three miscarriages, need answers

[Clara1]

I'm very new to this so please forgive me if I don't do it right. I have just had my third miscarriage in just over twelve months and am heartbroken and feeling so alone. I really feel I need some answers now as the "just bad luck" theory is wearing thin. I'm trying to get referred privately to someone who specialises in this field. However, time is always the enemy with pregnancies, and the person I have been recommended (Prof Regan at St Mary's, Paddington) can't see me until the end of June! Does anyone know of someone else who might be able to help (london area)

Hi Clara1, I had 2 miscarriages then a baby boy, then a further miscarriage and am now 16 weeks pg, all seems to be going fine this time. My tests at the miscarriage clinic, both genetic and other, showed no reason for the miscarriages. It may be nothing to do with you and your ability to stay pregnant, just that the foetus hasn't developed properly each time and this can happen for a multitude of reasons.

I know it is heartbreaking - but please don't give up hope. It may or may not be of any significance or interest to you, but both with my first child and this time I saw a chinese doctor and took herbs to strengthen my womb and hormone levels and also avoided lifting anything as advised, which I didn't do when I had the 3 miscarriages.

Pages,

What herbs have you been teking. Maybe we could give it a try.

After two m/cs, I also saw a Chinese herbalist who gave me a disgusting concoction of herbs to make into tea which I had to drink twice a day. Unfortunately, I went on to have a third m/c. But I have to say that I remain a believer in alternative medicines/therapies despite the fact that my chinese herbs had no effect other than making me poorer! I just think you should make sure you get a good doctor rather than the witch doctor I must have had!

So sorry to hear your news. When's the NHS appointment? Just to say St Mary's Recurrent Miscarriage Clinic is at the forefront, but they mainly do work in and concentrate on antiphospholipid syndrome. That's a clotting disorder that's a lot higher than normal in women who have had recurrent miscarriage and it's usually successfully treated with aspirin and heparin, it may well be that this has been causing your m/cs so it might provide the answer for next time. But if you haven't got this, the clinic seems to run the standard tests and not a huge amount else - trouble is, I don't think there is a huge amount else. The other thing they offer once you're with them is really early care next time you get pregnant.
You can also get on a programme of preconceptual care with Foresight, though it seems to be run by a group of mad, middleaged women. They offer a programme of vits and mins that's tailor-made for you. Quite expensive but might be worth it. Have a look at www.foresight-preconception.org.uk. Acupuncture is meant to be a great help too. Good luck

Had my NHS appointment and feel like I'm no further forward than when I had the m/c. Was told that, in all likelihood, there is no reason for having three m/cs in a row which I was told should be good news but which I find frustrating and leaves me in a complete dilemma as to whether to try again. They took blood anyway and now have to wait 6 more weeks for the results. Was also told that I am "on the downward cycle on the see-saw of life" given my age and the fact that I have had three m/cs in a row which, as you can imagine, left me feeling really good about myself!! Had a bit of a weep and now feeling thoroughly pissed off, particularly as i doubt the private appointment will be any more positive. Whole thing feels like a waste of time and money and I should just ask to be sterilised to draw a line under it once and for all!

Hi Clara1 and Bekst

Sorry for the delay, I don't know what the herbs were called I'm afraid as it was all in Chinese! But I took them in tablet form as, like Clara1 I couldn't stand the horrible concoction. I think they made my hormone levels high enough this time, though, cos I had really bad morning sickness for 4 months...

You must be feeling so low Clara1 but I was told the same as you (i.e no reason for 3 mc's) and I am on the wrong side of 35 too, so I expect that's a factor. But I am now 19 weeks pg. I know it takes its toll emotionally keeping on trying, but it could be that next time things are just fine.