3 Miscarriages What tests do they offer & anybody have success stories?

[LJFM2B]

Hi All,

I am broken - its just been confirmed that i am going through my 3rd miscarriage in 9 months (9 weeks Bleeding, 8 weeks MMC found at 12 week scan, and 5 weeks bleeding)... The NHS are now putting me forward for some tests but havent explained what tests im being sent for! does anybody know?
All i know is that I have been told to not TTC for 10 weeks as thats the waiting list to see the specialist and they need me with NO pregnancy hormone in my body which although annoying as we so desperate want to TTC but i want to be 100% prepared for the tests and have no reason for them to turn me away.

Also im searching for reasons to believe everything is ok and i will have my rainbow baby ... does anybody have any success stories they can share and even tips after the NHS tests?

[Wetwashing00]

I had blood tests for all
The normal blood disorders (which were all negative) and a scan To look at my reproductive system. I wasn’t told to stop ttc and they saw the beginnings of a pregnancy then so the rest of the tests were stopped. My consultant suggested I take 75mg of aspirin, which seemed to do the trick for me and I had a healthy baby. Pregnancy was peppered with minor issues... mostly growth scans and monitoring of the placenta.
Sorry to hear of your news, but Good luck to you for the future

[Hidingtonothing]

I had 3 mc's, was booked for blood tests but wasn't in a good place mentally at that time and cancelled before the process began so can't really advise on testing. We weren't told to stop ttc either but weren't ready straight away, think it was about 4-5 months before I got pregnant with DD. Didn't do anything different so no tips, just wanted you to know things do work out on their own sometimes

[LJFM2B]

Thank you @Wetwashing00 & @Hidingtonothing success stories are always nice to hear. I have now booked a holiday for 8 weeks time so am going to wait at least until then to continue to TTC as conceiving quickly hasnt worked and desperate to do something different just to say "i tried" ... im hoping to get an appointment asap im just struggling to believe its just bad luck!!

[Wetwashing00]

Has aspirin ever been discussed with you?
I started taking it again when I was ready to ttc my 2nd, the midwife I saw at 7 weeks told me not to as she believed it was a myth that it worked in recurrent miscarriage cases, I stopped and miscarried at 9 weeks.
The next time I took it regardless of the midwifes advice and had another healthy baby.

[Rhubarbginmum]

I had two miscarriages. Went on thyroxine after blood test results. Got pregnant and had two Dc in quick succession after this.
Take care

[Dozer]

Very sorry you’re going through this.

How old are you and your DP? Can sometimes be a factor.

Recommend Prof Lesley Regan’s book on miscarriage.

I had investigations and help from my local large London hospital, which apart from generic “karyotyping” tests for me and DH were rubbish, eg they didn’t do the “clotting” blood tests properly. then went to see St Mary’s in London, which was much more thorough and excellent.

Happy ending for me!

[Dozer]

There is info online on the “standard” tests.

The advice not to ttc seems odd IMO unless there are other things in your medical history behind the health professionals saying that. They can do most of the usual blood tests when you’re pregnant: you just wouldn’t be able to have hormone tests (eg the kind fertility clinics do) or any invasive tests, eg hysterosalpingogram to look at tubes/scarring.

[Heggy1]

Yes - same as you, 3 miscarriages then tests. Can't remember exacly what they tested for but I showed up as having Antiphospolipid syndrome and was advised to take 75mg Asprin as soon as I got pregnant again. Currently 36 weeks :)

[butterfly990]

I had the mini asprin prescribed after the testing and went ahead to have a healthy DD followed by an unexpected DS 15 months later. I put myself on mini-asprin when I found I was pregnant with him.

Good luck!

[PenelopePuddleduck]

So sorry for your losses. I’ve been there and didn’t think I would ever get through it, but strangely getting the tests gave me something to focus on. I was referred for testing after 3 miscarriages also. Regarding the Nhs tests I was also told not to try to conceive as being pregnant can change the results. I heard the tip to take aspirin but didn’t want to try first, fall pregnant and then potentially not get the tests and discover a problem later down the line. As it happens it’s good I didn’t because my diagnosis means I need to be consultant led in pregnancy with extra monitoring etc...

I first had surgical management of miscarriage so the baby was tested for chromosome abnormalities. These came back clear but I think if there was an issue they would then consider karoryping.

Whilst I was waiting on those results my tests involved them taking a lot of blood which were then tested for lots of things including thyroid (I think) and clotting factors. The consultant also performed a scan of my uterus to check for abnormalities. If you google the RCOG guidelines for recurrent miscarriage management and testing you can see what tests they recommend.

I got a diagnosis of antiphospholipid syndrome (blood tests were repeated to confirm). We started trying again a while later and I’m now 26 weeks pregnant on a treatment of aspirin and clexane injections. All seems to be going ok so far.

Wishing you all the best for the future and take care of yourself over the next while.

[CL1982]

OP I fully understand how you feel. We had x3 miscarriages.

In the end I was sent to the recurrent miscarriage clinic via the NHS. It took them 3 months to get me the appointment. We kept trying and I got pregnant the month after the third. In the end I went through my work private insurance and got to see a lovely consultant quickly. He lined me up for bloods (please make sure they test you for Natural Killer cells as well as sticky bloods etc) but I got pregnant that month so he put me on baby aspirin, thyroxin (absolutely also have your thyroid level checked-TSH should be between 0-2 and a lot of non specialist doctors get really pissy about those levels-NHS norm is under 5 which is too high for a lot of pregnancies) and progesterone. There is very little evidence for the progesterone helping, however it did the trick and we are now 39 weeks.

Sad fact was it could have just been shitty bad luck and we got three lots of dud eggs or sperm but he felt it was an issue with implantation.

Where abouts are you?

[PinPon]

Sorry to hear of your losses. Just dropping in with a random success story. Had 4 miscarriages and lots of tests showing nothing wrong. Then had normal pregnancy doing nothing different.

Was very hard at the time, especially when we didn’t know if we could have a child. Look after yourself. Hoping for happier times ahead.

[Fia256]

Sorry for your losses xx

I have had 4 miscarriages in a row. Had to unbelievably fight to be referred (!!) to the recurrent miscarriage clinic. They finally did and when my letter came through with all the blood test forms etc, it said to not ttc before then and while all tests are being carried out. Being the impatient person I am, I decided to ignore that advice and just carry on as normal as I genuinely didn't think it would happen that month before AF anyway. Day of my scan, I did a test JUST incase (you have to cancel if you become pregnant) and it was positive! I'm now 11 weeks pregnant and with close monitoring and extra scans, everything so far seems to be ok! Part of me did think have I done the wrong thing incase I miscarry again and then have to wait again but seems to be lucky number 5!

Good luck OP hope all becomes clearer for you soon and you get your rainbow baby x

[Daisy92]

Hey! I'm so so sorry for what you've been through. There is no pain quite like it.

I had 4 miscarriages relatively close together and begged the NHS for some tests, which they refused to do. So, my partner and I gave up entirely on the dream of becoming parents.

My miracle came in July when I noticed all the usual pregnancy symptoms once again, despite the fact that we'd been using two types of protection.

I'm currently 30-weeks pregnant with this little miracle and we couldn't be happier.

Don't give up, and good luck with the tests. Xoxo

[LisaSimpsonsbff]

I had three miscarriages and had the standard NHS tests, which are a scan to check for structural abnormalities, and then blood tests for hormone and thyroid levels and blood clotting. I also went as a private patient to have my NK cells tested at the miscarriage clinic run by Siobhan Quenby and Jan Brosens in Coventry. Absolutely everything came back normal, but my local hospital put me on aspirin and Coventry put me on progesterone - I conceived again a couple of months later and I'm now 19 weeks, so while I'm much too superstitious to call this a success story yet, I have got much further than ever before.

I was also told not to TTC before the results, which worked out to be around four months for us after my last miscarriage. I was really upset about it at the time and really resented it, but in hindsight I probably needed the time anyway - mine were all really close together, so it was taking a real toll and the third one, in particular, left me in an awful place. So even though my tests didn't find anything, so it was sort of 'wasted' time, I think in hindsight I'm glad I did wait as instructed.

I'm really sorry for your losses - it's so horrible having it happen over and over. There's a thread on conception on TTC after recurrent miscarriage (and also one for all those who have miscarried at all, which is more active - but I found it particularly useful to talk to people who had been through same tests and who knew how much it compounds the pain if it's repeated) which I found such a supportive group of women, so you might want to take a look at that.

[MsJuniper]

So sorry about your losses OP

After having DS in 2012, I had 6 mc over 2.5 years - 2 at 9 weeks and 4 at 5-6 weeks. Had to wait ages for a RMC appt (referral got lost then waiting list) and time was not on my side (40) so it was super hard to stop ttc for the tests. Still it felt like otherwise we were going to continue the cycle of losses indefinitely so I did as told - no specific diagnosis but blood stickier than it should be so I was recommended 150mg aspirin from next BFP and booked for a hysteroscopy.

While at the clinic I signed up for a research study which included having an endometrial scratch (biopsy) which is supposed to help implantation. The effect can last up to 3 months so we started ttc again and lo & behold I was pregnant the next month. I'm now 34 weeks and like Lisa not ready to call it a success story yet but certainly getting there.

Other stuff I did was follow the diet and supplement advice in It Starts With The Egg and lost 2.5st to be closer to a healthy weight (the mc had taken a toll).

I wish you all the best. There are some good threads on here for ttc after mc.

[CL1982]

Dr Quenby is a really good person to look into if you can afford to have NKC testing done privately OP. I think she is in Warwickshire? Her results are amazing.

[LisaSimpsonsbff]

Her clinic is in Coventry - it's £540 flat fee for the NK cells test and all treatment, which obviously isn't cheap but is much more affordable than any other private option I've ever seen discussed on here.

[Dozer]

Don’t think NK testing alone would work - important to rule out other potential causes, especially blood clotting issues.

[Dozer]

I don’t mean wouldn’t work, mean might not be adviseable to have without also having other tests. Think the assumption is that we have other tests and then, if (as is often the case) still unexplained, consider the NK tests if can afford it, which are still experimental.

[LisaSimpsonsbff]

I agree, but the other tests are offered by the NHS and NK cell testing is not, which is why you might want to go private for that one test.

[LisaSimpsonsbff]

Sorry, x-post: I did them at the same time, and it made a certain amount of sense because you can't TTC while having the NK cells the way they're done at Coventry (it's a uterine biopsy, repeated in two different cycles) so if I'd waited until after my NHS results it would have been seven months of not trying, not four.

[CL1982]

@Dozer agreed but some NHS trusts and consultants don't even think NKCs are real so...if it's not offered alongside other testing it's 100% worth investigating.

[Dozer]

The private consultant I saw wasn’t convinced about NKC, but it was next on my list for testing! Very fortunately my next pregnancy was uneventful and DC arrived!

[harrietm87]

I had 3 early mcs in a row. The last one was a mmc which was especially awful as I thought one had finally worked out when I got to 8 weeks!

My hospital was useless so I went private - mr shehata at the miscarriage clinic. I have had hypothyroidism for 16 years and tests showed my anti thyroid antibodies were off the scale, and also found aggressive NK cells. I was treated with prednisolone and progesterone and now 33 weeks. Aspirin did nothing for me (took it for my last mc) and tests showed I didn't have any blood issues, but for many people that's all they need.