Do they ever test to see why you MC?

[marthamay]

Hello,

I had a mmc last week at 12 weeks (no hb at scan. baby died at 9) and besides feeling pretty raw and wobbly after my D&C on Monday I keep going over and over in my head things that maybe I have done that could have caused the mc. I was just wondering if they ever test the foetus after the erpc to see exactly why it died and whether you have any access to these tests....

I am presuming that they don't as early mc is so common but I just thought I'd ask as someone might know something different.

I wish I could know why.

Me again,

Just thought I should clarify - this is my first mc and I don't mean any disrespect to those who have had recurrent mc and are in the process of testing themselves.
I guess I was just wondering whether there were routine tests done when someone had an erpc or not and whether these were publicly available.
Someone I knew had a similar experience to mine, first mc, and were told that the baby had shown signs of a rare disorder which would mean monitoring of any further pregnancies. I'm just wondering how they cam to discover this.

Please excuse me if my question sounds incredibly naive!

came, not cam!

Hi Martha. Very sorry for your loss, i have also just miscarried my first pregnancy this week, it happened naturally but i then spent yesterday in hospital due to excessive bleeding, i was given drugs to help me pass the remaining products. It has been a traumic few days to say the least but i did have the opportunity to discuss things with a doctor, she advised me that mc, particularly in first pregnancies is very common and as there were no obvious problems from their examination of me they would not investigate the cause further. I was told that only when you've had 3 consecutively would they consider looking into why it was happening. From what i've read elsewhere that seems to be the standard NHS response.
It's so frustrating i know, i keep going over things in my mind as to possible causes and could i have done something differently, i've been googling myself insane.

Have you had ERPC? I don't think they will test for your first but there is nothing to stop you asking, I think the consultant might have the final say.
Try not to torture yourself - whatever it is you think you've done (I had a whole list!) I can pretty much guarantee that didn't cause it - unless you were taking hard drugs or riding in a rodeo, perhaps?
I thought shovelling snow caused one of mine - tests carried out confirmed an abnormality, so wrapping myself in cotton wool still wouldn't have helped.

Hi Martha so sorry for your loss. I'm in exactly the same situation as you, first pregnancy, found out at 12 weeks that the baby died at 9 weeks and had my ERPC yesterday.

I asked if they tested and they said the test for specific genetic disorders, so I guess this is if you're a carrier of a particular gene disorder but not for the random chromosome 'blips' that also tend to cause miscarriages. I suspect that I won't hear anything.

Also feel terribly guilty because we didn't find out till 7 weeks and I had been drinking, etc. I am just trying to focus on the fact that it happened for a reason and when we do try again, I'm going to make sure I'm in optimum health and do everything I can to help things along.

PM me if you want to talk further.

Sending you lots of hugs. xx

Just to add, that sadly as MC so common, particularly before 12 weeks, that as has been said it's usually not until 3 MCs (or sometimes 2 depending on age and local guidelines/policy) that tests are carried out.

The vast majority of women go on to successful pregnancies after one or 2 (or even more) mcs. It's horrible when you're going through it, but it is "just one of those things" (not to belittle the episode or experience in any way).

Martha and shell, please don't torture yourselves with what could/should I have done differently. I have one child from 5 pregnancies, and it was ironically in the successful one (unplanned and therefore late discovered) that I was drinking, carrying fridges up and down stairs, not taking folic acid etc etc etc. (Obviously I didn't carry on doing these things when I realised I was pregnant!).

I wish you both quick physical and emotional recoveries, and if you decide to TTC again, a happy healthy and successful pregnancy in the future.