TTC after MC (#7) - fx for better times ahead

(Toddler hitting send!)

... Don't have the safety net of being able to follow people up & see how things are progressing it's probably tempting to have a lower threshold for them. Or if doctors are feeling overwhelmed some tests/referral can be an easy way of getting people out of the room with something but doesn't necessarily move things on much! If anyone's particularly interested there's been quite a lot in the medical press recently e.g. BMJ / LMC conference speeches on "too much medicine" and harms of over investigation/treatment.

But anyway, if you're getting tests done make sure they're the right ones? It might be helpful to look at RCOG or miscarriage association or NICE or the recurrent miscarriage thread, Paws for info about which blood tests are recommended for recurrent miscarriage or what the specialist clinics are doing if you want to go down that route now & see if they can add on some more tests if it's just FBC/ferritin/ANA so far?

Mummyofonesofar I think I have a pretty realistic idea about strain GPs are under! More tests & referrals is not always the right thing to be doing clinically although then you're locumming so don't have the safet

Thinking of you paws. I can't imagine how painful it must be to have a second miscarriage in a row. The first nearly broke me. You are doing amazing, so glad you can get some tests started.

Hello horsey. Sorry for your loss. I am also in the wtf cycle, day 34 now.

Although I am very confused. I started getting brown stains in my knickers on Thursday and thought AF was on her way but nothing more than a few brown wipes so far (sorry if that's tmi). Usually once I see spotting it all kicks off in the next 12-24 hrs but I'm not bleeding yet. I can't help wondering if it's a bit of an implantation bleed but I had a -ve test yesterday morning. So confused! Just want to know one way or the other. And stupidly I forgot to pack pg tests and I'm on holiday now. In the UK though so might have to find a boots if AF doesn't get going by Monday.

That's right, paws, I have a wonderful son, aged 5. I am very lucky.

I think it's easier for me because I know my body is capable of carrying and producing a healthy child and it is for this reason that I will not be asking for any testing or referrals from my doctor. Resources should be directed towards those who are struggling to have their first child.

Hard when DS regularly asks me for a sibling, though!

I think you underestimate how much strain is currently on gps to reduce spending.

Hmm, not doing loads of tests/immediately referring often is a thought through clinical decision rather than financial one though! & then it's doing the right tests/referrals that counts...

If you do want to go down test route early it might be worth looking at which ones are recommended or done by the recurrent miscarriage clinics?

Is it anything other than ANA, ferritin & FBC being done? I don't think the latter two will tell you much about a cause of miscarriages more just whether you're anaemic now? & thyroid function tests might be more helpful as a first step than ANA unless there's a family history of autoimmune/lupus? I'd also ask for some thrombophilia bloods tests as those are probably the biggest group of recurrent miscarriage causes.
I also wanted to do a urine sample and vaginal swab ASAP to exclude urine or vaginal infection (bacterial vaginosis mostly).

The recurrent miscarriage thread over in body & soul then miscarriage sub forum is a great resource!

paws locums always agree more tests or refer on as they aren't held accountable for their spending. Glad you got one.

That's good! You sound really positive...yay! My bleeding is minimal now, don't need an adult nappy now haha (tenna lady night pants) mc godsend btw!
You're brave to try again hun, I commend you for that, I'm too scared as don't have any dc's yet, and would rather know if there was a problem before ttc again, just in case I risk my future chances. But am I right in thinking you already have a child/children? If I had one already I would probably just start ttc again straight away too. Glad you're feeling better anyway, I'm feeling drained today, feels like flu, I ache all over, inside and out. Zero energy! X x

Yes, I'm definitely up for trying again. Just counting the days to start again! I'm feeling OK physically, have been quite tired and drained all week. I'm still bleeding but it's not as horrendous. How about you?

Thank you mama, I'm glad you found some comfort from a reading. I often do my own cards and they are always accurate (not tarot, oracle) . How are you after your mc? Same time bfp/mc as me! You going to try again? X
mummy I'm relieved they took me seriously, I explained how I feel my body is 'rejecting' my pregnancies and feels like it can't cope due to how ill and run down I get. Brilliant doctor today, only filling in for a short while otherwise I would snatch him up as my regular doc! X
honey, no not at all! Don't be a silly billy! X

mama not long and another BFP is on the cards then! ( literally )

Thank you, mummy. You are always so kind to me. The cards actually said it would happen between this August and next April. The sooner the better - I'm 40 next month and feeling that time is running out!

paws glad that you are able to take some positive steps. I hope I didn't sound like I was trivialising your mc in my previous post as I know how horrid it is. Before falling preg with dd, I had a mc at just over 4 weeks and was absolutely devastated, so I understand. My bleed then was a really heavy and painful period.

Welcome horsey sorry for your loss. My wtf cycle was 49 days and ended last Friday, so fingers crossed you don't have long to wait. It's a very frustrating limbo kinda feeling!

paws glad they took your pain seriously and are doing some tests to kick things off lovely. Good idea about having a little break.

mama I hope the tarot reading was wrong and it is much sooner x

horsey sorry my cycle was 35 days after natural mc. And sorry for your loss x

Hello horsey and welcome, although I am sorry that you find yourself here. I hope this thread helps you as much as it has helped me.

That's absolutely fascinating, paws! I'm not certain that I believe in all the woo stuff but my reading certainly gave me comfort when I needed it.

Best of luck for your tests x

Welcome horsey, sorry for your loss. I know how crushing it is to lose your first pregnancy. The ladies here are lovely x

Thankyou Morgan carrot mama for the information and kind words. X
That's great news about your reading mama ... Will keep you going
I'm quite lucky I spose, as my husband is a working medium. 'upstairs' told him that I was going to find my pregnancy (1st) very hard, they obviously aren't allowed to 'tell' him that I was going to mc as your 'life path' and circumstances may change as time goes by....

On a different note, went to doctors today....am getting blood tests done for the following:
Anti-nuclear antibodies (ANA)
Full blood count
Ferritin

We're gonna wait to try again, until we get our results back (both me and dh) so we don't risk another, possibly unnecessary mc. Gonna be hard to wait, but perhaps after two mc's a break from it would be beneficial for my physical and emotional health. I'll still stick around on here though, ill need you ladies to keep me going!

Oh paws your story has made me so sad. I'm really sorry you are going through this again.

Can I join this thread? Been hanging around for a long time and feel like I could do with some support. I'm currently on day 43 of a WTF cycle after a MMC at the end of May. Blighted ovum found at 9 weeks and I eventually had an ERPC at nearly 12 weeks. I am 31, ttc #1 and got pregnant first month of trying.

Desperado for my period to come back so we can start trying again. Anyone got experience of a long wtf cycle and when did period come back? Used to be a regular 31 day cycle and worried I'll never get my pattern back x

I'm so sorry, paws. I hope you manage to get some answers.

I had a tarot card reading yesterday. It was very reassuring. I will have my baby by the end of next year.

Paws The devil's advocate is that miscarriages are common - at least 20% of conceptions - so one or even two in a row (horrible as is it) can be just be bad luck. The statistical tipping point to potentially being a cause is 3 in a row hence the general UK guidance for first trimester miscarriages - unless other exenuating features like age/subfertility/suspected underlying cause. & even then a cause is only found in about 50%.

You could look into if your local EPU is doing any trials & get investigations (+ potentially treatments) that way or would having them privately be an option..?

I do look back & kick myself somewhat for not having private tests after our 2nd miscarriage with hindsight because the next one ended the same way - but it could've more likely been a lucky one... & we're on the NHS/private RMC treadmill now!

I hope so mummy. I'm going to make it very clear that I'm already not feeling well emotionally after two in a row. I honestly couldn't handle three. I'll let you know what they say. Thank you for your support xx

Oh paws crossed posts. I am so sorry you are feeling like that. I hope you have the confidence to pour your heart out tomorrow and they listen. Your mental wellbeing is at stake here x

Sorry for rant. I really don't mean to come across self obsessed x