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Original poster

Testing Miscarried foetus for chromosome abnormalities?

38 replies

Cafeaulait27 · 14/10/2020 17:33

Please do not read on if you are triggered by miscarriage

I had an early miscarriage today, i was 9 weeks but the foetus was measuring 6 weeks. I was told there was no heartbeat last week and that I might miscarry.

I finally passed it this afternoon after some unbearable pain, and I managed to fish it out of the toilet. It’s like a clear bubble with the baby floating in it.

I called my triage number and asked if I could have it tested, I said I know I haven’t had recurrent ones (this is my first) but I would be happy to pay to try to find out if it was a chromosome abnormality or if it is pointing more towards an issue with me.

She said someone will call me tomorrow because she wasn’t sure, but that testing might not be possible if the foetus is this small. Is that right?

I wondered if anyone here has had tested before and could help advise what happened when they got it tested and whether they know about how big it needs to be.

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Daffodil21 · 14/10/2020 19:46

Can't help I'm afraid but bumping for you and so sorry you are going through this Thanks

Beyondstressed · 14/10/2020 19:58

I'm so sorry you've gone/going through this, I (many years ago) had a termination, as I was carrying a foetus with Edwards Syndrome. I was coming up to 15w. Once the termination was over, they did do tests, and it came back as positive. But again, that was under a clinical procedure x

StargazyDrifter · 14/10/2020 20:08

So sorry for your loss. Take all the time you need, honestly, whatever that means to you. 💐

I had a MMC during my first pregnancy - first scan was at 9 weeks and it was measuring 5 weeks. They had me back the following week for a token re-scan, but it was pretty clear from the start this wasn’t going to happen.

I chose to have the medical procedure rather than waiting. They did analyse what they referred to as “retained tissue” and later they wrote to say there wasn’t anything wrong. Discussing with the GP, it was of some comfort but not much... she said something could be wrong another time and it wasn’t really an indication of anything other than this one event. So, while it’s possible, I wouldn’t get too concerned if this wasn’t available for some reason. It didn’t really help me.

The bit that helped more was the hospital letting me know where the “tissue” had been buried (cremated and scattered in a London green space). I was determined this didn’t matter either way but, 3 years on, and 2 more losses later, it actually does.

I eventually went on to have a wonderful healthy DD who is 15mo now.

I guess one thing I’ve learned though quite a bit of antenatal/postnatal drama is to not be afraid to escalate if you need to - write to the head of midwifery or head of section or whatever. The number of times I’ve heard “oh if we’d knows sooner at this level”. Appreciate everyone is under pressure but sometimes you just need to. Whether that’s your current situation or another time.

Sending you lots of hugs.

CottonSock · 14/10/2020 20:20

In my situation, similar to yours they didn't do any testing.

Rachel93x · 14/10/2020 20:21

Hello,

I haven't experienced this myself, however I didn't want to read and run.

I'm so very very sorry you're going through this and my thoughts are with you xx

sunshineandhappy · 14/10/2020 20:26

I work in one of the labs that performs this testing. It would be technically possible to test your baby, but unfortunately the funding guidelines means that genetic testing won't be carried out for a first or second pregnancy loss unless there were abnormalities suspected on scan.
I'm really sorry for your loss

Griefmonster · 14/10/2020 20:39

@Cafeaulait27 I am sorry for your loss.

I had a very similar experience in terms of your miscarriage but didn't explore testing so can't answer your specific question.

But just to give you my experience - I was dealt with in a matter of fact way.and didn't even realise they were talking about a miscarriage. They assumed I understood it wasn't a viable pregnancy and were not prepared for any real in depth discussion of what was happening. It was treated as a usual and unexceptional event. Hopefully you will get a better experience and more discussion. Take care

Original poster
Cafeaulait27 · 14/10/2020 21:06

@sunshineandhappy oh thank you for letting me know about this. I have heard that they will only test your third, but as I was holding it in my hands I thought I may as well find out. I told her on the phone it was my first so I was so surprised she didn’t just tell me no straight away really.

Do you know if there is any way I could have it tested privately?

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Original poster
Cafeaulait27 · 14/10/2020 21:11

Thank you so much everyone and sorry for your losses.

I had no idea it would be so physically painful, and that when it finally came out, I didn’t cry or anything. I’ve cried all week knowing it was all over, but when I saw it I just couldn’t process it.

I can see it in the sac, it has little stumpy arms. I want to know if I could’ve had some treatment that could’ve stopped this or if it was just a chromosome issue.

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LifeBeginsNow · 14/10/2020 21:12

Hi Cafe. You were on my thread the other day. I'm glad you managed to pass the baby without any intervention. You were braver than me to have a good look - I almost did but in the end I couldn't bring myself to.

I too have been told its 3 miscarriages before anyone investigates. It also has to be one after the other.

Remember what I said about your increased fertility and when you're ready to try again, I hope it happens quickly for you.

Original poster
Cafeaulait27 · 14/10/2020 21:13

@StargazyDrifter thank you so much. I’m sorry for your losses but glad to hear you have a baby now ❤️

My mum had recurrent miscarriages, 4 before having me and my brother. I’m worried that it’ll go the same way for me. That’s good advice, I will try my best to escalate and state my reasons to see if there’s anything that can be done. I don’t hold out much hope that they’ll test but I felt I had to try xx

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Original poster
Cafeaulait27 · 14/10/2020 21:16

@LifeBeginsNow thank you, I remember you too ❤️ Yeah I had a really good look at the little thing. I was in so much shock and id been in so much pain passing it that I really wanted to see.

It’s weird but also kind of nice that it’s in my fridge right now. I will struggle to flush it. But I know the foxes will dig it up if I buried it. It’s going to be hard to let go ☹️ I just wish I could’ve saved it somehow.

And thank you, I do feel very fortunate to have passed it and we’re hoping to try again once all the bleeding stops. Xxxx

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sunshineandhappy · 14/10/2020 21:17

I'm not sure whether you could pay privately, I guess that would depend on the rules within your trust. Worth speaking with your midwife to see.

HibiscusNell · 14/10/2020 21:19

Is there a reason you are worried about the possibility of chromosome abnormalities? Early miscarriages are upsetting but they are very normal.

Hope you are feeling ok.

sunshineandhappy · 14/10/2020 21:20

The three losses do not have to be consecutive. Recurrent means keeps happening, not necessarily consecutive. It is quite possible to have normal pregnancies but miscarriages before between or after, and you should still be able to have investigations.

HibiscusNell · 14/10/2020 21:20

Sorry I cross posted with your last posts.

sunshineandhappy · 14/10/2020 21:24

Early miscarriages are normal if you mean sadly, common. However often they are not chromosomally normal. This doesn't mean it is due to an issue from one of the parents, just that during the first few cell divisions that something has gone wrong, meaning the baby won't survive past a few weeks of pregnancy.

Original poster
Cafeaulait27 · 14/10/2020 21:28

@HibiscusNell thank you ❤️ I know that early miscarriages are common, but I don’t really want to go through it multiple times before any investigations are done. I know you’re probably trying to be reassuring, but I wouldn’t ever think it’s ‘normal’ to have a miscarriage.

I figured if I have the foetus with me I may as well see if it could be tested. I’d do anything to not have to go through this again. I just want to do anything I can to help reduce my risk next time, wouldn’t anyone?

I think it’s bothering me more because it looked so healthy on the scans and normal, it was just smaller. And it had a heartbeat at first. So it makes me wonder if my body did something to stop it from growing... I don’t know. I just feel like I want to do the right thing for this baby and hopefully future pregnancies by finding out as much as I can ❤️

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Original poster
Cafeaulait27 · 14/10/2020 21:35

@sunshineandhappy I’m sure you can’t tell me much just from my descriptions, and please don’t worry if you don’t feel comfortable, but in your opinion what do you think might be the cause? Everything was looking normal and there was a heartbeat at 6 weeks, but it was a little small. It continued to grow from 2.5mm to 5.5mm but then stopped. Do you think it might just be chromosomes or is there no way to know without testing? Xxx

OP posts:
sunshineandhappy · 14/10/2020 22:03

There is no way to be sure without testing cafe, but literature quotes a chromosomal abnormality rate of 50-70% for losses like yours, and mostly those will have arisen spontaneously, ie nothing that you have done or passed on.
I hope this helps. X

Parkandride · 14/10/2020 22:14

I'm so sorry. I don't know anything about the specifics of private testing in this circumstance but I had embryos screened, and it's around £3k on top of ivf costs. Of course that's on microscopic samples and I have no idea how it compares to your situation but it could be a lot.
The book It Starts With The Egg has great advice for maximising your egg and sperm health to avoid genetic issues, I'd put your money into supplements and lifestyle changes recommended there.
Good luck Flowers

Original poster
Cafeaulait27 · 14/10/2020 22:40

@Parkandride thank you! How are things going for you?

Wow - that is expensive. Maybe we won’t be paying for testing... but would be good to know how much it might be just to rule it out I guess if anything.

Ok thanks, I have heard of it starts with the egg but I didn’t know what it was! Thank you I will look it up xxx

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LifeBeginsNow · 15/10/2020 07:33

I wonder if that's a location based thing sunshine.

After my miscarriage the other week, I was clearly told any investigation would happen after 3 consecutive miscarriages. As I've had one, then a child, then another miscarriage it wouldn't count as 2 and the counter would be reset.

There's a channel 5 programme on tonight about this. It looks pretty upsetting but sometimes it's good to talk about these things and they may discuss why this can happen.

hyglop · 15/10/2020 07:44

I would ask your mother to have her chromosomes checked: she meets the criteria for investigations.

PrimeraVez · 15/10/2020 07:55

Really sorry this happened, it is truly shit.

I had a miscarriage at what should have been 10/11 weeks but in reality, I think the fetus had stopped developing a while before that, although I did see the heartbeat on a couple of very early scans.

I'm not in the UK and had a very expensive, fancy OB/GYN who would have known that I would have thrown money at anything she suggested. I asked her if we could do some testing and she was very dismissive of the idea and said it was very sad, but when you thought of all the millions of cell divisions etc that had to happen to grow a healthy baby and realised it could just take one minute thing to throw it all off, the chances were that testing wouldn't reveal anything useful.

I was fortunate to fall pregnant again shortly after and carry to term very uneventfully. I hope the same for you.