Recurrent Chemical Pregnancies

[charlzz]

I have cross posted this so apologies!

TW: Recurrent chemicals

Hi everyone. I was looking for some advice really, and maybe some friendly people I can stay in touch with who have been through a similar situation.

TLDR: Trying to conceive my second child for 8 months. 3 consecutive early losses/chemical pregnancies. Looking for answers.

In April, May, and June I had 3 consecutive chemical pregnancies. For all three I've had darkening tests, followed by them getting lighter then I bleed. The first one was around 5 weeks, the following 2 were just a day or two after my period was due.

I went to my GP after the second, who was pretty dismissive but agreed to do some basic blood tests (iron, thyroid, vitamin levels) but nothing hormonal. The only relevant thing these showed were low vitamin D, which I'm now supplementing. They also showed low white blood cells and neutrophils (but I always have this so don't think it's relevant) and a slightly raised ALT (liver enzyme) which they are rechecking.

Now I've had a third chemical, they have reluctantly agreed to refer me to the recurrent miscarriage clinic but the wait is likely to be at least a year.

This cycle I took a break from trying and checked my progesterone privately. It was 45.5nmol/L at day 21 which looks pretty strong, and indicates I'm ovulating well. My luteal phase is anywhere from 11 to 14 days, although during my third chemical I started spotting at 9dpo. ChatGPT did say I could potentially still look at progesterone suppositories as my levels may not be staying high enough to sustain a pregnancy, but obviously I've got no way of knowing if that is good advice or not, and no way of getting progesterone anyway as I doubt my doctor would agree to prescribe it.

Up until this month I was still breastfeeding my 17 month old. I've now stopped as I convinced myself it may be affecting my hormones. So we will see if that helps at all.

Does anyone have any other advice or ideas of what I could do to try to have a healthy pregnancy?

@EmPeEfI can see a VFL, fingers crossed for you!
I won’t give up, will still test tomorrow and see!

@BabyBorn that’s great! Hope you get nice dark lines when you return 🙏🏻

it’s so shit isn’t it.

I think it’s (unfortunately) very common. I’ve had a fair few and when I opened up to people, nearly everyone had experienced them as well.

I had 2 before my first baby, then 2 when trying for my 2nd baby. When I got pregnant with my 3rd, they gave me a massive stash of Cyclogest. I didn’t end up taking it because I thought if it’s not meant to be, then it’s not meant to be.

Weirdly though, all of my pregnancies that have been successful have been with girls. Probably reading into it, but I often wonder if my body can’t carry boys.

I really hope it works out for you.

Hi @hoohaal yes it is common isn’t it. Especially as we age.

Same for me with success with girl pregnancies! I have 3 girls! 😂

Good luck to you too and everyone trying.

Thanks @Panda34 I hope so too! My 3 miscarriages have all been when I was breastfeeding my little one. They say there’s nothing in it but I’m not too convinced! I stopped BFing last month and just like that I am pregnant again! Just need it to stick! X

@BabyBornso pleased you had some luck with stopping breastfeeding, praying this one sticks for you!

I tested again this eve and still bfn! Think I’m probably out. Weirdly these last 2 months have had bfns when I’ve been taking baby aspirin and seemingly nearly every other month we’ve tried without the aspirin I’ve got bfp, albeit ended in chemical/miscarrige. Could be coincidence I suppose

Thanks @Panda34will let you know on Saturday!

Strange things sure happen in this game don’t they!! I seem to usually fall pregnant at the worst times, I’ve had a huge stressful event in my life. With my three daughters they were all conceived after heavy nights out!! It’s just crazy what the body does and we have absolutely no control over it. The only thing I’ve changed this time is eating clean, started acupuncture and tried to be as stress free as possible. (I lost my nan 10 weeks ago and the stress’
and grief killed me off) Hopefully you will get your BFP soon 🥰 x

@BabyBorn sorry to hear about your nan ❤️ yes very strange how things happen, no rhyme or reason sometimes is there!
Funny you should say about acupuncture, I started that when I was ttc first time round and must have helped then, mind you I had more time back then, not so easy finding time to fit it in with a toddler lol

@BabyBorn ahhh congratulations! Thats amazing. And such good timing being away so early to stop you being able to test obsessively! So happy for you!!

@EmPeEf I definitely think something is going on on that test!! I'd say that's a VFL. Photos never show up as much as in real life too. Let us know when you've tested again!

@Panda34 BFN for me too this morning, 9dpo so not out yet but I definitely feel like my period is coming (the last few months I've only had 11 day luteal phases so it would only be a few days away) 😒what dpo are you now x

@BabyBorn p.s. so sorry to hear about your nan. ❤❤❤

@charlzzoh that’s rubbish, def still time though at 9dpo! I’m 11dpo today and bfn still

@Panda34 keeping my fingers crossed for you and a BFP at 12dpo x

Total stark white FR. That other test must have just been an indent or something. Pretty disappointed because of the cramps and pinching/nibbling feeling I’ve been having.

@EmPeEf oh that’s crap, sorry to hear. Indents are so cruel and get your hopes up :(

Oh I'm so sorry, that was an awful indent, I was convinced it was positive. 😔sending love x

Hi @hoohaal! Ahh congratulations on your 3 children. Did you have your progesterone tested before they gave you the cyclogest or was it just based on your history of losses?

I've seen the theory about genders before! I really hope that's not the case for me. My little boy is my absolute world OBVIOUSLY, but I would love a little girl one day too!

@Panda34 @charlzz I know, I was so surprised. My partner could see it and everything. And with the cramps and nibbling pinching feeling I’ve been having on and off. So confused and gutted.

Not giving up hope though because I hate those dark pink cap first response tests.

@EmPeEf definitely don't give up hope!! How many dpo are you?

I had a moment of false hope this morning. What looked like a VFL in the right place. My heart skipped a beat and everything. Then I held it up to the light and it was a tide mark/evap and zero sign of a line. Nothing on my cheapie stick either. TTC is so cruel!

Sorry to hear you didn’t get positives this month ladies! Here’s to September! Try to stay positive.

I got home yesterday and tested this morning. I’m 14DPO xx

@BabyBorn great lines! Congrats ❤️

Ugh, I had a similar moment on two different strip tests last night. The dye had almost all gone over to the other side, but a lady dye push collected at each indent mark for a split second and I glanced and saw both. Then both ended up stark white.

I’m 11dpo today. My faint lines have come on 12dpo so I haven’t lost all hope, but I swear I started implanting 7dpo. Those were my first cramps. Then pink/brown spotting 8dpo. Then cramps and sharp pains 9 and 10dpo. I’ve not really had any today. Boobs have been bloody agony though.

What dpo are you at?

Oh guys this is unrelated to this board but I have to let it out somewhere. I had the single most terrifying experience of my entire life yesterday. I was walking through the park with my son and went to put him in the pram. He started having a tantrum and then within a split second his whole body went rigid (his arms looked broken the wrong way they were so tense). He went completely blue and stopped breathing, his eyes were completely rolled up in his head, and then started frothing at the mouth and convulsing. I thought he had died right in front of me. He was breathing by the time the ambulance arrived. In hospital he then had another seizure and we were kept in overnight. They are pretty confident they were reflex anoxic seizures, which basically are when distress causes the vagus nerve to stop the heart and breathing. Even though they look terrifying, they are actually benign as the heart and breathing restart on their own, and most children grow out of them. They are obviously still going to do further tests to rule out any other scary potential causes. I can't believe it happened but I am so relieved that it isn't anything more sinister. I am in complete shock, I'm just sat here in a daze, watching him run round happily like nothing has happened.

Oh my god that’s absolutely horrific, you poor thing to have to go through something like that!!? I’m so glad it sounds benign and what the doctor says completely makes sense. But still, I can’t imagine. You’re definitely right to come and talk about it here. To be perfectly honest it would not be an overreaction to want to talk to someone professional at some point either, just to process the trauma. If you feel it’s coming back to haunt you xxx I’m so so sorry and so so glad he’s okay x

Oh god that sounds terrifying!!!
Glad he is ok and hope further tests confirm that too xx

Thank you so much @EmPeEf and @Muddysocks1 - I am just so lucky and relieved that it was nothing serious, definitely the most terrifying experience I've ever been through!!

Oh and TTC update, absolutely nothing on tests today at 12dpo and I can literally feel that my period will be here by this evening! I was meant to be going away on my first ever girl's trip since having a baby next week, and thought I might miss ovulation for next cycle, but I don't think I can bring myself to leave him now!! So silver linings, maybe a June baby will come out of all of this!