How long should we wait to try again?

[monkeybumsmum]

This is a bit complicated so please bear with me...

DH and I lost our last baby at 15 weeks pregnant at the beginning of April. I had had hyperemisis so by that time was very weak. Then with the delivery I lost a lot of blood and became very anaemic.

The thing is that I really want to try again as soon as possible. I want to give my body enough time to get a bit stronger, but things are made trickier because I have endometriosis and so don't want to wait too long in case it builds up again and then we'll have problems.

Does anybody have any advice on this? I just wish there was someone who could tell us what to do! Anyone been in a similar situation and had things go right the next time? This is our fourth loss so we are desperate for things to right next time.

Thanks for any help x

Bump...

Hello monkeybumsmum. So sorry to hear what a terrible time you have had

I just wanted to ask - and sorry if it sounds a bit wacky - whether you've considered seeing an acupuncturist or other Chinese medicine practitioner.

I don't know loads about it, but have had a really positive experience with it over the past couple of years. (Had two early miscarriages in quick succession, then nothing for over two years. I was very run down around the time of the miscarriages, and although I'm still not pregnant again, I feel the treatment I've had since then has really built me back up, which can only be good for a healthy future pregnancy.)

One good thing about the approach is that it would look at how your body is working as a whole, and hopefully address both the anaemia and the problems caused by the endometriosis. I've also found the sessions really calming and reviving, which has helped me stay sane and positive through our long wait.

Just a thought. Hope things work out well really soon

Hi Monkeybumsmum I can't really give you any advice as to waiting in your situation but I am very sorry to hear of your losses. I have also suffered terrible anaemia from blood loss due to a 2nd trimester loss and they told me it would be about 3 months before my haemoglobin levels would be back to normal, I had 4 transfusions during/after my labour. Even on iron tabs they say you gain about a unit a month. I have to say it took me a couple of months to recover and even think about ttc again as I was so poorly and I know I would never been able to carry another pregnancy that soon after.

Perhaps speak to your GP and ask for a referral to see a consultant?

Sorry for not replying sooner, how rude of me! I have PIL's staying at the mo so is tricky to get on computer...

Thanks for your suggestions. WhyFrank acupuncture is great, I am a big fan but can't find anyone close to where I'm living and don't have the time to go further away. (Closest guy I know is 40 mins away.) I have started going for reflexology though, do you know anything about that? I was hoping it would have a similar effect? So sorry to hear about your miscarriages, I really hope that luck is on your side soon. It's now been 2 and 1/4 years since we decided to try for number 2, so I know how you feel

Magic So sorry to hear about your loss too. What you went through sounds horrific, you poor thing. You must've lost an awful lot of blood to have four transfusions, what an awful time it must have been for you. I was given a couple of units of iron whilst in hospital, and when I came out I was so weak I could hardly walk. Very scary time. It's been just over a month since I came out and am feeling a lot better, but am worried that if we start trying again in say, a few weeks, that the effect of being so weak and poorly for so long (with the sickness too) will have had an effect on a possible conception.
Aagh, it's just so difficult to know what to do!

Hi monkeymumsbum, I don't know anything about reflexology really, but have heard good things and can imagine that it works similarly. Do you enjoy the sessions?

Maybe there are other TCM-type things that you could try even if you can't get to an acupuncturist? I've been trying to make sure I get enough sleep at regular times (and I'm rubbish at it!), and also trying hard to make sure I'm always snug and warm. There are also certain types of food that are more "warming" than others (probably googlable). And drinking hot water is good too. This is all because the woman I'm seeing says I'm generally too chilly and low on energy (which is exactly how I feel). I'm not sure if the same is true of you, but my practitioner has been speculating that perhaps the birth of my first son was very draining in some way, so maybe your situation is similar.

Sorry, that doesn't help you make a decision about the timing, but good luck anyway.