Recurrent Miscarriage Support Thread 20 - tests, treatment, trying again.

[barkingtreefrog]

Buckle up, the threads move like lightening! Tea, sympathy, information, support and combined wisdom to guide you through the maze of testing and treatment for recurrent miscarriage. Newbies always most welcome.

Please start with the traditional recap of your stats.

Just a brief cheat sheet to put at the top (sorry if your stats aren't here, this is what I got from thread 19).

andcounting, 33, ds, 5 mcs, pg
bakingtins, 40, 2 ds, 4 mcs, 1 dd
barkingtreefrog, 35, ttc #1 since Dec '11, 2 mcs
bettybutterchops, 40, ds, 3 mcs, pg
bootles, 41, ds, 5 mcs
brummiegirl15, 38, ttc #1 since April '14, 3 mcs
bythesea82, 32, ttc #1 since Dec '12, 3 mcs, pg
cloudjumper, 43, ds, 3 mcs
flen, 36, ttc #1, 3 mcs
floweroct 34, ttc #1 since summer '11, 3 mcs
flower29, 29, ds, 2 mcs
frecklefire, 40, ds, 3 mcs
girliesaints, 37, dd, 3 mcs
mimidoddrioni, 35, ttc #1, 2 mcs
Ifinishedthebiscuits, 37, 2 ds, 4 mcs
jady77, 37, ttc #1 since Sept '14, 2 mcs
justonemoretime, 38, ttc #1 since '11, 3 mcs, pg
longestlurkerever, 34, dd, 3 mcs, pg
loopyaboutmy2boys 38, 2 ds, 4 mcs
marchgirl, 37, dd, 4 mcs
maverick79, 35, ttc #1, 2 mcs
minnie74, 40, ds, 3 mcs
monten, 37, ttc #1 since April '13, 1 TFMR, 1 mc
mrsconfusion 35, dd, 3 mcs
mrsdiddlydoo, 34, ds, 2 mcs
sebsmummy, 40, ds, 3 mcs
sizethree, 35, ttc #1, 3 mcs, pg
sunandrainbow, 38, ttc #1, 4 mcs
tannyloo, 42, 2 ds, 5 mcs, 1 ds
thepopandcry, 38, ds, 4 mc
tinytear, 41, dd, 5 mcs, pg

catlover2014
boozle80
twilightstruggle
cloudjumper
queenangst
enlightenedbunny
leahjane
lovemylittlebear
seekingmiracles

Thank you for starting the new thread, Barking.

Thanks barking.

Thanks Barking!

Me 37, DP 45. DP has 14yo DS
1st mc, Oct '14, natural, 6+1, empty sac.
2nd mc, Jan 15, measured 6 weeks at early scan & saw heartbeat. ERPC at 7 weeks.

Just waiting to ovulate before making appointment with Coventry.
Quit work couple of weeks ago which also means quitting rental so busy cleaning & painting DPs house so we can move back there in a couple of weeks time. Tenants had dogs weeing on carpet and it stank!

Currently feeling quite optimistic about attempt no. 3. Been taking agnus castus, vit D and preconception tabs as well as low Gi diet. Although blog Brummie link earlier did have me in unexpected tears.

Shit sorry Jady eekkkk didn't want to upset anyone. It just really struck me that someone was writing about exactly how I felt... hugs. I feel terrible now.

Thanks for new thread Barking

Stats as usual

Me 38, DP 45 been ttc'ing since April 14 - no dc's
Mc 1 at 5 weeks in May 14
Mc 2 at 8.5 weeks in August 14 ERPC
Mc 3 at 9 weeks January 15 after seeing heartbeat at 7 weeks. ERPC. Took baby aspirin for that one, didn't work.

Had my rmc appointment with Mr Watts at Worcester and all tests clear. Have been booked in for hystereoscopy on 20th April and told I will be given progesterone and heparin on 4th attempt.

Also booked in to Coventry this Friday.

Currently awaiting with dread my 2nd due date this coming Wednesday for Baby T number 2.

My aim is to be pregnant by 7th August which is baby T number 3's due date

Been having counselling and acupuncture but struggling as have pregnant colleague sit opposite and find myself wrapped up in such pain, sadness and resentment that I never knew possible

I'm back and armed with cranberry tablets!
Called the clinic - trigger shot tonight at 11, in for egg collection at 8am on Monday.

My stats:
me: 35, DH 34
ttc #1 since December 2011
Referred to infertility clinic December 2012. Unexplained infertility. Short LP of 7 days probably wasn't helping.
mc 1: clomid bfp, scan showed no hb @ 7 weeks in Sept 2013
AF went awol for 3 months, started acupuncture to get it back.
5 further rounds of clomid failed.
mc 2: iui bfp, scan showed empty sac @ 6 weeks in June 2014
rmc referral due to combined infertility + mcs, identified factor v leiden thrombophilia. Consultants not in agreement over best treatment re aspirin or not aspirin.

2nd cycle of iui in January 2015 failed.
Currently half way through the final chance last NHS offer of one round of IVF. Only 3 follicles in play at last scan, but hoping for some good quality eggs and fertilisation.... Taking aspirin since cd 1 and will be on delteparin (mild heparin) if we get a bfp from bfp until 6 weeks post birth.

Thanks for doing the summary barking - that's fab. I really struggle to remember who is pg, who already has dc etc, esp as you say with similar names.

Quick summary of me (38): ttc #1 sine jan 14:

Mmc1 April 14 at 11 weeks, fetus 7
Mmc 2 July 14 at 8 weeks, blighted ovum
Mc 3 - cp Oct 14
Mmc 4 - jan 15 at 8 weeks, fetus 6, trisomy 22

All tests including karyotyping have been clear, except elevated response of nk cells to placental material.

Ttc again now (2 months down), will be on progesterone, steroids and poss heparin if I get pg again (currently having really hard time imaging that happening).

Thanks for the thread barking and putting together that cheat sheet, it's very useful as I too get very confused. (Am in the process of deciding a new name too! )

Me 29.5 DH 32.5
DS born aug13 lovely naive pregnancy
MMC sep14 at 11+5 (baby measured 8+5) medical management
MMC jan15 passed naturally at7-8wks but scan showed sac only 4.5wks

On enforced ttc break as going to COVENTRY next month (est 13th/17th April).

Had blood test for APS which was normal, but awaiting results for thrombophillia. Going to request thyroid test from gp due to maternal history and also have some symptoms of hypothyroidism.

Had first acupuncture today but not sure on it as I feel quite achy now and didn't find it relaxing. Think I will try the herbal medicine though and probably try reflexology.

I am a liker of mc association on fb so saw the times article today. However I'm also tight so haven't paid to read it all.
I feel a bit empowered 'liking' these things on fb as more people will realise I have suffered mc and I feel it raises awareness. I know where you're coming from brummie seeing it as an anti-baby bomb thing but sometimes I just don't care if it makes anyone feel uncomfortable. Sod what others think. X

Brilliant one baking - cheat sheet fab idea, i started taking notes on everyone as couldnt keep up, but then felt like a bit of an obsessive stalker, so those stats at the top are just what's needed.

God but reading those stats depressed me...untill i noticed a lot of pg's. There IS a silver lining. Xx

Hmm. Achy doesn't sound right flower!

Me 37 dh 44. Dd born aug 12. Normal pg
Jan 14 mmc @12, measured 6. Med manx2
Jul 14 natural mc @8, measured 5 with dodgy sac @7
Oct 14 mmc @ 8, saw hb @7.1, but measured 6 with dodgy sac. Med man
Feb 15 early natural mc @4+5
Rmc testing and karyotyping normal. No result for genetic testing on foetus 3.

Having acupuncture and awaiting nk testing at Coventry, hopefully going 13/17 Apr (might see you there flower!). Also going to speak to response trial people as my plan B if nk cells are normal.
In the meantime I'm on the 5:2 diet but don't seem to have lost anything this week!

Thanks for the thread barking

brummie that link was a great article. Totally exactly how I feel (possibly not quite as positive about a happy ending as the lady on the blog seemed at the end-hope I'll get to that point though)

Here's the stats:
Me 40.5 Dh 42
Mc1 at 6 weeks Dec 10 natural
Ds born Dec 11
Ttc 2 since sept 13
Mc2 at 6 weeks Aug 14 natural
Mc3 at almost 12 weeks Mar 15 saw heartbeat at 7 and 10 weeks. Baby measured 10+5 weeks. Medical management

So currently waiting for an appointment to Rmc and will try Coventry as well. Trying to decide whether to wait it out for all test results before trying again or to go for it and hope for the best. Edging towards waiting. Also been having acupuncture for just over a year- definitely credit it for sorting out very random cycles between 30 days to 12 days (!) now back to 27.

No need to apologise Brummie! just mean it touched me. I cry at the drop of a hat sometimes, esp these days.

Ahh DP cooking dinner with his DS means I had a chance to catch up a bit. That blog was really good. What touched me is the idea that even though she never met her lost babies she was still their Mum, which means I'm a Mum too, never thought of it in that way before.

Really great news Brummie & Flen with Coventry appointments. Hoping to join you, but think it will end up being the following Monday, same day as my hospital appointment with consultant with blood test results. Typical. Maybe if I get morning appointment in Coventry I can fly back to Bath for rmc appointment.

Barking will be thinking of you Monday on egg collection day.

Agree with you Freckle great to see how many pregnant ladies there are on here.

Thanks for the thread and stats barking. Great idea! Here is the rest of my story. Me:34, dh 35. One dd born Aug 11. Ttc since Aug 13. 1 chm pg, 2mmc (early gestation about 6 weeks). Tests at St Mary's clear apart from pcos. Suspect that has been causing implantation issues. Also may have had some level of insulin resistance as now have gestational diabetes. Tried agnus castus and now 30 weeks pregnant. Getting much more positive but still finding things to worry about, the llatest being gdm.

Excellent summary Barking - can see at a glance that a high proportion of DCs are boys. Am def going to ask Prof Quenby/Prof Brosen about whether having boys might have caused subsequent m/cs and whether steroids would make any difference in that situation.

Cloud I thought you'd mentioned Cambridge! But couldn't find post again.
I had mixed experience with EPU. The staff I met first were brilliant but when I phoned to say I had spotting (which turned out to be m/c4), the lady I spoke to said put a pad in and see how it goes. I said I'd had two births and three previous miscarriages and spotting in first trimester had NEVER ended well and she was a bit huffy and said she needed to check with someone and eventually said to come in the next day. But the next day the ladies were lovely again.

Just checking in again.

Me 38, DH 42
1st MMC May 2011 - 5/6 weeks, miscarried at 9 weeks
DS May 2012
2nd MMC Feb 2014 - 5/6 weeks, miscarried at 7 weeks
3rd MMC June 2014 - 5/6 weeks, miscarried at 12 weeks
Rcm tests @ Leeds all negative, prescribed HCG from next bfp
4th MMC February 2015 - 17/18 weeks, induced labour at 20 weeks. Low PAPP-A hormone found from 13 week combined blood test. Put on aspirin (but that was clearly too late). Not sure if HCG helped or hindered things.

barking all fingers crossed for Monday.
minnie hope you hear from Leeds soon.
And all digits crossed for the next round of Coventry ladies!

Had a lovely letter from the Liverpool clinic today saying they think my mc history and 2nd trimester loss are due to and underlying blood-clotting disorder and, whatever the blood results eventually say, should I decide to try again I need high dose folic acid when ttc and aspirin and fragmin from bfp right through to the end.

It's just nice to feel somebody thinks there's a reason and is willing to suggest some things, even if they've not necessarily been proven by the blood tests. Just need to get to Coventry and get a progesterone/steroid diagnosis and I could go for the whole shebang!

Hope you're all having a relaxing weekend. x

longest can I ask what you took the agnus castus for and do you think it helped? If you don't mind me being nosey!

biscuits when are you due at Coventry? Would love for you to ask this questions as it's on my list of q's for when I go too

Thanks Barking for the summary. My god didn't realised how many ladies we had, although knew it was a few.

Here's mine

Me & DH 37, one DH born jan 11 first attempt- so naive

Ttc since Jan 14, three MC feb 14 (5wks) Apr 14 (9 wks, measured 6 wks) and Sept 14 (11wks - HB seen at 6wks)

Scans & blood tests all cleared. Testing on MC not done as NHS wouldn't count first MC as not recorded.

Signed up to Response trial and back ttc after AF, which is currently awol.

As off on holiday this week having ?? to get me in the mood!

Not at all pop. I was trying to reduce my 42 day cycle. I don't know if it helped with that or not. The first cycle I took it for was a wtf cycle where I wasn't ttc and it was 42 days, but previous wtf cycle had been 8 weeks with positive hpts for much longer too. The second cycle I got my bfp and by my dates it may have brought ovulation forward a day or two. I do think it might have improved my progesterone levels though as I have never got a bfp that quickly before and this one stuck, so perhaps it implanted better? I will never really know but if I ever were to ttc again I would try it and a low gi diet, which I now know is good for pcos and seems to suit me.

Thanks for the info longest. I suspect my progesterone levels are low as af has been very light for last 18 months and cycles are longer than they used to be, so have been considering it. Did you stop once you got the bfp?

Yes. I have read you should stop at ovulation but other places said carry on till 12 weeks so I split the difference! I asked my rmc consultant's permission before taking it and he oked it but didn't say when to stop.

Well done for sorting it out yourself, then! Will continue to look into it.

Ooo, love the cheat sheet idea! Here are my stats, 1 DD, nmc dec 13, mmc, April 14, mmc August 14. Currently 25 weeks pregnant and in complete denial!

I just tried looking at the times article but it won't let me without subscribing :(