Hi ladies,

Just wanted to ask any of you with that horrible experience what support you had (if any) with ttc and early pregancy. I've recently had my second mmc (first one was a year ago). I have a follow up appt with my EPAU next week and was just seeing if there was anything I could request besides early scans if I manage to conceive again?

Thanks.

Shell xx

[Modified by: ShellShell on 07 November 2009 18:09:26 ]

Hi Shell

Firstly i wanted to say im so sorry for your lossess.

Iam exactly in the same boat, i too sadly this week had my second MC.

This time it took 14months to concieve as i suffer with PCOS. I have this week been researching recurrent MC.
Now as i have PCOS iam at increased risk of MC but thats usualy due to hormone or insulin inbalance,& sometimes clotting of the blood.
I do have an appointment with my consultant in Dec & although i know they dont usualy test you for recurrent MC until youve had 3 MCs im going to ask anyway.

You could ask your Gp to refer you for blood tests or if you have 1 ask your consultant.
I know for PCOS sufferers they can perscribe Metformin to regulate insulin & hormones, & for clotting of the blood they can give you baby asprin.

I realy do think it worth asking about being tested hun, i know if can save me from this heartache again & get me a sticky BFP id have any test done.

Good luck hun & if you ever need to talk im here,i know exactly what you are going through. xxxxxx

[Modified by: PrincessStar on November 07, 2009 06:33 PM]

[Modified by: PrincessStar on November 07, 2009 06:35 PM]

I'm really sorry about your losses Princess Star - it really is devastating. Thank you for the information you've offered. I've been reading a book about miscarriage and I've been thinking about asking for aspirin because from what I've read it may be the clotting that's causing the problem especially as this time they detected a hb at 7 weeks.
I think it's tragic that they test after 3 mc - who wants to go throught that misery before finding out what the problem is?!
I really hope you have a short ttc journey this time round and a sticky BFP.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

You to hun. Sadly both my MCs were very early, the first at 6 weeks the second at 4+6 so my problem maybe more than clotting. I live in hope that its not obviously!

Good luck hun & let me know how you get on xxxx

Hi Shell (and PrincessStar),

So sorry to hear about your losses. I, too, have had 2 m/c, and potentially 1 undocumented 1 (period 2 wks late and v heavy/painful). My fertility consultant refused to investigate us as we didn't have 3 documented m/c's.
However, I refused to wait to have another before getting tests done, and persuaded my GP to refer me to the Recurrent M/C clinic at the hospital (it did take a bit of persuading).
I was seen within 5/6 wks and I had all the bloods done. They also tested my and DH's chromosomes (blood test). They often do other tests like blood hormone levels, scans, dye tests but I had already had these in the investigation of our infertility.

Our results were back within a month, and luckily were normal. Apparently about 50% of people in our awful situation will have no cause found. They say that early m/c's are more likely to be associated with clotting problems, and later m/c's with chromosomal problems. However, it is just as likely for no problem to be found, even after 2 m/c.

I wish you both the very best. Do push for further tests, and don't rest until you've found someone who's willing to help you.

I had a mmc/erpc at the end of September and had absolutely zero support from the medical profession. The doctors and nurses on the day were lovely, but I have had no after care whatsoever. Although that may be because the GP I had at the time was completely rubbish. The best support I have had is from the ladies on here - not only emotionally, but also by discussing the possible causes of mc openly and honestly.

A couple of days ago I had a letter from the hospital saying that I have a follow up appointment with the consultant on the 16th November, which seems a bit late to me as it will be almost 2 whole months since the mmc. The letter says that they want to check that everything is "satisfactory" - well it's not as I keep freaking out that I will never be able to carry a baby to full term, that there is something wrong with my body, that it's because of my age (32). I think it is terrible that women are made to go through 3 mc's before any investigations are done. It's just so heartless and cruel. If they put my mind at rest now then I could stop worrying and just get on with my life - as we all could. Instead, here we all are, desperately searching for answers and being refused help by the very people who should be helping us in our time of need - the NHS.

Sorry, rant over. My post probably hasn't helped you at all!

Hi there

I am gatecrashing here but wanted to share my experience with you.

I am currently just over 30 weeks pregnant but in the 10 months prior to this pregnancy I had 3 mc's. As others have said they sadly don't test unless you've had 3 mc's in a row with the same partner simply because mc is so common, even to have two in a row (not that knowing this helps when you're going through it).

After my 2nd mc my GP said that they wouldn't start the recurrent mc tests but she would refer me to a gynae to get the ball rolling and to have some scans etc. So you could always try and ask for that.

Sadly I did go on to have another mc so in the end my husband and I had all the recurrent mc tests too. All of these came back fine and we were told to keep trying but for me to take a high dose folic acid (5mg - by prescription only) and 75mg of aspirin from ovulation.

I don't know whether these have helped or whether it was a coincidence but like I said I am now just over 30 weeks pregnant

It is definitely worth asking your GP or EPU about the aspirin (and perhaps even the folic acid) as they can't do any harm (apart from for a small number of people - like if you have asthma or certain other conditions so always best to ask your Dr).

Good luck and I really hope you get your sticky BFP very soon

Love NN xxx

Hi ladies,

So sorry to hear about your losses. Like NN says they usually dont do any tests until you have had 3 consec mc!!

After our 2nd mc GP made a gynae referral as have a gynae history but I conceived again so just had regular epu appts. We then lost that baby at 9 wks & are now under a fertility doctor at the recurrent mc clinic as we have had 33 in 12 months. We have had genetic bloods, lots of other various blood tests & then will have a scan & possibly a hysteroscopy.

I would see if your GP can even arrange some simple bloods at least to check if you need to take aspirin or anything else.

Good Luck & I wish you all the best in a sticky BFP very soon xxx

Thank you luckystar, moonandstars, laujai and NN. I really appreciate you sharing your stories. I'm sorry for your losses. Moonandstars rant away - I feel quite angry after this last mmc. To my mind if we were male there would have been a cure for miscarriages by now. It annoys me you have to push and push for what you need.
I've learnt so much from these forums over the past year that really every woman ttc should know!
NN I'm really pleased that you pg is progressing well - I have followed your story and ready about your heartbreak in the past. Thank you for the tip on folic acid. I didn't even know about that strength!
Anyway, I went to my GP this morning and asked him for 5mg folic acid which he agreed to because "it can't do any harm". He is also referring me to my hospital gynae just to check everything is ok so that's a first step. He was really helpful. I've also bought some royal jelly as apparently it improves egg quality.
Without your advice I don't think I wouldn't know half of these things so again thanks ladies.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Glad that your GP has been understanding & got the ball rolling for you. Here's to a sticky bfp very soon for you hun xx

Hi ShellShell, i'm sorry to hear of your losses and i'm glad that at last you have a positive step in the right direct! Do you mind me asking what Royal Jelly is? x

ShellShell I think the same about mc - I'm sure if it physically affected men that it would be a different story with the investigations! And possibly this will annoy people but the the NHS really does my head in. Now don't get me wrong, I think we are so privileged in this country to have a free (ish!) health service that anyone can go to at any time, but I have changed GP surgery 3 times in 3 years because I have had such shoddy care. You have to push and push and push to get any help. Once I was hospitalised because I had a heart murmur due to lack of potassium (from a horrid stomach bug). The A&E doctor told me to go to my GP and get referred for some more tests. But when I went to see him he actually laughed in my face and told me "It's not as simple as that" So I ended up practically shouting at him and being very very rude, which is not me at all, just so that I could get my referral.

Sorry, I ranted again then! It's just that I feel a tad abandoned by the medical profession at the moment.

Hi Rocky Kiz, Royal Jelly is a dietary supplement much the same as normal vitamins. You can get them from the chemists. Mine cost £1.46. I read somewhere recently that they help improve egg quality. Every little helps I suppose!
Moonandstars I really think the NHS is a postcode lottery sometimes. I just wish it wasn't to our detriment!

xx

Hi Rocky Kiz, Royal Jelly is a dietary supplement much the same as normal vitamins. You can get them from the chemists. Mine cost £1.46. I read somewhere recently that they help improve egg quality. Every little helps I suppose!
Moonandstars I really think the NHS is a postcode lottery sometimes. I just wish it wasn't to our detriment!

xx

Hi girls, just to let you know the appt with EPAU went well. They've said if/when I conceive again I can bypass the gp and go straight to them. I'll have early scans etc. Makes me a bit happier that I won't need to jump through hoops just to be listened to.
Just thought anyone in the same situation could do the same ...

Xx

Did anyone receive any support after just one miscarriage? Follow on appointments or extra support the second time around?

Oh and I are talking about maybe trying again after I have had a negative test. (ERPC was only last week) We will see how it goes and such, not actively trying till after first period, but not using anything before. But I am scared to get pregnant again. That it will happen again, that they just tell me not to panick and get on with it. (I have already a little boy, so I feel they just say you have a child, so it can happen again, don't worry to much)

Berighlin I have had one mmc/erpc. It happened at the end of September - on Monday I have a follow up appointment at the hospital, nearly 2 whole months after the event, so you may have to wait a while for follow up care. I will let you know what they say to me.