Third mc yesterday all in first trimester what questions should I be asking doctor

[Lozza70]

Unfortunately I had my 3rd mc yesterday. I'm so disappointed as I had nearly got to 10 weeks this time. I'm going to give my body a chance to recover before trying agian but what should I be asking my doctor to try and find out why this is happening?

Any advice welcome.

I'm so sorry, you must be feeling bloody awful. Have you heard of "blighted ovums"?? They are very common. It is just a blast of cells but not a baby. They always fall away within 3 months so it may be that this is what you're experiencing?
Another thing to wonder is are there any recessive illnesses such as haemophilia that would create a "lethal gene" in foetus and cause a misscarriage? Maybe its possible for you both to get some screening??
If your mc are all close together it could simply be that your uterus hadn't recovered from the first one??

Hi Manuka. Thanks for the advice, unfortunately this time I had a scan at 7 weeks which went well and the pregnancy was viable at the time with a heatbeat. As there is nothing you can do on the NHS until you have had 3 mc's it's hard to tell if the cause is the same for each. I may see what types of screening are available. DH and I are not aware of any family illnesses but DH is estranged from his fathers side of the family so there may be something there.

I definately think a break before we try again is a good idea.

Hi

I'm really sorry about your loss. I have had 6 mcs all within the first 10 weeks ( although one was only picked up at 12 week scan)

I have just been referred again to a consultant ( I was referred after 4 mcs but then got pg again and had dd3.

I have already had blood tests taken for lupus, thrombolis and thyroid aswell as dp and I having chromsome tests ( which came back clear).

Good luck in your search for answers and I hope you get a baby soon!

Lozza70, I'm so sorry
As you have now had three miscarriages you can ask to be referred to a specialist Recurrent Miscarriage Clinic (there is one at St Mary's in London but there are other centres around the UK).
As well as the considerations you have already posted about, IMO something you should ask for a full screening for is antiphospholipid syndrome (also known as Hughes Syndrome). It is a clotting disorder that causes people no problems as a rule, until they try and achieve a successful pregnancy. Basically, the microscopic clots which form in the placenta cause the pregnancy to fail
Best of luck. If it does turn out to be Hughes or another form of APL syndrome it can be successfully treated.

Marina and Mumto3girls. Thanks ever so much for your messages. It does give me a start on where to go with the doctors.

I've just remembered something I read a while ago. It was about coeliacs disease. apparently not every coeliac will have the traditional symptoms but they could have multiple mc's. So thats another thing to consider. if it is that then obviously all you need to do is go gluten free.
I hope it is something easy to remedy. xx

I'm so dreadfully sorry. Were your mcs consecutive? I have had 3 mcs too, but only two of them consecutive (I had ds after the first).

I agree with Marina's recommendation. Lesley Regan's book 'Miscarriage' (if you haven't got it, CAT me and I will dig out my copy) says that antiphospholipid disorders are notorious for making pgs miscarry when a heartbeat has been seen - I never got to that stage in any of mine (one was a blighted ovum and two stopped at or before the sac stage) and eventually concluded that I had 'just' (ha) had rotten luck. I am 27 weeks pg again now so there is hope.

I would agree a break is a good idea, for emotional rather than physical reasons. My second two mcs were within two cycles (I do not think the second had anything to do with the third, though) and afterwards I had a period of dreadful ambivalence about getting pg, including two+ weeks of shock, terror and denial (to the extent that I never actually did another test when the first one didn't work) with this pregnancy.

Poor you - it is a horrible situation to be in. I had 3 consecutive mc after having DS1. The first two were blighted ovums (picked up at 12 wks and 8 wks) and the third, like you, was ok at an early scan and then, when I went back for 12 wk, had died. First things first - it is not your fault. Ask for all the tests that you can have - chromosone/lupus etc (after 3 mc they will do a range of tests automatically I think). The chromosone test will also be for your DH. I think I also had a glucose test at that point too. Also, ask about taking miniaspirin. My consultant was very keen that I take mini aspirin from the beginning of my pregnancy, her argument being that it might help and it will not hinder iyswim. It is something to do with clotting or something (bit vague!) She also said that it could be that I cannot carry girls - first child was a boy - but we never found out the sex of the ones we lost. Something worked - as I type I have a little 5 week old boy downstairs who was born exactly a year to the day after I lost the previous one. Good luck.

Hi all. Unfortunately it has been 3 consecutive mc's over a 2 year period but 2 of them this year. As I had the early scan this time and saw the heartbeat I suppose I had got my hopes up for a success. It is great to hear however that for some of you it has all worked out afterwards.

Berolina, on the book you recomended, not sure what CATing you is, reletively new to Mumsnet

Lozza70,
So sorry you are going through this. I have had three consecutive miscarriages as well, also two this year. I have been referred to a recurrent miscarriage clinic and have just had a date for July come through. The nurse that contacted me said that they would take bloods from both myself and my husband and check for all chromosome abnormalities. I have also been tested for Rhesus negative blood as it runs in the family and can be a factor.Sorry to not have more info for you there was a post on here somewhere about what tests could be done but I cant find it at the moment.

Poor you, especially as you'd got further along this time. There are various things they can investigate, already mentioned here, and the GP should refer you to a recurrent miscarriage clinic. Many of them specialise in the antiphosolipid thing - women who have had three or more miscarriages are 15% more likely than the rest of the population to suffer from this. It means your blood clots and in effect stops oxygen getting to the embryo. So they'll check you for this and if it is it's so simple to treat - a mini aspirin and something else when it's under supervision at clinic, think it might be heparin injections which thin the blood and stop it happening.
BUT it might not be this and they might not be able to find what it is. It might be what they call 'bad luck' - ie 'we don't know so just try again.'
I saw a private gynae after one of my m/c and she gave me lots of really good advice. Like, the baby's really well protected in your womb, you won't have affected it by running for the bus, having sex or whatever. And your womb doesn't have a memory, it doesn't know what happened to the last egg, so you don't need a break to make your eggs healthier or whatever, but you need to be prepared mentally mainly, for all eventualities. Boost your chances with a good diet and a dose of supplements - I found Foresight useful, though it does cost a small fortune - your DH needs to do it too - www.foresight-preconception.org.uk.
And good luck, I so wish you success next time.

I had 7 m/cs - all around 10/11 weeks when the baby is attaching. Had all the tests and they all came back negative. BUT gynae strongly advised me that as soon as PG again (but not before) to start taking a single daily dose of 'baby aspirin' (you can get it over the counter - 75mg) until week 32 of PG.

worked first time. And second time. Have DS and DD now.

Would recommend discussing with specialist. So far as I know this level of aspirin can't do any harm, and the blood clottign tests are apparantly not an exact science...

Also avoid risk of getting a fever during first 3 months - this I am sure was a factor in a couple of my m/cs. I went into hibernation for the last two....

Lozza70 - I don't know if you remember me from the New Year thread. I missed your sad news as I was on holiday and I just wanted to say how very sorry I was/am I hope you are ok. I lost a baby at 10 weeks in March so I do know the pain. Take care hon