Help - Advice TTC after miscarriage

[snowcloud]

Hello - new on here but wondering if others can help/shed light on this. Had a miscarriage and ERPC end of May. I was about 11 weeks. Since then we've been TTC the whole time through. It's now like 41 days since the ERPC and still no AF and it's driving me mad as to whether I've even ovulated or whether I might be pregnant or not and whether AF is just going to appear. I have been doing OPK throughout this cycle but not from the very beginning as I had not thought of using them. They have always shown negative until last weekend when a faint second line was there. Pregnancy tests show negative. I just want to know.

I also feel like I have a solid or rock type feeling below like I did before when I was pregnant but would that be caused by the previous pregnancy? I know it seems early or too soon since it happened but for those who have experienced this you will understand that every day that goes by feels like forever.

Snowcloud, I'm sorry for your loss.

I've had two erpc's and both times it took longer than expected to ovulate. It can take some time( three months for me). If you are unsure, you could take a pregnancy test to be sure. By now all traces of HCG would be gone from your previous pregnancy, so a test would pick up a new pregnancy. If you have a solid feeling in your belly, it could well be a pregnancy, or because not everything was expelled from the uterus. In which case you ought to see your doctor and he should order a scan to see what's going on in there.

I recently had a miscarriage at 5 weeks. I had a bleed and thought it was all done with. A week and a half later I had pregnancy symptoms again and positive tests, had a scan and there was something in my uterus, but not a baby unfortunately, a week later I had another bleed. I know this isn't your experience, but just wanted to say that having a scan is a good idea, if you're unsure of what is happening.

I wish you all the best. Try not to worry, most women go on to have a healthy baby after a miscarriage.

Snowcloud, I am also sorry for your loss. I had two MMcs last year, the first was a blighted ovum, it passed naturally, and about 4 months later I was pregnant again. Sadly this time, while there was an embryo it didn't make it pat 7 weeks i had an ERPC scheduled, but my body had other ideas. So after that one, I didn't get pregnant again until MArch of this year (about 8 months). but everything is looking just fine, we are at 16 weeks, so keep you chin up!

Hi snowcloud - I'm so sorry for your loss.

I had an ERPC at the beginning of March (at nearly 11 weeks), and I didn't get my first period for over 2 months. It did seem like forever at first, because as you say, you just want to know.

I was told that following the ERPC it may take up to 2 weeks to do a negative pregnancy test and that it might take around 6 weeks for my period. I know how very frustrating (and let's face it, impossible) the waiting is, but you are still within the suggested 6 weeks so it is quite possible that you haven't ovulated yet.

In my case it took longer as my HCG levels dropped very slowly so my pregnancy tests stayed low, but positive, for about 7 weeks or so. Since your tests are negative, you shouldn't have the same problem and hopefully things will start happening for you soon.

A couple of asides:

I know how raw and desperate this time can be, and it really can start to feel like days are being wasted and nothing is happening quickly enough. I'm sure many of us who have had a miscarriage remember or recognise that feeling. I certainly felt like it was vital for me to be pregnant again immediately.

Now don't get me wrong, DH and I are absolutely TTC at the moment, but after all those weeks of doing positive tests and feeling angry that I couldn't move on and TTC right away, something weird happened. I'd had a scan to make sure that there was no tissue remaining, and I was having weekly blood tests to make sure my HCG levels were dropping, so I knew everything was okay medically - it was just so frustrating. Then somewhere along the line I accepted that it was completely out of my control. I couldn't make my body become ready to conceive by sheer force of will, and I would just have to wait. I am the least patient person I know, but recognising that fact really helped me to relax and let go of some of the tension I'd been carrying around. It made me feel like I could breathe again, and I felt a bit happier in general.

If you do feel that something may not be right physically, then please see your GP. Hopefully they will be able to set your mind at ease. But please remember to take care of yourself emotionally, and to try and find a way to give yourself some breathing space. That doesn't mean that you should stop TTC if you are ready to, just that your emotional wellbeing is just as important as your physical wellbeing.

Best of luck to you. x

Thank you so much for replies. I think it just makes you feel a bit better to chat to someone who has been through the same thing on here too. I think I'll see what happens and maybe go to the doctor after that. HPT is negative and OPK has faint line - not had that till this week and never had a positive one yet x

Still the same I'm on day 42 now still nothing. x

It's frustrating, and I'm sure the stress of waiting isn't helping.

Maybe make an appointment with your GP and see if they can help or suggest anything. 42 days isn't an abnormal length of time, but if you are worrying it may help to talk it through with the doctor.

I hope the line on your OPK is a good sign :)

Sorry for your loss Snowcloud. I totally get your frustration. I had erpc end of April, I had bleeding/spotting for 7 weeks after and I'm now 11 weeks in total since op and still no af!!! It is very hard to have patience and relax. But I suppose getting annoyed won't bring it on any faster. Hope af shows up soon.

i had a mc in march started naturally and had a d7c just to be sure i had a faint pos still around 2weeks after but got my period exactly 4 wks after d&c we did try in that month but i didnt check to see if i ov'd. i was very paranoid bout avoideing the confusion you have now. i got preg the next month (may) but unfortunatly lost that one 2weeks ago. u are very fertile after mc apparently so i would go to the doc so they can check you over.

Thank you for your replies and advice. Still nothing now. Day 43. I'm so sorry Cartoonface. It is so heartbreaking. I'm so praying to get pg as soon as possible but just don't understand what's going on with me. I think I might go to the docs next week if I'm still the same to check things out.

I definitely think u should to put your mind at rest.

Still nothing so did a HPT and nothing. I then dropped it on floor and bit disloged then made the Pg line but then it disappeared. It was a nice thought for a second x

That's strange thou. Do u have another to double check? How long has it been now?

I know but I think some of the ink disloged then stuck across the test area then disappeared. It was one of those One Step Pregnancy Tests - I bought loads cheap off Amazon. I'm on day 45 and have not had AF at all and HPT says Negative (apart from when you move the bottom and makes the line which then disappears) . No idea if I've ovulated or anything either. Think I'll have to go to docs soon to check things out. I'm so worried they will say there's some retained tissure or something and I'll have to go through all this again and start everything all over again.

Hi snow cloud - it took about 9 weeks for my period to return after my ERCP which I think is fairly normal. I know how frustrating the waiting is though - I was so happy to go and buy a box of tampons when it eventually came.

Thank you for your reply. x

I think you would be testing positive on HPTs if you had retained tissue - the tissue would prevent your HCG levels from dropping. Your GP can order a beta-HCG test for you if you are concerned though - it will tell you the exact level of HCG in your blood. A negative pregnancy bHCG test is less than 5, I think.

Thank you. I was hoiping this would be the case but on day 47 now and nothing so that's all I can think it is unless my body has decided it is going to so unbelievably slow at getting back to normal. Tried to get a doctors appointment and there was nothing left today even though I rang first thing in the morning and to pre book an appoinment with the usual doctor I see who knows all my notes well is a wait of about 3 weeks! Can't believe that.

Day 48 - still the same. Going to try and see a doctor tomorrow.

Doctor's appointments are a nightmare. I tried to get a telephone appointment just so I could get my blood test results, and they didn't have anything available up to the end of the month (which is how far in advance they could book).

I really hope you get to see the doctor tomorrow snowcloud, and that they can help. x

Yes, I'm hoping and feeling positive about getting a doctors appointment tomorrow x

Good luck snowcloud... I know how you feel. I had a mmc in april and apart from the first cycle, have bled everyday since! I feel like I am in limbo and thank god for work which takes my mind off it! Let us know how it goes, fingers crossed for the gp but if you have no luck, ring nhs direct because they have helped me to get appointments before, by ringing through to my surgery for me if they are concerned. They did that for me in early pregnancy when I had a bleed.

Been to the doctors and got an appointment with the person I wanted to see. She just said to wait another 7 to 10 days and then come back if I'm still in the same situation. She said to keep POAS to see if anything changes.

Still the same must be day 51 or something now xx