered a missed miscarriage at 10 weeks and there was a MASSIVE difference in the experience.

To be honest, I actually wonder to myself how many times I may possibly have gone through this chemical pregnancy scenario in the days before we were actively trying to conceive. I've never had cycles that were regular to the day, so back then I would never have noticed if my period was a few days or even a week late.

Having said all that, I really do not wish to belittle your experience at all and wish you all the best of luck with ttc. We've been trying for 4 years and have had 2 ectopics and 3 miscarriages (albeit 2 of them very early). I know only too well the pain of pregnancy loss and that's why I chose not to dwell too much on the very early miscarriages.

One other thing - with regards to tests and investigations, I would certainly include this as a miscarriage. I was immediately referred for tests after 3 miscarriages despite the fact that 2 of them were so early and no doctor has ever questioned me on it.

[shazzaren]

Hi happythoughts
Thanks for your message, its kind of confirmed that I'm not sort of in denial or anything. I have had 3 mmc in the last year and they were pretty tough to deal with so I really dont feel this needs the same amount of grief and pain and I just want to acknowledge it and move on but wasnt sure if this was just a knee jerk reaction. I am 39 now and just need to get on with things now! I am really sorry to hear about your losses, I hope you are getting some help with your tests and investigations. I am currently being treated for NKC and PCOS with steroids and metformin so hoping next pregnancy will be ok.