Waiting for natural miscarriage after FET

prudence9-2

Hi,

really hoped I won't be posting in this group. But here I am....

had IVF back in November. 4 embryos came back normal after PGS and then transferred one back in January. 

At the heartbeat appt (6w 4d) was told that the embryo is 3 days behind and that heartbeat is low. 

Went back, 2 days ago (7w 4d) and embryo hasn't grown but was still having heartbeat. Dr said this will not turn into viable pregnancy and sent me home to wait for a natural miscarriage. 

So so here I am. Stopped the PIO injections and now waiting. 

Was anyone in a similar situation before? How long after you stopped the injections that you miscarried? 

Trying to stay positive and hope that the next FET will have better outcome. 

starla

@Prudence9 I'm so sorry for your loss. I know it's utterly devastating and heartbreaking. I am in a slightly different situation than you. My baby was also measuring behind and ended up not having a heart beat at our last ultrasound at almost 11 weeks. However I hadn't done IVF and was not on injections. The baby had died sometime in the previous 2.5 weeks but nothing was happening yet. 

If, like me, nothing is happening and you can't go on with your day knowing that you're carrying the baby still, you could ask your doctor for misoprostol. He other choice is a d&c, which I preferred to avoid and my doctor and midwife also said it was last choice. Hopefully I won't need it if everything was cleared out. 

Let me know now if you have any questions about the process or just need to talk. There are other ladies here who have gone through similar experiences. Again, I'm so sorry and all the hugs. 

prudence9-2

@Starla thanks. The dr did mention the other two options but said natural miscarriage is the most preferred. I am scheduled to go back on Tues. but with the way things are going (nothing happening) I think I will still be waiting then.  

So I will probably have to go with the pill. how long from the time you took it that you started to miscarry? How long did it take?

starla

@Prudence9 You can take it orally, under your tongue, or vaginally. I read that taking it vaginally reduces some of the stomach issues like nausea and diarrhea.

My doctor gave me the vaginal dose (not sure if the pill itself is different but I was told to take it vaginally). I read it take as little as 30 minutes to start working. The typical time is 4 hrs, but for some people it can take as long as 24-48 hours.

For me the cramping started pretty soon (about 30 min.) and I started bleeding after 3 hours. It was over in about 14-15 hours. I have to go for an ultrasound to make sure everything was cleared. There is a chance that it wasn't and I would have to repeat the drugs or get a d&c. 

The cramping was not that bad. Just before it started I had maybe 1-2 hours of bad period cramps (the worst I've had). After the bleeding started it was much better. I just took Advil and Tylenol at the same time and that seemed to work. Some ladies said that they had a lot of pain and cramping and even contractions. I guess everyone is different. 

prudence9-2

@Starla glad it wasn't super painful for you. I think that if I end up taking it, I'll do it next weekend. I have a dr appt on Tues and who knows, maybe it will happen naturally by then... *fingers crossed*

starla

@Prudence9 I agree that's the best way. I wanted it to happen naturally, but it didn't seem to be going that way and I was getting distressed because my baby had already died. I really couldn't go about my day knowing that I still had it inside me and I wanted to get it overn with. I imagine it must be so hard for you because your baby still had/has a heartbeat. I'm very sorry and I hope that your next try is successful. Good luck and feel free to PM me if you have questions. 

prudence9-2

@Starla thanks!!! I know exactly what you mean. I really want it to happen already. And if it doesn't by tues I will def seek other options when I'm seeing the dr. 

JESSABER0414

@Prudence9 I am so sorry you find yourself here, but glad you did because I am in almost the exact same situation and it was not what was predicted by my RE,  so ....
I did FET #1 Jan 16, Beta 1 152, beta 2 355. Ultrasound Feb 13, only gestational sac, no yolk sac or fetal pole. Ultrasound Feb 16 same story no growth since 5w3d. Interestingly, we think the embryo split into twins and couldn't sustain it. 
I started having cramping within 4 days but was told it would be 2 weeks after PIO stopped. Bleeding started 5 days after PIO and kept on for 14 days. Cramps would come and go,  I got a prescription for 600 MG Ibuprofen and took it about once a day. I had an ultrasound and hcg check Monday, March 6 (about 2 weeks after bleeding) hcg was still 2300 and the us showed some clots or retained tissue. This was hard to hear. I wanted to be able to get through it naturally.  But she thought it was either lagging hcg or something sticking that need to come out.
I took 2 doses of Cytotec  (misoprotol) yesterday after trying some vitamin c and teas. It was bad but not awful because I'd already bled 15 days. However, no results! So, today I'm cramping slightly and spotting brown which I'm happy about. 
Calling Monday to let her know and schedule at least another blood draw. She also said I have a lead follicle, so I might ovulate and could try naturally,  hahah,ok. Then period 2 weeks from then. 
Sorry so long, but I feel for you and message me anytime you need. 

prudence9-2

@JESSABER0414 thanks for your message. That's so crazy that it took you so long to have the MC. That's exactly what I'm afraid of. So in a way thinking maybe on my appt this coming Tues, I should ask for d&c and just get over with that?

JESSABER0414

I could see the advantage of that,  but since I wasn't far along it wasn't recommended.  It's so surgery and had is own risks. I'm thinking of you

prudence9-2

The embryo stopped growing at 6w 1d. Still had a heartbeat at 7w 4d but basically was told that it will not turn into viable pregnancy. So I stopped all the medications the following day. I'm now 5 days without medication... really hope it will happen naturally. But so far no symptoms. 

JESSABER0414

@Prudence9 ugh, that's tough. Let me know what they say when you call or go back. The physical part makes the emotional and psychological parts worse in my book. My thoughts are with you. 

prudence9-2

@JESSABER0414 back from my appt, no heartbeat this time. We decided to wait one more week for natural miscarriage. But if that doesn't happen, have MVA next week. From what I understand MVA is like a mini D&C?

JESSABER0414

@Prudence9 I'm  so sorry. I know how hard that confirmation is,  in a different way.  I haven't heard of an MVA. I'm hoping it starts naturally for you,  but I will say getting it over with might be better. Ugh,  I still don't know.  
I went in March 14 and ultrasound looked more normal,  lining still 7.5, two large "cysts/follicles " one in each ovary. I had to wait a day for the labs.  So,  as of yesterday my hcg dropped to 401, from 2300 a week before and LH for ovulation peak was top low to be two follies. Damn. So no trying or predicting my next period. I was pretty discouraged for this to continue and not move on physically.  But it'll happen one day!  
Going back for another hcg on March 28, going is 0 to start bcp.

prudence9-2

@JESSABER0414 oh wow! It's takes so long for the hcg levels to drop  when did you have the m/c?

MVA/MUA is when they use a vacuum. And you are awake during the procedure 

JESSABER0414

@Prudence9 Oh my, that's what I kind of assumed. My thoughts are with you no matter what.  
I definitely passed it on Feb 22, but bleeding continued until March 4. I had no idea it would be this long with such a short pregnancy and no yolk sac,  etc.  
As of this Wednesday she expects my period in two weeks. I'm laughing about how the tww is still torturing me!

prudence9-2

@JESSABER0414 haha. It's always those damn tww! Will you start IVF of FET cycle?

JESSABER0414

Another FET, fortunately I have 11 more embryos. None of them were tested though because when we started I was 34 and no previous miscarriage.  By the time we do next transfer,  I'll be 35 with one mc. But my embryos are 34 still.  

prudence9-2

That's great that you have so many. And at 34 they should mostly be normal I believe. Do you transfer one at a time?

my MUA is scheduled for tomorrow morning. Unless I miscarry naturally in the next 20 hours. 

JESSABER0414

@Prudence9 prayers it goes ok. 

We did one the first time,  and not sure what we will do yet for second try.  

prudence9-2

@JESSABER0414 thanks! Can't wait to be after it. 

my dr was talking to me about transferring 1-2 (probably because of my age) but since I ended up sending them for PGS, my dr said we should only transfer one. And you know how that ended... 

they will actually send the tissues to the lab to test if the lab made a mistake. Otherwise, it's probably something with me... thyroids, hormones.. not sure. 

When is is your next FET?

JESSABER0414

@Prudence9 hmmm...at least they are willing to investigate.  I've been told "it just wasn't the ONE"..sigh. 

We do not have a date yet because I should have a period first.  Hoping sometime between April 24 and May 10ish. But trying to not place too much hope in any dates. Did I tell you my estrogen was high, LH was low and the 2 huge cysts all pointed to period in 2 weeks but without likely ovulation. I'm so sick of bewildering experts. 

prudence9-2

@JESSABER0414 they are willing to investigate because this was a PGS tested embryo. So it was suppose to be normal... so the lab is suppose to test it for free. 

oh yeah. Waiting for the next period... seems like such a waste of time. But yeah. From tomorrow I will start the countdown for my next period. I am hoping it would be 4 weeks and not 6 weeks away.

so if you get period in 2 weeks and no ovulation then you need to wait one more cycle? 

leaving for the procedure in 30 minutes. 

JESSABER0414

No, I wouldn't have to but need to have one to time when to start bcp to suppress, then once quit them would time the meds and A FET cycle around the 14 day mark. I had periods after stopping BCP back in 2014, but they were pretty far apart so we discovered probably anovulatory. 

prudence9-2

I had the procedure. They give you so much meds prior, like Valium and other things to sedate you. It was very painful at times. But manageable. It did seems longer than just 15 minutes. 

I got home and still had pains but was suppose to wait for another 3.5 hours. Before taking the next pain med. so I just crushed for few hours. Even now after eating something I can barely walk straight. 

They told old me to shcedule beta in 2-3 weeks. 

We are also sending back the embryo's tissues to the lab that said it was PGS normal embryo. So let's see if they made a mistake or not. In a way, I'm thinking it's probably something to do with me maybe thyroids. Not sure. 

@JESSABER0414 I have a feeling me might be having our next FET around the same time. Will you be doing a medicated non medicated cycle? I'm assuming that my FET will be medicated like it was this time around. 

JESSABER0414

@Prudence9 I'm sorry you are still in pain! I hope you can sleep tonight and are better in the morning. 
I will do a medicated cycle for sure, I don't think my lining would ever get to where it needed to be without the estrogen, we had to do an extra week for the first cycle in Jan.  I honestly don't know if my PCOS would allow for the levels to get what we need since I wasn't ovulating. 
I'm hopeful for your next beta to be 0 and moving forward at the same time. 

prudence9-2

@JESSABER0414 yes, I will also go for a medicated FET cycle. With my age, my dr wants to make sure the lining is at the optimal level

trying to think of the best/quickest case scenario, and my next FET will probably be at the end of May. I don't see it happening anytime sooner. 

prudence9-2

And to be honest I'm not in much pain. With all the meds that I'm taking.... 

i am just very tired. Will go to be early tonite. 

JESSABER0414

@Prudence9
 How was today? 

prudence9-2

@JESSABER0414 today was better than I imagined! Had hardly no pains (and even the pain I had was not enough to take pain meds). And just a tiny bit of spotting (sorry for the tmi)

im scheduled for a beta 2 weeks from yesterday. Hope my numbers will go down fast!

JESSABER0414

Great to hear.  Hope the countdown goes fast,  my next check is in one week.  

prudence9-2

Fingers crossed you'll make it down to zero by next week!!!

JESSABER0414

Hey @Prudence9 just wanted to update you. I got a period today! I'm going in Thursday now for a cycle day 4 Ultrasound.  Praying I'll have she'd enough by then to get the go ahead for next steps.  
Hope you are doing ok. 

prudence9-2

Hey @JESSABER0414 glad you finally got the period! How long after the m/c that you got it?

good luck on the ultrasound! Hope you can start the FET cycle! Do you know if you will do a medicated or non medicated FET?

AFM... one week after the MUA. No pains but still spotting. I also got the pathology report today and the embryo was normal... so now it's a matter of finding out what is wrong with me that caused this... 

JESSABER0414

It was 5 weeks after first day of miscarriage.  I don't have the option to do non medicated cycle.  With PCOS, I didn't ovulate on my own and they have a tight schedule at my clinic to keep.  (Ivf once a month). 

I'm so sorry that the embryo tested normal! Hopefully they can work on whatever could be the culprit. Hugs and positive thoughts.  

prudence9-2

@JESSABER0414 5 weeks... that's a long time to wait... but I guess it's right in the middle of what they told me to expect (4 to 6 weeks)

i hope they find the problem. So I don't have another transfer end this way. 

I will also also do a medicated FET. Because of my age the dr wants to make sure my lining is just right. 

JESSABER0414

@Prudence9
 I got my results today and my HCG is back to 0. I started the birth control pills today and go back in 2 weeks for an ultrasound and estrogen level. So glad I was able to make it to this point. It feels like a huge step to healing. Thanks for listening.

prudence9-2

@JESSABER0414 that's great! So FET in about 4-5 weeks? (I think my medicated FET cycle was about 5 weeks from the start of BCP)

JESSABER0414

@Prudence9 we hope so!  But the cyst has to resolve or else we wait another cycle (problem with a small clinic that only does ivf monthly ). 

prudence9-2

@JESSABER0414 FX it will resolve itself!! When is your next checkup? 

Tomorrow im having blood test in the morning. I doubt my hcg will be back to normal. But I'm hoping it's very low!

prudence9-2

Blood test came back and my hcg level is 336. Ahh.