Just had 2nd mc - any tests I can ask for?

[stillfrazzled]

Had EPRC y'day for a nine-week pregnancy that stopped developing at six. The first mc was Jan 1, at 4+3.

Hospital assures me that two mc in a row statistically is not significant, esp since I already have one child. They won't investigate until I hit the big three. Ahahahaha.

But in the interests of NOT getting to three, are there any simple tests I can ask my GP for? I've heard thyroid function mentioned, but don't know much about it - is there anything like that?

Possibly nothing, and am just clutching at straws to feel some measure of control I expect . But would be good to know if there is anything. TIA.

A LAC/ACA screen. Every pregnant would should get one (IMO and a lot of very important people) and everyone who has a miscarriage has a 1 in 5 chance of a +ve going up with each miscarriage - so the whole "it's one of those things" and a second "is not statistically significant" is rubbish.

Have a look at the MumsNet article on miscarriage, they called for every woman to be tested for Antiphospholipid (aka Hughes) Syndrome when she's miscarried. If you're tested and it's +ve that's a massive important diagnosis for your whole life and your family, if it's -ve you're more likely to carry next time and it's a sad coincidence.

Can you tell this is a pet bug of mine?

Not much

Thanks for that - did you mean this bit in the Code of Practice section: "Further consideration should be given to routine blood tests for chlamydia/lupus, blood clotting disorders and antiphospholid syndrome." ?

Will trot along to GP ASAP and ask. Do you find there's much resistance to carrying these out?

Hello stillfrazzled

I am so sorry about your losses. I have been following your posts (sorry, I lurk more than I post) as we are in a similar situation - I had a MC at 5+1 in January, got pg 2 weeks later, and then miscarried at 6+4 last week. I have a 19 month old DS already, was v straightforward conception and pregnancy (although messy EMCS birth, not sure if relevant).

Anyway, we are not waiting for the magic 3 before getting the basic tests - I don't think I could face doing it again unless at least the obvious things had been ruled out. I appreciate that statistically 2 early miscarriages might not mean much, but I am a hypochondriac at the best of times! Have just made an appointment for blood tests (not sure what for yet - just the first level investigations) with GCRM (fertility clinic in Glasgow) next Wednesday, so happy to make a note of what they test for and let you know, if it would help?

Thanks Grumpy, it really would. Am a member of a mutual society which will fund stuff to tune of £1,000 if you have your doctor's support, so wd be very interested to know what they test for (and how much it costs, if not too cheeky).

This is so sh*tty, isn't it? I keep wanting to scream at everyone who says 'at least you have DS already'. He is the absolute light of my life, but that does NOT make this something that doesn't matter

hi frazzled

i have had all the basic tests on nhs (all clear) but my dp just doesn't accept there is nothing wrong so i am seeing a specialist privately tommorow. i will link to the list of tests and the prices. not all consultants will see you before 3 mc but it is worth a try. or wvwn make a list of the tests and ask your gp if they will do at least some of them

spire-cardiff scroll down payge to recurrent mc section.

obv prices will vary clinic by clinic but gives you an idea.

even and page obviously

Mumatron, feel awful asking the question but how many mcs have you had?

And that link was excellent, thank you very much. My local private hospital is a Spire so v relevant.

i have had 4. 3 mmc at around 8-9 wks and one at 5 wks ish (straight after 1st mc so not 100% sure)

is spire cardiff your local one?

my nhs cons is adamant our issues are because of dp's poor sperm morphology.

we are not convinced. didnt fancy waiting 6 months + for nhs 2nd opinion. called innermost secrets oon monday seeing mr beattie tomorrow night.

4? God, sorry. NHS theory seems v weird given that you already have DCs. I'd be too.

Not Cardiff, no.

Think will have a chat with GP and see what can be done through them, then think about taking it further.

yes, all the research i have done seems to say that poor morphology should only really cause problems ttc. not with mc.

we have also had a sperm dna fragmentation test done. all we were told about that was that it was 'normal' as far i can tell that means the sperm is genetically or chromosomally correct. i have a normal chromosome balance aswell so in theory so should any child we create iyswim???

best thing to do is take the list to gp see if there is anything they can do. i had clotting tests done through gp for different reasons so they should be able do that one aleast.

good luck!

xx

gah!! at least

That's the one I was refering to.

I'm not sure of the stats Chlamidia or Lupus but there are so many reasons it happens that to say they probably wouldn't find an answer is statistically false! 1 in 5 losses are because of Antiphospholipid Syndrome, 1 in 10 is because of Turner's. Just those two conditions are making up 30% of pregnancy loss. Add in Chlamidia, Lupus and a few others and you have a good chance of finding an answer.

The test for Antiphospholipid Syndrome is cheap. In The UK you have a right to demand treatment - whether that's a test or a referal.

stillfrazzled - sorry, been off line for a couple of days. How are you doing?

Not sure if will add anything to mumatron's link above but will update you after Wed as to what we are (I am?!) tested for and cost (which will depend on what we get done, but the price list they've given us looks comparable to the Spire one, possibly a little cheaper) Am having a moment of wondering whether we've gone totally OTT in going down this route and would have been better treating ourselves to a nice weekend away instead, but the appointment is made now so I'm just going to go with it.

Hi all, watching this thread with interest as I am in the same boat.

Grumpyfish, we are in the same town. The Southern EPU looked after me with the last MC and I asked if they had any special clinic that could help and they made me an appointment with sister Horan in the Pre-Pregnancy Clinic. Haven't been yet, as they want to see you 6 weeks post MC. It might be worth a call. You might be able to get some tests on the NHS and use your private clinic for the rest. Good luck for Wednesday.

When I had 2-in-a-row m/cs I decided to believe the view that it didn't necessarily indicate a problem and so I would be unlikely to have 3-in-a-row but reassured myself that should that happen I would be eligible to have things investigated. I never had 3-in-a-row although I did have 2-in-a-row twice followed by successful pregnancies.

I think that I would suggest that you save your money for your baby and not go down the testing route just yet. I do understand the feeling of needing to know what's wrong and to feel in control of stopping such a painful thing happening again. But if there is nothing wrong then you may go to a lot of financial, emotional and time expense for no real reason.

Of course this is just how I feel and you should do whatever feels best for you.
Wishing you good fortune for your next pregnancy.

17 pregnancies (9 children, 8 m/cs)

Wow juule, here's hoping some of your fertility rubs off on us!

I think you are right, odds are we will all get there eventually.

However I am an old bird now and I need all the help I can get in the short space of time I have left. If I was even 3 years younger I would feel quite different.

Hi all, have been offline all weekend so didn't realise this thread was moving on.

Juule, in my rational moments I feel like you are exactly right - two in a row does not nec indicate a problem, I should just give myself time and not stress, and comfort myself that help is there if and when this happens again. I also think you're are spot on, and my need to know and feel I have a measure of control is what's really driving me here.

In my weak moments, though, I'm just terrified of going through this again.

I think I'll see if the GP will test me for the basics, and then just leave it all for a while.

V interested to hear everyone else's updates, though.

In February this year I had my 2nd MC in a row and pleaded with my doctor to get the basic tests done. I was referred to our local unit and was waiting for my cycle to start to begin the tests but low and behold it didn't and I'm sitting here (paranoid and anxious) 15 weeks pregnant.

Each to their own I guess but it was my preference to want to get tested and at the same time we could still TTC.

Despite not having the tests I was still seen by my EPU and had scans at 6, 8 and 10 weeks.

Good luck to you x

Hi everyone

I wanted to share my experience with my GP yesterday. But first, my history. I experienced the death of my daughter a day after she was born at term in april 2009, 1st mmc in nov 2009 (baby stopped growing at 5.5-6 wks), and a v early early MC last week - tested positive 2 days before period due (due last thurs) but started bleeding on sunday.

So, GP was sympathetic about my first loss but couldn't give a toss about my MCs and said she couldn't do anything until it happened again. I pushed for tests, and she is checking for lupus and full blood cont. I asked for day 21 progesterone and she huffed and said that that would be pointless as my "hormones were up the spout".

I had four sets of clotting tests last year, all of which said different things. So, I took baby aspirin this time but still mc'd.

She said that had I not tested early, I would never have known I was pregnant (yes, I bloody would have given the strong symptoms) and would just have thought my period was a bit late. In a way, I do agree with her. I have read that chemical pregnancies (i.e. pregnancies that end around time period due) are very very common.

So, I have no idea what to do now. Keep trying until it happens again? Private tests.

Argghhhhh