3 chemical pregnancies

[choccrumpet]

I'm currently going through my 3rd chemical pregnancy in a row.

We started casually trying for our first baby last August. First chemical was in September. We started trying seriously from December and I had another chemical that cycle. The next cycle I got pregnant once again but am miscarrying right now due to another chemical.

Does anyone have any success stories after 3 chemicals?

From my research, 3 chemicals are unusual and only about 1-10% of women experience recurring miscarriages. I had bloods done 2 months ago and everything came back fine, I have no known issues. Its heartbreaking and frustrating that it keeps happening. I am trying to stay hopeful but it's difficult.

@choccrumpet

I have been looking at the aspirin also and was wondering whether to try it...So let me know x

@Icklemissgem going private is a difficult decision. I was considering getting a private progesterone prescription but then found out I've got a bicornuate uterus so then thought if we do go private we probably should do the proper testing first and then decide what to take.

There's lots of info online about aspirin - I looked at forums and a few studies but essentially I couldn't find scientific proof that aspirin helps carry a pregnancy but there was a lot of women saying it may have helped them and I've also heard fertility specialist advise to take aspirin, my GP also said the same, so I decided it wouldn't hurt but could help so I took 75mg from fertility window last cycle. The recommended dose is 150mg so I'm going to try that this cycle, start taking it after I ovulate. Do your own research, speak to your GP in case they might help advise you as everyone's situation is different.

I was told after bleeding at 6weeks pregnant with DS i had a Bi corn also. 5 years later we decided to try for dc2, i had EIGHT chemicals in as many months. It broke me and i said no more. The next year we 'had a whoops' once. DD is now 16month old and brings us so much joy. It will happen for you

@choccrumpet how have you been getting on with the aspirin?
I am considering trying it next cycle (we're having a break this cycle after the 4 losses in a row to see if that also helps)

Hi @Icklemissgem , sorry again about your losses. You never know, taking a break and not thinking about it might actually help you conceive if you're still trying but not actively.

I believe I had a 4th chemical last cycle. I took 75mg aspirin from fertile week then. This time I took 150mg from approx 1dpo but might have been a day or 2 earlier.

I'm about 9-11DPO at the moment, think more likely to be on the lower end, and am getting faint lines but they're super super faint so I'm not sure if it's progressing and I'm not getting hopeful or celebrating just yet, I want to see a strong line or bloods before I do that. I am nauseous though and have very sore boobs but again this doesn't necessarily mean things are developing as symptoms can come and go. But I haven't felt symptoms like this before either, not quite as strongly.

In terms of aspirin, do your research and as long as you think it's safe for you to take you should try 🤗 I was worried my bleeding would be weird after taking it but it was fine, almost the same as always so had nothing to worry about. And no side effects from it. I take it in the evening after dinner.

How are you feeling about everything?

I also had 3 early MCs and a few chemical pregnancies. I was advised to take aspirin and progesterone from ovulation (not BFP) as they suspected an early issue. i also have a clotting issue and need to take blood thinners during pregnancy.
I am now 16 weeks so seems to have worked for me. 🙏🏼🤞🏻

@choccrumpet Yes I think we’re hoping a break will help, we shall see!
I’ve finally had an appointment come through for the recurrent miscarriage clinic, it’s not until June but it’s a telephone appointment so felt a bit deflated by that as was hoping to get some answers and feel like them not actually even seeing me we might not get what we want from it 😞

Yes I completely understand that with the tests, it’s so hard to get excited isn’t it 😞 I am keeping everything crossed for you and hoping the aspirin works 🤞🏻🤞🏻please keep me updated as I am really keen to give it a go.

Hope you are feeling ok? X

@AdriannaP congratulations that's amazing news!
I did try the progesterone pessaries last cycle but unfortunately still had another chemical 😞 but haven't tried aspirin yet so am thinking the next cycle we try I will use it.

@AdriannaP that's amazing! Thanks for sharing, it's nice to hear positive stories 😅

@Icklemissgem good news that you got your appointment! I called up my clinic and apparently they've been closed during covid and are only opening up now so who knows how long it'll be until I do get an appointment. I know the first one will be a phone one. I don't know how things move on from there but hopefully they'll be quicker after that initial call? But I know it's frustrating that it's still a few months away. There's nothing else you can do but to keep trying as you have been. I assume the first call will be to make a plan so try not too feel too down about it, think about the end goal and you've got the appointment now so it's a milestone you can work towards.

Thank you, I'll let you know how I get on! I'm not really sure if it's the aspirin at this point to be honest or just dumb luck. I'm still thinking the bleeding will start any day and my tests haven't been getting any darker although it's only been a few days so too early to tell.

I'm okay, I don't really know how to feel honestly, stuck in limbo until I know for sure which may still be a week or so away. Its hard not knowing.

I was considering trying progesterone but I'm not sure that will help me, I'm a bit doubtful so decided to leave it for now. If things don't work out this cycle I'm going to try soy isoflavones in my next to help bring my ovulation a few days forward as I ovulated quite late into my cycle.

Thanks both. Wishing you both the best on your journeys and a rainbow baby soon. I also recommend the Tommy’s facebook page and website, they have good information on aspirin/progesterone etc
@choccrumpet you have nothing to lose by trying the progesterone. Worst case it will have no effect, best case it will help you. All the best 🤞🏻

Hi @Icklemissgem I started bleeding today so not the month for me! I'm feeling okay about it so far, there are positives for it not working out this month but it's most likely another chemical, my fifth one. I think I'm a special case and clearly something not quite right and need more than aspirin to help fix. Wishing you luck!

I’m so sorry, I know how frustrating it is. I think there is so little knowledge around chemicals as most women wouldn’t notice them unless they were constantly early testing. I’ve had three miscarriages, all around 10 weeks. Not sure how many chemicals as I’ve only tested once period was a week late. I’m now 34 weeks and fingers crossed all will be well. Have you had any testing regarding eggs/sperm as this can play a big part in a chemical as the embryo isn’t viable. I see you have a bicornate uterus, have you been offered surgery for this? I only ask as I had a uterine septum, so not quite bicornate and the specialist said the embryo could be attaching to the septum bit and therefore not able to attach to the blood supply properly. I also was diagnosed with lupus anticoagulant and was prescribed blood thinners as well as cyclogest and aspirin. Unfortunately I still miscarried after taking the medication, but following the last miscarriage, I had the septum removed and got pregnant quickly after, which has resulted in the current pregnancy. It might be worth following up with your GP? Wishing you luck.

Thanks for your message @Grognonne I've had basic tests done by GP and they came back clear. I'm waiting for a fertility specialist appointment who will do other testing & looking into my bicornuate uterus which my GP can do nothing about (at at least that's what I've been told). I doubt I'll be getting the appointment anytime soon so am hoping things work themselves out before then. I don't know if it ever got a septum in my uterus and how deep it might go down, as far as I know it's only heart shaped so that suggests a small dip but I don't know more than that.

I'm actually feeling okay this month, just want to keep going. Lovely to hear that your pregnancy is doing well, not long left to go and hope the rest goes by quickly xx

@choccrumpet I am really sorry to hear this but it’s amazing how positive you are being 😀😀 hope you are feeling ok. Xx

Hi @choccrumpet, I’m glad you have an appointment booked soon and they can hopefully get to the bottom of it. Wish you all the best and please don’t give up hope, it took me about 5yrs to get to this far, I hope it’s much quicker for you. Good luck.

Hope everyone is doing ok?

@choccrumpet have you had your appointment come through yet?

Mines just come through for end of June x

Hi @Icklemissgem that's great! Must be frustrating it's still a few months away but certainly something to work towards.

No news from me, no appointment yet. Still hoping or in denial that we'll need it by the time I do get it and it comes around

@choccrumpet I’m with you on that, feeling exactly the same and just hoping by then a miracle will have happened 🤞🏻🤞🏻
We’re still on another cycle of not trying and will try again from next month x

Want to keep this thread updated in case anyone is in a similar position.

I had my first telephone appointment with the fertility clinic (waited over 4 months for the appointment which isn't that bad actually). I'll be getting lots of bloods tested for various things, thyroids, ovulation, eggs etc as well as a HyCoSy but not for a while and my DP is getting a SA. Was lots of information to take in and I'll be getting more info via the post at some point soon.

Strangest thing was that the nurse calling me couldn't see any of my previous results yet so these tests aren't specific to my situation, no appointments to check my bicornuate uterus yet so expect there will be more testing to come.

I've also started acupuncture to help regulate my cycle as they've been getting longer with later ovulation. I'm feeling positive and hopeful about the next few months and really hope it happens naturally before we go any deeper into this. But it is a massive relief to be taking these steps to get to our end goal, including the acupuncture although it is starting to feel more real, more scary in case there's bad results or news and having to prepare myself for this.

How is everyone else doing?

@choccrumpet
Thank you so much for the update. I am glad your appointment went well and like you say it’s a start to getting some answers.
Our appointment isn’t until June but least I know what to expect now!

We are trying again this cycle after having 2 cycles off, currently waiting for ovulation which I think should be in the next few days 🤞🏻🤞🏻 I think I am going to try the baby aspirin from ovulation also just to see if it makes any difference as I feel like I have nothing to lose!
So lovely to speak to someone in the same position - makes me a little less stressed! X

@Icklemissgem not long to go for you either, that's also positive! I wasn't expecting to receive an appointment so soon but I think the testing is going to take some time.

How are you feeling after taking some time off? Fingers crossed for you 🤞🏼 I keep hearing contradicting things about aspirin but I have tried it myself so you never know it could help!

I've been so up and down emotionally. After posting my previous comment I had a little cry because everything does feel overwhelming and lonely and frustrating and emotional. It's only the few people I've spoken to here that make me feel a little less lonely and it's nice hearing about others in similar situations.

Like I mentioned earlier, my cycles have been getting longer and longer and it's frustrating me. I'm on day 34 today and expect my period in 2 days.. I really hope it comes on time 😭 I just want it here now so we can start afresh. I am excited for the next few cycles and am really hopeful

@choccrumpet

Ye I imagine the testing will take a while which is bothering me as I just feel like we’re not getting anywhere

I thought I would feel more relaxed after having a few cycles off but to be honest I think I feel more anxious as it’s made me just want it to happen even more 😞
I’ve also heard mixed things about the baby aspirin and have been really unsure about that to do but I think if I don’t give it a try I will always wonder if it would of made a difference...

Oh bless you, I can totally relate to that and have days where I am exactly the same and just have a good cry.
My best friend is pregnant and is due 4 days after the due date from my first chemical pregnancy so I find that really hard as I look at her and think what could of been.
I feel like there are so many pregnancy announcements at the moment as well, do you?
I am always here if you need a chat as I know how hard it can be.

Really hope your AF arrives on time, chemicals cause such havoc with our cycles don’t they 😞😞
I have heard good things about acupuncture so hopefully that helps.

@Icklemissgem I know what you mean, feels like going around in circles sometimes doesn't it. Are you doing anything to help you mentally? I've started jogging, doing couch to 5k to help me mentally. Not sure it's working but I'm keeping it up 4 weeks later so must be having a positive impact on my health 😅

That's not great, keep believing that it will happen, imagine it happening. I do believe in manifestation and believing things into happening but it's not easy to do in this situation as there's so many negative things that bring me down about this.

Do what you think is right in terms of aspirin! You can always stop if you change your mind.

Oh I can't imagine how difficult that must be for you ☹️ thankfully I only know a few people personally so that helps but everywhere else online yes for sure, it feels like everyone is getting pregnant and not many talk about their struggles which makes me feel even lonelier.

Thank you, same for you, it really helps to chat to those who've been through the same!

It must be my chemicals that have messed up my cycles, I don't know what else would do this to them. What are your cycles like length and ovulation wise?

@choccrumpet

I’ve always enjoyed the gym and exercise classes so have been keeping that up virtually in lockdown so excited to get back to classes next week so that should help a little also 😊
Well done on your running that’s amazing!

I agree more people need to talk about the struggles as sometimes I wonder whether I am allowed to grieve because they have all been early losses but it’s still upsetting and a loss is a loss.

My cycles have actually been getting shorter, I’m starting ovulate around CD10 and it always used to be CD14 - makes no sense at all. On the cycles I had a rest my periods were so heavy and that’s unusual for me also 😞

Hope you are ok, hopefully we have good news soon xx

Sounds like you're doing the right things @Icklemissgem ! And it probably makes it easier if you're into exercising which I'm not.

If you feel like you want to grieve then yes you are allowed to do whatever feels right for you. Some chemicals have been harder for me and others I just got on with it and it felt right to do whatever felt right to me in that moment. I do understand what you mean though and the same thought has crossed my mind too.

Is your luteal phase a decent length? If it is it's probably okay that your cycle is shorter, same as mine is longer it's just annoying that it's longer. Re your periods, that sounds strange, I really don't know why they'd be like that. Mine are normally medium to start with and then get lighter, maybe heavy flow for a day at most but it has been different each time. It must be due to the losses.

I think I'm going to try soy isoflavones again next cycle to see if it helps bring my ovulation forward (it didn't help this cycle, actually delayed it) so we'll see what happens there! I'm 11DPO today and hope I get my period tomorrow 🤞🏼

I hope so too!!