Third loss, what to do next

[Robinredface]

I've miscarried naturally today at 9 weeks after seeing a heartbeat last Thursday. I suspected something was wrong as I've been spotting for 2 weeks and baby was measuring a few days behind my dates.

Anyway, I also had a downs pregnancy and termination in November and prior to having DS I had a mmc at 12 weeks.

I know the Nhs won't investigate until three consecutive miscarriages, and I don't think the downs pregnancy will come into it.

My question is, what do I do now? I feel I need to be proactively doing something and can't bear the idea of going through it again next time.

Can it really be just down to bad luck to lose this many babies?

So sorry OP. I've been in a similar place and it's really tough.

If I were in your shoes I would make an appointment with a sympathetic gp and ask for advice/referral - you may get a referral as you've had three unsuccessful (sorry) pregnancies. There was a consultant at my local hospital who looked after people with "poor obstetric history" (as was written on my notes).

I've not checked these websites recently, but the miscarriage association and Tommy's have advice on miscarriage - there might be a number you can call to ask advice on what to do.

Fwiw, I think that things like high dose folic acid are often offered, I was on baby aspirin, heparin injections (I had a blood clotting issue) and hcg injections - but these last two were specific to me and you can only get them on prescription, so you need to get a hcp onside.

Wishing you lots of luck.

Thanks so much for responding itscurtainsforyou

Sorry you've been through similar. Heartbreaking isn't it? I'm glad you seem to have gotten to the bottom of your issue though. Can I ask, do you have any children?

My gp seems great so I'll go and see her and try my best for a referral. I'm thinking of going privately for tests etc if she won't.

Off to have a look at Tommys website now.

I'm so sorry for your loss

While the current guidelines say you have to have 3 consecutive losses I know plenty of people who've been referred after 2. Have you been under the EPU for this latest miscarriage? I was referred after my third loss by the hospital, either the EPU or the ward (had surgical management) so it never went via my GP. But that's a good place to start if you haven't had contact with the EPU.

Itscurtains gives really good advice on treatments and people to contact.

I'm under a RMC and had a range of blood tests, they were mainly looking for clotting issues and didn't find any. As I had surgery they also tested the fetal tissue, which was also clear.

Despite nothing being diagnosed, my doctor's treatment plan from BFP is flagmin/clexane (anticoagulant) injections to term and progesterone in case of any spotting.

I've since had a 4th early loss but haven't given up hope that the treatment plan may work for us, possibly with some tinkering.

Wishing you so much luck x

Hi there - if you're able to pay for private tests I would definitely do that, at least it would give you an idea of any reason if there is one.

I do have children, a 6 year old (straightforward pregnancy), then I had an early miscarriage, then we had twins who were born at 22 weeks and didn't survive (classed as a late miscarriage as they were under 24 weeks), then two more first trimester miscarriages then my 18 month old who was born at 24 weeks.

I had testing done after the second first trimester miscarriage (so 3rd miscarriage altogether although they said they didn't think there would be a link with the twins and the early miscarriages), but aside from being a carrier for a blood clotting disorder they couldn't really find a reason. So I was referred to a consultant who specialised in recurrent miscarriage who helped us hang on to our 18 month old long enough that he was considered viable

I hope your gp can help and/or there's a specialist centre near you - it's such a devastating thing to go through, you need people who understand and can help you make a plan for next time.

So sorry you're going through this, it is heartbreaking.

I was put on baby aspirin and progesterone pessary to try to hold on to pg after 2 MCs; after the 3rd MC I was told to start clexane as soon as I got a positive test result (I also have blood clotting issues, although never had a clot to my knowledge).

However, what I do believe helped me get DS2 after 3 MCs was to have my vitamin D levels checked and corrected. I was quite low, below normal range, on vit D and was given large doses to be taken weekly to bring it up fast.
Low levels of vitamin D are associated with both miscarriage and subfertility, so I believe that sorting that out really did help, although I have no definitive proof that it is the case.

Still, it's one more factor to rule out/deal with, so worth giving it a go. So many people are vit D deficient these days because of sun screen and SPF in makeup etc., so see if your GP will check your levels.

That's interesting Thumb. I've read bits about Vit D deficiency and figured it couldn't do any harm to get some extra so I'm taking 5000iu Vitamin D3 Supplement. Does that sound right? I'm not aware of having had them checked.

All the consultant told me was to keep on normal dose Folic and a general prenatal mutlivit. I've added Vitamin C, D and a probiotic on top just because.

Annelovesgilbert thank you so much. I was under epu but I called them and they said to go via gp now, so much to-ing and fro-ing. I'm going to push for a referral, thinking about it, I had a positive test and what I classed as a late period the month before this one was conceived so perhaps mentioning that might strengthen my case too.

That's really interesting about the vit d levels thumbwitchesabroad I will ask for a test. Just thinking out loud here, I wonder if time of year you conceive would have an impact on whether or not you miscarry...
I'm glad you got that sorted though, and got an answer to your problem. It is unbelievable what you have to go through though to get to the bottom of these things. Often they are easily fixed.

I've been having a think this afternoon and I'll be seeing the gp soon but I am feeling at the moment that I need a little time away from ttc. I find it totally all consuming and exhausting. I've never had a problem conceiving but since the downs pregnancy and now this I think giving my body a break for a while would do me good.

itscurtainsforyou I'm so sorry to hear your story. Really devastating and such a lot to go through.

I'm so happy that you had the help you needed to have your DC.

Annelovesgilbert (great name!), 5,000iu will be fine. Old school says 1,000iu/day, but current thinking says most people would do better on 3,000iu/day. OD starts at about 40,000iu/day so 5,000 should be perfectly safe.

Robin you don't really need to be tested first so if your gp is unwilling or unreasonable, then it would still be ok to take the vit D; just make sure it's vit D3 (most things are these days anyway).

itscurtains that was a terrible lot to go through but glad you finally got your 18mo.

Robin and everyone else, sorry to hear of your losses. My thoughts are with you.
Robin I also had a natural MMC at 9 weeks last year. The pain was excruciating, no woman should ever have to go through it.
Since my MC last year I've had 3 'chemical' pregnancies - where I have missed my period, had a positive pregnancy test, then 4 days after the positive test I have had a heavy bleed, and the pregnancy has ended. I went to my GP who ran blood tests, who then referred me to the gynaecologist at hospital. Gyno said my tests were normal but don't qualify to be investigated as I haven't had 3 recorded miscarriages. They have to be recorded on your doctor or hospital notes. I wasn't satisfied so saw my GP again, because how can I have another MC if I'm not even passing the first few days or pregnancy these days if you know what I mean? Anyway my GP saw how distressed I was and has referred me to hospital for a pelvic, womb & uterus scan to rule out if anything could be wrong. No one would have done anything if I wouldn't have pushed for that. So I am now waiting on dates for it. So, I would go see your GP and express your concerns, let your GP see how all this is effecting you and I sure if you pushed for testing: bloods/scan etc like I did then I'm sure they would be happy to help.

Robin it sounds like you had a chemical pregnancy the month before you conceived this one too as you said you had a positive then a late period. That's what a chemical is. So tell your GP all this.