preventing miscarriage?

[rapunzel87]

My doctor confirmed by pregnancy today at 10 dpo My husband and I are esctatic, but cautious. I had an early miscarriage 3 months ago. I asked my doctor what I can do this time. She said nothing - just rest, no stress, good diet and multivitamins with folic acid. I asked her for progesterone pills, she said I do not require them.

Sigh. I just feel super paranoid and anxious How did you guys get through this fear? If you had it at all. Is there nothing that I can do to prevent a miscarriage?

 

[AMAS86]

I have reoccurring mc due to low progesterone. With this pregnancy I started taking the supplements at 10dpo. I was at 20 then dropped to 13 then even lower to 11, so I have doubled up on it. Now I have realized that almost with every miscarriage, it happened the day after sex so with this one we have sustained from sexual intercourse/ orgasms. I'm not saying that it could cause mc but I have noticed it with a pattern in me so I've been extra cautious Did your ob do blood work to confirm your levels? I'm a firm believer in the progesterone as I NEED it, and 2 out of my 3 babies wouldnt be here without it. If you progesterone is good then I wouldn't worry about it Just take it one day at a time; hard to do but that's all we can do

 

[rapunzel87]

Thanks for your reply Unfortunately, here in Canada I can't get progesterone pills/cream without a doc's prescription. Since I am at 10dpo already, I am afraid it won't be much help anyway?

How did you find out about your low progesterone? My levels turned out fine a couple months ago

 

[AMAS86]

I had a mc before my 2nd daughter and it was found. Since then I have my bloods taken right away when I find out I'm pregnant. November 2013, I found out I was pregnant on Thanksgiving. I couldn't get a hold of my doc for the pills because of a rude nurse and I ended up miscarrying the day before her office opened back up from the holiday leave. So I was given a prescription to hold on to for when I get another bfp just incase it was over another holiday With all my pregnancies, my bloods always showed low so after my last miscarriage my doctor said she wasn't going to hesitate it anymore and give me a prescription in advance

 

[Feronia]

If your levels were fine the last time you were tested, chances are they are fine now. Progesterone hasn't been proven to do anything -unless- progesterone is the only thing preventing your pregnancy from continuing. In cases like that, there is usually a recurrent progesterone problem that results in multiple early losses, though the majority of early losses are due to chromosomal defects and you have no control over them. Just try to relax, de-stress, and drink lots of water.

At 4 weeks my levels were tested. I had VERY low levels of progesterone (7 ng/ml), and 2 days later, they had only raised to 8 ng/ml. My midwives don't do progesterone supplements (I'm also in Canada and couldn't find a doctor to prescribe it for me), so I did not receive any supplementation. Here I am almost 4 weeks later and still going, and my levels have raised completely naturally. You can also take vitex and B6 complex to help your body produce more progesterone itself if that's what it needs. Not much is known about progesterone, and certainly the vast majority of women who are prescribed progesterone don't actually need it.

I definitely understand the paranoia though. I had two miscarriages and then had my daughter, but I was fraught with worry throughout the first trimester. And now I am worrying again in this pregnancy -- it just can't be helped!

 

[staycb01]

I had several chemical pregnancies. After many many tests with my RE, I found out that I have a copy of MTHRF (which he said did not contribute to my CP's - but more that it could affect blood clotting during later pregnancy - I am on baby aspirin for that and extra folic acid) I also had very low progesterone - like 6-7 ng/ml at 7 dpo and not really rising much. I've been on Progesterone Suppositories since 2 dpo and I believe that was my golden ticket I'll be on it till 13 weeks.

 

[TTC First]

I also believe progesterone helped me. I believe I had a chemical last year when I wasn't taking progesterone. I had a mmc this year, while taking progesterone. I am now pg on progesterone.

I was told that progesterone can't hurt to take so it was suggested that I take it.

 

[londonangel]

Unless you have been diagnosed with a history of miscarriage where a doctor has been able to determine a cause (e.g. low progesterone) unfortunately I think you just have to wait it out. However, having one miscarriage definitely doesn't mean you're massively likely to miscarry the second time round. I lost my first baby at about 9 weeks but the second pregnancy was fine and baby was perfectly healthy.

Congratulations on your pregnancy and try not to stress! If you have pain or bleeding or both do consult your doctor but if not, then no news is good news. I had both pain and bleeding in early pregnancy last time round (lucky me) but baby was still fine so try not to panic if it does happen. This time round I've had much less pain and no bleeding (which conversely has worried me as I had it last time!). Still, only a week and two days to go to my 12 week scan....

 

[LisaL79]

Other than a problem with low progesterone, there's nothing that could be done to prevent a m/c from happening.
And since it seems like you weren't diagnosed w/ a progesterone problem, you just have to wait and see.
It sucks.
I've had 4 chemicals in the past and I was scared until gosh... maybe 2nd tri or later with DD. I'm pregnant again and feeling those same fears and uncertainty.
Early pregnancy sucks balls when you've had to deal w/ a loss before.

 

[laurandan]

Hi rapunzel,

Do u have a reason as to why you miscarried? I lost two early pregnancies last year due to blood clots in the uterus and was prescribed 75 mg aspirin to thin the blood and help prevent miscarriage, it's not a dead set solution but it certainly worth ago, I've now got 7 weeks until our first little one arrives and I've taken it the whole pregnancy. I'm not suggesting u go ahead and self prescribe but it might be worth mentioning it to ur doctor.

Good luck

Xx

 

[rapunzel87]

After reading these posts, I think I should go back and ask for progesterone pills again. I just want to take every preventative measure.

Laurandan - the doc simply said that it could have been due to genetic abnormalities. No testing needed. I am kinda self-diagnosing myself with a progesterone problem lol

 

[Feronia]

After reading these posts, I think I should go back and ask for progesterone pills again. I just want to take every preventative measure.

Laurandan - the doc simply said that it could have been due to genetic abnormalities. No testing needed. I am kinda self-diagnosing myself with a progesterone problem lol

You really, really don't need them if your levels tested as being fine. Seriously, I did a ton of research in medical journals when my levels tested as extremely low, and what I found suggested that even I didn't need progesterone supplements, and I didn't. My levels raised on their own even though they were "dangerously" low, and your levels were already good! Your body is very good at producing progesterone and it's a very, very small minority of women need progesterone supplementation. In cases like that, it's low from the beginning and they have a history of very early miscarriages due to progesterone.

Again, for the vast majority of miscarriages, chromosomal problems are at fault and there is nothing you can do about that (besides not smoking or drinking).

 

[Feronia]

I'm not trying to be a downer or anything. I was desperate for progesterone supplementation myself, but I couldn't get a doctor or midwife to prescribe it. That's why I did a bunch of research on it with the intent of showing a doctor why I needed it, but I found out quite the opposite.

Another reason not to do it if you don't need it: artificial progesterone (usually in the form of pills or an injection) has been shown to cause genital birth defects in the baby. That made me very wary of it...

Taking vitex and b6 complex, on the other hand, isn't artificial progesterone -- it just helps your body make more natural progesterone if it is lacking.

 

[rapunzel87]

I'm not trying to be a downer or anything. I was desperate for progesterone supplementation myself, but I couldn't get a doctor or midwife to prescribe it. That's why I did a bunch of research on it with the intent of showing a doctor why I needed it, but I found out quite the opposite.

Another reason not to do it if you don't need it: artificial progesterone (usually in the form of pills or an injection) has been shown to cause genital birth defects in the baby. That made me very wary of it...

Taking vitex and b6 complex, on the other hand, isn't artificial progesterone -- it just helps your body make more natural progesterone if it is lacking.

Thank you Feronia I guess I am super duper paranoid at this point and don't want to lose this one Yes, my progesterone levels tested just fine. I am currently taking vitex because I get irregular spotting before ovulation. Will buy vitamin B6 as well

 

[Feronia]

I'm not trying to be a downer or anything. I was desperate for progesterone supplementation myself, but I couldn't get a doctor or midwife to prescribe it. That's why I did a bunch of research on it with the intent of showing a doctor why I needed it, but I found out quite the opposite.

Another reason not to do it if you don't need it: artificial progesterone (usually in the form of pills or an injection) has been shown to cause genital birth defects in the baby. That made me very wary of it...

Taking vitex and b6 complex, on the other hand, isn't artificial progesterone -- it just helps your body make more natural progesterone if it is lacking.

Thank you Feronia I guess I am super duper paranoid at this point and don't want to lose this one Yes, my progesterone levels tested just fine. I am currently taking vitex because I get irregular spotting before ovulation. Will buy vitamin B6 as well

I totally understand. I was paranoid, too, after two losses. It's hard to get beyond that sometimes, and it's nice to feel in control by "doing" sometime. Make sure the B6 also has B12 in it to be more effective.

 

[rapunzel87]

^ sounds perfect! Will do