Recurrent miscarriage - hopes, fears and more hopes

[karma]

Hi there.
Have been asked to start a new thread for those of us who have unfortunately experienced several miscarriages and need some mumsnet support, whether that be for some good old TLC or to share experiences (hopes and fears) of going for further investigations.
My story for those that don't know - I am 38 and have two ds (5 and 2). Starting trying for a third beg of this year and have just had my third misc (had others in Feb and May). Am due to go to recurrent misc clinic in Nov for investigations.
It's a hard place to be. Do we call it a day, grateful for what we have (which we are), or carry on, hoping that our luck will change? Don't expect to make any decisions until after the appt. but emotionally it is getting harder (maybe because this misc wasn't picked up until booking scan and my others had been early at 5 weeks). Really thought this time it would be alright. Feeling so empty and worried about the future. I know many others of you are feeling the same. Hope we all get some support here (sorry for rambling).

Hi teachertalk
I have just endured a second erpc only 4 days ago after discovering baby died at 9 weeks and 6 days absolutely heartbroken as time before (feb this year)had no pregnancy symptoms and baby died at 6 weeks so this time when felt sick all day every day was sure it was going to be alright - I just dont understand Ive done everything by the book but never heard of the aspirin thing? I have a 14yr daughter and 9 year old boy and never experienced any problems with them now in second marriage and desperate for a child between us! I just dont know I could cope with going thru this again scares me to read some woman have 6 or 7 they must be impeccably strong ladies who I admire enormously! I just want answers that no one can give! Im 34 and wandering if I left it for 6 months if I would have a better chance maybe I tried to soon after last loss?

So sorry to hear about your loss (I have heard that a lot myself in the last week). I found my second MMC particularly difficult I though that it would be fine as 1 MC is common. We were devastated as we too have a ds (he is 4) and couldn't understand why things seemed to be going wrong with the following 3 pg's. I had no problems the first pg at all.
I am now 36 and we waited a year to try again after the second MC. I really regret that now as it took a few months to get pg and then I had another MC. I feel the gap is widening now and the clock is ticking (I am 37 soon). I don't know if waiting will make a difference to success in next pg but if you are in a better state of mind by then then that could only help.
I am impatient to get pg again (this MMC didn't hit me as hard - I have expecting it all through the pg even though an early scan showed hb at 6 weeks). We are waiting to have blood tests in 6 weeks then will try again. Don't know if I could do it 6/7 times tho. Just hoping it is very bad luck and that it will change next time. I too felt better this pg but that makes it hard to think that my body can deceive me like that.
Am going to see Dr tomorrow as have opened the letter from the hospital to my GP and it says that they have put a stitch in my cervix due to a tear. I wasn't told about that and want to know if there are any future implications.

Take care and take time to recover, it took me ages after the second MC as we were adament that we weren't trying again which made things worse. This time I feel more positive cos of tests and we will def try again. I now know the worst that can happen afetr all

Hi every1 I am new to this but am feeling better after reading this thread!!!! I had a miscarriage in January at 6 weeks and one a week ago again I was 6 weeks pregnant. The hospital have mentioned that next time I get pregnant a dose of baby asprin to help. I am just soooo scared of it happening again as last time I just believed it was bad luck, now I am so scared something is wrong and it may never happen!!!
The sucess storys are really helping thanks

Hello, I had my eldest dd 4.5 years ago - very quick conception, easy pregnancy, absolutely no problems. I then had at least 6 very early miscarriages whereby I got a positive pregnancy test followed about a week later by a miscarriage. I was referred to Dr Shehata and immediately he told me to take one 75mg low dose aspirin every day with food, I conceived again and my twins (YES NATURALLY CONCEIVED TWINS!!??!!) survived and are now healthy 5 month olds. Dr Shehata said he put EVERYONE who had suffered recurrent miscarriages on low dose aspirin and the results are very good. Please note that it has to be low dose which can be bought from any chemist for about 75p per 100 tablets, the normal aspirin is far too severe.

I started taking aspirin immediately because he said that no matter where you are in your cycle it will help - the aspirin thins your blood slightly so you get a thicker, more even womb lining even prior to conception and once your baby implants then your blood is already thin enought to pass through the umbilical cord into the baby. In quite a few cases what happens is when the baby implants the mothers blood is just too thick to get through the umbilical cord and the baby dies so thats how the aspirin helps.

I had to take one low dose tablet right up until 3 days before my c-section because a risk is during an operation your blod is that bit thinner and doesn't clot as effectively.

Please note than I am in no way medically trained but I'm just telling you what worked for me. It was definately the low dose aspirin.

Good luck to all of you, I know how completely devastating recurrent miscarriage can be.

I'm really intrigued by the lw dose aspirin theory. It makes sense what pootle says her specialist recommmended. I've only had two miscarriages - but I think I might try the low dose aspirin. I really don't want to go throught his again, and anyting I can do to help is worth trying.

I had 4 early miscarriages in 12 months following a completely straightforward conception and birth of DC1.

Finally, when I fell pregnant for the 5th time I saw the most incredible doctor who put me on a very high dose of progesterone and I went on to have a completely normal pregnancy. My special baby is now 2 and we're about to TTC #3.

Hi Danny B did they say why progesterone, Iv had 2 miscarriages and they said the next time I get pregnant they will put me on baby asprin so the womb goes softer and easier to implant, I wondered wot Progesterone did??

Hello Susiehas

My progesterone levels were borderline, they need to be 30 to sustain a pregnancy and they were in the early 20's. It seems that I have a luteal phase defect where progesterone levels drop too early and the lining of the womb doesn't get thick enough for an embryo to implant causing an early miscarriage.

oh thanks for that they think it must be my lining of the womb because I misscarried both at exactly 6 weeks which makes the doctor think it did not implant due to thin lining, I will mention them testing my progesterone too next time as I could not bare to have another miscarriage if it can be avoided. Thanks for the info!

ladies.........

I am not sure what to say here as I have now been TTC for nearly 4 yrs and have had 7 m/c's. I have been to two Recurrent M/C clinic and am currently under Prof Regan. No-one can help.
I have been refused the prednisolone (steroid) cos I am over weight... (2 stone) Have already lost loads but the Prof and Raj Rai refuse. I have an ongoing complaint with them at the moment because of the way I have been treated (a long story). I have taken the past 3 months as time out and will get myself tested for natural Killer cells later in the year. of it's positive and no-one will help I will help myself and self medicate. sounds shocking.... but deperation has taken over...

Oinker

Have you considered seeing Yehudi Gordon at Viveka in St John's Wood? He's the only person who would help me and as he is not part of any NHS trust he can do different things. I was given the opportunity to be referred to Professor Reagan but she is anti progesterone treatment and will not give it so I waited to see Mr Gordon who looked at my history and helped me to have my daughter. I honestly believe that if I had gone to see Prof Reagan I'd still be m/c all the time and would not have held onto the pregnancy.

DANNYB

THANKS FOR THE MESSAGE. I HAVE JUST GOOGLED HIM. INTERESTING
WHAT ARE THE FEES LIKE?

I AM NOT 100% SURE ABOUT THIS APPROACH, BUT ON THE OTHER HAND AT THIS STAGE WILL CONSIDER ANYTHING.

mini gatecrash

oinker, so sorry to hear you're still trying mate, hope you're doing well. think ive still got your email address somewhere, are you on facebook,might try and find you x x x

OINKER

His fees are as you would expect in london. As far as I can remember it's about £175 for an appointment, I last saw him at xmas for smear and check up and then you have to pay for tests on top but the GP may cover some of them and if you have insurance then he is covered by all the major companies.

I like his approach very much, he is very can do rather than can't do and if he's good enough for Gwyneth Paltrow, hey, he's good enough for me. If you can afford to see him then I would certainly consider it. I know of so many people who have had multiple m/c who have been to him and gone on to have babies.

Hello Oinker,
i had wondering how you were getting on as you were the first person to chat to me when i joined this site and gave lots of support when i really neede it!!
Sorry to see that things have not improved at St Mary's for you, have you considered seeing Mr Shehata at Epsom on the NHS or you could see him at his private clinic at Harley Street? He uses steroids/progesterone/heparin but if you need IVIG or Humira he refers you over to Mr Thum at Lister private hospital. Alternatively there are lots of recommendations for CARE at Nottinham with George or the ARGC with MR Tarannisi. Mrs Quebec at LWH has got a good reputation and tests for kn cells in the uterus as oppose to the blood, but again i dont think she uses the tx of IVIG or Humira. Sadly i have gone o have more mc's and have now started my journey of surrogacy.
Best of luck my friend and takecare.

XXX.

Paul Armstrong at the Portland also has an interest in recurrent loss, I know several people who've seen him. I've been treated at the ARGC & also with Dr Shehata's protocol (prednisolone + progesterone + aspirin/heparin) successfully.

I sympathise with your struggle with St Mary's, they can be excellent but only ever look at the numbers, they've taken the art out of art & science of medicine. I decided not to push for a referral there - I'm going to the Silver Star in Oxford next as my losses seem to be getting later.

sadminster.......

I have been collating stuff with regards to prednisolone, heparin, aspirin and progesterone. How much of each did you take and at what stage did you start taking them?

diddle

Hiya....

WOW you're here again. Will find you on your thread and post you there. My email has changed. Here goes the cryptic clue to the change......

*and****@hotmail.co.uk......
Names have stayed the same

)))))))))))))))HUGS((((((((((((((((

I chart & test daily from 10dpo until I get a positive or my period so that I don't have to delay starting the meds.

prednisolone - 25mg/day from BFP until 8 weeks, then a reducing dose until I'm off it completely at 12 weeks. If I'm doing a medicated cycle then I start the progesterone at ovulation because higher estradiol levels can cause increased immune activity. I know some people take it for three months at a time while they are actively ttc - it makes me feel very odd ao I try to keep it to the minimum.
heparin - 20mg/day from BFP (one clexane injection), I did have 40mg/day in a previous pregnancy but had a placental abruption & bled a lot so I'm cautious about higher doses. I stop 24 hours before delivery (elective c-section).
aspirin - 75mg/day all the time, increasing to 150mg/day at BFP, stop 3 days before delivery (also have FBC tp check platelet levels).
progesterone - one or two 200mg cyclogest pessaries a day depending on my progesterone levels - basically whatever will keep them >100nmol/L (they test the level with my HCG). I have required gestone injections in the past.

Hi Sadminster,
thanks for this info, i am due to start the same meds and was wondering when do you start the progesterone, also did you take the aspirin even before you get a bfp as some clinics say this interferrs with implantation and i dont know whether to stop taking it? Also i have ti inject Fragmin, is the same as Claxin? It's great to know that it has worked for you, gives others much needed hope!
Many thanks
sueXXX.

Does anyone know answers to these questions?
many thanks
sueXXX.

FRAGMIN IS THE SAME AS CLEXANE.

NOT SURE ON THE OTHER ANSWERS THOUGH........

GOOD LUCK

just want to say hi.

Thanks Oinker.
Hi Lissielou how are you?
sueXXX.

not too bad thanks. go to see cons on the 29th, but am takng a ttc break for a while. i need a rest!