Pregnancy after loss part 2

[LER2023]

After the lovely Hopingrae had created such a wonderful thread.

I wanted to carry this on, as many more women need that added extra support.

Previous thread: https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/pregnancy/5016264-pregnancy-after-loss-support?page=1

Hope everyone can find some support on this thread x

Hello everyone!

I hope you’re all doing well :)

I was on this thread a while back and thought I’d pop back on because I had a VVFL today and I’m a bit scared.

Do you think the test looks okay? Not an indent? I’ll test again in the morning to see what’s happening.

I’m 10dpo in my first cycle after an MMC back in mid-April.

With my last pregnancy I was spotting from about 2dpo and even though I’m a regular luteal spotter, that was pretty early. I usually spot from about 7dpo. Anyway, the same has happened this cycle and I’ve been spotting since 4dpo.

After my MMC I stupidly forgot to ask the EPU if my spotting was related to the MMC, and now I’m really worried that this is a sign things are not going well already.

Anyone found themselves in a similar situation with spotting and very early pregnancy? I cannot work out what the common denominator is between having spotting in both a non-pregnant luteal phase AND a pregnant luteal phase. I know progesterone is higher in both, but just can’t really work it out.

Gentle congratulations to you- there is definitely a faint line there.
if you’re concerned you could ask for progesterone. Both my MC started with light spotting, so as soon as I got a spot of pink on the tissue this time around I got a prescription. I have a scan next week to see if there’s a HB (I’ll be 8+6) x

@LauraJean1983 thank you! Gentle is the word.

I have been wondering about progesterone, but as I had a missed miscarriage, my body really wanted to hold on to the pregnancy. I had to have a D&C and the EPU think it was a chromosomal issue, and that the egg/sperm just never worked out properly.

I’ve kind of been assuming that if it was a progesterone issue that I would have miscarried naturally, and my body wouldn’t want to hang on?

And I’m so sorry to hear about your losses @LauraJean1983. It’s such a rough process isn’t it? Wishing you all the good vibes in the world for your scan 💜

@purplecolouroffunk welcome back - lovely to see you here 😊 I also definitely see a line there so adding my gentle congratulations 💗

Can't speak to the spotting. If it's normal for you in luteal phase it could be your bodies way of adapting to changing hormones etc. I wonder if your EPU would have a word and advise? At 4dpo egg was probably still travelling down fallopian tube so hard to see how it could be a definite harbinger of MC... 🙏🏼 Will keep everything crossed for you that it's a better outcome this time round. And in the meantime, we're all here to share the ups and downs!!

@purplecolouroffunk tentative congratulations 😊

I’ve had two MMCs, at my EPU the policy is to prescribe progesterone for women who have had a previous loss and are experiencing bleeding (or even spotting). I took progesterone for both this current pregnancy (16 wks) and my second MMC. It won’t stop a MMC occurring if it is a chromosomal issue (I was told that was likely what mine was, but nothing showed on testing), but it does support your body and the baby until a placenta is fully functional. It’s up to you, but it may be worth speaking to your EPU. Good luck!

Gentle congratulations @purplecolouroffunk .

I had a MMC at over 16 weeks, they think baby passed up to 2 weeks beforehand. For my next pregnancy, this one, I was given progesterone to take from 4 weeks until 16 weeks to help support my body in making the placenta etc. As someone has previously said, it won't stop a miscarriage but it will help support your body.

Thanks so much for the advice everyone. I think I’ll wait til next week just to make sure of no early chemicals and give the EPU a call.

I can only think that’s it’s a hormonal thing given that I’ve had spotting every single month in the 5 years I’ve been off the pill.

It’s weird cause I know spotting is linked to low progesterone - I had my P tested in my pregnant cycle back in March and it was at 31.8 nmol/l which is okay but slightly on the low side for early pregnancy. But then low progesterone is more associated with lack of lining which would mean I’d naturally miscarry if it was too low, and I didn’t. So I can’t work out which hormonal imbalance drives the spotting and it drives me nuts. No one seems to know what it is.

Anyway, did another test this morning and the line is getting a bit darker (top test in pic).

I feel a bit odd - like last time I was so excited because I just kind of assumed everything would be fine and didn’t have that guarded feeling. But this time I feel like I can’t quite get excited. It’s sad, but I’m guessing totally normal for us folks.

Forgot to attach pic doh.

And actually here’s another question. Should I tell a white lie about my LMP date?

I know I ovulated on cycle CD19. I’m worried when and if I eventually get along for an early scan, that I’ll always look behind because I ovulated late. I told them that last time and no one really seemed to care - they so strictly base timing on your LMP.

So my dates would already be out by 5 days which counts for a lot in early pregnancy. I don’t think I can face that ‘you’re measuring behind which probably isn’t good news’ conversation again. Of course I know that’s a general possibility anyway, things might not work out, but I really don’t want that added stress just because I ov’d late, if you see what I mean.

So is it best to just count back two weeks from ovulation and give them that date?

So sorry for bombarding you all, I’m just so glad you’re here as a community to help me 💜

@purplecolouroffunk I think that if it will bring you peace of mind in the early stages then that white lie is completely understandable. I might have done the same, but I randomly ovulated on day 14 the month I fell!

Gentle congratulations

@purplecolouroffunk Gentle congrats! Todays line is a lot darker than yesterdays. I think if you know when you ovulated I'd give the date 2 weeks before that as first day of last period because as you say they assume you have a 14 day cycle. I don't think spotting at this stage means anything, especially as it's common for you. Wishing you a sticky bean! X

Scan today, feel so sick with anxiety, praying everything's ok 🙏😭

Keep us posted lovely. Hope all goes well ❣️x

Aw good luck lovely!! Sending a hand hold. Do you have long to wait or is it a nice early one?

I've got another routine one this afternoon too and consultant going to talk to me a bit about birth choices. Starting to feel a bit anxious about C-section versus induction debate 😩

@SnookyPook did you have a previous c-section?

Just wondering as I have had one but hoping to try a VBAC this time and not sure how the induction side works with previous c-section x

@T2024 no my first was a vaginal delivery at 41+1 - narrowly avoided induction so both are new and a bit daunting for me! Hope you get some useful help from your care team. Lots of people do have successful vbac so I'm sure they will be able to tell you more! X

@SnookyPook yeah it's at 9.30, I had a scan at 10 weeks and everything was ok I'm 14 weeks now but I feel ill I'm so anxious x

Aw glad it's nearly here and you don't have to worry all day. I'd had a scan 4 days before my official 12wk one due to some spotting and I was still a bit nervous on the day. It's very normal!! You've no reason to think the worst though other than your own anxieties (which I know is far easier said than done but trying to provide some reassurance!!) Sending lots of love and courage. 💗

@SnookyPook all went well 🙏 14 weeks today, thank you xx

I am currently around 5 weeks 4 days after 2 losses, one in Jan 24 and one in April 24. Its been so traumatic and am shocked that I find myself in this situation so soon. Our last baby was sent away for genetics, and we had the results back which came back as it was a triploidy pregnancy a very rare chromosomal issue. I just feel like because I have had two misscariages in the space of 14 weeks of each other this time is going to be the same. I have decided not to have a 6/7 week scan because it hurts too much to see a heartbeat and then to lose it down the line. I just don't know why I am so so set on the same is going to happen again, just feel like there is something wrong when it comes to our egg and sperm meeting. Has anyone had two miscarriages and has gone onto having a healthy baby with their third?

oh lovely! I am in a similar position. I follow curly zia on instagram. She had a 6 week loss, fell pregnant and lost their bubba August in August at 16 weeks. Last week she delivered a healthy boy at 36 weeks. Praying for you xxx

I have been bleeding for 3 weeks straight and its taken up a notch. Scan on Monday. Pray pray praying

Happy to read this @Mamaxo , fabulous news. Now, breathe, relax (even if just for today ❤️)

I found little ones HB on my home doppler again today (I know, they aren't 100% reliable for anything but hearing it soothes my soul a little) Got a reading of 150bpm and could hear baby swishing around, had to chase them a bit to get a reading lol.

So happy to read this. ♥️

I’m sorry for your losses. I had one in June last year at 11+2 and another in October at 6 weeks. I’m 8 weeks today and have to wait until Wednesday next week to see if I have heartbeat. That being said, I saw a heartbeat with my 1st MC and it didn’t change the outcome. I don’t think the anxiety will leave until I have bub in my arms. Sending love x