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High-Risk Pregnancy
BGleckler
member
pregnancy after recurrent loss
BGleckler
member
My husband and I have been trying to have a baby since last September. We had our first miscarriage the week before thanksgiving. I had started bleeding a few days before my first appointment, we had an ultrasound and heard our baby's heartbeat. The doctor told us we had a subchorionic hematoma, but the pregnancy was still viable. They told us to call back if the bleeding got any worse. It kept getting worse, so we went in again for another ultrasound. The heartbeat was still strong, the doctor just thought we were worrying too much. That was still within the 8th week. The bleeding never stopped, and when I called the on-call doctor the following weekend, she told me there was nothing to be done and it was pointless to come in for an appointment. I waited for my next appointment at 10 weeks, all the while having period type bleeding. I went in for my next appointment alone, and when I met with my midwife and told her I had been bleeding steadily since she last saw me she told me that we had probably lost the baby. She tried listening with a Doppler, but heard nothing. She sent me for an ultrasound, and the tech confirmed that we had indeed lost the baby. It had stopped growing around 8.5 weeks. They scheduled a d&c the next morning, but I never had it. The cramping started around 5 in the morning, but my appointment wasn't until 10. I had my husband call the midwife, as I was curled on the bathroom floor begging him to help me. She encouraged us to wait to go to the hospital until our appointment unless I was bleeding very heavily. The cramping continued, and I vomited several times, but finally found a comfortable and effective position that allowed me to cope with the pains. We made it to the hospital and were on time for our appointment, but I passed the baby in the hospital parking lot as we were walking into the building. I let the intake nurse know, and excused myself to the bathroom.
They never admitted me, but the doctor took a look to see if I had passed everything. He said it looked complete, and sent us for an ultrasound. The tech confirmed that it was complete and sent us home. They allowed us to keep the remains, and we planted them with a mimosa tree this spring.
Our second loss came just after my birthday in April, only 5 weeks along this time.
I did not have another period before we learned we were pregnant again. We lost our third at 5 weeks as well.
My doctor told us to schedule an appointment at the fertility clinic, as I had lost three in a row. She did some blood work, and it came back positive for antimitochondrial antibody. I was put on an aspirin therapy, but every time I asked questions about the antibody or treatment the doctor told me the fertility specialist would know more. I was encouraged not to read anything online about this, as it would just confuse me. I am already confused! Wouldn't it be more helpful to offer even a small explanation?
At this point, I am completely in the dark, headed down a new path I know nothing about and I am terrified. My appointment with the specialist is next month, and my body is giving me cues that we may be pregnant again. It is too early for a test to pick up adequate levels for a positive result, we would only be 3 weeks along.
I was told by my new midwife (the woman I've been seeing is leaving the practice) that I should seek therapy. I find the idea of going to a therapist repellant, so I thought I'd try posting something here in hopes that someone may have some advice, or kind word, to offer.
I'm just so tired of feeling so alone all the time.
I'm terrified of the testing this fertility specialist may want to try, and even more afraid of the results that he may find.
So, if anyone has gone through something similar, or knows the way I'm feeling, please hear me and respond.
Re: pregnancy after recurrent loss
I am deeply sorry for your loss. I know how it feels, having lost 5 pregnancies in a row over the course of two years. It's devastating and can be really hard on your relationship so I would say yes to therapy. It helped me. As did yoga and acupuncture. Anything to live in the moment. I was referred to a recurrent pregnancy loss centre after my third loss. They tested my blood and inside of uterus. Turns out I have antiphospholipid antibody syndrome which causes blood clotting. I also had uterine adhesions from the d&c I had after my last loss at 12 weeks. I had to have surgery to get those removed and then tried again. I was put on daily injections of heparin, aspirin, as well as progesterone for the first few weeks. Here I am at 39 weeks expecting a healthy baby boy and just praying that all goes well during delivery and I can bring him home.
All the best to you. Hang in there! You're on a long journey.
I am so sorry for all your loss and all you have been through. Thank you for sharing.
You are not alone. In fact you most likely have way more company than you will ever know. I started sharing our losses (politely) with people openly because people have no problem asking if we are going to have children. It has amazed me how many people have come forth and shared their own loss, both men and women.
We have been to multiple specialists and the only thing anyone could tell us is I have MTHFR mutation. They could actually never tell us why we have not been able to be successful. Which in a way seems more frustrating than identifiying an issue that could be treated or we could plan other wise. We of course were offered IVF multiple times. We did not take that route since we know we can get pregnant but it has not ended well. So June 22,2015 we did embryo adoption and so far so good. I know this is not an option for everyone but it was a great option for us.
You will have a baby!
Liz
I hope u get answers soon!