PAL after Recurrent Losses - come join us!

[heart tree]

It's feeling a little more real, though I don't feel very pregnant. I'm starting to feel some movement. Once I start feeling kicks is when I think it will really sink in. I feel more relaxed than the first trimester, that's for sure!

 

[3xscharmer]

Heart - glad that you have a happy ending with your dad! Not everyone is so lucky, I don't really know mine and don't care too...he's in prison and has been since I was a child and my mom I don't talk to either! DH's parents are like my own though and I have an aunt who raised me who's more like my mom! Glad that you are feeling movement and that it's feeling more real!

AFM - no symptoms really today, I just had a little dizziness and a little tenderness and that's that! Uhhhh, just wish I was 13 weeks already!

 

[heart tree]

Charmer, I'll say it once, I'll say it again. These early days are the WORST! I was just as worried as you were, even after we saw the heartbeat. It's so nerve wracking and when symptoms aren't as strong, it makes it even worse. I had so many moments when I was convinced it was over. How wrong I was. I want these next 6 weeks to fly by for you. Do you think you'll get a doppler? (or do you already have one?) I heard the hb on it at 10+4. Jen heard hers in the 9th week. That would help settle your nerves and you only have to wait a few more weeks.

Sorry to hear about your lack of relationship with your parents, but I think sometimes it's better to not have a relationship with people than to have a toxic one. I'm glad you have other people in your life that are like your parents.

 

[BeachChica]

Hi girls! Can I join you here? Fili thought this would be a great thread for me to join as many of you have had several losses and now have successful pregnancies. I also recognize some other screen names in here from other threads. I am currently not pregnant, I just suffered my 4th MC in January but hope I can learn from many of you ladies what you have done to get to a successful pregnancy. I really need some hope that this will be possible for me.

A little about me... I am 38 and TTC since late 2009. Once I got the "timing" down I have been able to get pregnant very easily, but they just don't last. I have now had 4 MC's in a 13month period. After MC #3 I had tissue tested and the result from that was Trisomy 12. OH and I have also been seeing a Reproductive Endocrinologist and been through all of the testing and everything has come back normal. The doctors chalked up my MC's to just bad luck. I got pregnant again (saw HB, etc) and just had MC #4. The tissue from this one could not be tested which has me extremely frustrated as this would have been very helpful information.

I just went to another appt this week with my RE who offered several options at this point but here are the 2 I would consider at this point:
1. TTC again and start taking progesterone 3 DPO (I took it last pregnancy but started it very late)
2. IVF with genetic testing of embryo prior to implantation.

Anyway, looking forward to chatting with you girls (thanks Fili) and hearing about your success stories!

 

[heart tree]

Hi Beach Chica. I'm so very sorry for all of your losses. I'm frustrated that they didn't test the last pregnancy as well! 3 out of 4 of your losses aren't that early. I suppose it could be a progesterone issue, but the fact that you have been able to carry them as long as you have without progesterone makes me wonder if that is your issue. Did you ever have your progesterone tested while you were pregnant? Are there other indications that progesterone is your issue? Short luteal phase? Spotting before AF?

I have a fairly short LP, though my progesterone test was normal after Ov. Still, I did end up taking progesterone suppositories from 3 DPO with this pregnancy and it is sticking so far. It sounds like you've had all of the tests done for clotting, thyroid, etc. One thing you might want to check is what your thyroid level is. Normal range is considered 1-5. Mine was 2.6 so my doctor didn't think anything about it. My RE said there is new research connecting thyroid levels above 2.5 and recurrent losses. She put me on a very low dose of a thyroid med for this pregnancy which brought it down to 1.6.

Do you Ov on time? If you are a late ovulator, you might be producing over ripe eggs.

I'm sure you've had the shape of your uterus looked at, but thought I'd ask. Also the quality of the inside of your uterus (free of polyps and fibroids).

I have an abnormal shape to my uterus which took them a long time to find. It didn't show up on ultrasounds. They finally found it with an HSG and the diagnosis of adenomyosis was confirmed with an MRI. It is caused by endometrial tissue that has gotten stuck in my uterine wall. We don't know if that's what caused my losses, but it is a possibility.

IVF with PGD is very expensive unless your insurance covers it. Your decision is not an easy one. For me, after 4 losses, I was going to try one more pregnancy with IUI. If I lost it, they would test the tissue. If it was abnormal, we would keep trying. If it was normal, we would assume my uterus was causing the losses and move to surrogacy. Luckily I still have this little one inside of me. I had to ask myself if I was willing to endure more losses. The only way I knew I could do it is if I had a Plan B. Plan B for me was surrogacy. It wasn't ideal, but I had to keep reminding myself of the end goal. Oh, and I'm 37, so like you, I knew time wasn't on my side. If I was 10 years younger, I probably would have taken a year off, but my age didn't allow that luxury.

It sounds to me like you are willing to face the possibility of more losses if you are looking at these two options.

I was told by one RE that I would never carry a baby to term. I fired him. I kept moving forward and as far as I can tell based on all the ultrasounds and blood tests, this baby is perfect. It is possible!

You are welcome to join this thread, though you should also know that because we're pregnant, we talk a LOT about pregnancy. Our fears, our excitements, things we're buying for the babies, listening to heart beats, etc. I know after my losses, the last thing I wanted to do was be around or read about pregnant women. I honestly don't know how Fili does it! She's such an optimist. My losses turned me into a pessimist. It's up to you. I just know for me it would be very difficult.

I hope this is helpful. I'm so sorry you are in this awful club. None of us should have to endure this pain once, never mind over and over. xoxo

 

[x_Rainbow_x]

Who needs sleep when postman pat is on at 6am lol

 

[daviess3]

Oh tracie lol! Poor baby girl is an early riser! Can you make the most of her morning nap? I been awake since 7! Back ache!! I can't seem to get comfy!! Oh well 3x like heart says we get it hun we no its hard just try to think of all ur symptoms u do have focus on them rather than ones u don't! Xx

Welcome beach Chica love ur name sorry u found urself here but hope sn actually I no u will get ur forever baby! X

 

[filipenko32]

Hi beach! Glad you joined up! These girls are an inspiration aren't they? Even though I'm not pregnant I'm their cheerleader and love reading their posts. It might be really good to read from the very beginning and get to know their stories to see of there's any similarity to your own although I think you and me are similar.

Afm I am in a major panic this morning and not feeling very optimistic at all! I am petrified that the 2 d and c's I've had have caused damage. I just don't understand why I got such period pain and then it went. I'm still 3 days away from when I started af last time after a d and c. Hw many d and cs have you ladies had and when did your af come back? seriously thinking of getting a saline scan done to check

 

[Embo78]

Hey beachchika. I remember you from a 'third time lucky' thread but we both lost our LO's. I'm so sorry to hear you've lost a fourth.

After my third loss I had all the standard tests done and eventually they all came back clear and normal. My consultant told me to lose some weight and try again and they'd start me on progesterone from bfp. I decided to put ttc on hold for 6 months and focus on my diet, exercise and upcoming wedding but the very next day I got my bfp at 16 dpo!!!

Id been taking pregnacare plus (the prenatal with an extra omega 3 capsule) as I'd read that top consultants/specialists were recommending it to RPL ladies and I went on the progesterone until 14 weeks (200mg twice daily)

I'm still in utter shock that this LO is sticking around. I honestly thought we'd have to give up and that I wouldn't carry a child again. I was so desperate to give my soul mate his child to hold in his arms (my issue, not his) but I knew we didn't have enough strength to suffer loss after loss after loss. I would've tried once more with progesterone from ov but that would've been the end of the line.

I hope you'll be in here very soon with your forever baby and like heart said, stick around until you do. There's no way I could've after my losses. I couldn't handle bnb at all. I became negative, pessimistic and bitter but Fili is our little ray of sunshine and has proved exception to the rule!!

Heart, if I were you I'd send one of your scan pics to that doctor you fired and tell him all about this LO. It may stop him from saying 'never' to future patients. He may say 'perhaps' from now on

 

[filipenko32]

Thanks embo that's nice
Can i just ask you how many erpcs you had or were your losses all natural? X

 

[Embo78]

I had erpc's for each one. Shall I find my stats for when AF came after each one?

 

[Pretty Please]

Morning girlies,

How is everyone?

Well Elliott is finally on the mend and Id just say a mother knows best. On Monday last week I begged for an appointment at the GP (I got one but I did have to beg) unfortunately it was the junior doc - arrrrhhhhh. Anyways he said he was fine despite my mother who has been in nursing / MW/ HV 30 said he defo had a chest infection on Sunday as he was wheezy. Went home with nothing. Massive fever since Tuesday then had to beg for another appointment Wednesday and got one to be told chest injection ! antio bios. Anyways then didnt kick in fever 5 days 39.9 so quite high - yesterday took him to hospital and had tests now urine infection and throat infection too. However I strongly believe if the stupid junior doc would of gave him anti bios on Mon then he wouldnt of been sick all week not eating, drinking little, crying and not sleeping - max 4 hours if that a night. But my boy is on the mend now and no fever ) - junior docs need to practice but maybe not on babies under one??? but hospital doctors are brilliant. Its annoying you cant even complain that the junior doc got it wrong as they just kick you out of the surgery its rubbish !!!! sorry rant over but mothers do know best at times !!!!

 

[filipenko32]

I had erpc's for each one. Shall I find my stats for when AF came after each one?

Aww thanks embo that would be great if it's not too much trouble! X

 

[Embo78]

Phew!! Done it!! Here goes .....

1st erpc 8th sept '10
No AF but ov'd on 21st November '10 (got pregnant!)
2nd erpc 28th January '11
AF 5th march '11 (37 days after erpc)
Bfp may 5th (after 2 cycles)
Erpc June 14th '11
AF August 3rd '11 (58 days after erpc)
Bfp December '11*NO ERPC !!!!

 

[filipenko32]

Aww thanks so much embo -nice to see 'no erpc' !!! Do you remember getting any hints of pain a week before af came? Thanks you've put mind much more at rest now x x

 

[filipenko32]

Morning pretty glad Elliot's ok! Are you still on cloud 9? x x

 

[Embo78]

With the first I bled/spotted for nine weeks. Got pregnant two weeks later. I remember having ov pains and ewcm.

With the second and third I honestly don't remember so I probably didn't. I think I'd remember having cramps.

 

[petitpas]

Hi chica!
You are very welcome here, as is everyone who would like to join in!
I suppose you are aware of the RPL thread in the miscarriage section, too? I know that if it hadn't been for that thread I would not be carrying ducky. My fifth loss (with progesterone, heparin, aspirin, high folic acid) went until almost 9 weeks. All perfect and then suddenly no heartbeat. Genetic testing showed it was normal.
St Mary's thought that maybe my five ERPCs had caused some damage (Fili, are your ears perking up at this?) but reading all the info on the RPL thread my husband and I decided on a less invasive tactic by going for immune treatment (steroids). As you can see, it worked and I am incredibly indebted to this site and all the wonderful women who helped me find the right path for ducky.

Fili, for info, I had 5 ERPCs. The first three were for my first loss (in April, May and July 2010). Then I had one in Sep 2010 and my last one in Jul 2011. You can see all the dates and following afs on my FF page (link in siggie).
I've never been ultra regular so I wasn't surprised that my cycles weren't, either.
I've been successfully pregnant (I count that as a pregnancy reaching 8 weeks) with ov on day 12 and ov on day 18 so I don't think a few days here or there make a difference. It's after ovulation that late bfps can be bad news. The later you have your first bpf (talking 10miu tests here) after say 12dpo, the less likely the embryo is normal and will survive. Sorry, I don't mean to panic people but just being honest and practical here.

Ok, that's enough doom and gloom for the day. The good news is that there are so many of us who have found the right path and are now carrying our forever babies. Mine is squirming and making me feel quite strange with the sensation as I type

Hope you all have an enjoyable Sunday! Xxx

PS: Heart, I love the term eco-groovy. I may borrow it from you if you don't mind...

 

[filipenko32]

Thanks pip but I already just reread your ttc journal to work out your erpcs I'm a stalker!! And I'm not concerned about pregnancy I'm concerned ashermans or endo from the 2 d and c's but you and embo have put my mind at rest. Also I just texted 'one of' my doctors!!! He responds to texts!!! And he said not to be concerned and very unlikely any damage was done after I told him I'd been experiencing pain and then no af. Bet you girls don't have a doc as nice as mine who texts me back ASAP on a Sunday x x

Oh yeah I knew late implantation was bad news...Not preggo though as no egg was released. The had no dates this month.

 

[filipenko32]

Hurray for squirmy ducky!!!! that must be such a wonderful feeling pip I'm so happy for you. Reading through your ttc was harrowing and upsetting I hope you never ever go through any of those things again.