Private consultant for 2 miscarriages - North East

[KB86]

Hi everyone,

Looking for some guidance on what to do next after having 2 miscarriages in the last 7 months. I'm driving myself crazy googling every possibility when I know I will probably never find the answer, but at the same time I want to do anything I can to prevent this happening a 3rd time. I'm so sorry to anyone reading this who is in a similar situation, it really is heartbreaking.

My first MC was in May this year at around 7 weeks, and it happened naturally at home. I fell pregnant after taking clomid (I was diagnosed with PCOS in 2019 and told I would struggle to fall pregnant naturally) the NHS wouldn't see me as it was mid lock down and I wasn't at risk, which I think made a terrible situation even worse.

My cycles came back pretty regular at around 32 days, which was a huge improvement on where I had been pre MC. The fertility consultant advised the clomid maybe kick started my cycles again. We didn't TTC for a few months, but when we did we fell pregnant on the 1st cycle with zero medication. It took a little while to sink in, but we were so happy it had happened so quickly. Unfortunately it was too good to be true, and we found out at 9days 5 weeks the baby was measuring at 8.5 weeks and they couldn't detect a heartbeat. I chose to have the medical procedure 2 days later, as letting it happen naturally at home would just remind me of the first time.

I've seen a lot of discussions on here about private tests, but they all seem to be based in London. Does anyone have any recommendations for clinics in the North East that offer tests? I used the London's women's clinic for private fertility testing (in Darlington) but not sure if they offer the tests I'm looking for now.

Progesterone - anyone had a private test on their progesterone levels? I could be overthinking this, but as I have irregular cycles I would like to get it checked out. Also the consultant who diagnosed me with PCOS commented I had a thin lining when scanning me, and what I've read progesterone helps thicken the lining which could help in future pregnancies.

Baby aspirin - I've read a lot of mixed reviews on this, but most seem to suggest that there is no harm in taking it. If anyone has done this when would you recommend taking it? Or are there any tests I could have done to see if its needed?

Thank you in advance to anyone who is able to help xx

So sorry to hear about your miscarriages. It is heartbreaking isn't it. I saw Dr Choudhary at the RVI under the NHS for my miscarriages. She also works at the centre for life so I don't know if you could see her privately there.

At one point I was considering seeing Mr Hany Mostafa for a second opinion at North Tees and Hartlepool. He was recommended to me by a friend who had worked with him and he does private work.

Oh and I took baby Aspirin for both of my successful pregnancies. I had quite a specific problem so it wasn't recommended to me but it helped me to feel like I was doing everything I could.

It also might be worth seeing if you have a sympathetic GP. Mine was happy to do some of the initial recurrent miscarriage blood tests for me after my second miscarriage.

Thank you @keeponrunning85. I was in the process of moving to the centre for life just before lock down (and falling pregnant), so I will see if I can get an appointment with her. Hopefully they will see me as I know things are restricted at the minute 🤞

I'm so sorry you've been in this situation too, it really is awful. I hope the NHS were able to help and you have / go on to have a successful pregnancy.

@keeponrunning85 that's good to know. I might try that route first. I've recently moved and still registered with my old GP, so I might try them first and if they say no change my GP to my new area and try again!

Do you know what they tested for?

It was a fair while ago now but off the top of my head I think they checked oestrogen, progesterone, thyroid function and for antiphospholipid syndrome. Possibly some other things too.

I was 'lucky' I suppose that I had a problem with my uterus. Dr Choudhary operated on it for me for which I am very grateful as I now have 2 children, but I had to have 4 miscarriages before she would do the operation. It was an incredibly difficult and deeply painful period of my life.

I hope you are able to get the support and answers that you need. I'm happy to answer any other questions you have.

As an aside, a friend is an embryologist at the centre for life. Everything is still running but I think capacity is reduced so I guess waiting times may be longer.

Hi @keeponrunning85

Thank you so much for all of the information. I'm so sorry you had to go through all of that before anything was done, but I'm so pleased they managed to figure it out and you have gone on to have 2 successful pregnancies.

My GP aren't sympathetic and won't see me 😭 I've tried the centre for life this morning and they can't offer me any tests. Left voicemails with the Londons women's clinic and I've spoke to someone where Mr Hany Mostafa works who is going to get back to me. Fingers crossed someone will see me 🤞

Hi @keeponrunning85

Just wanted to say a big thank you for advise on where I could go.

I was seen at the Nuffield earlier in the month and had the recommended blood tests. They've found I have an issue with blood clotting (heterozygous in factor V Leiden), so I've been advised to go on aspirin now, and then if I get another positive pregnancy test I'll be prescribed with heparin to inject and thin my blood.

I know I I'll never know if this was the reason, but at least I'll hopefully be reducing my risks going forward

Thanks so much for the update. I'm really pleased that you've been seen and had some tests done. I'll keep everything crossed that the aspirin and heparin do the trick and your next pregnancy goes smoothly and uneventfully.