Pregnant after miscarriage - Consultant advice?

[iambex]

Hello,

I had a miscarriage in February at 8 weeks. I am now pregnant again (5 weeks) after 4 months of trying. I could not be happier, but I'm also incredibly anxious about miscarrying again.

I've read antidotal accounts of aspirin and additional progesterone helping some women carry full term.

I'd like to speak to a consultant about the effectiveness of either of these or but my doctors surgery is incredibly unsympathetic and backwards thinking.

Can anyone recommend a London based consultant or clinic I could attend to discuss this? I have private healthcare.

Thanks so much.

I'm sorry about your miscarriage. Is that your first? Generally speaking under NHS guidelines it isn't until 3 recurrent miscarriages that they start investigating.
I understand you say you have private healthcare but I think they say 3 because sadly miscarriages are very, very common, 1 in 4 known pregnancies will end in miscarriage.

Although after a miscarriage you will be incredibly anxious it is rare to have two miscarriages consecutively.

I can't offer any advice about the london clinics etc but just want to wish you all the best. I also miscarriaged March this year and am now 10+4.
What I do recommend if can afford is private scans the reassurance I have had off them is unbelievable.
I had one at 7+3, one at 9+3 and also have one booked for Wednesday this week.
I know I seem crazy but it keeps me sane when I see everything is ok

Good luck 💕🌈

I second the suggestion to get private scans, I had a couple during the first trimester (I got pregnant again a couple of months after a miscarriage too) and they made all the difference to my peace of mind. Five werks is probably too early but in maybe two weeks time.

I did IVF and when I asked my consultant about taking low dose aspirin, she said that is no longer considered beneficial. But maybe another consultant would disagree, just passing on what she said.

Best of luck. I remember well the anxiety of your exact situation - it is not easy.

The benefits of progesterone in pregnancy have only been shown for women with 3 or more recurrent miscarriages. Plus it was only based on a very small sample so this could have skewed the results. You can read more here: www.nhs.uk/news/pregnancy-and-child/no-clear-evidence-hormone-treatment-early-pregnancy-helps-prevent-miscarriage/ but I doubt it's something that any reputable doctor would recommend for someone in your situation.

Similarly, aspirin is used in pregnancy to prevent preeclampsia in women who are very high risk, but there's not much clear evidence to support routinely taking it to prevent miscarriage.

I understand your anxiety and that you want to do everything you can to protect this pregnancy, but the best you can do is just look after yourself, follow NHS recommendations, and keep your fingers crossed - as another user has said above, sadly miscarriages are horribly common and it doesn't mean there's something wrong that needs treating medically.

Maybe a reassurance scan would help you feel better?

Wishing you all the best with this pregnancy!

The study @RealMermaid mentions above also only included women who had had threatened miscarriage i.e. bleeding in early pregnancy. As yet there is no convincing evidence for women who are not having bleeding, and earlier studies (e.g. PROMISE trial) found no benefit. No evidence of harm either though.

"Similarly, aspirin is used in pregnancy to prevent preeclampsia in women who are very high risk"

Where on EARTH are you getting your info from??

The main reason for aspirin in pregnancy is less for pre-eclampsia prevention and more to do with clotting disorders which can cause mc. BUT shouldn't be done without medical advice as some women may go the other way and already have very "thin" blood which has its own risks.

Sorry I can't help with recommendations op. I can say it's absolutely normal to feel anxious in pregnancy following mc.

I had 2 mc and then luckily got dd, who was a high risk pregnancy and honestly I didn't really even START to relax until she was "viable" and even then not completely.

However I have endo (DX via 2nd mc, long history of symptoms) and it is actually sadly very very common to mc first pregnancies and then have no further problems, some people think this possibly happens as a sort of "trial run" for the body. Who knows?

Good luck for your continued health and for the pregnancy.

@JuniperNarni @Sparkle0109 @OstrichRunning @RealMermaid @Darkstar4855 @Graphista Thank you all so much for your kind words and helpful advice. Pregnancy and miscarriage can be such a lonely time - it's really helpful to hear from others that have gone through it.

I will definitely take your advice and have an early scan at 7 weeks.

Rather worryingly I've just had some brown discharge which hasn't done much to quell my anxiety. I know this can be perfectly normal, but this how my miscarriage started last time.

I'm considering going to the EPU tomorrow but not sure how helpful it will be as it's still so early for a scan.

Again I'd hate to give you false hope but brown could be old blood which could mean no cause for concern.

But I understand too the need to prepare for the worst.

Try as best you can to relax until you can speak to or see someone.

It can be a very lonely time, but keep posting here if it helps. There's also a miscarriage association Facebook page and you could contact them directly.