I've just had my third miscarriage. What NHS help can I expect?

[thirdpip]

I had my third mc last week. First was silent and on my 12 week scan no heartbeat detected. They think it happened around 6 wks. Second time it happened around 9 weeks and third time I was 5+3. I was told after my second mc that no help would be given until a third because it was so common. Two weeks ago when I found out I was pregnant I got v anxious and went straight to the doctor to ask lots of questions and seek reassurance. She said no help would be offered until my 5th mc. I was shocked. This figure was news to me. I've got a drs appointment later week. What can I expect them to offer me? What tests can they do? I'm mid 30s and in Surrey. If NHS can't help what private route I can go down? I can't bear the idea of falling pregnant again and waiting to see what happens. I know it may be super bad luck but I don't want to end up in the same position 3/6/9 months later and be another year older with no family started.

Im sorry for your losses 5 miscarriages? That's new. It used to be 3, so IDK if that has changed or if your GP has got it wrong.When I had my three MCs I was then referred to a recurrent miscarriage clinic where they did karyotyping, ultrasound of my womb and a number of blood tests - clotting factors, NK cells - again IDK if this is out of date but Lesley Regan's recurrent miscarriage book detailed everything the NHS would do for you.If it really is 5 MCs now rather than 3, would you consider private testing? It cost about 800 pounds for us, I can PM you our clinic details if you're in the London area. There's no guarantee that they will find anything of course but IMO 800 pounds is a steal if it means you don't have to go through two more miscarriages.

I'm so very sorry for your loss. Yes, as too says, I am surprised they said 5 and would see if you can query. I was referred for 3 and that was only a couple of years ago. I also was referred to the clinic, and they did various tests. But, even before that, my own GP did a test that showed I had a clotting disorder, which is one of the very common causes of miscarriage. And it has a very simple treatment - you just have to take a blood thinner during pregnancy (horrible injectable things, but also weirdly reassuring because you know you're doing something!). I would definitely see if you can agitate for that test, because it is extremely simple and my GP said it was cheap.

Thanks toomuch and LRD. I'd like to think that the most recent Dr I saw got the number wrong. I will see what they say on Thursday. Thanks for offer to share private clinic details. I'd definitely like to take a look. PM me. It is worth it if I can't get help straight away. It feels like you have to check and double check procedure all the time. With my 2nd mc I ended up in A&E in another county. They took the foetus and tissue away to be tested. They said they'd write to me with the results but they didn't and now when I call to chase it up, my call never gets returned. It's frustrating because what if the results are showing something important which should be flagged up to my EPU / doctor

Oh, that is awful. I wish I could say I was shocked, but I'm not. I constantly had to badger for absolutely everything, and they routinely got my medical notes confused with my partner's notes (she's a she, which I suppose is why?!), so I'd get people sending her out hospital appointments for a test I needed. OTOH the consultant at the recurrent miscarriage clinic was absolutely wonderful, and really got how horrible the whole situation is. In fact the clinic were great at chasing things up for me. Even so, when I was stuck in the endless cycle of calling people who told me to call someone else, I ended up emailing someone's secretary with a copy of my GP notes and asking her to forward my email to her boss, which is absolutely not what you're meant to do (you're meant to go through your GP). It worked. So do push! I am appalled they didn't reply to you.

I am in Surrey and received investigations after 3 miscarriages. I had a variety of blood tests as did my husband and a physical examination. Nothing obvious was wrong so I was prescribed progesterone from the day I got a positive test next time and had to take an aspirin every day. Wishing you lots of luck

Thanks for your notes Olivia and LRD... I didn't realise there were messages I hadn't replied to! I finally got my test results and nothing showed out of the ordinary but I was told it only checked for a molar pregnancy. I've got a referral from the docs but my date at the hospital isn't until January so I'm going private. Can't wait any longer. I hope it's just a case of progesterone and aspirin.