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Miscarriage/pregnancy loss

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Recurrent Miscarriage Clinic at 43. Won't they just tell me my eggs are old?

19 replies

Coconutfeet · 30/01/2011 14:38

I've just had an ERPC for my 4th miscarriage. I had a blighted ovum at age 40, discovered at 10 weeks when I started bleeding. I got pregnant very quickly after that and had ds without any problems. Then we TTC for about 6 months for no luck while I was still breastfeeding. As soon as I gave up I got pregnant straight away and had a very early miscarriage at around 5 weeks. The following month I got pregnant again and miscarried at around 6 weeks. The following cycle(sensing a pattern here? Wink) I got pregnant again and was diagnosed with another blighted ovum at 9w5days and for which I've just had the ERPC. So I don't seem to have a problem getting pregnant, it's just getting them to stick that's the problem.

I'm very grateful that they've offered to refer me to the recurrent miscarriage clinic but, given my age, I'm worried they'll just laugh at me and tell me it's because I'm so old. I know all that, and I wish I'd started younger but unfortunately things didn't work out that way. Have any other "old birds" got experience of such things?

Also, they've said that it could be quite a while before I get the appointment through. Given my age, I don't feel like I can hang around. Should I wait before TTC again or do you think I should try and get some tests done elsewhere beforehand? If so, which ones?

Sorry, so many questions. My head's all over the place. Thanks for any advice.

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LunaticFringe · 30/01/2011 19:32

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jasmine51 · 30/01/2011 19:50

Hi
I am 43 with 4 mcs. I went privately to St Marys and never once felt my age changed their attitude to me. I was put through the same tests as anyone else and in the results consultation, again it never came up. Mr Rai was lovely and didnt advise me to stop ttc at all, in fact he is pretty superstitious and said that if I got pg quickly after treatment started it would prove that a LO was fairly keen to be ours and was just waiting for the physical conditions to be corrected...a rather lovely and surprising answer from an eminent consultant!
FWIW I also saw an NHS RMC clinic at the same time and didnt feel patronised because of my age there either. I just didnt continue treatment with them because of the long lead in time.
Good luck...older mums rock!

Coconutfeet · 30/01/2011 20:53

Thanks for the responses.

Lunaticfringe - it's the RMC at either the Royal London hospital or Newham General Hospital (I'm not sure which. I should have asked.). Good idea to call them and ask for advice. I understand that it's inevitable that they will mention my age, but I suppose I'm worried about being made to feel silly for thinking that it's even possible for me to have another child at this age. You've put my mind at rest a bit on that score Jasmine, thank you.

I've heard so many good things about St Mary's on here. How do people get referred there (can't afford private unfortunately? Is it something I can ask my GP to do for me?

I'll check out the recurrents thread too. Thank you.

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LunaticFringe · 30/01/2011 21:29

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milkyway2007 · 30/01/2011 23:55

Please dont think that people will laugh at you for being 43 and not being able to have a baby because of your age. I am 27 (28 in March) and I have been trying for a baby since September 2009 when I was 26 and have also had 4 miscarriages in a row. I too get pregnant very easily, but babies dont stick.
Ofcourse age matters, but I just want to reassure you that as a 27 year old you would expect me to be at a prime age to have babies, but I just cant. So age isnt always a factor in recurrent miscarriage - and the people at RMC's know this, and dont really fixate on age.
Since I have joined this forum, I have found there are SO many tests available to women to find out what is wrong.

I found out about St Mary's by googling "best recurrent miscarriage clinic in england on nhs" !! and found loads of newspaper articles about lesley regan and the 80% success rate at St Marys. I asked my GP to refer me, and she suggested I talk to my consultant first and then get a referral from him if I'm not happy with his plan of action. So its quite easy to be referred.

I wish you every luck with everything. Hope the remainder of this year will be good for all us women who have had their hearts and dreams broken recently :)

Coconutfeet · 31/01/2011 19:38

Thank you for your reply Milkyway and sorry to hear about all your losses too. It's exhausting isn't it.

I've ordered the Lesley Regan book from Amazon, so am going to take some time to go through that. Hopefully it'll inform me about tests etc that I should be getting.

If you don't mind me asking, what treatment are you currently having? (Don't feel you have to answer if you don't want to.)

Also, Lunaticfringe - I should have said earlier. Huge congratulations on your pregnancy!! Presumably you'd recommend St Marys?

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LunaticFringe · 31/01/2011 19:56

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SameOldJollster · 31/01/2011 21:03

Coconut - sorry to hear of your losses. Your thread headline hit me as I could have written it myself (well in a month's time).

Am 43 at the end of next month, and have had 3MMCs since August 2009. All around the 10-12 weeks mark. Like you I get pg very quickly. I have one DS born when I was 40.

After my last MMC and ERPC in August 2010, I "qualified" for NHS RMC care, but also decided to explore private route.

In short all tests have come back normal, so it is a case of "old eggs" or bad luck, but both the private clinic consultant and NHS chap I saw today were not at all dismissive about my age. Of course we discussed it as a factor, but both encouraged me to try again. (Actually I have been trying for the last 3 months, no BFP yet, the longest I've ever tried without conceiving Hmm)

I posted this on the 40+ TTC thread earlier - we're a lovely bunch over there, pop in and say hi if you want some handholding and support?
thread

Had a really positive appt this morning at the recurrent MC clinic. The consultant was lovely.

Basically if I get pg again, I will get scans at 6/8/10/12 weeks, and immediately I will be under his care.

He reiterated what I'd already learned at the private clinic and was appropriately empathetic to my situation.

I didn't want or expect a "it'll all be ok" type chat, it was just really reassuring that I would get lots of handholding and support next time round.

Even with 43 looming next month, and after 3 MCs, with the all-clear results I have had, there is a 60% chance of another pg NOT ending in MC. (In fact he said slightly higher as I already have a child).

What we did talk about (raised by me) was the tough journey of pregnancy of women of our age... as in harder to get pg, more likely to MC, higher risk of chromosomal abnormality etc. I guess I wanted him to know that I was realistic about the chances of having another child, and although I am/will try again, I'm doing it with a more balanced approach.

I feel in quite a good place.

SameOldJollster · 31/01/2011 21:04
LadyBiscuit · 31/01/2011 21:07

My friend had several (6 or 7) recurrent miscarriages and was treated (successfully) at St Marys so have hope

LadyBiscuit · 31/01/2011 21:09

Sorry - forgot the crucial piece of info - she was 42

LunaticFringe · 31/01/2011 22:53

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milkyway2007 · 31/01/2011 23:50

coconut I am not having any treatment at the moment, its ridiculous really, as when I found out last week I had had a Missed Miscarriage, the nurse flippantly mentioned "oh, phone the clinic right away when youre pregnant again when you get the positive, as we'll start you on aspirin".

So judging by that, I suspect they'll put me on aspirin, but I am currently waiting for an appointment with the consultant, and see what he says. Then I'll ask him to refer me to St Mary's regardless of treatment or not.

Coconutfeet · 01/02/2011 08:08

Jollster - Glad to hear that you've had a good appointment. 60% sounds very positive to me. I think the hand-holding bit cannot be underestimated. Like you, I am realistic about the difficulties of having a child at 43 but it's good to know that I won't be written off because of my age. Incidentally, I think a lot of my own anxiety is self-induced - no-one at the hospital last week raised it when I had the ERPC - I think it's more that I feel a bit stupid for leaving it so late. I will pop over to the 40+. Thank you.

Milkyway - I hope your appointment comes soon. It's very frustrating that you have to go through so much before getting any treatment. I hadn't realised your more recent loss was only last week - I hope you're resting and being kind to yourself.

Ladybiscuit - Thank you for the positive story.

Lunaticfringe - It's wonderful to hear that you're so close to meeting your baby! I wish you all the best

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SameOldJollster · 02/02/2011 11:07

coco I get your sense of personal angst at leaving it late. Kick myself regularly thinking the same thing. :(

Mariamykonos · 14/08/2012 17:56

Hello Everyone!

I had 3rd MC, the las was last Tuesday and I had ERPC.
I want to be referred to ST Mary's.
I keep calling the telephone number that appears online but there is an answearing and nobody returns the calls.
Does anyone know how to do the referral, I will go to my GP...
but she does not know where to send it and I want it to be send as
soon as possible and also have an idea of the waiting list as I am 41yrs...
not much time to waste ....
Thank girls for any help!!! This is one of the worst moments i guess....

Geekster · 16/08/2012 16:39

Hi Mariamkonos. We got refered to St Mary's by our local hospital after six consecutive miscarriages.

Their phone no is 0203 312 1117/0203 312 1323

Fax 0203 312 6479

And address is
Department Of Obstetrics and gynaecology
Reccurent Miscarriage Office
St Mary's Hospital
Ground Floor, Mint Wing
South Wharf Road
London
W2 1NY

Hope that helps. I was 38 when I got refered fell pregnant again at 39 and had dd this March just before I turned 40, all on the back of being refered to st Mary's had tests and took 150 mg aspirin in this pregnancy as a result dd was born. So there is hope.

I only had to wait about six weeks for an appointment

nosleepwithworry · 16/08/2012 19:11

Hi coconut couldnt not talk to you.

Ive got a pretty fab thread going on the miscarriage board entitled "holy mother of crap". If you want a bit of hope and some inspiration have a read, i promise, you will love it Grin

Im 42, had 7 miscarriages, 5 blighted ovums all between 7-10 weeks.

Been through the mill of the re-occurring miscarriage clinic at Liverpool.
They told me that they dont know why blighted ovums occur, they have no answers for me, and no treatement. I was discharged.

They did 22 different blood tests on me, also DH had blood tests.....all normal.

I have a 9 year old son, 2 mcs before i got him at 33 years old.

Fast forward.....no treatement, not answers.....i am 16 weeks pregnant with a shock baby, concieved about 3 weeks after my last mc.
Grin

We had completely given up all hope after the last mc, i had even got the pill from the GP, was waiting for my af so that i could start taking it...

Grin Smile Bless, this is the LO that has been waiting to come to us Smile

It can happen xxxxxxx

Sharnellasmith · 14/09/2017 07:31

I'm 39 had 4 miscarriage in a row do you think I can have successfully prego. Please anyone.

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