Why do I keep miscarrying at my age?

[Bb542]

Hi everyone,

I've just turned 30 and I'm currently experiencing a MMC. This is my second miscarriage in less than 6 months.
With this pregnancy, I haven't miscarried yet but will probably start to over the next couple of days as there has been very slow growth and no heartbeat. I should be 9 weeks pregnant.
We don't seem to have any problems conceiving, as with both pregnancies it only took us 2 tries each time to successfully get pregnant. My problem seems to be staying pregnant.
I know nobody here can tell me why it keeps happening, but I suppose I'm looking to hear stories from other people who've been in a similar position and who have gone on to have a successful pregnancy. What helped you stay pregnant?
I have my suspicions that I have IBS and food intolerances, as I've always suffered from extreme bloating and irregular bowl movements. Could this lead to pregnancy loss if there is an issue in my gut? Before we try again, I am going to get blood tests/a full health check to rule out anything, but I wonder could that have something to do with it?
I never thought I'd be referred to the recurrent miscarriage clinic at the age of 30 😢 I just don't know how we go through this again.

Thanks ❤️ and thinking of all those going through loss. It's so sad.

I'm so sorry for your loss.

I was in a similar situation to you - no problems getting pregnant, but difficulty staying pregnant, and it was heartbreaking.

My eventual diagnosis was complicated, but I believe a few things helped turn things around for us:

1. Taking methyl-folate instead of folic acid (it's more bio-available and I have an MTHFR gene variant, which means I struggle to process folic acid). It may not be the same for you, but even if it wasn't changing wouldn't do any harm
2. Baby asprin and heparin, because I have documented issues with blood flow between me and the placenta
3. Progesterone to support the early stages of the pregnancy

No one wants to end up in the care of the recurrent miscarriage clinic, but they are effective. I read somewhere that even if they don't identify a cause, simply being under their care impacts success rates, so please don't give up just yet.

There is some evidence that inflammation can be linked to miscarriage, but I'm not sure how well-conducted this research is. Either way, checking out your diet and getting some support for your gut issues, won't hurt, and may very well help.

We had three losses, but also now have two beautiful boys. I hope there is a rainbow in the future for you too.

Sorry to hear you’re going through this, I’m in the same boat and just turned 31, no advice just posting in solidarity, also keen to hear success stories. First mc was last summer, that was a blighted ovum and after 4 months(!!) surgery finally sorted the RPOC, three cycles later I was pregnant again, but at around 9 weeks mc naturally, that was around 7 weeks ago but had to have surgery earlier this week to resolve RPOC again. Even though I know statistically I’m more likely to have a successful pregnancy next time than another mc, I feel like it’s just going to happen again, it’s all I’ve known so it’s a tough mindset to get out of.
I hope you go on to have a successful 3rd pregnancy in the near future, take care of yourself 💐

Thank you so, so much for your reply and for your tips and advice. Also, I am so sorry you've had losses too but so thrilled to read you got your rainbow babies in the end ❤️ as much as it saddens me that I have to attend a recurrent miscarriage clinic, I do hope it'll give me the answers I need as there must be an underlying issue.

Oh lovely I'm so so sorry that has happened to you. It's sh*t isn't it. Your story sounds almost identical to mine but the reverse. I had a miscarriage in Feb but it all passed naturally at 8 weeks. I'm technically 9 weeks tomorrow and more than likely have a blighted ovum, so I imagine I'll need surgery too. What was the surgery like? I've never had any sort of surgery before so I'm nervous.
Have you been referred to a miscarriage clinic yet? Not sure how it works where you're based but where I am, they investigate the cause of miscarriage after 2 losses (because I'm under 35, otherwise they'll only investigate after 3 miscarriages).
What's your plan now going forward?
Nice to chat to someone going through something similar ❤️

I waited two years and three miscarriages before I paid for private tests which revealed a fundamental issue with me that required intervention as soon as I got a positive test.

My one regret is not finding out earlier. I love the NHS and they’ve been brilliant during my now hopefully successful pregnancy but we had the money and could have found out a lot earlier.

Of course there may be nothing wrong with you and it’s a horrible coincidence but information is power!

Sorry to hear this OP. THe RMC found i have the (relatively common) factor v leiden, i was your age when i was having rmc and as soon as i found out i carry the gene i was able to get heparin for my subsequent successful pregnancies. I believe factor V is much more common than we know x

@Bb542 with my blighted ovum they offered 3 options, wait to see if it naturally happens, medical management or surgery, had medical first which I assumed worked but turned out not, then as it went on so long I didn’t have much choice about the surgery due to risk of infection. Surgery this time was on Tuesday, feeling back to normal today other than minimal bleeding so I’ll be back at work Monday. I was absolutely petrified before the first one but both times were honestly ok! I find the surgery has helped me mentally both times too, as it kind of marks the end of the mc so I can start thinking about moving forward. If you have any questions at all about surgery just let me know, I had it under GA both times.

Unfortunately where I am you have to have 3 before being referred, once I feel up to it I’m going to contact my GP to see if I at least can have bloods checked for more basic stuff so I feel I’ve at least done something.
Pleased you’re being referred though, I hope wait times aren’t too bad? Fingers crossed you get some good support and potential answers💝

So sorry to hear this OP, but 2 miscarriages could still be down to bad luck rather than anything wrong.
My sister was referred to miscarriage clinic after 3 miscarriages and they gave her high dose folic acid, daily aspirin and progesterone - she has 2 DC now, didn't take progesterone for the second but is on daily aspirin still because of increased blood clotting risk, which is what they thought caused the miscarriages.
I would wait at least 2 cycles to try again and take a high dose folic acid and daily aspirin when you try again.

May also be worth you being checked out for celiac disease, going by your tummy symptoms. Celiac disease will cause miscarriages but once on a gluten free diet for a while you would have no more chance of miscarrying than anyone else.

Hi there, hope you don’t mind me asking you what dose of folate you took. After my MMC I was told to take 5mg of folic acid each day but I have chosen to take 5 Myth instead and I’m having a bit of a nightmare trying to work out the dose difference if there is one?

Hi! I just ordered the first one I found online, think it was Jarrow supplements. Having a quick Google now, 400 micro grams seems to be the standard dose.

So sorry for your losses. I had three miscarriages (two MMC in a row then an IVF chemical) before my daughter was born in May.

Things that I believe helped me:

1. Taking a strong vitamin D supplement as I was found to be severely deficient.

1. Taking progesterone from 3dpo.

I hope you get your miracle soon!

TheBirdintheCage Huge congratulations on the arrival of your daughter. Fantastic news and so encouraging. hope you dont mind me asking but what dose of vitamin aD did you take and did you reduce it once pregnant. Thank you

Sorry OP, not a situation anyone wants to be in

I recommend It Starts with the Egg. It's full of research and advice about optimising egg health - diet, chemicals to avoid, supplements etc.

I read it following losing my first pregnancy due to a chromosonal issue, and while I was recovering before we started trying for our son.

At the very least, it has things that you can do to feel proactive in improving your health and fertility while the doctors explore what has happened.

@Carportforme Thanks :D It's been nine weeks now and I still can't believe she's here!

I was on the Boots Max Strength which is 3000 iu from January 2023 until I got pregnant in August. Then I moved Boots High Strength as there was already vitamin D in my pregnancy vitamins and I was worried about overdosing. I still take the High Strength (which is 1000 iu) one now.

Have you had your thyroid tested? Untreated hypothyroidism can cause recurrent miscarriage.

@Bb542 I'm so sorry you're going through this again. Everyone has offered really great advice. After my MMC I found out about the folate/folic acid and now take high potency nutri advanced pregnancy supplements. They are expensive but they have a high dose of everything needed including vitamin d. Sending you lots of love 🩷

Thanks so much to everyone who has commented with their advice and well wishes. Such a lovely community here 🥰
I'll have my thyroid checked at the recurrent miscarriage clinic so they might find something there. I'll also look into all supplements and vitamins you have suggested.
I still have not started bleeding yet which is annoying. I just want this pregnancy out of me now if it's not viable.

Thank you so much, so exciting for you. Enjoy every minute x

You need to try progesterone ideally from first day of missed period or even before. I think I started after ovulation finished. I had three early miscarriages and at least three chemical pregnancies before having my beautiful rainbow baby. If you can afford it, go private. The waiting time for recurrent miscarriage clinic was 6-9 months for me, so I paid for a private gyno appointment, got my progesterone and aspirin prescription (and high dose folic acid) and never saw the guy again. I was 4 months pregnant when I had the appointment at the miscarriage clinic and happily cancelled.

Reading this I remembered I also took a prescription dose of Vit D and B. In my head the progesterone made all the difference and I had to take it for first 12 weeks. i was also on blood thinners but for different reasons.

Undiagnosed coeliac disease could cause miscarriage. Test for coeliac.

I have a friend who was similar. She's got three kids but has had (and this is shocking) 23 pregnancies. 20 miscarriages. It was horrific for her and several of them were later stage. But progesterone was a game changer for her; she had to take it all through the three that stuck.

Her advice now with fertility is always make a fuss as soon as things start going wrong, note patterns so that you've got something to tell the doctors and demand the very many tests available. If you can go private, probably do (that's how she's ended up with three successful pregnancies, although much of the diagnostic stuff was NHS.

Good luck @Bb542 - I hope you get some answers and a successful pregnancy soon.

So so happy you got your rainbow baby after so many losses ❤️ thank you for the suggestions. I'm in Ireland so not sure what the wait times are for recurrent miscarriage clinic but if it's a long wait I'll definitely be going private. Hopefully I'll get some answers. ❤️

I'll definitely be testing for coeliac. I always thought being coeliac was vomiting or having severe reactions to gluten. I didn't realise it could also be bloating, stomach cramps etc, so worth a try.