RLP came back negative, what next?

heatherlynn321

I had a low risk successful pregnancy 2 years ago, but have had 2 miscarriages this year. I had Recurrent Loss blood work done last week and it just came back negative for everything. I asked if they tested for MTHFR gene and they said they don't do that since it only affects folic acid and since you take prenatal vitamins while pregnant it shouldn't matter unless you also have a clotting disorder. What should I do next? It terrifies me to start trying without figuring out a cause.

RiverSong15

@heatherwilson321 I'm so sorry that you didn't find a cause of your recurrent losses and that you are so stressed. I'm in a similar boat, with two losses in a year that are unexplained. I definitely understand your fear. I definitely had a freak out moment when all my results finally can back normal.

What helps me is to remember that even with two (or even 3) unexplained losses, your chances of having a successful pregnancy, with or without treatment, is between 60-80%. Your odds are higher if you're younger, otherwise healthy, and have a history of previous successful pregnancies, which you do. It can be really hard to connect with that, though, after going through multiple losses. But your odds of having your next pregnancy be successful are still higher than your odds that it won't be. Beyond reminding myself of that, I've taken time off from TTC to recover emotionally, and I'm finally at the point where my desire for a child is stronger than my fear of another loss. I've also scheduled an RE appointment with an RPL specialist to go over my blood work, just to make sure we didn't miss anything.

Regarding MTHFR, I am heterozygous for that defect. My OB doesn't think it's a big deal since I have no indications it's causing clotting issues - I'm going to see what my RE says. The biggest thing you can do there is to switch your prenatal to a vitamin with methylfolate (instead of folic acid). There are a few brands out there that you could choose from, including a gummy. 

Beyond this, I just wanted to send some hugs.

rainbowwishes5

I'm sorry for your loss. I have had 2 losses this year as well. My doctor wants to wait for another loss for RPL, but we are proceeding as if all is normal. so I guess what's next is to keep on trying. My RE said we will never know why I lost my 2 babies... Most never do. Unfortunately. Best of luck.

ladipale

I'm so very sorry for your losses and the 'negative' results. With my loss - which was at 13 weeks and required a D&C - we sent tissue for chromosomal testing and I wanted nothing more than to get some kind of abnormality back from the results.. to have a reason for the loss. We didn't get one.

So, we took a little break (or long - ended up trying to avoid pregnancy for about 6 months) and then got back to it. My desire for another baby is greater than my fear to lose again. I am big on quotes, and this is one of my favorites right now: "Ask yourself - what would you do if you were not afraid.. then go do it!" and this one gets me too "if you can't stop thinking about it, don't stop working for it"

But there is not a right or wrong answer or way to do this (I should tell myself this - I keep thinking I'm doing "it" wrong. where "it" is trying again.) You can decide its not worth the pain, that is ok too.

heatherlynn321

Thanks for all of the advice guys. I'm kind of terrified I might be pregnant already. We definitely weren't trying, but it's possible. I've been having a lot of signs like my resting heart rate has shot up to the high 70s as opposed to the 60s like it normally is, frequent urination that wakes me up at night, insomnia, exhaustion. I have an appointment with an RE on Wednesday. I wasn't planning on TTC until after the RE ram some tests. I'm not set to get my period for 4 more days, so I can't take a test till Sunday  (my bfp never show up till 2 days before). I'm really worried because I miscarried the last day of September so I haven't had a normal period yet. I've heard you should wait till after your real period comes back so your uterine lining can heal.

JustBored10

My doctor ordered testing for me but I can not do any of it for 8 weeks since my chemical pregnancy was just a few weeks ago.  I have been with my OBGYN for a very long time and when we spoke last Friday she very bluntly said she honestly thinks I have just had shitty luck with these last two miscarriages (her exact words, LOL) because I have had a healthy pregnancy in the past with my son.  I still plan on doing the blood work but have come to terms that sometimes it just happens

szwill86

@justbored10 I had the same experience, minus a living child. My obgyn put the RPL blood work in right after my loss (even though this was my first loss) but told me to wait 12 weeks after to get it done and everything came back in normal ranges. She said the same thing exactly! It sucks to know that sometimes there's no rhyme or reason for these things, even though knowing that there was something would be better for our peace of mind. GL for when you do the testing.