Hello Ladies
So just last month I miscarried again for the second time at just 6 weeks pregnant. The first time I miscarried I was also about 6 weeks along and that was back in October of 2010. For both miscarriages I bled naturally and didn't get any D&C's. During this recent miscarriage my OB monitored my hcg levels for about 2 weeks until they reached zero and did a few tests and ruled out any thyroid issues or blood clotting disorders and thereafter found no reason for me to continue with visits because of my insurance. She said it could just be some sort of fluke and suggested I continued with the prenatals, take high dosages of folic acid, and wait 3 months to try to conceive again. However I know there are a number of other things that can be tested but because I received medi-cal and qualified only because of the pregnancy I believe that’s why she didn't continue further with more in-depth testing. So I really don't have any answers besides the fact that it could have just been luck and early pregnancies are very common. My question is, how can I better my chances of not miscarrying?? I have read online that there are numerous reasons for early miscarriages some being chromosomal abnormalities, uterine lining, or lack of progesterone. So I have continued with prenatals daily , as well as 400 mcg of folic acid daily until I can conceive again in 2 months. I have also read that Red Raspberry Leaf tea is great for providing nutrients to the uterus for a healthier fetal environment and helps prevent miscarriage. Lastly, I have been trying to stay as stress free and calm as possible because although I am unsure that stress was the result of the first two miscarriages, I am sure they didn't help. I am also concerned whether or not my progesterone levels are normal. Would it hurt purchasing progesterone cream from a vitamin store and use a small dosage considering it wasn't prescribed. Is this bad?? Honestly, I really need some advice and hope from others. Any advice helps. I don’t want to go through another miscarriage. I want to hear your experiences. Could this really be just a fluke or bad luck? All that I know is that this third time that we will try for conception I will have planned and began preparing my body with prenatals much better which I did not do the first two times. Could this help and lessen my chances? I really need hope and success stories…. Will I get the opportunity to carry to term??? Please help.
God bless!
Do you have any kids? How old are you? I wouldnt do the otc cream. I would definitely get the Clear Blue monitor to help so at least you know when you are ovulating and not waste time. Good luck and I have been there. It will happen but they need to monitor you when you conceive agan, you may need progesterone shot or suppository.
Work on being the healthiest you before trying again this includes the prenatals and making sure your weight is as close to healthy as possible either by weight loss or gain and clean up your diet fresh produce and clean antibiotic free meat. Exercise daily, reduce stressors. If you have a clean slate or as clean as possible, like make sure you are happy with your job, you have paid down bills and figure out where you need to cut....the less stressor you have the less your body fights change including pregnany.
If it were me, I'd see a reproductive endocrinologist and have some basic tests run before I tried to conceive again. If your insurance won't pay for this specialist, an OB/GYN can do these tests. Although, you will never know if the previous losses are because of your body's inability to nourish a pregnancy or because of chromosomal abnormalities, blood tests and an hystero-salpingogram (ultrasound to check your tubes and uterus) can help you get some answers for the future. I'm so sorry to hear of the sadness you have endured with 2 miscarriages. I hope you find some help soon. My friend lost 3 pregnancies last year between 6 and 8 weeks and with the help of metformin, hormone support and a blood thinner (heparin) from her reproductive endocrinologist, she is currently 9 1/2 weeks pregnant. There is hope. Nurse Midwife Mom
I had two early miscarriages, and my third pregnancy is now 9 year old! I didn't do anything different the third time, and didn't even worry about it, or have any testing. I didn't wait three months between, either. I was 39 and 40 during this time. About 1/3 of all pregancies end in miscarriage, for any or no reason.
It is not unusual that your doctor doesn't want to do additional testing, since you are only 21 years old and early miscarriages like you've had are very common.
Yes it really COULD just be a fluke or bad luck....
I don't think I'd try any OTC creams without asking a doctor first...
And for what it's worth I DON"T think the lack of follow up testing is because of your insurance. I had GOOD insurance back when I had all my miscarriages and despite being VERY vocal in my demands for more testing after the 2nd one, I wasn't referred for more testing until AFTER my third miscarriage. By then it was to late-- my marriage fell apart (grief and hormones are a VERY powerful combination and should be treated with CAUTION!)
My experiences with pregnancy may not be enlightening or helpful, but here they are-- My ex-husband and I tried DESPERATELY to have a baby for two years while NOTHING happened, then I had 3 miscarriages (all at 8 weeks) in less than a year. Before I got to far in the testing to find out why the marriage fell apart.
I lived like a nun for 9 years and then I had a naughty little fling and used the "it would take a miracle" form of birth control. Despite being 9 years older and a 100 pounds heavier (and I was WAY overweight to start with!) I was shocked/blessed with the miracle and had an almost perfect pregnancy!
Hi M.,
I would highly recommend a Fertility specialist, if you are serious about becoming pregnant. I don't know your age, so maybe it's premature for you, but I wasted years of my life waiting for some answers from my OBGyn, and miscarried twice. The second miscarriage was twins. My hope was to become pregnant before I turned 40, and I did, under the care of Dr. Jennifer Ratcliffe (Santa Rosa, Ca.) She uncovered all of the answers for me, which an OB could not. My OB said my uterous was bi--cornuate (heart shaped) which there was no way he could have known without surgery. The fertility specialist performed surgery and said that it was in fact a septum dividing my uterous into two chambers. They removed the septum. If an embryo implants on a septum it cannot survive. She also uncovered that I was very deficient in B vitamins and put me on a strict B6, B12, Folic acid regime. Also uncovered with all the testing, I had slow dividing embryonic cells (I believe related to the B vitamins). They weren't dividing fast enough, and I lost the first pregnancy at about 6-7 weeks and bled naturally out but very painfully at home. The second pregnancy (twins), I had to have a DNC scheduled. This same OB, who was not diagnosing anything for me performed it, and did NOT get the mass. It was incomplete. I ended up miscarrying at home again. Thanks to Dr. Ratcliffe, I became pregnant on my second IUI (intra-uterine insemination) and was given progesterone suppositories to maintain the pregnancy. I have a healthy baby girl, now 5 years old, and I owe it ALL to her (Santa Rosa Advanced Fertility Specialists). If I had not been proactive in getting a complete fertility workup with her, I would still be with my OB (who by the way...told me that I was a good candidate for a donor, because my egg quality was declining!), and I would still be miscarrying and probably have "missed the boat." My baby girl was conceived with MY egg, yes my 40 year old egg... and she is perfect. So... all of this rambling may have been for nothing, because you may have more time to keep trying naturally, but if not.....RUN, don't walk, to a specialist after two miscarriages. Why wait until three? There is hope.
I am so very sorry about the loss of your babies. I had a miscarriage (at 8 weeks) in between my two sons and it has been over two years since I lost my baby and I still think about it often.
I know that low progesterone can definitely be a factor in early miscarriages. But ONLY use bio-identical progestrone cream. I am using one now (for issues not related to pregnancy) and it has worked very well for me and it doesn't contain any harmful chemicals.
http://www.beeyoutiful.com/beeyoutiful-balance.html
I don't know how to use the cream when you are throwing TTC or pregnancy into the mix so I would contact a specialist for their help with that.
With my last pregnancy (right after the miscarriage) I drank Red Raspberry leaf tea and drank it all the way threw the pregnancy. It has lots of benefits to help ease labor pains, etc. That was a sucessful, healthy pregnancy and the labor was a little easier. Certainly won't hurt to drink the tea!
I hope your next pregnancy goes full term and you can have a sweet baby in your arms!
Hi M., I'm sorry to hear of your miscarriages. I recommend you get your body healthy so you may carry full term. Email me and I will send you some great tips on how to keep your body healthy as well balanced.
Happy Friday.
N. Marie
____@____.com
Progesterone helped me during first 3 monthes of pregnancies. However, I got a prescription from the doctor.
I am so sorry for your loss. All the posts before mine are spot on. I have had 3 miscarries and I have good insurance and they didn't do any testing until I had my 3rd. I'm 35 so they sent me to a reproductive endocrinologist (RE) who did a lot of tests to find out nothing is wrong with me. We have really good insurance still, but most of the fertility testing and work is not covered. All of my miscarriages were at 6 and 7 weeks, and the RE had me do a HSG test (the one someone mentioned to make sure your tubes are ok) and a saline sonogram to make sure there is no scar tissue and the shape of my uterus is correct. This one may be a good test for you to look into. She told me that since my MC were so early there could be a change that when my uterus was being formed (when I was in my mom's belly) it may have connected in the wrong place which could have caused scar tissue. What happens is then an embryo attaches to the wall/scar tissue and since it's scar tissue it cannot get blood to grow and live, so you MC. The other test you may want to request is a blood test. I'm not sure how old you are, but an FSH test helps to determine egg quality, which is good to know.
As far as progesterone, do you track your cycles? What you may want to do is use ovulation kids (I like clearblue easy with a smile face because there is no guess work) and document which cycle day you ovulated (this could be different every cycle) and how many days there are in your cycle. There should be no less than 12 days in your luteal phase (the time between ovulation and your next period). If that is the case, go to the dr and request progesterone supplements. You could buy the cream, it may extend your cycle and make your cycle extra heavy. My OB said he would give it to me if I wanted it, even though I didn't need it (my luteal phase is 12 days, but I would have like the typical 14) because it won't hurt a baby, babies LOVE progesterone. You could also look into B6.
Best of luck to you! I hope you get your bundle of joy soon!
Hi, my first pregnancy ended in miscarriage at around 6 weeks but the subsequent ones have been healthy. I also have a friend who suffered two miscarriages in the beginning, thought she would never be able to have children, and now she has six beautiful children with no problem conceiving. I just want you to know there is hope!!!
