repeat miscarriage

[gallerygirl]

I am 41 years old and have just had my 4th miscarriage.  Two of the miscarriages have gone to 12 weeks.  On both my hcg levels rose slowly.  Can this be contributing to the miscarriages?  If so is there anything that can help like progesterone or any herbs?

[Debra_Maine]

Have you had your progesterone level checked?

[Still_AndiJ]

Unfortunately there hasn't been anything that has been shown to help increase hcg levels. As tough as it is to accept, there is usually a reason the levels are low and the pregnancy ends. I understand how you feel, I have also had 4 m/c. I have been fortunate enough to also go on to have 2 healthy boys, 1 after my 3rd m/c and another after my 4th m/c. All the testing available to us has yet to reveal why I have had 4 m/c, one doctor just chalked it up to bad luck.

Supplementation with progesterone is pretty controversial. There isn't definitive proof it can save a pregnancy and in many cases it only delays the inevitable. I agree with the above post, get all your levels checked and go from there.

It is always dangerous to play with herbs while pregnant, there is no guarantee that what you are buying is what you actually get and there has not been the same level of testing done on many of them to ensure their safety. Always consult with your doctor if you have any questions or before starting any medication, herbal or otherwise.

Andrea

[firsttimearound]

If you don't mind me asking, how slow are your HCG levels rising?

[SusanB 1904]

Hi ladies,
Just wanted to hear from anyone who has had repeated miscarriages, has had genetic testing and has been found to have a Trisomy 15 chromosone disorder.  I don't know much about it and am interested in anyone shedding some light on it, and to know if any woman have gone on to have normal pregnany's.
Much Thanks Susan

[Niki73]

I know I probably sound like a broken record but I'm going to share my experience with you and just maybe you are having the same problem. After my third miscarriage we ran as many test that a reguler obgyn can run before referring you to a fertility specialist. Everything came back normal. Which yes was great news but still no answer why I was miscarry. Even though I actually miscarried at different weeks (all under 12 weeks) they all had stopped growing around 6 weeks. Like you with my second and third miscarriage we were checking the HCG levels every 48 hours...they were barely rising...and towards the end would decline. So what my doctors thought was that I wasn't producing enough of the HCG hormones that help support a viable pregnancy.So when I got pregnant the fourth time right away - around 4weeks I was given hormone injections twice a week for 11 weeks. I wish I could remember the name of the medicine he was injectioning but I can't. Progesterone is one of the hormones along with a few others. It worked and I had a healthy baby girl. Now this time around I honestly started feeling like I was pregnant before I had even missed my cyle- so i test a week early and it was positive! This time I started to take the injections at 3weeks! I am now 25 weeks pregnant with my son. I know you probably have heard this but the doctors say sometimes after having miscarriages and then having a baby your body just kicks into gear and you don't have problems after that...he was shocked at how high my HCG level was this time around and that I was able to detect the pregnancy that early but we did the injections anyway to be on the safe side! I really thought I wasn't going to be able to have children! I do believe that some people need that extra progesterone to support their pregnancy. Maybe your doctor can look into this for you??? I took two injections twice a week of 200mg up until my 11week because the placenta takes over nourshing the fetus with these needs.Good Luck! It's more common then people think because since my experience I know of 3 other friends who ended up successful doing the same exact process!

[gallerygirl]

They checked my progesterone and it was okay.  They chalk it up to my age.  I am so frustrated, we don't have great insurance that can send us to a specialist that is why I was looking for a "miracle." Thanks for all the advice.  I will wait a bit and try again.

[5kids247]

Hi! I am new to this sight - just having a hard time sleeping tonight - thought I'd just read a little - but this one captured me - I can, oh so much - too much relate! I too am what most would call too old to do such a thing - I had my last baby 2 years ago at 38 - I have 5 kids - 2-19 in age, but have had to go through a lot of losses to get them here.  I have had 12 m/c's - including a set of twins.  Most of my m/c took place from 12-20 weeks.  I can't tell you how much I worried, stressed, paniced everytime I had to go to the bathroom.  If I could figure a way to not go for 9 months I would! Anyway, back to the original question - My last pregnancy was by far the easiest looking back.  I changed Drs, because my Dr I had had for 17 years was no longer in practice.  When I went to my appointment, not knowing what was wrong with me - I thought that I was beginning the "menopause" thing a little early - but was having all sorts of problems and had been for several months, just didn't really want to know what "was" wrong with me. (Pregnancy was not even in my thoughts). I was soon having  tests for different cancers, and lupus and all sorts of things -and to our surprise I was pregnant-10 weeks! Oh, but scarry too!  Immediately, this new Dr started me on 81mg of asprin - (Baby asprins) - just one tablet a day for the first 25 weeks.  Along with that he also put me on pergestrone. He also sent me to a specialist - it took to my 19th week to get in to see them.  When I went in there they did a form of genetic counseling and discovered that I have a transformed chromosome - not something that is apparent in a "physical" defect, but will cause problems w/pregnancies. (Wish I had know that 17 years before!) Apparently it is hereditary - but my mother shows no signs, but out of my 4 sisters and I, 3 of us do! Anyway - they discovered that something as simple as the methods above - asprin and pergestrone - (both taken til at least week 22) where the reason for success in carrying this baby beyond weeks 12-20.  I don't know if this will help you by any means- but it certainly is worth asking- I know that the baby asprin thing has been a big factor in 5 of my friends being able to carry babies full term - coincidence? maybe, but prior to this last pregnancy I had had several ultra sound techs ask if I was doing the "baby asprin" treatment, of which I wasn't,(and had no idea what they were talking about) and unfortunately, had 5 m/c's in 6 years. Another good friend starts taking it 2-3 months before she tries to conceive, and is now expecting her 6th! It is worth asking your doctor about -Everybody is so different - and sometimes the solutions are so easy. Good luck to you! Don't give up!

[gallerygirl]

thanks for the information.  They put me on heparin a blood thinner which I had to inject into my stomach twice a day.  I read on the internet that if you combine it with baby asiprin all the better...well it didn't work.  They did not however ever discuss progesterone with me...next time I will insist on it...I will wait a month and try again.  I have "irish twins" and think it is easier to get preganant soon after being pregnant...well that's the theory anyway that works for me.  I got pregnant 4 times this year...maybe 5  is the charm.

[AutumnMJ4477]

I am on my 2nd m/c and my doctor told me to wait for the 3rd m/c before they can even start testing and not to take 81mg of aspirn,but I thought what the hell if I am basicly waiting for a 3rd m/c what could it really do- After reading this forum I feel better about my chances with aspirn

[cj1919]

I have had four m/c and have two girls. They are three and almost five. I didnt start have m/c until after my second daughter. Ever doctor and specialist I have been to have no answers for me. I am currently six two seven weeks pregnant and scared. I take the baby asprin and folic acid but never pergestrone. Mabey that would be the answer for me? I have had most of the m/c after 12 weeks. I wish I couls find a sollution. Is there anyone out there with an answer or in the same boat?

courtney.

[makaimama]

I just went through my 4th m/c.  I have one son, age 4 years old.  I am 41 and have been diagnosed with antiphospholipid syndrome.  I tried baby asprin and progesterone cream but did not start using both until after 6th week of pregnancy, which I now believe is too late for either treatment.

Read the book Coming To Term: Uncovering the Truth About Miscarriage by Jon Cohen.  I am reading this now and it has been so interesting and illuminating.  There is so much mis-information about miscarriages in the medical community, especially with OB/GYN's and fertility specialists (who mostly specialize in getting pregnant, not keeping pregnancies which are so different.  Most women who have recurrent miscarriages have no problem getting pregnant).

Here is a link to the book online (free google books) or you can purchase used on Amazon:
http://books.google.com/books?id=KOgsD8XNMI0C&dq=coming+to+term+cohen&pg=PP1&ots=npcYD8gKV4&sig=2SZHMTwukjXfTv4686SUu9Hv1Hk&hl=en&prev=http://www.google.com/search%3Fhl%3Den%26q%3Dcoming%2Bto%2Bterm%2Bcohen%26btnG%3DSearch&sa=X&oi=print&ct=title&cad=one-book-with-thumbnail

The book will also give names of doctors and researchers who focus on the different aspects of recurrent miscarriage.  He also notes there are only three recurrent miscarriage clinics in the world, so do not expect a regular doctor, OB/GYN or even fertility specialist to have the information on causes and treatments of recurrent miscarriages.  

Because miscarriage is so misunderstood, information is often very vague and even based on incorrect facts.  I think we have to advocate for our own health and for our own pregnancies.  I will be trying to see one of the doctors at the recurrent miscarriage clinic in Vancouver, BC Canada when we go there on summer holiday (I live on the east coast in the US).

Here is an article I found that lists some causes of repeat m/c pretty thoroughly in my opinion: http://www.drdecker.net/repetitive%20miscarriage.htm

For most women, their chances of carrying to term goes up with every subsequent m/c, keep the hope, read about it to empower yourself, talk about it with your partner (and remember that your partner is also going through loss and may not be able to communicate it well to you being the primary subject of m/c loss), I wish you luck and love.

Yvette

[dancinggirl32]

Thank you everyone, so much for sharing your stories. I just went through my 3rd m/c and it is so frustrating. My doctor would not do testing after the second, so I am still in the dark as to what happaned or what I could do differently. I am supposed to go to the doctor today, but I've gotten to the point where I don't really trust that they know what they're doing. I think I will try the baby aspirin treatment, and maybe progesterone, because it couldn't hurt, right?