Testing after miscarriage

[escapeartist]

I have a question to all, but especially those of you who have had testing.
I had a mmc at 9 weeks (baby hgad died at 8+4) about a month ago. It was, obviously a horrible experience and I guess even more so as we had been trying for a while to get pregnant.

My doctor (I'm not in the UK so this is all private) said it was bad luck and that we should try again. I spoke to someone else today, a doctor friend of a friend, and he said given that we had seen a heartbeat and after seeing my chart he would suggest I have some testing for thrombophilia done. As it is private it is expensive, but not prohibitive. My friend said that I shouldn't waste my money and that I should just keep trying and that on the NHS they don't test until you have had 3 (which I know). My husband has suggested we get another opinion(a third one).
Am I wrong to want to have the tests? I twill cost me 500 euros, but at least it will either give me some peace of mind, or give options to treat... Or should I just get in with it and see how it all goes, as my friend has suggested?

Everyone keeps saying that I am young (30) and only wants to reassure me, but what is wrong with being proactive?

Thanks for your time (gosh... I have gone on a bit)

I have had 3mc and this is the first time I have even heard of Thrombophilia. I have a DD (5) but have been ttc for 2.5yrs I am 35. I say go for it what have you got to lose,I am having a laparoscopy done to check everything as I had a Cs with my DD.
I'm so sorry for your loss,I know how much it hurts and how angry and desperate you can feel. You are still young,that's what people tell me and I have 5yrs on you!!!
If you have the tests you can rule it out and move on.

hi there

I got tested on the nhs after 2 confirmed and 1 suspected m/c. I did have thrombophilia, but the thing with testing is to be prepared not to find out anything, as most peoples results come back normal. After 1 then I'd probably say try again and it's generally likely to be bad luck (I believed this in my own case) although if you've not got money worries and can afford it, then perhaps you should go ahead if you think you'll feel better for knowing either way.
Good luck and sorry for your loss x

Thanks for taking the time to reply!

Truth is money is tight at the moment. My mother has offered to give us all the money for testing and anything else we might need. Saying that if I were to have another mmc it would cost me 800 euros to get the erpc (let alone the anguish, heartbreak etc etc etc).
The doctor I saw suggested that my family history (grandma had 4 mcs and one stillbirth, as well as 3 healthy children and then thrombosis, stroke, pulmonary embolism) might suggest that there is a problem with thrombophilia and that's why he suggested it... Or am I being taken advantage of in my fragile state?

Still haven't decided, seeing another doctor as suggested by my DH, who has been recommended and speaks English!!

I was going to say at 30 and after only one miscarriage it seems early to start testing, but then you mentioned the family history of thrombophilia. One branch of my extended family has this, and one relative had numerous miscarriages, two still births and a couple of episodes of DVT. Has anyone in your family other than your grandmother had symptoms? And was it your mother's mother, and did your mother have problem-free pregnancies?

If the testing is likely to give a clear-cut answer, and you have family willing to pay, then in your case it does seem worth it, since as far as I know there is now treatment that can help you have a healthy pregnancy (not available when my relative was going through all her trauma).

Exexpat thanks for that - it's very interesting to hear what your family's experience has been. It was indeed my mother's mother (my other grandmother was consdered barren for close to 25 years until at 45 she goes pregnant with my dad... but that's another story) but my mum had 2 trouble free pregnancies, one at 35 and one at 40!!

I guess when you go private, and especially not in the UK where evrything seems to be a lot better regulated, you always wonder if you are being taken advantage of... I guess I will see another doctor next week and see what she thinks. But I am inclined to go for the tests - at least if it's negative I will know that I have done something, if it is positive, it's treatable.
Thanks again.

If your mother was not affected, have you done any checking about whether it's the kind of thing that can skip a generation (ie could your mother have been a carrier even if she wasn't affected)? That might clarify a bit whether it's worth being tested.

I had both my DCs overseas so I know what you mean about not being sure whether you really need all the things being proposed - loads more scans than you would have in the UK etc - but I also had one pregnancy that went very badly wrong, and that made me realise I was actually very lucky to have instant access to all the specialists and tests (MRIs etc) that would probably be rationed by waiting lists in the UK. Does your health insurance not cover pregnancy-related problems? The first policy we had didn't, but luckily we had switched by the time all my complications arose, so we were able to claim most of it back.

Anyway, good luck whatever you decide - I'm sure you'll have a successful pregnancy sooner than you think.

Thank again exexpat - I honestly feel like it will never happen, but your last line brought a big smile to my face.

Unfortunately nothing covered by health insurance and in fact someone I spoke to here said that pregnancy is never covered... We can't afford private anyway, we just have work-private insurance.

Thanks again for all the advice and wishes - will look into the hereditary pattern of thrombophilia (although most thrombophilias are actually non-hereditary...)