Pregnant again after 2 miscarriages - advice please

[backtotheplanet]

Hi ladies,

I am 5 weeks pregnant after two miscarriages this year ttc our first child. I'm really scared that this too will end the same way and would like to see if my GP can offer any extra tests / scans etc. I've made an appointment at the Dr's but the earliest they can see me is the 12th Jan :(

In the meantime, I would be grateful for any advice that anyone can offer. It would be really helpful to understand what support others have had from the NHS so when I do get to see the Dr I have a bit more knowledge.

Many thanks in advance!!

I had an early scan at 9 weeks, on mental health grounds, after 2 mc prior to this pregnancy. The midwife arranged it for me at booking in and the hospital fitted me in 2 days later. I was very anxious and the EPU were happy to help. I had "risk of antenatal depression" stated on my notes.

Sorry to hear about your mcs. I don't have any good advice (sorry), I had 4 mcs before having dd and only after 3 would the docs and EPU refer me for early scans etc. I just hope this pregnancy goes smoothly and good luck getting an early scn, hope your gp is sympathetic :)

I got an 8 week scan on my last preg as although I already had dd1 I'd had 3 previous miscarriages. Off the record the midwife phoned to get me an early scan but hit a blank as I had no pain or bleeding, so she phoned back 10 mins later and lied about my dates, so it was a normal 12 week scan. She'd come clean to a the more sympathetic sonographer before my scan date.

It's the midwives that hold the strings here not gps.

It's my understanding that if you've had less than 3 miscarriages consecutively, you will just have the same care as anyone else and finding a sympathetic midwife can really help, but sometimes you get what you get.

I really hope things work out for you this time. Miscarriage takes away the excitement of pregnancy, just not fair. Take it one day at a time. If you can get a more conclusive scan at 8 weeks that might be better than one at 6 weeks that has to be repeated.

Private scans are about £120 here.

Wishing you a fat uncomfortable summer and uneventful few months

Same as everyone else has said really... I had 3 mcs and not an extra scan among them. Get a private scan? That's what I did. Still worth asking GP/midwives etc though even if only to tee them up that you're having a private scan (and may need their help if it's bad news).

No reason it needs to be bad news though, best of luck, I hope it all goes well.

I had my ds after 2 mcs.
There are no tests, no treatments and no magic pills anyone can offer you to make this alright unfortunatly.
You could ask for a scan, but it may not show anything up at this time, it may just cause you more distress, but you will be made to wait.

There is nothing more you can do except keep well, and wait. You know better than most that there isnt anything you can do, if its going to go ok, it will if not, it wont..
BUT there is absolutely NO reason why this will not go well, and that you wont have your much wanted little baby soon x

oflip, I sincerely hope that the OP has the same experience as you and this pregnancy is different and it's the most likely thing to happen. But it's not true to say there's no treatments for recurrent MC - for example people with blood clotting disorders can take aspirin and/or heparin and it often prevents miscarriage.

Unfortunately the OP is unlikely to get any testing at this point because she's only had 2 MCs (and as I say, I really hope she never needs any subsequent testing) but if she does have another one she should be chasing her GP to refer her to a recurrent MC clinic and start investigations, including karyotyping for her and her partner, testing for immune disorders, blood clotting problems, hormone levels and high levels of natural killer cells. About 50% of people with 3 MCs never find a reason for it and might just have been unlucky 3 times. But that means that there's another 50% who are going to find a good reason for their MCs - it is worth looking for a reason.

hi backtotheplanet, and congratulations.

I had 2 MMCs, and on the third pregnancy was v. anxious. Please don't feel alone because lots of people go through this. A sympathetic GP or MW may refer you to an EPU for an early scan (my GP was very good on this), but different areas have different policies. Do wait until 8 weeks if you can as scans can be inconclusive before then.

For me the 3rd pregnancy went OK (DD is 6wks old) but I remember being so frustrated about having no investigations after 2 MMCs. I hope and pray this one goes right for you.

buonasera, looking back at my post it reflects my very embittered feelings at this time.
After 6 mcs, all the tests, heparin, high dose FA during my last pregnancy and STILL miscarrying, i am feeling a bit desperate and devastated at the moment, struggling with the lack of resourses, research, or solid answers to this very common issue.
I was told that 70% of mcs have no explanations or answers. All of the tests (of which there were 21) came back for me as normal...yet here i am 6 mcs later and no reason.

So OP, ignore me, i repeat that there is absolutely NO reason for you to not go onto have your baby...i hope that you are lucky, but dont expect much from GP etc.

Hi all, thank you so much for all of your responses. I really appreciate it. Although I gather from your posts that the chances of any extra monitoring are fairly low at this point, it helps to know that in advance! If they don't offer any scans etc, at least I'm prepared.

Oflip wishing you luck moving forward. Hoping 2012 is a great year for all of you.

Backtotheplanet, wishing you every success with this pregnancy. My experience is that after 2 miscarriages my GP referred me for a 6.5 week scan. It turned out to be too early to see anything and a week later I miscarried again. The fourth time the hospital had apparently changed it's policy and now only does scans where there is a history of ectopic pregnancy. However, I had a private scan which was £75 and worth every penny. I'm now 17+ weeks. I'd recommend being politely insistent, maybe see another GP if you don't get the support you're looking for?

Oflip, lots of luck to you and I really hope it works out for you soon. Wondering if you've tried progesterone during the early weeks of pregnancy? I was referred to consultant after 2 MCs on account of my age. There is apparently some evidence to suggest that it can help in cases of recurrent MC. I'm sure it's not a miracle cure, but it may have helped in my case (I took it till about 12 weeks).

oflip, so sorry to have been insensitive. I have my own axe to grind clearly because I got told all the same things about most of them being inexplicable (one doctor even used the fact that my mother had 4 MCs and then me as a reason to say it wasn't worth investigation, because all I had to do was keep trying like her... instead of thinking isn't it a bit suspicious that we both had the same problem) and then all they had to do was run blood karyotyping and they found out I have a Robertsonian translocation. 1 in 3 chance of a healthy pregnancy, 1 in 2 chance of miscarriage, 1 in 6 chance of having a profoundly disabled baby. Utterly irresponsible to be letting someone like me get pregnant without anything other than routine monitoring (nuchal scan doesn't show trisomy 13, the one I'm at risk of).

Once again, really sorry, and I hope your luck turns.

Sorry about your previous MCs backtotheplanet.

I had 2 MCs prior to becoming pregnant this time (almost 25 weeks now). Although my GP was sympathetic to my obvious worry that this one would end the same way, there wasn't anything he could offer in terms of additional care. If you experience any bleeding or unusual pain your local EPU may offer you an early scan, but usually only under those circumstances.

IME an early scan before 8 weeks can add to the stress. 8 weeks is a milestone in that if a heartbeat is detected at that stage your chances of miscarriage reduce significantly. If you have a scan before 8 weeks even if it shows all is well, the chance of miscarriage is not reduced.

Luckily I had a sympathetic midwife for my booking in appointment who called my EPU and asked if there was any chance of a scan at 8 weeks given that my MCs and this pregnancy were all in a relatively short space of time and that I was very worried and they agreed. When I went for my 8 week scan and all looked well the sonographer offered me another additional scan at 10 weeks, which made the wait to 12 weeks much more bearable. I got the impression this was not ususual so it may depend on the staff involved and your hospital.

If you really feel you cannot wait until your 12 week scan there are a lot of private companies who can offer early scans. It seems £100 is about average for one of these. But again, if you can wait until 8 weeks you will probably find it more reassuring.

Congratulations on your pregnancy. It is a worrying time when you've experienced previous miscarriages, but you do have to try and relax about it as much as you can. Have a look on the antenatal boards on MN, there is a freak out thread for those who are pregnant after previous miscarriages and it is very supportive. I found it a great help during the early days.

You could have a one off private scan if you are able ? Though not sure they would get you in before 12 Jan, maybe worth asking how much it would be ?