To feel exploited by private fertility miscarriage clinic - need advice

[notaurewhatusername]

Posting for traffic and really stressed about this.

I'm 8 weeks pregnant and feeling distressed about my experience with a private fertility clinic. After getting pregnant naturally, I sought their care for early monitoring. They prescribed intralipids and steroids, insisting on fortnightly visits costing £800-£1000 each. When I tried to reduce costs by arranging NHS scans in between theirs and therefore reducing visits from fortnightly to monthly, they became uncooperative and sent me some quite shitty pressurising emails.

Recent research has made me doubt their treatment approach, especially regarding intralipids and steroids. When I expressed these concerns and asked for flexibility, the clinic responded with stern emails and ultimatums about prescriptions. They seem more focused on maintaining their expensive scan schedule than addressing my well-being.

This is my 7th pregnancy after previous losses, and I'm torn about how to proceed. Should I continue with this clinic despite my reservations, switch entirely to NHS care, or seek a middle ground?

I'm worried about the right treatment and don't want to risk another miscarriage, but the clinic's behavior feels unethical. I have NHS appointments coming up and would appreciate any advice on this. Thanks

This is so difficult. On the one hand, once you have your baby safely in your arms you won’t care about the cost (I’ve spent £££££ on ivf, (4mc’s, some failed cycles, one DC) I’d be mortgage free if we hadn’t spent on cc & remortgaged!) and if anything happened and they said ‘well you reduced scans and we couldn’t monitor you effectively and adjust medication’ you’d wonder ‘what if’ forever.
I do feel at times that we were robbed, but I can’t regret a penny that we spent.

Wishing you a happy and healthy pregnancy

It's actually not about the money it's that I'm now reading advice to say the treatment I've been prescribed can be harmful - this is the main issue.

I can't just stop the treatment without advice - they have me in a chokehold. I don't trust them.

@ColombianCold sorry u should have explained initially the way they are being forcing the scans made me question their ethics so I then started reading here which is a government website and it states the treatment I've been given has recently been uncovered as useless and also potentially harmful ; www.hfea.gov.uk/treatments/treatment-add-ons/immunological-tests-and-treatments-for-fertility/

It surprises my immune system which is a bad thing not good. Recent research is uncovering. I don't know who to go to for reputable sound advice now.

Can you share the name of the clinic?

@ColombianCold meant to say sorry I*!

@Booboobamalam CRP Clinic

Then you need to find an independent expert/consultant ASAP to talk this through with.

How much research did you do into this company?? How long has this company been established?

Hi OP, I went private regarding recurrent miscarriage. I had full blood work done and my prescription when I fell pregnant was based exactly on the results - have these been discussed with you?
The clinic I was at also quickly transferred me to NHS care for my scans and appts to avoid costly bills. Have you booked with your NHS midwife yet?

I did have 2-weekly scans from 7 weeks onwards to ensure the pregnancy continued to progress and looked okay.

@TwinklyAmberOrca they have good google reviews mainly (a few saying similar to me) and are talked about on here a lot - the main issue is that recent research on the link above and tommys website are stating the approach to treatment they're giving me is outdated and potentially harmful. Despite this is was still going to continue parts of it but now they're putting pressure on me which is validating my concerns even more.

Ah apologies. I got the wrong end of the stick when you said about expensive scans and them pushing their schedule of scans.

@leopardski I had full bloods, all normal. I'm due under the NHs for the first time next week, and Tommys I have an appointment too. I will likely run out of meds before then and the clinic refuse to give me a prescription without the scan despite this.

Can you wait until 12 weeks or NHS dating scan before stopping with clinic? Intralipids and steroids are common medications for women who have had recurrent miscarriages and gone through immune tests. Very unlikely to harm, and may help, so I'd keep on them to avoid thinking what if, in the end having a healthy baby is what matters.

@ColombianCold it's ok, I don't think I explained clearly in the original post! Thanks x

@Lemonbalm8 even if Tommys and government websites are stating this isn't correct? And also, NHS have frowned about intrilipids and steroids when I went for a scan last week too.

Have the clinic done any tests? Do you have a diagnosis regarding your recurrent miscarriages?

I needed IVF treatment but I also suffered with recurrent MC - I had tests however which showed why, my fertility clinic (Care Sheffield) referred me back to the NHS with my pregnancy, with written instructions as to why I needed Clexane, Steroids (prednisolone), progesterone and high dose folic acid and my GP agreed to prescribe them through the NHS.

I then also had fortnightly scans at my local maternity hospital.

Is this something that could be looked at? The same treatments, but through the NHS?

CRP with Dr shehata is a well known clinic. I myself haven't been there but I've had recurrent MCs unfortunately. It is experimental and not fully evidence based, but as a scientist I was sceptical but now that you're here, it's best to keep going with the treatment.

What bloods did they take?

Could you contact the clinic and just ask to speak to the consultant about any concerns you have asap? I was a bit worried about one element of my results but they explained it all to me over email when my over-anxious mind went in to overdrive.
A Tommys midwife may be available to speak with you too.

FWIW, I took steroids. I suffered no ill effects and it was my first ever successful pregnancy.
Good luck OP. It’s a stressful time after loss.

@Lemonbalm8 thank you. As a scientist do you still think so even though the independent regulator of fertility is stating the treatments are harmful?

www.hfea.gov.uk/treatments/treatment-add-ons/immunological-tests-and-treatments-for-fertility/

@rainsofcastamere u don't know the specifics it was a well being they called it - I know it included thyroid as I have known thyroid issue - it was normal

@rainsofcastamere they want me to remain under them, NHS will not listen to their guides either. Each side is being quite cooperative and I'm stuck in the middle making sense of it all.

They have given me prednisone and intrilipids and imprecise but I have read this which is a Reputable website ;

Sorry but NHS is outdated with their guidelines and research, they are more cautious (for a good reason). Dr brosens and Dr Quenby are doing research on immune issues, but it will take longer to get results and with medical research many times results are mixed because different people respond differently. It doesn't mean it will negatively affect the pregnancy and the baby. Lots of people who have autoimmune condition will have steroids thought is pregnancy, it's very unlikely to harm. Just because it's not proven yet, doesn't mean it is harmful. You're already on it, I wouldn't take it now if you're starting now, but at 8 weeks I'd continue taking, but it's up to you. It suppresses your immunity, by next month when colds and stuff start off you can wean off, once you have your dating scan.

@Lemonbalm8 thank you, then I have to return to the clinic and I now feel uneasy after how they've been speaking with me.

I'm also going abroad on week 9 and am incredibly worried with a suppresses immune system

Also the research I am relying on is not NHS it's this;

us
We are the UK’s independent regulator of fertility treatment and research using human embryos. A world-class expert organisation in the fertility sector, we were the first statutory body of our type in the world.

You need a second optnion from a consultant not a fertility clinic. Stick to consultants who also do a bit of NHS . I do t know where you live, but check out options on Bupa or Citcle health group web sites. Beena Subba in London is excellent