Recurrent miscarriage treatment

[Alicia870]

Hi
I've had 3 recurrent losses. One was late at 21 weeks (baby had died a couple of weeks before I just didn't know). Then followed by two chemical pregnancies.
I went to see a doctor privately to avoid the huge waiting list for nhs.
As I had so many bloods done and genetics with the late loss this ruled out any causes so far.

He is going to check vit d levels and if they're low he will supplement, and also said next time I get pregnant that he will prescribe progesterone straight away. Just wondering is this common practice and anyone have any success? Really praying this works for us

So sorry for your losses, it really is heartbreaking, and it's so hard not to have clear answers.

I've just had the blood tests done after two miscarriages and am awaiting the results. From what I understand, it's a good thing if they didn't pick up any issues with clotting or immune response in the tests. I feel more like I want them to find something that they can treat, just so I can feel like I am doing something.

Statistically, after three losses, your next pregnancy is still more likely to be successful than to be another loss. This is shown in the data and also in lots of stories on here. It's so hard when you left waiting and not knowing though.

I find it really confusing that the doctors don't seem to agree on Progesterone. From what I understand, there was a large scale study called the Promise Trial, which was carried out by Tommy's and leading specialists from St Mary's Hospital and it found that Progesterone did not reduce the likelihood of loss. But lots of doctors do still prescribe it and they do seem to agree that it definitely can't hurt. I don't mean to take away your hope for Progesterone, as lots of doctors still believe in it, plus there are LOTS of stories on here with people who have had successful pregnancy after loss, with Progesterone supplements (hopefully some people will share their experiences of that).

I guess the hopeful thing is that you're still more likely to have a successful pregnancy than not, even if you did nothing. But it's great that you're getting information and treatment.

I really recommend Lesley Regan's book on Miscarriage, which explains a lot of the causes and treatments. It helped me and I found it reassuring. Wishing you all the best, and I hope you get lots of support in the meantime, on here and in 'real life'.

Thanks for your message @sweetpea2000
It's reassuring to hear success is still possible. I think particularly having had such a late miscarriage (though the experience felt much more like still birth) it does feel impossibly especially as we found no reason why.
I'm also really confused about progesterone as the evidence seems to be so mixed. The doctor explained to be that it can't hurt and worth a try and something like the research only showed that it was beneficial for those with previous unexplained miscarriages.
I'm also interested to know my vit d levels as he said that can triple chance of miscarriage if low.
Thanks for your message.

@Alicia870, having a miscarriage at 21 weeks must be especially traumatic. My first loss was discovered at the 12 week scan and one of the hardest things about it was that I really thought I had made it to the 'safe' zone and it was definitely happening (I didn't know about missed miscarriages then). It must have been so much harder to process at 21 weeks. So sorry that you had to go through that.

I think one of the most confusing things about pregnancy loss is how mixed the evidence seems and how the doctors don't seem to agree on what they know, and the best approach. I kind of expect the NHS to have a clear, best-in-class treatment plan for everything (quite naive, I know) and it seems like this area of medicine really isn't like that. It's so hard, as it feels like the most important and precious thing in the world, to have a baby, and so we want to take control and get the best treatment we can.

I've also heard that about Vitamin D, so Vitamin D supplementation, if needed, should definitely give you more confidence too.