Recurrent early miscarriages = Likelihood of late miscarriage?

[starkadder]

Hi all

Am hoping someone will tell me what I want to hear..!

Have had 4 early MCs (7 wks, 6 wks, 7 wks and 5 wks). Between these (3rd pg) had a successful pregnancy and DS is now 3. :)

Am now PG again and have made it to the magic 12 week mark - had scan a week ago and baby was wriggling around happily and measuring 12+6. So I should be 14 wks now. They didn't do a NT as they don't offer that on the NHS in my area but according to the sonographer it all looked good. (She wasn't that nice though...she just said "it all appears fine at this stage although of course problems may still occur")

Now we get to my ridiculousness...

The NHS has told me that since I've never had 3 MCs in a row, it's just bad luck and I have never been at greater risk of another MC. I've never had any of the tests. I obviously have found it hard to believe this.

BUT my question is - are early MCs different from late MCs? I.e. now I've got to 12 weeks, do you think I can be more optimistic - or does the fact that I've had 4 MCs before (albeit early ones) mean that I'm at greater risk this time too? I suppose what I really mean is...am I now "normal" with the same reasons to worry/relax as other women - or should I still consider myself marked because of my previous experiences?

I am not sure if this makes sense. Have worked myself into a bit of a state, to be honest. Doesn't take long for the reassurance from good scan news to wear off...!

Thanks

Hi starkadder, congratulations on your pregnancy :)

From the little research I have done, I think early miscarriages can be quite different from late miscarriages, but can also be quite similar. With early miscarriages, you tend to lose the baby very early on due to a significant genetic flaw or hormone related reasons. If you have a blood clotting disease, this may also cause an early mc, due to the placenta not being able to develop. Some women may have immune problems where the body begins to reject the baby early in pregnancy.

Later miscarriages can also be caused by genetic or chromosomal problems in the baby, but this is quite rare. Alot of late miscarriages are caused by an incompetent cervix or infection such as BV. As you have gotten past the stages you miscarried, then I would try to relax.

Sadly alot of the time there is no reason for the miscarriages, and they are just something that happen.

That is so crap they won't give you tests for recurrent miscarriage because they aren't 3 in a row. I am sure everything will work out for the best this time, but I can understand the reason for your worry.
Try to think of the scan and the baby wriggling about every time you get a bad thought and I hope you have a problem free and boring pregnancy :)

Well i lost a bay at 12+6 and was told there was a 2% chance of this happening to anyone, there was no reason for the mc just the 'bad luck' :(

Hi starkadder - congratulations

I lost a little boy at 20weeks in October last year (no reason found) and then went on to have an early one (7 wks) in Feb. My GP was quite definite they were not linked - he said a late mc is medically very different to an early mc and it was just bad luck.
My consultant agreed but when pressed she said that there are some disorders that can cause both, but I was tested for most of them and all the tests came back normal.

I would think from your history - not that I'm an expert, but I've read a lot about MC in the last 6/7 months, that the fact that you've got to 12 weeks with this one is a very good sign.

Do you get pregnant very easily? If so, it might be worth reading up on the 'non-fussy uterus' theory.

HTH

Thanks very much all of you :) I do get pregnant quite easily, and that unfussy uterus thing does seem to make some sense. Thanks again - I am going to try and stop stressing.