Third miscarriage - need hope!

[MamaW05]

So I have trawled threads but looking for some fresh hope or others going through similar right now.

we have had 3 miscarriages in 12 months. First around 7.5w (missed til 12 weeks scan), second 8.5 weeks (missed til 12 weeks scan after hb at 8 week scan. Confirmed as Turner’s syndrome) and most recently at 6w (missed til 8 weeks). We are having this one tested. For this one I was on progesterone, clexane and aspirin, as testing found some potential blood clotting issues.

I am so tired and losing hope. It is also causing strain in our relationship - at this point, regardless of if baby comes back abnormal or not, I want to do all the testing. The only thing we haven’t done is nk cells/detailed immunes and internal investigations beyond a saline scan. I understand it is expensive and not all proven but I don’t think mentally I can go into another pregnancy knowing I’m not doing everything. But I think if baby comes back abnormal then my husband will want to try again on the current plan, as we will know at least 2/3 have been abnormal.

What are your experiences if you’ve been in this position? I also read about people who do nothing and eventually have a healthy pregnancy because it really was just bad luck.

Similar stories and stories of hope appreciated! X

I had 7 miscarriages. Was referred to St Mary’s in London, all tests and investigations could find no reason. 8th pregnancy ended at 23 weeks due to severe abnormality which wasn’t seen on early scans at local hospital. Went on to have two successful ones with support from both St Mary’s for early pregnancy and Kings College in London from 12 weeks. It’s just awful the loss of a much wanted pregnancy. I never gave up and really took good care of myself before conception. At 12 weeks a hospital specialising in foetal medicine is the best option given your history, they are much more thorough. I was fortunate with my referrals and saw the two top consultants at both hospitals. This was 18 years ago now. I wish you all the best, you are welcome to message me.

Im sorry to hear of your losses, it’s just so awful and sad.

Ive just discovered my 3rd mmc. It’s horrible and Like you I’ve looked into different tests available. Just wanted to say you’re not on your own here and I hope you’re holding up as much as anyone can do.

I have clotting issues. You need to also take blood thinners and aspirin. I injected warfarin from positive test. I had 3 miscarriage and a few more chemicals and now have a healthy toddler.

sorry for your pain and loss, wishing you all the best on your journey

We had 3 early miscarriages, including 1 missed miscarriage. All the tests they did at that time showed nothing. We subsequently had successful pregnancies.
I really feel for you. I found it a very lonely time and my DH and I felt so differently about it that it did cause some strain. What worked for us was to plan what our alternative life would be if we didn’t have a successful pregnancy and to agree a time when we would stop trying. All the best.

I also had 3 miscarriages and was referred to St Mary’s hospital in London. They really are quite amazing. They did not identify any specific reasons but I had a high risk pregnancy (after my 3 mc) and their support during that was amazing - and the little one is now 10 years old ❤️.

The only additional thing you may want to test is toxoplasma antibodies. If contracted early in the pg or just before I think that can lead to mc as well - this happened to a friend of mine. As soon as the infection naturally had taken its course, she had no more issues.

I’m so sorry you’re experiencing this. I’ve got a friend who had three and it turned out it was a clotting issue and she took warfarin as a PP has mentioned. I’ve also got a relative who had 5, no reason given or ever found, followed by 3 perfectly healthy and routine pregnancies and children.

Just to add, I know how horrible and lonely the process can be and I hope you are looking after yourself. So sorry if I was coming across all upbeat and less sensitive. This was a long time ago for me but I remember it well. Sending you lots of posts thoughts.

something people here haven’t mentioned, I saw a nutritionist and completely changed my diet. I was older and wanted to do whatever I could. I cannot recall the specifics but it involved lots of vegetables (maybe beets?), high quality protein, green fresh shakes etc (vegetables in a Tupperware box overnight to make mornings easier) etc etc. maybe something to think about ?

Hi OP,

I’ve posted the following message before elsewhere and I apologize that it’s long but it’s my story and there is a fair amount of info in here that may or may not be of use/interest to you. Everyone’s experience is so different. The one thing I would add is that after my fifth miscarriage my maternity doctor texted me about my blood results and said “Sorry to see your Bhcg dropping!😢” to which I replied “Oh thanks, last Monday was a nasty surprise. Not sure why I still get surprised every time?! 🤷‍♀️” and his reply was “Eternal hope! Nothing wrong with that.❤️😊” I was so, so grateful to him for these words when it felt like I was crazy to keep on trying (and the doctor at the IVF clinic told me the chances of us having another successful pregnancy were “possible but not probable”) he helped me feel more positive! It was amazing and just what I needed to hear.

So this is my post from Autumn 2021 followed by an update! it may or may not give some of you hope for the future depending on your perspective…

“Hi everyone, I'd like to join this thread too, I have ready many of your posts and can relate to so many of your stories.

We are ttc #2, our DS just turned 3. We started ttc 18 months ago and have so far had four miscarriages all in the first trimester (the first after we had seen a heart beat)... we've also done one round of IVF but didn't even get any viable embryos (we did genetic testing for chromosomal abnormalities).

I've had all the usual fertility tests and the only known issue is low AMH and therefore crappy eggs. But I do know that some women with low AMH do have successful pregnancies.

We'll keep trying naturally (no more IVF), am currently 8dpo and not feeling at all pregnant. I'm taking coenzyme q10 and n acetyl cysteine, baby aspirin and progesterone, folic acid and vitamin D. Have done some acupuncture. Don't drink much alcohol and hardly consume any caffeine. I know the chances of us having a second baby are slim to nil but keep hoping for miracle rainbow...

Hi to all of you and good luck on your journeys!

If anyone has any success stories of women with low AMH having babies I would love to hear them please!”

So to update… we had another miscarriage in February 2022. I then started having sessions via zoom with a psychologist (specialising in infertility) to help me come to terms with the likelihood of never having a second child.

Fast forward to now (20 months later) and I am typing this with one hand whilst also breast feeding our four month old miracle baby girl! She is well worth waiting for! I continued with progesterone and prednisone from ovulation until 12 weeks. Pregnancy vitamins and vitamin D throughout. We had a LOT of scans plus the NIPT bloodwork during the pregnancy . The anxiety was intense and constant throughout. I was constantly waiting for something to go wrong. However the pregnancy and birth were otherwise smooth and full of joy and hope.

I had two episodes of spotting in the first 8 weeks and when they happened I thought “That’s it, we’re losing this pregnancy and I can’t do this anymore, it’s too painful, I’m done trying”. I felt weirdly at peace with the situation.

Only you can decide if /how long to keep trying for. Just wanted to share my rainbow story. Will be grateful every day for the remainder of my life.

good luck to you OP and anyone else still waiting for their miracle x

3 consecutive miscarriages here.
Prior to 4th pregnancy, I tested NK cells which came back high.
Introduced Prednisone prior to 4th pregnancy. Stayed on Prednisone until 12 weeks along with progesterone pessaries and daily progesterone injections. Injected Clexane daily throughout pregnancy. This pregnancy was successful- thank goodness.

Like you I had three miscarriages in 12 months. Whilst I was waiting for an appointment with the recurrent miscarriage clinic I fell pregnant again and despite having some big bleeds, DC is now 4. I took low dose aspirin but had done that for the 3rd miscarriage as well. No investigations and I have no idea why I miscarried. I have since had DC2 with no further miscarriages.

When I had the bleeds with my first we were convinced we'd lost them and I was adamant I was done trying to get pregnant as I couldn't deal with another loss. So whilst I was one of the people who was still just trying, I 100% get why you'd feel you wanted all the tests you can before trying again.

I'm so sorry for your loss. A good friend of mine had four in a row and then a healthy pregnancy. She was supported by foetal medicine after the third miscarriage. Good luck.

Thank you all for all your encouragement and support!

@Kappi so sorry to see you here, we were on a thread together after 2 :(

@LiloP i was on thinners for this last pregnancy which unfortunately didn’t work out this time.

@NutsandPuffs thank you for sharing. I have low AMH and apparently a bit of endo so suspect my eggs are also at least part of the issue and that it really could just be a numbers game. Can I ask who prescribed your prednisone. Did you have tests or was it a just in case? My husband is nervous/sceptical of steroids.

@GrandmasMeatloaf i am happy to hear positive stories! I am also with st Mary’s. Do you know what test was done to find the toxoplasma antibodies? As far as I’m aware I’ve had all the testing they offer.
what support did you get in your successful pregnancy from st Mary’s? I had a scan at 6w and then 8w. Unfortunately it’s all private as we went for testing after the second and it’s hideously expensive even just for the scans. Hoping now I’ve had 3 I can get some things paid for but I’ve read the referral can take ages.
diet is also something I’ve thought about. I generally have an ok diet but I’m sure it could be improved for fertility!

@WutheringMights who did you do your nk cell testing with?

@ChiefFireOfficerBoyce this is wonderful! It does seem that most people trying eventually have success, I just wish there was a crystal ball to see what that journey looks like!

Thank you everyone. I feel less alone and like there are options and hope even if we change nothing xx

@MamaW05 I am happy that you feel a bit better, hopefully you have some thoughts on how to proceed. Diet can really make a change. I was surprised at the number of changes but it was explained very well (nutrients, vitamins, benefits)- and targeted to fertility.

for my friend, she wanted a test as she is French and they allegedly screen for toxoplasma in France. As she lives in the UK, she just went to her GP.

She tested at one point and had no antibodies at all. She tested later (early pregnancy after miscarriages) and had antibodies. The two tests were about a year apart (sorry, I have forgotten the detail, I just remember her being panicked). The second doctor (gp) was initially very calm and stated that everybody had toxoplasma antibodies. Then we he looked at the recent test results showing an absence of antibodies, things got more serious.

it all ended well, but I remember reading about it at the time.

https://www.nhs.uk/common-health-questions/pregnancy/what-are-the-risks-of-toxoplasmosis-during-pregnancy/

@MamaW05 crgh.co.uk/crgh-city/ did my NK testing. It was the blood test type and not the uterine biopsy one.

Another vote for St Mary's /professor Regan. I had 3 mc and it turned out to be a septate uterus. Had it resected, progesterone, aspirin and heparin and had a healthy little boy - fell pregnant with him month 2 after the surgery.

My heart goes out to you, it is the loneliest and most dreadful experience. I totally understand the feeling you have to do everything possible to avoid going through it again.

My daughter in law had 11 miscarriages due to clotting issues.

She did successfully have a baby but born at 26 weeks due to clotting issue's, he's almost 2 and doing well, but it's not been plain sailing.

She died at Christmas, clotting issue, her third since his birth.

This is the unbelievable bit, she wasn't put on anticoagulants.

@MamaW05 I didn’t realize we were both in the same threads :( yes, 3rd for me now too and feel much the same as you. I read that you have been able to see Dr Regan at St Mary’s? That’s good- I don’t think we can afford private but hopefully our recent clinic here can refer me

so sorry again that you’re going through this - it’s horrid xx

@Kappi yes we have been seeing Mr Rai at St Mary’s who works with Lesley Regan. I was so lucky that my insurance covered a bulk of the tests but even this last pregnancy just with the medication and early scans we have paid for has cost so much, so really hoping now I’ve had 3 I can transfer at least the medication and some early scans to the nhs because we cannot afford multiple rounds of this.
I was on medication for this round but we are having the baby tested (another bill) to see if it was ever viable.
it’s exhausting. I hope now you’ve had 3 you are getting referred to the RMC? It’s a disgrace to get absolutely nothing until this point. And you are able to choose where to be referred to under the nhs but I’m not sure of waiting times xx

@MamaW05 thank you for your reply! I can imagine the costs pile up so quickly with anything private. Hopefully the genetic testing can offer an insight for you both. It’s so exhausting isn’t it.

I’m with the recurrent clinic at the local hospital already, after 2. I’ve had the tests for lupus etc but nothing back as abnormal. This is what I’m finding hard, is that nothing is pinpointed as problematic.

thank you again for replying I just don’t know what next but sadly it’s reassuring to know I’m not the only person who has suffered 3. Xx

@Thisbastardcomputer I’m so sorry to hear that, my heart goes out to you all. That is unbelievable - with that history you’d think it would be put in place x

Hi OP, the doctor at the fertility clinic suggested adding in the prednisone. I have MS which shouldn’t impact but just in case there was any other inflammatory causal factor in the miscarriages. It tasted foul (so I started putting the tablet inside empty gel capsules ) but I didn’t notice any other side effects and I was only on it for 8 weeks. Who knows if it helped but I was desperate to try anything and everything! Secondary infertility was a traumatic and lonely experience and it seemed like everyone else around me was getting (and staying) pregnant so easily. However since my daughter was born I have started talking little more to some people about it and discovered others who have also struggled. It might have helped me at the time to reach out more. But hindsight is a wonderful thing!
best wishes x

@MamaW05 can I ask if you got your rainbow baby?
I have had 3 losses in last 18 months with two confirmed as abnormalities. Just trying to find if others tried again naturally or found an answer?