Recurrent miscarriages - what do doctors look for?

[Anna Marie]

Just wondered as I have now had 3 m/c and once this m/c is officially over they are referring me to a specialist. I have no idea what they will look for or test for so any advice would be great so I can be aware and informed.

thanks to anyone who can help as I really want to look to the future with a positive attitude but its hard when I still blame myself and feel that it is my fault and worry that there is something wrong that cannot be detected or fixed... I am so scared to try again.

 

This is a long winded post so please bare with me.....

After losing my second baby one of the doctors/gynea/whoever he was, told me I would probably never have children ever by the looks of the way things were going. What a f*cking ******* to say it like that. So at 18 years old, my whole life, hopes and dreams of having a family were shattered.

I told myself from then on that I could not ever have children although I still took the pill to ease periods. I told my OH when we first got together that I couldn't have children because of what the doctor said and he accepted what I said but chose to not beleive me saying I will have children - just wait and see. I thought he was mad.

I started to throw myself into my dream career of Midwifery and forget about having children or a family. I signed up to start a full time 1 year Diploma in Access to Health which would start September this year, and then sign up to the Uni's to try and get into Midwifery for the following September.

I started having hormonal problems due to the pill I was on (has happened with every pill I've been on) so I planned to have the coil fitted 'just in case' . I came off the pill and I went to have the coil fitted when I came on my period next (as that's when they fit it - gross eh) and they couldn't get it in so I had to wait for my next period to fit it again and they were going to numb my cervix. Well that period never came and here I am.

They would never tell me why I lost my babies and said they wouldn't do any tests till it had happened at least 3 times. I never thought I could go through it again so I didn't even want to try. I found out about adoption and thought it would be my only route to having a family.

All I want to say is please do not give up hope on having a family. They don't know why some women miscarry but alot of women do go on to have healthy babies.

I'm out of the first danger zone (12 weeks) , but I won't relax untill I am about 32 weeks as then I know my baby can be born and have a higher chance of surviving.

I really don't know what they do to test or how they do things, but please do not give up hope. You will get there. I promise.

Thinking of you and your OH at this difficult time. xxx

 

[Rachael]

Hiya Anna Marie

Firstly may I offer my sincere sympathies for your heart breaking losses....No-one deserves to lose a baby, let a lone three.

For most miscarriages there is no known cause, however in some instances it may be due to either:-
• Chromosomal problems
• Illness in the mother
• Hormone imbalance
• Disorders of the immune system
• Abnormalities of the uterus
• Environmental and lifestyle factors
If you have had more than one miscarriage, each may have had a different cause. ....But each of the above possible causes will be investigated. Often, no cause will be found, as in my case....initially anyway!

I too suffered from 3 miscarriages and was subsequently reffered to a Repeat Pregnancy Loss (RPL) clinic. I had a scan to look for Uterine problems and blood tests done to see if I had clotting, immune or chromosomal abnormalities. My husband and I also had to have blood tests for Genetic screenin. At this time, all our test results came back as "Normal".

I concieved for the fourth time and began taking low dose Aspirin at 4wks, upon advice from my Consultant. MY RPL Consultant arranged for all my RPL bloods to be repeated at 6wks....This time one of my results was not normal. My Anticardiolipin Antibody levels came back raised. This is one of the Anti-Thrombiphlia antibodies which basically cause clotting problems in your blood. Specifically your blood clots too much. The result of this can be that the baby does not get an adequate blood supply and miscarriage can result......I asked why I would have a negative result upon the first batch of tests, only to get a positive result and was told that antibody levels can fluctuate. I think perhaps my antibody levels raise during pregnancy....My initial tests were performed 8 wks after my 3rd D&C after a missed miscarriage.

At 11wks I started Heparin injections (20mg), along with the Aspirin to thin my blood.....I am now 32weeks pregnant with no other problems.

I know the prospect of finding anything wrong is especially daunting, but for most conditions that cause miscarriages, there are medications you can take to prevent it ever happening again once pregnant.

I wish you the best of luck, really hope all your tests come back with the best possible outcome and you have a successful pregnancy very soon.

Don't ever give up....As long as you are able to get pregnant, you have done the hardest part....Now your in specialists hands they will do their upmost to keep you pregnant the next time you concieve.

Love

 

[jacquidube]

How long will it take for my baby to miscarry?. My baby died at 6 weeks 2 days and i am now 8 weeks and 4 days and i am waiting to miscarry naturally before they can start me on some investigational tests to see why i am miscarrying but i am having no signs at all of ever going to miscarry completely. I still feel very pregnant too.
Has anybody else been through this and can you tell me how long generally this will take.
Anxiously waiting.
Thankyou
Jacqui. x

 

[Rachael]

Awww Jaqui

I'm so sorry to read your precious little baby has not made it. My heart goes out to you.

It's so hard to say when you might start "miscarrying" as each woman and indeed every pregnancy can be so different.

With my first miscarriage, the pregnancy was confirmed as non viable at 5wks, however I did not start to bleed until 13wks. An incomplete miscarriage was diagnosed days later and I was taken into hospital for a D&C (They call it a ERPC - Evacuation of Retained Products of Conception - Not a nice name!) days later.

Both my next pregnancies were missed miscarriages picked up at my 12 wk dating scans and because of my first experience, they had me straight in for a D&C both times. With my first pregnancy I found waiting to lose a baby I knew was not alive emotionally draining. I could not thing of anything else for those long 8 wks......I can imagine the last two weeks have been just as difficult for you.

Perhaps if nothing has happened over the next week its worth you contacting your GP to discuss your options. I know medical intervention is not something a lot of ladies like the idea of, but perhaps if you are like me, the waiting for the event to happen is so much worse.

Many hugs being sent your way.......

Rachael

 

[jacquidube]

Thank you so much Racheal for your kind words. I just dread going in for a DandC. I hate to go under. I will wait another week though and see what happens. I will try one more time though and that will be enough emotional turmoil for me and my family. I am so sorry that you also have been through it a few times......its not nice is it when excitement gets taken over by sadness. You have my deepest sympathy.
All my love
Jacqui x x x xx

 

[Rachael]

Hiya Jaqui

Just to let you know that a D&C is not the only "help" you can get. There are medications you can be given to make your uterus contract and empty it's contents, but I'm led to believe this is not a nice process as you can be very much aware of what your body is expelling.

For your sake, I hope things happen on there own and soon...it's just so awful waiting for it all to be over.

I know right now it's hard to contemplate a happy ending......but you will get there chick....I'm only 7 weeks away from my due date and NEVER believed I would get this far......You will get there too......

Love and hugs

Rachael

 

[jacquidube]

Hi Racheal

Today I started to miscarry, it has happened quite quickly really, almost within hours everything has left and it now just feels like a normal period. I am having a scan on Tuesday and straight after they are doing blood tests on the same day.
Thankyou for being there for me and i am hoping to give it one last go all being well.
Take good care of yourself.
All my love
Jacqui.

 

[Tara & Liam]

hello Jacqui

My heart goes out to you and your partner.

I have spoken to you on an earlier occasion a few weeks ago in the chat room.

If you ever need to contact me, you only have to email.

Sending you lots of hugs and best wishes

davina

 

[Anna Marie]

Hi again everyone,

Firstly Jacqui I am so sorry.. I know what you are going through. I haven't been able to get to my pc to come on here much as to be honest last week was a bad week emotionally for me and I was very down although physically I am much better, my scan last week showed m/c was complete and no traces of pregnancy there although I am still bleeding [been 3 weeks now!] but the emotional side is still very much a roller coaster ride.

Thanks so much everyone for your responses and for the great info you have provided.. we had our bloods taken last week for the chromosone testing and I have an appt with the gynae recurrent m/c specialist at end September for more tests [for some of the conditions you mentioned Rachael] so I am trying to move on and think postively for the future but it is hard.

Jacqui I hope you are feeling a bit better and that uou too are trying to look forward ...