Questions to ask at consultant appt after 2 mcs?

[Lastyearsmodel]

My lovely friend has had 2 MCs since her DD was born 5 years ago, and one before that. She is 41 and has been prescribed Clomid to help her conceive (once by hospital consultant, then a further 3 months by her GP, but no monitoring scans).

She now has another consultant appointment and has asked me to go along with her for support. I would really appreciate some words of advice and experience on what treatment or tests she could/should ask for now.

I know her age rules out NHS IVF in our area and she has been told MC tests can only happen after 3 consecutive MCs and only if they reached a certain stage (her first 2 MCs were at 6 wks, the most recent was at 12 wks). She has had some tests but wasn't 100% sure which ones and what the results were.

I'm concerned that her age means she hasn't got time to hang about. I've also read a little bit about extra help like aspirin and steroids - what should she be asking her consultant for and what could she be doing herself?

My friend is one of the loveliest people I know but goes very quiet in front of doctors and doesn't go much for the internet. Which is why I thought I'd ask some kind MNers beforehand. TIA

Anyone?

Two mcs is not unusual at all at that age (sorry if that's blunt, I'm 40, have had two mcs and 1 stillbirth as well as one marvelous living DD so I do understand the pain .... but the reality at this age is that it really can be hard to get and stay pregnant. That does not mean she should give up hope though).

Ask about testing for APS (Hughes) if she has not had that. Its only one of the many possible causes of mc but it is treatable (low dose aspirin) so worth testing for I think.

Good luck --- and I think you are a great friend

Sorry for not replying - I hoped someone more knowledgeable than me would post! There are so many issues surrounding mc that I wouldn't really know where to start & much depends on your friends specific issues/history etc. But I'd definitely agree that age unfortunately appears to be a big factor. I also wanted to say that I'd recommend the miscarriage book by prof Lesley Reagan, a leading expert at St Marys in London. It's a bit old now but really easy to read & insightful into the causes of & treatments for mc with useful stats as well. A good starting point anyway. I got mine for a couple of £s 2nd hand from amazon.

And I agree- you're a fab friend! x

Lastyearsmodel you are a great friend! I'm in a similar situ to your friend, 2 mcs down but no baby so far. I got a consultants appt yesterday mainly due to my age - I think they felt sorry for me! The doc will take a history from her and make somd suggestions, the chances are, likd me, they will run a ehe range of bloods for everything, tell her shr has possibly had a couple of faulty eggs due to age and to keep on trying hard. They are starting me on a progesterone supplement I think next time from 4 wks. Nod thing the consulting said to mr yesterday was beware of taking aspein just to on thr safe side, it can do more harm than good apparently if you don't really need it, so she may need to be patient for a couple of months till the bloods come back and if she's gets preg in the meantime, any good consultant will offer to scan her early early doors, mine has. Please let me know how she gets on, you can always message me privately, would like to know. Estelle xx

Lastyearsmodel you are a great friend! I'm in a similar situ to your friend, 2 mcs down but no baby so far. I got a consultants appt yesterday mainly due to my age - I think they felt sorry for me! The doc will take a history from her and make somd suggestions, the chances are, likd me, they will run a ehe range of bloods for everything, tell her shr has possibly had a couple of faulty eggs due to age and to keep on trying hard. They are starting me on a progesterone supplement I think next time from 4 wks. One thing the consulting said to mr yesterday was beware of taking aspirin just to on the safe side, it can do more harm than good apparently if you don't really need it, so she may need to be patient for a couple of months till the bloods come back and if she's gets preg in the meantime, any good consultant will offer to scan her early early doors, mine has. Please let me know how she gets on, you can always message me privately, would like to know. Estelle xx

Thanks Jules. I'm so sorry for your little ones who didn't make it. I will pass on the info about APS.

I'm angry with the hospital and her GP that when she first went for help aged 39 they didn't fast-track her for treatment. So now she's over the age limit and I think is beginning to feel a bit hopeless. Don't think they can afford to go private either.

X posts with more replies! Thanks all. I don't know much about MCs - my problem was getting pregnant, which I eventually did via IVF, followed by 2 natural BFPs. But I watched my friend go through her most recent MC at 12 weeks and it was just awful. I find it hard to believe she has picked herself up so well since then. She hides her down days well but I know it's hurting her deeply that she may not have a sibling for her DD. I feel happy she trusts me enough to help out with the medical side.

Will tell her about progesterone and the book. Many thanks.