Ovulation after pregnancy loss

[AnotherEllie]

Hi everyone
I sadly had a mc which started with bleeding on 1st Jan and I believe I miscarried completely on 2nd Jan this year. It was confirmed as a complete miscarriage on 4th Jan with a scan. I bled until Saturday 7th and I have been taking hcg tests everyday which are getting lighter - as of today, they are basically squinters. I was 6weeks 2 days and things happened quickly and with little pain.
I'd like to try again ASAP as my husband works away and it's difficult to plan these things.
I have a very regular cycle - usually 27 or 28 days but I've not really tracked ovulation before so not sure when I typically ovulate - I guess probably around day 13 but not sure.
I am wondering if people can share when they ovulated after their mc? I've become confused by reading online as some have said 2 weeks later but was this 2 weeks after bleeding started or 2 weeks after bleeding stopped?
Or am I unlikely to ovulate until 2 weeks after HCG has fully gone? I am getting myself confused. I can only see ranges online but not sure if the range is smaller for your next period if the mc was early.
I'm going to track BBT and use OPKs too but I'm just interested in others experiences. Could this happen as early as this Sunday as this was 2 weeks from the start of the MC?
Also, I already have one ds who is 18 months and I'm still breastfeeding. No idea if this has any bearing on things but it was a straight forward pregnancy and birth with him.
Thanks so much in advance!

Hi @Jb2189 - so sorry for your experience which has led you to us:(

In my experience, I only tested completely negative hcg wise literally a day or so before I ovulated. I wasn't doing the lh sticks I actually used the clear blue as they can get a baseline and detect a surge.. so I had dtd at the correct time etc. it's really hard, if you are looking to try again immediately and have stopped bleeding ai would slowly start dtd every other day xx

I have sussed out how to quote now but not tag 😂🙈

When I seen the Dr to discuss my options before I went into hospital had said as soon as the bleeding stops after the miscarriage, we could start trying. So we started again this week just in case I do end up ovulating, plus we are away camping with my OH dad this weekend so won't get a chance then.

@Jb2189 I'm so sorry for your loss, and hope the trip away is helping you process everything that's happened.

I had a friend who was testing positive for weeks and weeks after her miscarriage and it turned out she had an infection from retained products. It was cleared with antibiotics (she had mild flu-like symptoms) and then she tested negative.

It's still early days for you though, so I would keep testing and if you are still getting faint positives, speak to your EPU.

I was really lucky to conceive 3 weeks after my miscarriage started but I was also testing negative for 2 weeks by that point.

Hey I’m just jumping in here as I’m in a similar time frame to you!

I found out I had a MMC at the beginning of March at a private scan (should have been 9 weeks but measured 7 with no heartbeat). Because of hospital policies I had to wait another week for a rescan and then I had it surgically removed on the 16th March. I tested negative on the 4th of April so 2 and a half weeks after all of the products were removed - I have been LH testing since and today it seems to be on the rise but still not at peak! I’m hoping the peak comes soon

Its so reassuring to see people with positive outcomes after loss, it definitely gives me some hope!

x

Hope it's OK to jump on here. So nice to see the positive outcomes many people have already had.
I had a miscarriage on 16th March (same as you @frankie15 - sorry for your loss). I was 8 weeks and we'd seen a heartbeat at a scan 4 days earlier. It all happened naturally, I stopped bleeding 6 days after and had negative hcg test 8 days after.

I've been tracking LH since then and have just caught the peak, 26 days post mc. I've had other ovulation symptoms too of ewcm, sex drive increase, light cramps. I'm relieved and excited my body has resumed cycles reasonably quickly. I'd told myself I'd wait to have a period but I do feel ready so I feel like we can't miss a chance to ttc. Will try not to get my hopes up.

It's been the longest 4 weeks of my life, these ovulation signs have really helped me feel positive and hopeful again.

I'm really sorry to hear of those going through recent losses. It is so hard - but do know that you aren't alone.

Just to say I had my 14 week appointment today. I conceived 3 weeks after my loss with no cycle in between. Everything looks healthy so far and I have been classed as low risk. I thought I'd share as this might encourage those TTC - and shows that things can go smoothly after loss too💛

@AnotherEllie thank you so much for sharing, congratulations on your pregnancy! It is wonderful to hear stories of people having healthy pregnancies after loss.

As you conceived before having a period, how did they date your pregnancy? Did they go from your mc?
The doctor who discharged me from hospital after my mc said that the only real reason she'd say to wait until after a period to ttc again was because of dating. But I guess even if the NHS is wrong for a while, if you know when you ovulated you know your real due date?

@Hankthehonk yes exactly! They initially dated it based on the loss but I know I ovulated around 5-7 days later than usual so thought the date is maybe slightly out. My scan then indicated a similar date (one day earlier) based on the measurements. I wasn't worried about it as baby was measuring bigger than expected rather than smaller - which I think generally they are less concerned about. Officially my due date is now based on the scan.

My ds also measured large from the first scan so I expect that is why it is slightly ahead of what I would expect based on ovulation. He came three days early so maybe it will be around the date they have given anyway!

If I got over by more than 10 days, I will explain to the midwife / care team that I think I ovulated later and hopefully they will understand and will let me wait a bit longer for spontaneous labour to start as I would prefer that if possible.

I (and others on the thread) were keen to start TTC due to work commitments/ scheduling with partners so went for it and all has been fine so far in my experience!

@AnotherEllie so useful to know all this, thanks for sharing. I am about to ovulate (very high opk this morning and all other ov symptoms) and we are going for it, just in case. It's been 4 weeks since my mc so if this was successful (which I know isn't that likely, trying to manage my expectations) my dates would be out by 2 weeks.
I don't have any real reason to need to try this cycle other than just not wanting to let an opportunity pass by. I feel physically well now and I'm desperate to be pregnant again. It's great to know that you and others have been successful this way :) even though I may not be as lucky!

@Hankthehonk it’s lovely to have people who are at the same point.. sorry for your loss but excited for you to have something to look forward to now your OPK’s are positive!!

@AnotherEllie congratulations on your amazing news so quickly!! it’s a relief to see a positive outcome.

Just wondering if anyone could shed any light on my situation right now lol

I had my ERPC for a missed miscarriage on the 16th March, tested negative on the 3rd April (I’m 99% sure) so started LH testing, they started off negative but in the last couple of days have increased. They’ve stayed high for a couple of days - which it never used to - would usually be high for one day and drop so out of curiosity I have done a pregnancy test and it’s ever so slightly positive?! That would put me at 4 weeks since my loss on Thursday?

we have had sex 3 times in this time frame, twice in the week after the second week which I suppose I could have ovulated technically? I’ve attached my flo app to show

if they say you can ovulate 2 weeks post MC is that from once the HCG is completely negative? In which case that’s impossible as 2 weeks post negative test isn’t until the 17th April - or is it possible 2 weeks post the start date of the miscarriage in which case is around 30th March? I didn’t LH test before the 3rd April so not sure whether I would have ovulated before this

So confused if I could ovulate with HCG in my system or not. I’m going to just keep checking to see if there’s any line progression at all if it stays the same I’ll speak to the doctor to see if I’ve retained any products

i have thought maybe my HCG could have been positive this whole time and I didn’t study the test long enough on the 3rd but as I haven’t checked since then I wouldn’t have noticed? But in that case surely my LH tests would have remained positive as they would have picked up the HCG but instead they have remained negative and only come positive in the last 2 days? This stuff is so mind boggling!! Lol

TIA x

Hey @frankie15 i ovulated 15 days exactly after my MC (heavy bleed) so definately doesn't need to be 2 weeks after a negative test. I'd literally had a negative hcg the day before xx.

so sorry to hear about your losses, but happy to share my hopeful story too!

I conceived exactly 3 weeks after my miscarriage started (spontaneous bleed).

We only had sex once. It's a miracle! But then they say you're never more fertile than when you've just had a loss.

In terms of dating, I had two early NHS scans. The first was a couple of weeks after conception, but was told I was about 5+5 so it was too early as no heartbeat yet.

I went back 2 weeks later and there was a heartbeat, and they gave me an estimate for how far along I was.

Annoyingly, even though the hospital knew about my miscarriage, at the 8 week booking appointment the midwife arranged for my 12 week scan to be based on my miscarriage as my LMP. So at 10+5 it was too early and I had to go back again in 2 weeks' time.

4 scans in total but I was really grateful as I was a bundle of nerves the whole time.

And now I have an EDD that I actually think is pretty accurate. With my son, I knew my dates were off from the start (because I ovulate v late in my cycle).

Sorry for radio silence following my comment last week. We were away camping for a few days then catching up on bits.

I ended up phoning the EPU this morning as had very very light bleeding (one wipe and then it was gone and it was light rather than bright) and I still had a faint positive test. They took me in for bloods and called tonight to say there are hcg levels there, they are low however they want me in again in 48 hours to get them done again to see I'd they rise or if they fall. They did say there was a chance I could have conceived but they won't know until they do the next bloods! I don't think it will rise I do think it has just taken longer for hormone levels to go back to normal but will wait and see.

@frankie15 Sorry you've got so much uncertainty about what your body is doing, it must be stressful.
Of course the only way to know for sure is to keep testing everything. But for what it's worth I think it's more likely you've caught ovulation now looking at those opk results. Keep us posted. You and I are on an almost identical timeline if that is the case!

@OhGodIAmTired thank you so much for sharing your story, so interesting to know all that about the dating. Congratulations on your pregnancy- how far along are you now? Did you get the early nhs scans because of previous losses?

@Jb2189 that's good you phoned the epu and they're getting to the bottom of things with bloods. Let us know the outcome, I'm sure it will seem like a long 48 hour wait.

@Hankthehonk yes the EPU said I could come back for an early scan if I got pregnant again. Think they wanted to be sure it was a new pregnancy and not raised HCG caused by an incomplete miscarriage.

oh and am 16 weeks now

@frankie15 I think it's 2 weeks post mc not 2 weeks post negative pregnancy test.

I had a BFP about 8 or 9 dpo which was about day 28 or 9 of my cycle if based on mc as day 1 - so it is possible! Not sure why I got a positive so early but I had a feeling deep down so tested!

Keeping my fingers crossed for you! It is very confusing though! I would keep testing and see if line gets darker 😊

@Hankthehonk good luck! It's a good sign if you are getting ovulation symptoms 😊

Heyyyyy everyone just popping back on to say had my 12 week scan today and all looking good !!! Measuring 12+6 which is a couple more than I thought and omg the emotion relief was absolutely flooring..... i've not enjoyed these last 8 or so weeks at all -so glad to be past this point bow. Baby was kicking around going crazy it was amazing 🤣🤣❤️❤️

just for anyone who hasn't seen my story towards the beginning I had a MMC in January and fell pregnant immediately with no period in between. Feeling so grateful and my heart is just so full right now❤️. sending you all lots of sticky baby dust as you tackle ttc after mc , it's bloody hard but hopefully worth it in the end. ❤️ xxx

@LMM91x Thanks so much for the update, that's amazing to read! You must be worn out with nerves from the past 12 weeks but worth it for that scan today.
It's so encouraging to read success stories after loss, and especially amazing that you conceived so quickly. I hope you can enjoy the rest of your pregnancy now x

@Hankthehonk worn out is right... it's been a really tough journey to be honest and before the scan I could barely speak. So tough ❤️

@LMM91x I am so happy for you - and hope you're really enjoying this high!

@LMM91x so pleased for you!!💛

Really appreciate how special rainbow babies are after this experience!

Thanks girls... its been emosh!! 🤣❤️

@LMM91x so pleased for you. Its always so nice to see positive stories.

Thought I would give everyone an update following having to go back to hospital last week. Got the bloods Tues and Thurs and levels were going down, just slowly so they discharged me but then I had what I think was AF start on Friday which would've been just over 3 weeks from when I had the misoprostol. Seems to just be finishing so lasted as long as my normal cycles did however not quite Haa heavy. So hopefully can start trying again soon!

@LMM91x Congrats and I’m so glad for you it has gone well this time ❤️ I can’t imagine it’s mixed emotions when you get pregnant again after a MC.

Five months on from my MMC I’m still suffering from the ERPC but had surgery for the adhesions caused by it last week, so in two months will find out if it worked and if we can try again. But seeing positive threads like these gives me hope 🙏🏽