3 MCs, no known cause. What next?

[Churchill20]

Hi There, I'm 35 yo and fit and healthy. Husband is 40 yo and also fit and healthy. we have no children between us. In the last 2 years we have had 3 early missed miscarriages. With the last miscarriage, it took us a year to conceive- so a long wait. All found with no heartbeat at 7 weeks.
I have been referred to the Recurrent Miscarriage Clinic at kings College Hospital and all blood results (clotting issues, APS, thyroid), karyotyping and 3D scan have come back as normal. So nothing they can do.
Has anybody else been in this situation? What did they do?

• is it worth trying to get referred to St Mary's Recurrent miscarriage clinic- do they do other tests?
• should I try taking low dose aspirin with the next pregnancy, even through I don't have a blood issue?
• should I try to get a referral to the Infertility Clinic to try to get pregnant faster (as it took a year last time)

I'm exasperated!!
Thank you!x

[WhatWouldLeighAnneTwohyDo]

Churchill, you've had lots of good medical advice, and what I'm going to say is an approach of last resort, but my story might be interesting even so.

I had an accidental pregnancy in my 20s. I was in very precarious housing and even though I was devastated by the idea of a termination I felt like I had no option. Fortunately, before it came to that, I had an early MC.

Years later, in more stable circumstances, I conceived and gave birth to DC1. After that 3 early MCs. Then DC2. Then 5 more early MCs. Then DC3. I tried for DC4 but had 3 more MCs and was in my 40s by then so I gave up TTC. In between DC2 and 3, we had all the testing and nothing showed up.

What's interesting, though, is that the 3 cycles in which I conceived a viable pregnancy correspond with the 3 occasions in my life when I've signed a contract on a house. I think I was so appalled at the idea of having a baby when I was borderline homeless all those years ago that that first MC was psychologically induced and that my body continued responding inappropriately to that anxiety except for the few times when my domestic security was literally right in front of me.

I know you will obviously want to look at physical causes first, and quite right too, but it might be useful also to consider the possibility of psychological factors in your history. The mind has a really powerful effect on the body imo.

I wish you luck.

[BishopofBathandWells]

@LisaSimpsonsbff I definitely think stress was a huge contributing factor for me. I can see why a PP felt that her mindset re: having a stable home had a similar impact.

Of the three miscarriages I had, the third one was tested for genetic abnormality and came back normal. I remember it particularly as the (generally lovely) doctor we had put the "conception material" in a specimen jar and left it next to me on the desk. By this point my sense of humour was quite dark, and my DP and I commented that we didn't think much of his paperweight. The poor nurse practically broke her neck running across the room to remove it.

The doctor had suggested heparin as the next port of call. But as I said, I reduced my stress levels considerably - it wasn't a conscious decision, it just fell that way - and my next pregnancy went all the way through. My DD is just over a year old.

[AnneLovesGilbert]

Hey bertie hope all’s well with you!

OP, bertie and lisa and I were on a ttc after rmc thread which is still going and a huge source of empathetic support. Nearly all the women on there, who had every permutation of loss, got our rainbow babies in the end. Being able to chat to people in the same boat who truly get it helped us all through the toughest of times.

[Churchill20]

Hi Everyone, I just wanted to update you and hopefully get some more advice from you please.
Last week I had my 4th missed miscarriage- same old story- went for a 7 week scan and there was no heartbeat. I had a SMM the next day (my 4th 🥺).
It doesn’t get any easier does it? I feel traumatised. It is affecting every corner of my life.
I now need a plan. As I am apparently ‘unexplained’ but this cannot be down to chance. I think I should investigate NK cells and see if this is my problem. It seems that the 2 best people to see are Quenby and Shehata. It looks like Dr S is much more expensive, is he worth the extra fee or does he just charge a higher price for the same thing?
Thank you for reading x

[Likethebattle]

Is your husband a positive blood type and you negative? Could it be rhesus disease? My friend lost a few pregnancies that way.

[makingmammaries]

I had a MC in my early forties. A previous pregnancy had been successfully supported with progesterone when my hormone levels seemed to be dipping (it was in Switzerland, where you get a blood test and ultrasound every month, more often if you report any problems) and after the MC when I was pregnant again and spotting started I requested and received progesterone - it would have been around 8 or 9 weeks. That baby is now a healthy 6.5 year old.

[MoominMamaBear]

@Churchill20 I’m so sorry for your losses. I’ve had 3 miscarriages, then DS1, then another miscarriage, then DS2. I went to see Mr. Christopher Steer at the Sloane hospital in Beckenham after the first 3, and it turned out I had anti-thyroid antibodies (I had undiagnosed Hashimoto’s Disease) and high NK cells. Mr. Steer put me on low dose aspirin, progesterone suppositories, and steroids. The 4th miscarriage happened because I couldn’t get a prescription for the drugs I needed in time. I’d definitely go for the NK cell testing to see if that is a reason. Good luck.

[Getintogear963]

Hi Churchill20
I have just seen this. It’s similar to my situation. Know it’s an old thread. Just wondered if you ever got there with your baby trying? I am now 45 and with a record of 6 losses and a failed IVF between the age of 39-42.
I do hope you had some luck finally. x

[LAURAPAX]

Realise this is an old thread but similar position. How did you get on I hope it all worked out whatever way that looks like xxx