Recurrent Miscarriage

Updated on September 29, 2008
J.K. asks from West Roxbury, MA
7 answers

I'm curious to hear from anyone who has had multiple miscarriages after having their first child. We had our first in 2005 and started trying for #2 mid-last year. I have had 3 miscarriages in the last 12 months - the first at 13 weeks, the next at 10 weeks, and the last at about 12 weeks. In each case, the pregnancy had "stopped growing" at 10 or 11 weeks. I had a work-up (hysteroscopy and blood tests) between the second and third, and everything came back normal. We have zero problems conceiving. I'm wondering about immunologic issues. If anyone has experience to share, I'd appreciate it. Thank you.

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K.S.

answers from Boston on

Hi J., I'm so sorry that you have to go through the roller coaster. I also had problems after my first child; one thing they checked (but they don't always in the typical blood tests) is clotting defects in the blood. This may not be the case, but in my case the anticardiolipin antibody (i think there are a bunch of different clottting antibodies) was in my blood making me more prone to miscarriages. Odds are low it's the same thing but i figured i'd add to the list of things to 'check'. In the meantime I wish you the very best as you go through all of this!

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S.G.

answers from Boston on

I'm very sorry you have been through these losses. My mother had 8 miscarriages after I was born, and before my sister came along. All of her tests came back normal also. Turned out, it wasn't her, it was my dad. Maybe your husband should get some tests done. I hope you figure things out soon so you can get that wonderful miracle that you want.

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J.G.

answers from Boston on

Hi J.,

I'm so sorry you have to go through this. I had a similar experience before my daughter was born in 2005. I had 2 miscarriages before her. My mother had also had 5 miscarriages before and after me. I went to a Reproductive Endocrinologist. I tested positive for one copy of the MTHFR gene which causes blood clotting issues. I also had low progesterone. I'm not sure which or both caused the problem but I was able to hold my daughter and son's pregnancies with 8% Crinone Progesterone gel for 3 months, baby asprin (to thin the blood) and a high dose of folic acid. I would go to see a Reproductive Endocrinologist (I don't know of any here because I was living in Miami at the time). Hopefully that will give you some answers. I know how frustrating and painful it can be.

-J.

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P.S.

answers from Boston on

Hi J..

I'm so sorry to hear about your miscarriages. I know how devastating they can be as I've had two myself. My situation is a little different than yours but I thought that sharing could help? You never know...

Both of my miscarriages occurred at around 8 weeks when the fetus simply died and not having any symptoms of miscarriage, I didn't find out until the ultrasounds. I had a hysteroscopy as well and several blood tests with no negative findings. So, when I was ready to try again, my doctor gave me a prescription for progesterone suppositories to take a few days after I ovulated and continue taking once I found out that I was pregnant. I don't know if that is what finally worked but I have a 7.5 week old, a healthy beautiful girl sleeping in her bassinet as I write this.

I didn't have trouble conceiving either I guess I just needed some extra progesterone help to keep the pregnancy. I only had to take the suppositories for 8 weeks until we knew that our baby was healthy.

I hope that this helped. I would ask your doctor about progesterone. Although it's not proven to work per se and the evidence is inconclusive, it seems to have worked for me.

Good luck.

P.

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L.M.

answers from Boston on

J.,

I'm sorry for your losses. I didn't experience this but my girlfriend did. The same thing. No problem getting pregnant but 3 miscarriaged in one year after having her first child. She ended up going to a reproductive endocrynologist. However they never found out why it happened or what the cause was. One option they were given was to do IVF. Not to get pregnant but because they were going to test the embryo after a few division to see which embryo was the most vital and they would implant that one -they felt that was their best option (the doctors that was). In the end they tried again on their own, got pregnant and just had a healthy baby. They still don't know why they had the miscarriages and why this pregnancy was good.
The other thing to look at is your thyroid - I have Hoshimoto's disease (thyroid condition). I was lucky enough to find this out only having had one miscarriage. Even if my levels are with in the range (normal) I am 4x more likely to miscarry if I am not on medication during a pregnancy. I had an endrocrynologist monitor me thru my pregnancy and adjust the level of medication as needed. I didn't have any problem during that pregnancy. I believe the only way to find out if you have a thyroid condition/disease is to have a biopsy. They can check your thyroid level with a blood test but I don't think they can check to see if you have Hoshimoto's disease or Grave's disease or anything else without a biopsy. The good news if you do have a thyroid condition it is treatable. If that is good news, that is.
Sorry there isn't a clear cut answer but there are things to check and people to talk to to see if you need medication.

Good luck,
L. M

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S.Q.

answers from Boston on

Hi, J.. I don't know much about recurrent miscarriages, but wanted to tell you I am so sorry to hear that you are going through this. Mis. are so sad and sometimes it is hard to put your arms around the whole thing. I hope you are doing ok and that you will be blessed with a viable pregnancy in the very near future. You have been through a lot. Hang in there. S.

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D.S.

answers from Boston on

Dear J.,

how exhausting, emotionally and physically. Hope you have good support!

I have only had 1 miscarriage, and the cause was never discovered. The female side of my family went through a lot of miscarriages though, because the rhesus-incompatibility was not yet easy to handle a few decades ago. I am sure you have got that checked, right (in case you are rhesus negative and your partner isn't)? Stupid question, probably, but i thought i throw it out there.

Good luck!

D.

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