TTC after pregnancy loss - thread 27 - BFPs are coming!

[Yukka]

New Thread as we're at 988 messages on thread 26. we'll do a quick roll call:
Age 39
TTC x1
MC x 3 = Sept + Dec 2017 + May 2018
Currently pregnant again 5w4ds
Diagnosed with APS/Hughes Syndrome. On Asprin since October and start Heparin tomorrow. First scan Monday.

xx

Hi Ladies, wanted to provide an update as its probably time for me to leave the conception thread now.

I had my third scan this morning which went really well. I'm measuring slightly ahead of my 10w4 and more like 11 weeks. Heartbeat was strong and we saw the head, body, an arm and a hand.

I'm seeing the consultant in two weeks to talk through what the next few months look like with the APS condition and understand the risks a little more, but it was a massive relief today. This is the furthest we've ever got and i'm somewhere in between elation and cautious optimism.

But, everything is good, so I should be able to relax a little more.

Really wish you all the best for this year. I hope if anything my own story helps keep you motivated to keep trying and having the tests, whether you struggle to get pregnant or struggle to stay pregnant. Don't be afraid to try new things also - acupuncture, yoga, etc, despite the diagnosis I know these things help my body get back to normal after the last MC in order to fall pregnant again.

Thanks for all your support in the huddle during this last year, you've been an amazing comfort when no-one else around me knew how to talk about it.

xxxx

Congratulations @Yukka, amazing news. Hope everything goes smoothly for you and you can relax and enjoy the next few months. Thank you for all the support. I am going to start acupuncture again in a couple of weeks, I think it helped reduce my cycle length.
Can I just ask about APS tests, gp sent me to have blood tests yesterday which included this, but I'm not sure if it will be a waste of time as I read somewhere it has to be a number of weeks after a mc? Although I did get a bfn yesterday.

Thanks @chilliandlime. re the acupuncture - my cycles struggled to get back to 28 days after last MC, but acupuncture sorted it within a month and I got pregnant the following cycle . .

The APS test can be done at any time as they are looking for abnormal levels of a specific antibody which with APS your body is naturally overproducing in your blood. My waiting time was about 6 weeks I think for an appointment though, then if the results came back with a positive, you have to be tested again 12 weeks later for the same antibodies to be present consistently. Those two positive tests and recurrent MC confirm a diagnosis. If the second test was negative, then they would rule it out as there are other reasons why they could be elevated as a one off. Its a rare condition - but it affects mostly women and is the most treatable cause of recurrent MC.
Obviously if the first test is negative then you won't need the second test.

Good luck x

@Chilliandlime thank you. Fx for us both. It does sound like we are very similar in dates. This really does suck.

@Yukka that's great news! Would be lovely if you could pop back though to let us know how you're getting on, will give hope to those still trying to have their rainbow. Fx for a healthy and smooth pregnancy and delivery x

Thanks @InDreamland, I'll do that. . . . I'm happy to help with questions too about APS or testing after recurrent, just tag my name in and I'll see it.

I started a thread a month ago for pregnancy with APS but go no replies and there isn't a lot of information available. I'll be hounding the consultant when I see him :)

@Yukka thank you, it's good to hear it can be done anytime, and about your positive experience with acupuncture x

Hi ladies i hope you don't mind me joining I think techniquely i had a chemical pregnancy (5 weeks) so not sure if it counts. Any ideas as to what I should expect now? I'm now into my 15th month of ttc x

Up date ladies

So my last post says I had blood tests and positive tests just after Christmas. I had a negative hpt on 30th. I was asked to take another test today by epu. And it was again positive so epu want me to have bloods done again tomorrow and a scan and more bloods on Sunday. No one seems to know what is going on. I really need a hand hold more than ever, my anxiety is sky high and I've never been so emotional and messed up ever. Hopefully Sunday I will have answers.

Oh @Lilimum5 I really feel for you-i can't imagine what you are going through. Huge hugs and hand hold xxx

@Yukka I'm so pleased all is going well for you. May I ask with APS testing what test you had? They tested me for lupus (dilut Russell viper ven ratio the results printout says!) and serum Anti-Cardiolipin level -both came back negative so they said I don't have sticky blood, but I know there are a range of tests and I'm not sure if these are the right ones to rule it out?

Keeping fingers crossed for you @InDreamland xx

Hi ladies, sorry i’ve not read the whole thread but high five to everyone going through this shit

Ive had two MMC this year, 1st, baby died at 12+2, recovered well and pg within 3 months of loss. Second mmc i went to 16 weeks but suspect baby died earlier.
Recovering from 16 week mmc atm and still bleeding/spotting. Early days though so not unusual.
I had loads of bloods taken at hospital and told that they would test for “everything” including blood clotting and agreed for a pm on the baby and swabs from placenta etc. Appt with consultant in a few months to discuss results.
Anxious to Ttc again when we can but also want to wait until all results are back. I have had two previous healthy pregnancies and dc’s... only change now is my age (late 30s) i suppose.
Bit torn atm but will just have to wait for things to settle down first and at least one period. With both Mmc’s i had low results for downs etc through Harmony test
Has anyone been through a later miscarriage, testing and then ttc?
Fully anticipating that they will find nothing “wrong” and that it was just “one if those things”...again
Sorry for the essay! X

@impatientmammy welcome to a very supportive thread. Sorry you find yourself here.

@Lilimum5 I have no words so sorry you're still going through this

@Laney79 thank you. Not hopeful. My body is doing weird stuff. Mentioned it before but I never used to get spots apart from the occasional one when AF shows but would disappear in 24 hours. Since first pregnancy last year I've had spots - big ugly uncomfortable ones. They won't go. Also ever since first pregnancy I've had weird feelings in my lower abdomen. Think my body is confused.

@Ithinkthatsenough so sorry for your losses.

@Lilimum5 I'm so sorry, what you're going through sounds so stressful, I really hope you get some answers on Sunday. Hand hold and lots of hugs.
@impatientmammy and @Ithinkthatsenough, I'm so sorry for your losses x
@Yukka I think this was what made me worry I'd had the blood tests too early: www.tommys.org/pregnancy-information/pregnancy-complications/antiphospholipid-syndrome-aps
But the gp said the timing doesn't matter that much like you say. Mc started 5 weeks (at 6 wks) ago so hopefully level of hormones are pretty low now anyway?

@InDreamland during my 1st pg and mc in the summer I got loads of spots on my shoulders and hadn't had any there before, they took ages to go. I also got shingles for the 1st time very early on. Pregnancy hormones seem to play havoc.
Is your lower abdomen painful? Mine has felt sore since the mva a week ago in a way that I didn't have after my 2 erpcs, maybe it's just because the mva was so painful, but it's worrying me. Only had bleeding on the day.

@Chilliandlime it's not painful but it's like a strong fluttering feeling and sometimes like a very mild pulling, stretching and stabbing that doesn't hurt. It's very odd. It's all been like this along with the spots since May.

Thanks @Chilliandlime @InDreamland @Laney79

If this is how I'm starting the year I can't imagine it's going to get any better. I've all so have the memorial service for my little baby I lost in October on the 13th of this month. Fed up doesn't cover it at all.

@laney79, there are three tests for aps being lupus anticoagulant , anti-cardiolipin and anti-beta-2-glycoprotein tests. You’ve mentioned the first two so check about the last one. You only have to test positive in one plus occurrence of recurrent early mc or one late mc to be diagnosed, but if you’re positive in more than one then you are higher risk of clotting in general.

@chilliandlime if you do a hpt and it’s negative then you know the hormone is gone ( or gone enough) which probably is by now after 6w. On the aps support websites there’s nothing that supports what ‘Tommy’s is saying - it could be a little out of date. In Dr Lesley Reagan’s book (shes pioneered mc testing and trials in the last decade and added a whole new chapter on this subject last year) she simply states that if aps is suspected (ie from first round of tests) then you should refrain from pregnancy until confirmed as chances of live birth without treatment are ‘dismal’.

As pregnancy increases blood flow anyway it also increases the risk of clotting in ‘normal’ women so perhaps this could lead to naturally elevated antibodies and could skew the results, but I’ve never read that or been told that, I’m theorising. Maybe it’s what they used to think and now know it doesn’t impact. It’s so new there’s a lot more to be discovered. I think you’re good to go xx

@ithinkthatsenough so sorry for your losses. Be good for all the tests to be done inc pm to rule things out. I had thought that mc after 12 weeks was fairly rare and would be more likely for a cause to be found, especially as you are clearly fertile in the first place. The Aps clotting condition can be acquired, meaning you didn’t have it before with previous pregnancies but you have it now. It basically cuts off blood supply to your placenta as the tiny veins clot, so a healthy baby will die. Good they are testing the placenta too. But it’s treatable with good success rates if it were the case. Miscarriage being labelled ‘bad luck’ is really tough to deal with and I also thought nothing would be wrong (as did my consultant, he was ready to send me off for donor eggs because I was ‘too old’ at 39). I hope you and oh are getting all the support you need. Keep us posted with results xx

@lilimum5 I just can’t believe this is still going on. When these next results come in please do be insistful and complain about getting some proper testing and ideally to be referred to a specialist clinic that knows what they’re actually bloody doing!!! Sorry, angry in your behalf ❤️

@Yukka thanks so much for the information and reassurance, it does sound like that information on Tommys is out of date.
@InDreamland pregnancy seems to change our bodies in such strange ways.

Thank you Yukka sorry havent worked out how to tag yet! The blood clotting issue has been on my mind because of the timing of the losses,so we’ll see. Finding a reason would be good but preparing myself for no reason being found
Plan is to keep busy, run lots,get super fit ( well try anyway) enjoy a few drinks with friends and try to enjoy life until we see consultant then decide what to do next xx

@ithinkthatsenough just put the @ sign before the name and it tags :)

Yes it’s hard as they say no problem is always better than having a problem but no explanation is hard to live with too. Sounds like a good plan for you, I also started alternative therapies in acupuncture and yoga and they both helped recovery and preparing to be pregnant again, emotionally and physically. Keeping the focus on your own wellbeing is most important XX

I think AF has just arrived. Bit of pink when I wiped after using the loo. That's my last chance of being pregnant before first baby's due date gone supposed to be 37 weeks today.

I had my scan this morning, no sign of pregnancy either in my womb or tubes. The room they used was the same as the one I had an MVA in which also brought back horrible memories. They've done a blood test which still shows pregnancy hormones but at a low level, going back again on Sunday for repeat bloods. Back to square one!

Sorry @InDreamland It's such a tough time. You don't know it's definitely AF until it's in full flow so I'll keep a bit of hope for you. I've been there so just want you to know you are not alone x

@SJR86

@Newbie21 thank you. I think it's properly started now, got heavier. Broken why is it everywhere I turn I feel look such a failure and totally inadequate, with prefab g women everywhere and TV adverts assists having perfect families, something I can't have. Hate myself and my life. All I've ever done is my best and do the right thing in everything I do and feel like life just throws it back in my face and says no you won't be rewarded for it. What do I have to do?

*pregnant not prefab

@InDreamland I totally understand how you feel hun. Thought with all the crap I've been dealing with lately I would treat myself to a hair cut and style. Booked appointment over the phone. Turned up and would you believe it the hair dresser was very very pregnant and I had to listen how it's a honeymoon baby and how awful she feels while I'd give anything to be feeling like that. It's like a kick in the head. Bumps and babies are everywhere.