Unlucky with embryos or immune issues

[Carportforme]

Not really sure why I am asking this because I know that testing and what happens going forwards is the only way to find an answer. I had an MMC found in the Autumn at my 12 week scan. The embryo measured 6 weeks. Took several months until I conceived again and thaf ended recently in a Chemical at 4 weeks and 3 days. Bit of a weird thing with the chemical in that I had all pregnancy symptoms and a good line one day and a stark white screen and less symptoms the next. Then, of course, the bleeding started.

My doctor thinks there is a possibility that it is immune related due to various things in my background but obviously it may just be bad luck, as it is with many others,
I just wonder why my first pregnancy ended one way and my second in a different way. I am probably clutching at straws but I would have thought my body would have behaved the same way both times if it was an immune issue.

Does anybody have any insights/thoughts? Thank you

Unfortunately it could just be nothing and the miscarriages are just spontaneous, miscarriages are so common which nobody really likes to talk about because it’s always been a taboo subject.
ive had 3 miscarriages all around the same gestation, 1: 6+1, 2: 5+6, 3:6+2.
its just unfortunately something that can happen unless you have further testing to find out whether you have a immune related problem that’s causing it.
I had a FBC done at the doctors and found my iron, folate and vitamin D was low but not dangerously low that I needed medication from the doctors, just over the counter medication apparently.
ask for a FBC done from your doctors, you might have some kind of answer for any deficiencies.
nobody can really tell you for sure what’s happening or why you’re miscarrying, it may be spontaneous, it may be deficiency related, it may be immune related. Fight for further testing.

so sorry for your losses x

I’m under a reproductive immunologist after a series of losses following my first successful pregnancy, and from what I understand (although very much not a doctor over here!) the immune issues can be triggered in pregnancy and then exacerbated by subsequent ones, almost as if the body has a stronger response each time.

Thank you and I did fight for more testing. I did have some bloods done privately after my MMC, Which showed a big lack of vitamin D. This has now been remedied.

I also had a low but positive result for antinuclear antibodies. Might try taking low-dose aspirin in my next pregnancy just to see how it goes.

Thank you for your reply. It is very worrying. Not quite sure how things will go but I guess I am going to just have to wait and see/wait till I’m referred and had more tests.

When it comes to miscarriages they can all be different. I had 1 MC at 7 weeks and 2 chemical pregnancies. If the miscarriages are due to chromosome abnormalities each emriyo would survive different length of times based on what abnormality it is. Age is a big factor . The older you are the more abnormal eggs you will have. It is a good sign that you can get pregnant. Even better you get pregnant naturally. I had 2 live births. One at 38 and another at 43 years old. I never got immune issues checked. We needed IVF though due to male factor. In my case the assumption was i am old so i have lots on abnormal eggs. It was a case of finding 1 good egg and 1 good sperm . You didn't say your age. If you are over 35 i would get immune issues checked while trying to improve the quality of your eggs with supplements. There is a book called 'It starts with the egg' which tells all about how to improve egg quality. We got great results with supplements. Best of luck. I hope you get some good news soon x

Thank you so much for your response. I am 31 so I’m quite lucky in that regard. I have plenty of time. I have had a look at that book and I think I am on most of the supplements but I will have another look I think. Hard to keep positive sometimes but I think there are many others in lots of different and difficult situations and we just try and help each other through :-)

Hi @Carportforme i have been having similar thoughts recently. 1st MC embryo measured 8wks. 2nd MC embryo measured 9 weeks, but was diagnosed as partial molar. No idea what caused the first one.
Part of me hopes it’s just bad luck, but been taking more supplements after the second one. I’m 33.
I luckily have been referred to tommys in Coventry but not til November. Hoping I can get some answers

Hi Figtree11, I have seen your posts on other threads so I know you have been through the mill, as they say. It is so difficult when all you want, aside from the obvious healthy pregnancy and baby, is to have reasons for the losses and a positive way forward. I am going to see what happens next time. I'm considering low dose aspirin because I have really researched it and think there is a possibility it may help, only because it is really the only thing I can try that has some medical research that appears to support it in some women. Other than that, it is just chance and a huge leap into the unknown.
So glad you have got your referral. November probably seems a long way away for you but it will go by quickly. Are you going to try in the meantime?

I’m really sorry you are feeling similar to me.
I am going to try again in the meantime, as November just feels too far away to wait.
I have this hope that it’s all bad luck & third time will work out. But I don’t know if I should stop thinking like that, and be more realistic that it will happen again.
I don’t know about you, but I’m desperate to TTC again, but the thought of it is overwhelming. And if I do get pregnant, don’t know how I will manage the anxiety of it all

Figtree11, Iam 110% with you on your thoughts on this. I am absolutely going to keep trying. I am much more concerned about having a missed miscarriage or a miscarriage from a clinical pregnancy then I am having another chemical to be honest. The chemical, while disappointing, was a little bit easier to cope with physically since it was so early.
It probably sounds horrible but I think when I do conceive again I will have an expectation of loss and anything other than that will be a bonus so it is oddly slightly less stressful Until, of course the loss actually happens!!
Reading as much as I have done regarding people having several miscarriages of different types with babies between or after makes me think that it is the right thing to do to continue trying. Just also very scary!

It is also quite interesting that quite often when I mention we missed miscarriage to someone I get the response “yes I had one of those, awful”. I have had the impression for awhile that miscarriages of all types are a lot more common than we are told, which makes it difficult to know if there is an issue or otherwise!

@Carportforme I agree, when you have not had a positive outcome from a pregnancy yet, my mind will instantly go to worrying about another loss. The excitement of getting pregnant has fully been taken away from me now. And the scan anxiety I have now is next level.

I’ve found the same from sharing my experience with people. The more I’ve opened up, the more others have told me they had miscarried, or of people they know who have. So it really is so common. I guess it’s just less common to have a second. But if GPs won’t see most people until after 3 losses, gives me hope that 2 are bad luck

Let's hope so, we will doubtless see as things unfold x