Recurrent mmc classification - what should I expect now?

[Queenie77]

Hi all - I am new to Mumsnet and have already found this forum really helpful to read through but I am so sorry for everyone. I am having my 3rd mmc at the moment so have now been referred to clinic for recurrent miscarriage testing but not sure what to expect, still in shock from this latest loss I think . Any advice would be gratefully received. Lots of best wishes

Hi, so sorry for your loss. It's everso hard, isn't it :(

I lost my third in February and have an appointment on March 29th.

I was told that I would be tested for any blood clotting issues ('Sticky Blood') that could be a cause, as well as myself and my partner being tested for chromosomes - ie is there an incompatibility between us. I think they will also test thyroid function.

There are also other tests that aren't done on the NHS (eg: Natural Killer Cells).

Be aware that they only find a cause in about 40% of women who miscarry three times or more. Unfortuantely medical science cannot bring all th answers. And I guess getting the all clear would mean that you don't have anything identifyable, and that therefore you can carry to term eventually. But also be aware that many, many women go on to have healthy babies after recurrent miscarriage.

A colleague was telling me this morning that his wife had her first baby at 41 after three miscarriages, and her third baby at 46 ... miracles can happen!

Give yourself time to grieve,take gentle care, and do visit this section of mumsent - there are some very inspirational people, and there is a thread 'recurrent buns' which is specifically about miscarriage testing - there are lots of supportive and wise women there who can give advice and support.

Hi, I am sorry to hear that you are having your third mc. It is a shocking and sad thing to go through :(

After my third mc they did the routine tests for genetic karyotyping, thrombophilia, hormones and thyroid levels and the health and shape of the uterus and ovaries via an internal scan. The genetic karyotyping is done for you and your husband to see if you are genetically similar.
This should all take about 3 months until you get test results.

Unfortunately, even with the all clear from the tests, I went on to miscarry a fourth time. It is very rare that they diagnose a problem with these tests, however, alot of women are diagnosed with blood clotting problems, which can cause miscarriages.

There are loads of other things you can be tested for privately, such NK cells - I am sure someone else here can give you more information on this.

The only advice I would like to give you is that, don't believe doctors when they say it's all due to bad luck. After my fourth mc, I don't believe luck has any part to play in this. Push the doctors to get tests - ask for repeats if necessary. I don't know if you have heard of St Mary's Hospital in London - it is the best Recurrent Miscarriage Clinic in the whole of the UK, so you may want to look into getting a referral there if you are in the south east.

I hope you find out what is causing the miscarriages - It is a horrendous thing to go through and it really scars you for life. Try to be positive and I know it's hard, but try to stay happy xx

It IS actually possible that it's very bad luck ... My gp advised me it could be ... Two miscarriages are considered normal, three and they test you, but in 60% of women who have had 3 losses, medical science can find no cause.

There are many many women who have had three, four or more losses and gone on to have healthy babies. Don't lose hope.

My sister tried for three years, had a mmc after clomid, then, aged forty, with low amh, ivf worked first time and her son is now 11 weeks old.

Don't lose hope!!!

Thanks for your replies and thoughts, it really helps. I feel better knowing what to expect as the gyno really didn't explain anything to me and I can go and find out more about those tests now! I find that unless you know what to ask for you don't get the info which seems like the wrong way round to me but there you go.

I don't know about you but I feel like I have 2 lives - one everyday life where I am trying to be the normal me and the other TTC life! It is hard not to let how crap the pregnancy life is affect the rest of my life, but as you say Milkyway you have to try to stay positive....

Best wishes to you both too and happy thoughts, good luck with your appointment on 29th x

Good luck and let us know how you get on.

After my second mc it was too hard not to tell people what had happened so I told everyone so that I didn't have to pretend I was ok.

Know what you mean about there being so much to find out about!