Recurrent miscarriage investigations

[Maurice76]

Hi all, I’m hoping you guys have some experience in this department, because I’m feeling seriously low right now 😕

We started TTC this time last year, got pregnant straight away, but at 9 weeks I was rushed into hospital with a corneal ectopic. Right tube removed entirely and a fair few stitches in uterus. Had to wait until Sept to try again. Again got pregnant immediately, but lost it at about 5/6 weeks. Tried again, fell pregnant again, but lost again at 5/6 weeks.

I’ve always been super healthy, don’t smoke, don’t drink that often and have never been overweight. But I am 36.

Now that I’ve had 3 losses, my GP said she’ll refer me for scans and blood tests, but because of the COVID backlog and Christmas etc, I’m not likely to be seen until late Jan/early February. I’ve booked to see a private consultant on Thursday instead now, as I just need to get the ball rolling.

Had anyone got any positive stories about a pregnancy going full term after losses like mine? Any experiences of investigations into losses?

Everything I read and consultants I’ve spoken to say that it’s really rare to have (a) a corneal ectopic, and (b) three miscarriages in a year.

I think I just need reassurance that it’s all going to be OK... I’m trying to be upbeat because I’m lucky enough to be seeing my family for the first time in two years this week, but inside I’m breaking.

I've been having fertility treatment for years.
I had 3 miscarriages. I was due to start another round of IVF but didn't want to wait months for tests through the NHS. so I paid privately for tests which cost £800.
These were blood tests.
Results came back showing I had a blood clotting issue which may have caused the previous miscarriages due to clotting the placenta.

I'm now pregnant with my 4th. I'm on Clexane blood thinning injections and baby aspirin every day and will be on those throughout the whole pregnancy. It's worth having the tests even just to rule things out.

The most costly investigations are things like kareotyping from blood samples from you and your partner - if you can get those done on the NHS that’s good. Also the ‘invasive’ tests like HSG, laparoscopy, hysteroscopy, which are often unofficially rationed on the NHS.

This is a useful thread op. I’ve just had two MC back to back and I am a bit worried about trying again. I do have an older child so I am unsure of that means some of this doesn’t apply to me. By that I mean if I had a blood clotting issue I thought I wouldn’t have had a successful pregnancy first time around. I have wondered if my uterus is maybe misshapen after first pregnancy right enough. I’ve decided if I have another MC I’m definitely going to my GP though and this thread gives me things to bring up. For those that went privately, what was the average cost of investigations?

Hi
I've had 3 mcs at 7,8 and 20 weeks. 20 weeks being my latest in November. The Dr said next time I get pregnant come to him straight away and be will put me on progesterone and aspirin. I'm still hopeful that I will have a successful pregnancy when the time is right and it's written for me.

@MadamMaltesers sorry. Did you spot or bleed before you miscarried? When I started bleeding the baby had already died but apparently they give progesterone if it's threatened miscarriage but my midwife said she would give me it next time

Oh dear I am so sorry for your losses.

Why didn't your gp refer you earlier? Push for as many tests as possible, and maybe think about IVF? This way you can test the embryos before implantation.

@Hopingforarainbow27 really sorry didn't see your reply. I started bleeding with all 3, with the 20 week one I gave birth within 10hrs the other two I also started bleeding but the 7 week one was completed at home but had to have a d&c with my 8 week miscarriage

@IsabelHerna not sure if your reply was to me (sorry if it wasn't). My rheumatologist already referred me to an obstetrician but because of vivid I couldn't get hold of anyone or get any appointments . I think I will go to a private gp next time to get hold of the aspirin and progesterone

Not vivid *covid

I’m 41 and my much longed for rainbow 🌈 baby is 10 weeks old and asleep on me right now. I had three miscarriages in a row and was also referred to the recurrent miscarriage clinic where they do all the blood tests, sperm analysis etc. We also paid privately for some additional tests at a fertility clinic. They all came back clear and through my own research I decided to start taking coq10 (this is recommended to women doing ivf and some studies have shown it to improve the outcomes). All my miscarriages began with bleeding so I was prescribed progesterone pessaries with this latest pregnancy which again has shown better outcomes for women who’ve had multiple miscarriages. I took them for about 12 weeks if I remember correctly. It’s so so tough and lonely to have experienced so much loss but I feel incredibly lucky to have got my happy ending- I really do send you all positive vibes and luck that you get yours.

@FrangipanFlower thank you for your hopeful message. The midwife told me when I get pregnant start progesterone too but my miscarriages never started with bleeding so I don't know why this has been recommended? Anyone any ideas? I start bleeding when the baby has already stopped growing ☹️

@FrangipanFlower did you take the coq10 after ovulation and all too?

This is a link to the study done on progesterone and recurrent miscarriage- www.tommys.org/our-research/our-research-projects/miscarriage-research/can-progesterone-really-prevent-miscarriage

I took the CoQ10 consistently for 3 months. Given my age and the other tests coming out as clear I could only assume my egg quality was poor, and I believe the CoQ10 helped. Obviously I have no way of proving it but it certainly can’t do any harm. It’s a good idea to take vitamin D too as many of us are deficient and it’s so vital for fertility xxx

@Hopingforarainbow27 the progesterone is more to make sure that the lining of your womb thickens up nicely so it won't let go of the fertilised egg. It's one of those things where it can't harm to take it so you may as well in case it helps x

Thanks @siaa the midwife told me to get it as soon as I get a positive pregnancy test so will see!

I'm so sorry you're in this situation, it really is shit.

I had my DS (fourth pregnancy) in august after three mcs. I was on progesterone and immunity suppressant steroids as PP also said. I never had the tests but I was about to book in with de Sheheta. Pls feel free to message me if you like xxx

How did you get on the immunity steroids? Did your dr prescribe them?

@Hopingforarainbow27 my GP did eventually prescribe them after an 'urgent' referral to a consultant that took 3 weeks. Absolutely not moaning about my GP because he was amazing and still is, but thankfully I already had a private prescription in place from nova fertility. I had an appointment with the doc I'll link to at the bottom, and based on my history she prescribed the progesterone and the steroids. I honestly cannot thank her enough.

www.novafertilityuk.com/lamiya_mohiyiddeen.html

Please ask or PM if you have any more questions. I wouldn't have known about this Dr is it wasn't for MN so happy to share xxx

Thank you. Did you have any tests done or anything that showed u needed the immune steroids? All my bloods are ok apparently so midwife just said to get progesterone as a stab in the dark ☹️

@Hopingforarainbow27 nope. No testing done. All my nhs testing showed normal. It was immune system that seemed to be the issue, which the nhs won't text for

*test for that should say. I didn't have any immune testing because I got pregnant just before I was about to have the testing done xx

Oh right ok, thank you! I'm currently in my Tww but not hopeful. I'm not sure I ever will be

@Hopingforarainbow27 I know that feeling well. If it's a BFN please feel free to message me. I don't know what exactly worked for me but I'll talk you through everything just in case. It really is such a horrible feeling. Even now I have my baby I've been diagnosed with ptsd from the shitiness beforehand xxx

@Daffodil21 I got my bfp yesterday. I know o should be happy but I am so anxious. I'm convinced I'm going to miscarry again

@Hopingforarainbow27 oh gosh how nerve wracking. I wasn't happy as such either. I hope you're ok xx