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Miscarriage/pregnancy loss

Find support and share your experiences on our Miscarriage forum. See also legal rights and support after baby loss.

Original poster

Recurrent miscarriage testing - 1st app

296 replies

Softscoop35 · 09/12/2019 19:04

Hey 😁

In short, 4 pregnancies, 4 losses. Ds (living) was the result of 3rd pregnancy but as he was a twin, my GP has classed that as a loss too.

2 losses from CP
2 losses after seeing heartbeat.

Im lucky that i have managed to get a cancellation for friday after waiting only 3 weeks.

What should i expect from my 1st appointment?

Im also lucky in the fact that my local hospital and clinic where im receiving treatment is where Prof.Quenby is based.

Not sure how relevant that is mind as my app is on the gynae ward.
I have a few questions if anyone could answer?

Would i be eligible for Kryotyping on NHS?
As ive had a child, would i even need it?
I know they test for blood clotting and thyroid, but what else will the test for?

I do wonder if i would see Prof. Quenby as an NHS patient. My bet is i wouldnt. I have a very vague memory of having a chat with her way before i had DS but i could be wrong.

Any advice would be handy. I have a tendency of having high expectations so i want to go in there, kinda knowing what im going to get out of it.

(Ps, i know there is a 50% chance i wont get anything out of it)

Thanks in advance

OP posts:
Daffodil21 · 04/12/2020 14:17

@HalGem99 thank you! Just got to sit right now! Will keep you updated - keep us updated too. Hope everything works out, I never thought trying to have a baby would be this tough!!!

HalGem99 · 04/12/2020 15:26

I will do. I know, I've spent the last however many years putting it off as you don't ever think something like this will happen to you! It never even crossed my mind. How many weeks are you? Do you believe in bed rest? Xx

Daffodil21 · 04/12/2020 16:02

@HalGem99 I'm not even 4 weeks yet!!! AF would be on Monday but let's hope it doesn't arrive, of course that doesn't mean I'm safe if it doesn't!

I actually don't believe in bed rest. I almost did basically that last time. I didn't do anything strenuous at all. I basically sat on the sofa the whole time and wouldn't even go for a walk (I was on clexane at the time which is a blood thinner, usually prescribed for people who are inactive due to a broken leg etc) so thought health wise I could get away being over cautious on the movement. It did FA difference! This time I'm just going to try and carry on with life as usual, except the obvious things and taking pred/progesterone/other supplements. I figure most women carry on as normal and have healthy pregnancies so I'm just going to plod on and get wrapped up in Christmas, and hopefully after Christmas I'll still be pregnant and won't have have any blood (she says hopefully!) if we make it to jan I may book a scan but we'll see. I'm just exhausted by it all now, I can't even be bothered worrying about it anymore (unless I have to of course)

HalGem99 · 04/12/2020 19:32

I find it so sad that we can never experience the enjoyment of pregnancy because if I do carry a baby full term, I just know I wouldn't enjoy a second of it because I would be worrying every step of the way! I really hope yours is a positive outcome xx

GreenGecko36 · 07/12/2020 12:06

Hi everyone, hope it's OK to join you here.

I've had three mc this year - blighted ovum found at 12wk scan in April, 'natural' mmc at 10wks in July, and mmc found at 12wk scan in November. Saw a heartbeat in both the 2nd and 3rd mc so I suspect the losses are something my body is doing wrong.

We're now waiting for our NHS referral to the RM clinic - how long was the wait in your experience? Trying to deal with the emotional pain would feel a bit easier if we were at least making progress towards finding out if there's a physical cause for this.....
Also torn between forcing myself to be patient and wait for the tests and just ttc again as soon as we can with the risk of another loss. .. anyone advice on this dilemma?
Sorry if this is the wrong place for this post, I'm sadly new here.

Daffodil21 · 07/12/2020 12:20

@GreenGecko36 sorry you find yourself here. I got told it would take 6-8 weeks for a referral letter. I had my last mc on 5th Nov and haven't had a letter yet (as expected).

We had the same dilemma about whether to TTC again. We decided we would but we are prepared for the likely outcome (3 previous mc's). I am now pregnant again because we conceived on the cycle following mc (no period in between). We are fully aware this will probably go the same way as the other three, but figured we may as well give it another go in the meantime while waiting for the referral. We are also going to get private testing for autoimmune/NK cell responses if this goes the same way as the others, as you can't get that done on the nhs. I suppose if you can accept the possibility of a 4th, and can deal with that then go ahead with TTC, if not then there's no harm in taking a break while you wait for the referral. Unfortunately there's no right or wrong answer, it's whatever you feel you can deal with

Daffodil21 · 07/12/2020 12:20

Thanks @HalGem99

HalGem99 · 07/12/2020 13:32

@GreenGecko36 sorry you're going through this.

I got referred by my GP on 11/09/2020 and my first appointment was on 13/11/2020. So just over 8 weeks wait. In between, I asked my GP to run blood tests which they did but everything came back ok.

I was torn between trying again or waiting and decided to try again as didn't know how long the referral was going to be but I didn't get pregnant that month then the following month had my appointment anyway. As @Daffodil21 says, there's no right or wrong answer, just depends if you can go through it again. I'm going to enjoy my Christmas then try again in January which will coincide with my results from the hospital on 08/01/2020 anyway xx

HalGem99 · 15/12/2020 18:40

@Daffodil21 how are things going? Xx

Daffodil21 · 15/12/2020 19:31

@HalGem99 had a bit of pink when wiping a couple of days ago so had a blood test today and another on Thursday to check HCG levels. Results on Friday, which I am dreading. How are you?

HalGem99 · 15/12/2020 19:39

@Daffodil21 I have everything crossed for you. have you been taking the progesterone?

I'm ok thanks. No update really as going to try again after Christmas but this week is my window and we have had sex once so far but not actively trying but we shall see.

Xx

Daffodil21 · 15/12/2020 19:46

@HalGem99 yes I've been taking progesterone and prednisolone since 48 hours after ovulation. I was really hoping we would catch this month as I wasn't planning on doing that every month, so I'm glad we got the chance at least.

I have basically zero symptoms though. I am hugely bloated (ridiculously so, and have put on 5lbs in about 2 weeks, despite eating well), but that is likely all down to the progesterone. I'm peeing a lot but that's my only symptom, and it's not reassuring because I always get that. My boobs also usually get bigger and then shrink, but they haven't even bothered getting bigger this time.

Once is all it takes! Fingers crossed for you x

HalGem99 · 15/12/2020 20:30

Try not to read too much into lack of symptoms as each pregnancy is different and a lot of women don't get any symptoms.

Hopefully you will get some answers Friday. Keep us updated xx

Daffodil21 · 15/12/2020 20:46

@HalGem99 hopefully, but I'm not anticipating straight forward answers. I'll let you know though

GreenGecko36 · 15/12/2020 21:39

Thank you @HalGem99 and @Daffodil21 for responding to my question, it sucks that we're all here but happy that we can support each other. Spoke to my EPU yesterday to confirm what tests they're actually running on the blood they took after the scan (didn't really take it in at the time) so hopefully that will at least inform whatever happens next. They did say that the RM clinic is suspended atm though and we might not get seen until April (!)....

Hoping everything goes well this week for you @Daffodil21, I'll be thinking of you on Friday xx

HalGem99 · 15/12/2020 21:47

@GreenGecko36 why is it suspended? Because of covid? Xx

GreenGecko36 · 15/12/2020 21:56

I assumed it was covid-related, but when they call back tomorrow with the details of the blood tests I'll make sure I ask. The nurse I've seen there all three times hasn't been that great tbh, so busy (not her fault) but I didn't appreciate feeling like my third miscarriage was a big inconvenience for her....
We have a quote from a private clinic so just need to decide what we want to do.

HalGem99 · 15/12/2020 22:43

That's not good that they made you feel that way. Do you mind me asking what your quote was and what tests they have offered privately as that will have to be my next step if things don't work out again xx

GreenGecko36 · 16/12/2020 08:15

I've PM'ed it to you @HalGem99, hope it's of some use x

Daffodil21 · 16/12/2020 10:30

I got my RMC letter today. No appointment has been made but I've been put on the waiting list and have a form to send back in the meantime (GP advised I didn't cancel it even though I'm currently pregnant, although I had no intention of cancelling it!)

I also received a very confusing letter separately which manages to sound like they're not going to test the previous pregnancy 'products', or they have yet to test it, or they have tested and found nothing, all at the same time. So I've called to ask wtt it actually means. It also says 'no further follow up appointment has been organised'.

Why are they all so shit?! We're also going private if this pregnancy fails too

HalGem99 · 16/12/2020 10:45

@GreenGecko36 thank you that is very useful!

@Daffodil21 hopefully you won't need it but good to know you're on the list just in case instead of having to start from scratch again!

It's so crap that we have to consider paying privately because there's just not enough support from the NHS! I was so shocked that the midwife at my appointment told me that they had to shut down during the first covid outbreak as they were not considered as essential. It is to people like us!!! Xx

glowingtwig · 16/12/2020 18:50

Hi ladies,

Do you mind if I join? I've just read through all your stories- I'm so sorry that you are having to go through this worry and all the tests.

My story is one early loss at 5 weeks aged 37 then six months later conceived my 14m old DD - a straightforward pregnancy even though I had eclampsia after birth and am rhesus negative. (I'm not sure if these things could have an impact on a future pregnancy).

We started trying again when DD was 9 months due to my age- I'm soon to be 40. We conceived in August and I miscarried that pregnancy at 6 weeks and then fell pregnant again three months later. I went for a scan yesterday at 8:5 due to some brown blood and the baby was only measuring 6:4 and no heartbeat. I've had a very sad day waiting for something to happen but no more bleeding and I'm so unsure of what is next.

My GP has referred me to the recurrent miscarriage clinic in January... if someone would be kind enough to give me a list of what I can expect them to do I'd be so grateful.

I don't think any of them made it to heartbeats they were so early but obviously I don't know about this latest one- it's the latest loss I've had. Why would mc before a heartbeat be a good thing?

I know how lucky we are to have DD but I yearn for a sibling for her.

HalGem99 · 16/12/2020 19:37

I'm sorry that you find yourself here.
Did the hospital not talk you through the options when you have a missed miscarriage? I chose the medical management on both occasions.

In terms of the testing with the NHS, they've only offered me blood tests so far to check for vitamin deficiency, sticky bloods which are blood clotting disorders and I'm not sure what else but I'm going to ask in case I need to go private. They also gave me progesterone prescription in readiness for my next positive test.

I've got my results appointment on 8th January so if my tests come back ok I'm going to ask what other tests they will do but I get the feeling that's all they do? Xx

glowingtwig · 16/12/2020 19:47

Thank you for your reply.

It was a private scan so they referred me to the EPU- I have an appointment there Friday where I guess they will talk through the options.

I was expecting to lose the pregnancy naturally like the other times but it's just not happening.

Not sure what the best route to go down is when we want to ttc again ASAP.

HalGem99 · 16/12/2020 20:22

Oh I see. That's what happened to me the first time, I found out at a private scan. So when you go to the hospital they will do another scan to confirm the miscarriage then will give you the option to wait and see if it happens naturally which could take weeks and then still might not happen, or give you the option to have medical management which is where you insert tablets and it forces a miscarriage or a d&c which is a scrape which they're not recommending or really offering at the minute because of covid.

So I chose the medical management just to get everything over and done with quickly so I could start to recover and move on and TTC again.

If you do the medical management you can TTC again once the bleeding has stopped but it's recommended to wait for one period because it's easier to date the new pregnancy. They give you paracetamol and codeine for the pain but I only needed a couple of paracetamol both times.

Xx