Starting Blood Thinners and Aspirin 5w+4 IVF Pregnancy

[mrsmb03]

Could I just ask please.

I have had 3 miscarriages. One was a mmc only shown on the 12 week scan. One was lost nearly 10 weeks after seeing a heartbeat at 7+1 weeks. One was a few months ago when I had a fresh embryo transfer and although I tested positive nothing was seen on the 7 week scan.

My doctor said she discussed with me on our consultation that I should self refer to the miscarriage clinic after that failed. It maybe that she has or it maybe that she did not see th e importance of it, in any case it
really didn't stuck to me that I have my miscarriages investigated before I have this last embryo transferred, so it wasn't done.

When I saw my acupuncturist after my embryo transfer she asked me if I was on heparin as it has been 3 miscarriages already. The clinic said they didn't put it as part of my treatment plan as I haven't been investigated and the NHS won't include that as part of the funding. I don't mind paying for it.

After pushing for the blood thinning medication and aspirin as per my acupuncturist advise they agreed but the clinic also said there is a risk in taking aspirin before 12 weeks (I am 5 weeks plus 4 days today) that it can affect the fetus and can cause pre-eclampsia? I don't know how big of a risk it is though as they did agreas for me to take it.

They said that they usually don't give these 2 medication because I haven't been tested on the NHS and that it was not proven that I have clotting issues because I haven't been investigated.

When I asked my acupuncturist about the risk, she gave me a passive aggressive reply and said she is not a doctor etc. etc. She said it looks like I am hesitating on taking the blood thinners. (felt like she pushed me under the bus)

I told her obviously one should check medications before taking them so I am so stressed now and do6know what to do.

The problem with so called experts is no one wants to take any responsibility nor give you advise when as a non expert you have no idea what is for the best.

Has anyone in here had miscarriages and had taken aspirin 75 mg and Enoxaparin 20mg injections and had a successful outcome? Or Any advise for me please.🙏

Is the risk low?

I am 44 and I don't think I'll ever be able to do IVF after this. I am pregnant now and want to do my very best for this pregnancy as this maybe my last chance.

Thank you all. xxx

I was advised by a consultant (for recurrent miscarriages) only to take low dose aspirin AFTER 10 wks she said limited evidence taking it before that and it may actually increase miscarriage risk. Sorry I’m not sure about heparin as I’ve never been on that jus t wanted to share what I’d been told re the aspirin!

she did advise I start taking 5mg folic acid (prescription) alongside normal supplements from day of transfer though x

Thank you, appreciate your input. You had miscarriage before? What stage are you now at, if you don't mind me asking.

Yes unfortunately I’ve had three miscarriages from three transfers so not got great statistics on my side for success 😢 it’s awful isn’t it? I actually think the worse thing about it is actually to get the outcome we want ie. A baby you have to go through the whole maybe stage if it’s viable or not. I’m currently 3dp5dt now so who knows how it will end, all my recurrent miscarriage investigations came back normal and no clotting issues.

really sorry for your losses but I hope this pregnancy all goes well and you get your baby xx

Thank you and for you as well.

So you had positive pregnancy from the transfers and nothing showed on scan? (This is what happened to.me.in my first - fresh - transfer.) or did you just start bleeding before viability scan?

I really don't know what to do, experts seems to know either except for my acupuncturist who asked me to push for heparin and aspirin then when I tell her what the clinic said she goes and tell me to ask a doctor!

I wish you well, will you let me know (only if you don't mind) if you have a positive test.Have you got more embryos?

Lots of luck and sending you my good wishes.

Yes a mixture although all been quite early. The very first miscarriage was at 5 wks so before a scan, my second one was immediately after I got a perfect heartbeat scan at 6 wks and then my last one I reached 7 wks but at viablity scan no heartbeat 😢

of course I will let you know 😊 I’m hoping to do an early test this weekend at 9dp5dt on Sunday as I think if it works it show up by then. We are quite lucky as have a few embryos left but it seems like never ending the process didn’t it. Unfortunately our clinic only do three transfers a year too (it’s nhs) so it’s quite gutting knowing if this one doesn’t work I have quite a wait until I can go again xx

when is your first scan? My consultant also told me if you have recurrent miscarriages you are eligible for extra reassurance scans at EPU before 12 weeks. She said the only research that helps prevent women miscarry is actually giving them support and extra scans xx

Also sorry about the issues you are having finding out the aspirin/heparin. To be completely honest with you I wouldn’t like to follow advice from an acupuncturist (even if knowledgable). I’m going to follow my consultants advice on taking aspirin from 10 weeks if I get that far. Would a consultant at your clinic be able to answer your questions?

Hi @mrsmb03 , I'm really sorry your find yourself in this stressful position. I'm afraid I don't have a full response but I've been prescribed aspirin from any positive test following an FET, because I've had preeclampsia before, so I doubt it would cause preeclampsia... I haven't had a miscarriage though so I don't know if that changes anything.

My friend who has had miscarriages started heparin before her fresh cycle and is still on it now throughout her pregnancy.

I hope that helps in some way. I know everyone is different though and, although I do trust my acupuncturist and would take her advice, I think I'd rely on the doctors with the blood test results in this case. Very best of luck 🤞🏼

Thank you. My first scan is on the 9th exactly 7 weeks. Now, I am scared to start heparin and aspirin.

I wish the doctors could just tell me what to do or what not to do and to not leave the decision to me. They are the experts!

I have no more embryos. :(

Thank you @beachbum85 that is extremely helpful. Well my doctor did agree to give me both aspirin and heparin, it's just that I am so confused now. Your and your friend's experience helps me feel more reassured is your friend on aspirin too and did she have investigations on the cause of her miscarriages? Thank you so much for your input.

@mrsmb03 I will ask her about aspirin, as I can't remember.

She didn't have any investigations on the cause of her miscarriages. She hadn't had 3 and then they were having trouble conceiving naturally again, so they moved onto IVF as her AMH is on the low side. She has also been getting conflicting advice about heparin but, in her case it's related to when she should stop (her IVF clinic says to continue till after birth, but her regular gynae told her to stop at 12w, and fetal medicine consultant said she can continue as long as she likes but there is no effect after 20w)... in any case, she is equally frustrated!

So, she is taking aspirin... She started 2 weeks before the planned transfer and has been told to take it till she gets to 34w.

@beachbum85 thank you ever so much, you won't believe how helpful this information is. Because I wasn't sure if I am unnecessarily taking risk. I suppose your friend is on heparin because of her miscarriage? She is lucky to have a doctor to have started her on it without the miscarriage investigation as my doctor didn't. I feel a little bit more reassured. Thank you so much.

I had a miscarriage after my first transfer then 2 further failed transfers. I had all the usual blood clotting bloods offered on the NHS which came back clear.
On my 4th transfer I started taking 75mg aspirin once a day about a month before the transfer. This wasn’t discussed with my clinic but I decided to do it after much research. I was on increased progesterone which I think personally is what helped me get and stay pregnant.
My midwife asked at 12 weeks had I been taking aspirin, I said I had been since the transfer, she said well done and increased the dose to 150mg.
Due to my age, BMI (32) and IVF I was given blood thinners at my 28 week scan to take for the rest of the pregnancy.
Im 40 and almost 32 weeks pregnant with my healthy, very active miracle baby 🥰
Wishing you all the best and good luck on your journey x

@SH998 thank you very much for your story. It really helps me. The clinician scared me saying that taking aspirin could affect the fetus although overall she said risk is low. You were in blood thinners at week 28? Did you have kids before this pregnancy? Why did you decide to take aspirin please.

I did an FET 5 days ago. I am on aspirine and clexane as per the immunologist's instructions. I had started aspirine at the same time with the estrogen and clexane with progesterone 5 days prior to ET. If successful, I will be on clexane till week 12. I am also on progesterone and prednisone due to recurrent implantation failure. This is my 4th transfer following 1 CP and 2 BFN with untested embryos.

@mrsmb03 this is my first child and we tried for 7 years for him, even though all tests came back normal we ended up having to have IVF. I had googled baby aspirin on previous transfers and heard many say on here they were also using/advised to use it.
A lady I was talking to at the time said she had used/was using it on her transfers so I looked into it a little more. I couldn't find anything on line against it.
I was desperate at that point as it was my 4th transfer. I gave it a go as in my eyes I had nothing to lose. I read and was told it helps implantation, I didn't see anything whatsoever about the potential of it affecting the fetus as I would have thought twice that being the case.
Also, at my very first midwife booking appointment (I was about 8 weeks at the time) she asked was I taking aspirin, I said yes she said great and continue with the dosage. At my 12 week scan a different midwife upped the dosage to 150mg due to my increased BMI. I'm still on that dosage now.
Blood thinners were prescribed at 28 weeks, again not particular reason apart from I was 40, increased BMI and an IVF pregnancy so was classed as high risk. They said I need to continue with the blood thinners until 6 weeks after birth, not sure about the aspirin, ill check that tomorrow at my 32 weeks consultant appointment.

@Mistymist Thank you. Were you diagnosed with a clotting issues does the aspirin and blood thinning med? Good luck and wish you the best with this recent FET.

I was diagnosed with a low-risk genetic clotting disorder hence the use of aspirin. However, im 2015 when I miscarried at 7 weeks the doc could see a lot of clots around the sac that were basically depriving it of blood so I think that even though it is considered low-risk, it may be more serious than that.