Please or to access all these features

Miscarriage/pregnancy loss

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

2 recurrent miscarriages & TTC for 12 months now

3 replies

Bighugs88 · 17/05/2023 22:16

Hello,
I have already see my gp and have been given blood test forms to check FSH, LH, progesterone, thyroid, antibodies etc. Husband will be having a semen analysis in August requested by GP.
I would not wish this on anyone, but if there is anyone out there going through a similar situation please do share your thoughts or general advice as I am feeling very lonely & anxious.
I am 34 yrs old, non-smoker, bmi of 20, not on any medication, husband is 36 yrs old and is healthy (weight, non-smoker etc). We have a 6 yrs old daughter, but we conceived after nearly 2 yrs in 2016. During those 2 years had blood tests, scans, semen analysis everything came back normal. However, I remember clearly the last test I had was the HSG (where they flush the fallopian tubes) in May and next month in June we DTD probably twice during the fertile window and I was pregnant so I don't know if it was by chance or the HSG helped and cleared out minor blockages/debris in my tubes.

We decided to try for baby no.2 when my daughter started full-time school. After cycle 2 I was pregnant in Dec, but had a natural miscarriage at 6.5 weeks in jan 2022, tried again after 2 months and fell pregnant in march but sadly had another miscarriage at 5.5 weeks in April 2022. I was so devastated & heart broken💔. Spoke to my gp and she said via NHS most clinics the eligibility is 3 recurrent miscarriages or more before they investigate, was told to keep trying when we are ready. Started trying again in June 2022 and till now haven't been able to get BFP. I have been using the clearblue dual ovulation kits which detect high & peak fertile days for 3 months but stopped using them because they always displayed consistent results every month roughly days 9 to 13 of my cycle being the most fertile ( have a regular menstrual cycle of 26/ 27 days), so decided to stop using them every month because they were making me more anxious & they are quite expensive. I have tried many things as people have mentioned about raising legs after DTD and lying down and not standing/ walking about straight away, been taking pre-conception tablets daily, but I have reached a point now where I feel so down. Gp has agreed to do a few blood tests (mentioned at the beginning) and after getting all the results and husband's semen analysis which is in August I will then be referred to a fertility clinic. I was politely told by my gp as we already have 1 child NHS won't cover IVF which is fine as I understand that this is available for couples who don't have any children. The gp did say it will be ideal to get tested to see if there are any underlying issues because the previous tests where done in 2016.
Today I have been spotting and AF is due in 3 days time so I know most likely I am not pregnant eventhough we DTD from days 8 to 14.
I am very grateful that I have my daughter she means everything to us, I don't want this to occupy my mind all the time because it is consuming me so much mentally. There is a part of me thinking that probably we are unable to have anymore children there might be a medical issue, but TTC actively for 12 months has drained us out and I just don't know what to do. We haven't been using contraception since Dec 2021. It's difficult to discuss with family members as no one in my family have had fertility issues or miscarriages. Cousins are very fertile, had occasions when they are talking about babies and have said they have fallen pregnant quite quickly. I am happy for them, but just very sad that it is taking us so long and having had 2 losses is very difficult. Just feel really hopeless & sad 😔

OP posts:
MeganBistram · 18/05/2023 09:26

Hi @Bighugs88 so sorry it sounds like you have had a really rough time of it. I have a Son who is 3 1/2 years and despite us not tending to have too much issue concieving. Since starting trying in Jan 2022 we have had 3 MMC all before 12 weeks but quite far into the 12 weeks.
Couple of suggestions 1) I only have a 26 day cycle so would assume I ovulate at day 12/13, I actually get the LH surge at day 14/15 and then probably don't ovulate until day 16 so if I had stopped at day 12 I would be very unlikely to get pregnant. I would buy the super cheap LH surge tests on amazon and just use them for 6/7 days to see when you surge, the clear blue I found useless.

The other is maybe asking to get progesterone to take after ovulation just in case that's what is stopping you conceive.? I am on another group on here called Dr. Shetata advice. Might not be the right forum for you but there is alot of useful advise, he also does a super ovulation prcoess ( which I think alot of clinics do ) which releases more than 1 egg a cycle and tracks your follicles. Have you asked your doc. for clomid?

Good luck xx

Bighugs88 · 18/05/2023 10:32

@MeganBistram
hello,
thank you for your message I really appreciate it .
I am so sorry for your 3 MMC, it's really devastating.
That did cross my mind just a few days back that probably I am ovulating around 14-16 rather than 11-13. The gp did say that it is best to DTD 3 times throughout the week during the cycle unless you definitely know when your fertile window is. Having a regular 26 days cycle does not mean I am definitely ovulating around days 11-13, could be later on. I think I will purchase the LH strips the cheaper ones from the supermarket or online to see this cycle when I am ovulating.

With regards to the gp have seen different doctors at my practice and all of them are reluctant to prescribe anything. The doctor who I saw last week agreed to do blood tests according to my cycle so test FSH & LH on days 2-4 and progesterone day 21- hopefully get these done in the coming weeks. She said based on my results she will see if I need anything. If results are normal then she will refer and let the gynaecology team decide if I need anything. Gp is not willing to prescribe clomid, progesterone. I asked her about aspirin which you can get without prescription in the supermarkets, but she said there is no definite benefit for conceiving or maintaining a pregnancy unless you have a blood clotting issue or anti-phospholipid syndrome.

I just have to wait, but seems so long via NHS & going private is not an easy option as with the cost of the living crisis we don't have much left after paying all the bills & rent. Private packages are costly, treatment options and consultations fees are expensive.

Thank you for your advice and wishing you all the best as well x

OP posts:
Bighugs88 · 18/05/2023 22:06

Just feel my body is letting me down which is silly to think like that as it's not my fault. But my mind is full of thoughts all the time making me feel on the edge like I am about to burst into tears.
I have days where I say to myself it's ok just to keep trying, but when AF arrives I feel shattered. I also felt like taking a break, but I begin to worry that I am running out of time ( will be 35 yrs old next month)and that I will regret this later on. It's really a tough internal battle and it just seems that I will only be back to normal when I get a BFP but will then worry that it's not another pending miscarriage. Husband has been supportive, but I know he was quite upset when we had the 2 miscarriages, probably due to lack of awareness or education with regards to pregnancy loss we both thought miscarriages happen only if there has been physical exertion/ injury, but now have come to realise over the past year miscarriages can happen with or without any reason.
Then trying to be happy around others is very difficult I just want to be left on my own sometimes so I can still process my losses and TTC journey. It's hard

OP posts:
New posts on this thread. Refresh page