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?

@EmPeEf My GP did bloods for me for my second chemical, although I did ask for them because I wasn't sure if it was still HCG leftover from my chemical the month before (I know now that's very unlikely but I wasn't as educated back then!!). I'd bought an at home HCG test during my third chemical, but by the time it arrived I was already on my period so never used it! Not cheap but I've kept it in my cupboard for (hopefully) next time as it's a good reassurance!!

And yes such a good point about knowing you CAN get pregnant if you're having chemicals, it's a different issue than if you're just not getting pregnant at all so requires different tests.

I've been spotting for two days now and negative tests (12dpo) so think I'll be coming on any second. I never spotted before my period in the past, but stopping breastfeeding is doing some crazy things to my cycle. I hope it settles down soon.

@EmPeEfwow that’s a great line, so exciting! Hope the gp will run some bloods for a bit of reassurance

@charlzzsorry late reply, I did test early hours yest but bfn! I completely forgot to test this morning with being away, might tomorrow but think I’m probably out this month!

Yes that’s what the consultant said to us! Shows things are happening and helps determine treatment plan.

Progression! This is the furthest my partner and I have gotten 🥹

I’m actually headed to the doctors today because I’ve been having a terrible allergic reaction to a face mask I did on Saturday. I’ll talk to her about the next steps regarding the referral as I had a letter through today about it.

Sorry! Another update from me. I managed to get an initial beta HCG number, but in a bit of an extreme way!

When I got to the doctor’s they just rang for an ambulance, and I was taken in with a severe allergic reaction. Been sent home with a load of steroids. Told them I was pregnant obv, and I asked if HCG would be tested. He said not as standard but he could put it on there, and he called me after I got home with the number. 124 and I feel really happy with that 😊 I doubt I’ll get some done in 48 hours as this was just a one off, but it feels good to know the number is up there for 15dpo, and it has been doubling over the last 5 days of testing.

Oh god that sounds scary!! But tests looking good and that’s great to get hcg!

@EmPeEf oh wow, that must have been so scary! Are you feeling better now??

That's a brilliant number for 15dpo!!! A nice bit of reassurance to come out of an unexpected trip to A&E for you x

AF arrived for me today! 😒

Realised this new cycle is my last chance to be over 12 weeks by Christmas, so I could tell people and not have to come up with excuses for not drinking haha. The ridiculous things your brain thinks of when TTC 😂

Thank you both of you. Ironically I wasn’t actually that worried, as I’ve had a full blown anaphylactic shock before, and this wasn’t like it and super slow to develop. I’m just glad the treatment is mostly safe during pregnancy.

@charlzz i am so, so sorry. It never gets any easier at all. Especially going past monumental dates. I went past some really nice announcement times like Father’s Day and trips out with my parents. So I really empathise with you, and wish you so much luck for next month x

Oh I’m sorry @charlzz 😥

Not silly at all, being pregnant by Christmas is a massive deal for me! My first chemical that I lost at 5 weeks would have been due mid December.. I’ll be absolutely gutted to still be in this position then. It’s so hard! I hadn’t even thought about the drinking and telling people, that’s so true!

So I had either a horrible evap or a line on 8dpo. Looking at photos there was a very slight line when it was fresh but turned into how it looks in the photo dry. I’m leaning towards thinking it’s more likely to be another early failed implantation - I’ve had this beige where I’ve had a test or couple of tests slightly positive around 7/8/9dpo then stark white again.

I had a BFN on digital yesterday FMU, and negative easy at home last night and this morning. If it’s an evap then I guess there’s still time, but it feels unlikely

I used proov pdg this cycle and it said my progesterone is too low. My understanding is either might need a higher letrozole dose or supplement with progesterone again. I’m going to try and speak to the fertility clinic and see - I’ve got an appt in just over a month but don’t want to do another cycle at the same dose if it didn’t help 😞

@EmPeEf thanks so much!!!

@Muddysocks1 i know, I try not to think about the fact that if my first chemical had worked out that I'd be in my third trimester right now!!

That line is similar to what I got this cycle too. I really hope it isn't an evap for you!! Definitely try to speak to your fertility clinic, I completely agree it seems silly to waste a month if there's something fixable preventing you getting/staying pregnant!

@Muddysocks1ah that’s rubbish, maybe the letrozole isn’t quite increasing progesterone enough and they could give you progesterone as well? Be good to speak to your clinic before next cycle

AF here for me today so on to the next!

yes I’m hoping either up the letrozole dose or add progesterone 🤞🏻🤞🏻🤞🏻 luckily can speak to them at the start of next cycle so I really hope they suggest a diff plan not just more of the same

@Panda34 here's to another synced up cycle 😂

@Muddysocks1 any other shadows? Or do you think it was definitely an evap?

@EmPeEf how are you getting on x

I swear j can see slight shadows but I think it’s just the indent on them. I do suspect I’m having repeated early chemicals though around 8/9dpo… just waiting for AF so I can start next cycle now

@charlzz scaring myself with a stupid clear blue with weeks. Knowing my HCG was 124 on Tuesday, I felt fairly sure I’d be over the supposed 153 to get 2-3 weeks. And by a fair amount. But I got 1-2 weeks with dark FMU and now wish I hadn’t done it 😅

Doctor won’t do a second blood draw to check things are going in the right direction. Said they don’t do it on the NHS. I did have my recurrent loss letter through which just told me I’d been added and would get an appointment, but the GP has said reach out to them in case I could get some help such as progesterone.

My partner is off to Korea for 8 days on Saturday so I’m praying I don’t have a loss whilst he’s not here. Just try to tell myself that today, I’m pregnant. I don’t have any other tests to check line progression and I don’t think I’m going to get any. I may get another weeks and do it Monday though? I dunno.
I know people say everyone is different and not to rely on the digitals, but I had a started HCG and 48 hours later it apparently hadn’t increased by even 25%

Can I join as looks like I’m having another chemical? Last month I got pregnant and had lines and a positive digital and over a week later I bled. Straight after I’ve had high OPKS and Wednesday night it was at peak. I did a pregnancy test and a shadow line, I’ve got very very faint lines and my period due tomorrow. My head is a mess as I know this is another chemical. I wish I had tested and it just been negative to start afresh after miscarriage a few weeks ago! My head is a mess! Now waiting to see if lines progress or bleed. It could be residual HCG left over but I did a digital and strip before ovulation and it was negative. Don’t even know when I ovulated as OPKS all over the place. Don’t know what to do

@Iris2024 I had two in a row. It’s the cruelest thing. I really hope it’s not that for you. How are you getting on?

Yep just faint and staying the same. So weird. I’m wondering if it’s leftover HCG as my head can’t get around it being a new implantation so soon. My chemical last month progressed. I feel okay this time around as so soon to the other but also my head didn’t believe I’m pregnant as so faint. Can’t wait to bleed and really start again after miscarriage last month. At least I know now after trying for ages that we can implant and get pregnant

@EmPeEf oh that's so stressful! I know the good advice to give you would be to stop testing because they can't tell you anything, but I know I'd be exactly the same!!! When will you be over 5 weeks? I paid for a private scan with my son at 5.5 weeks just to reassure myself that there was something there (you obviously can't see a heartbeat at that stage so not full reassurance, but seeing the gestational sac in the right place helped to calm me down a bit! Plus the scanning place i used rescan you a week later for free if it's too early for a heartbeat) x

Oh @Iris2024 I'm so sorry you're going through this again. That's identical to what I had the month after my first chemical. Like you I didn't test to negative after my first one so I couldn't be sure if it was residual HCG or not. But everything I'd read online seemed to say that with a chemical your HCG drops pretty much immediately, so most likely it was a second chemical. It really is so cruel x

@Muddysocks1 ugh I'm sorry. If you're getting lines on multiple tests then it's pretty unlikely they're evaps so it sounds likely 😔 so unbelievably rubbish, hopefully your fertility clinic can give you some advice for next cycle

Crisis was averted yesterday afternoon 🥹 I swear FMU doesn’t work for me. And I’ve had my first symptoms crash land (trapped wind!) so I’m feeling pretty positive. I may book in with the midwives on Monday.
I think I’ll be 5 weeks next Tuesday. How are you doing, love?

It’s so so cruel. I did a digital and easy at home after chemical and not pregnant. Did another test this morning, no AF and faint pink line on cheap test and clear blue has a faint blue line 😩 seeing that you should be so excited and happy but it’s clearly going to be another chemical miscarriage 😢