Anyone have multiple miscarriages and go on to have a healthy, full-term pregnancy?

[Anonymous]

Here's my story, in summary:
- 35 years old
- Total time TTC: 2 years & 2 months
- Total time seeing a reproductive endocrinologist: 5 months (since Feb. 2011)
- # of pregnancies: 2 (both conceived through IUIs. In fact, they are my first 2 IUIs and both worked)
- # of miscarriages: 2 (both successful IUIs turned into early miscarriages)
- My husband and I had karyotype blood tests done for genetic abnormalities and they were both normal

If anyone has any words of wisdom, advice, or positive stories to share, I'd really appreciate it! We should be starting our next IUI cycle soon, but I'm starting to lose hope a little.

Thanks!

[Anonymous]

First, I'm sorry for your losses. I don't have personal experience myself, but my mom had multiple miscarriages in her late 20's/early 30's and then went on to have two healthy children (sister & me). Best of luck to you.

[Anonymous]

I just spent an hour skyping an old friend of mine last night. She tried for 16 yrs to get her BFP. She has pcos. She gave me a couple of tips to try...pineapple core which most people know to eat around TTC time, but one I hadn't heard of was 1 baby aspirin a day. The first month they did that they got their BFP. No way of knowing for sure whether that did the trick, but I did a little reading on it and it seems to increase blood flow to the uterus and ovaries (which can potentially lead to multiples) in addition to do something favorable to the lining of the uterus, and also may prevent blood clots around the placenta which can cause miscarriages. Anyway I thought it was interesting and certainly can't hurt.

She also sent me a link to a cool website that helps you track your cycle. It's a little hard to navigate at first but once I figured it out i thought it was really cool! fertilityfriend.com

[Anonymous]

With respect to repeat early miscarriages, a couple of things are sometimes suggested:

- prosgesterone supplements after ovulation particularly if you have a short luteal phase
- baby aspirin particularly if you have blood clotting problems
- folic acid (that is, in higher than generally recommended prenatal amounts)
- there are also auto-immune issues that can cause early miscarriages but I'm not sure exactly how these are treated

But before proceeding with any of these, you should *definitely* speak to your RE! And generally, the largest percentage of early miscarriages are due to chromosonal abnormalities which one can not control.

[Anonymous]

Speaking as someone who had 8 miscarriages interspersed with my 3 children .. hang in there! I think the fact that you've been pregnant twice since February is a really good sign. My first question is whether or not you know why you had those 2 miscarriages. For me, the problem seemed to be chromosomal abnormalities (different ones each time). So I was getting pregnant, just not staying there. We just kept at it and finally got some good eggs. It's hard not to get down, though. I know. Really know. Good luck to you.

[Anonymous]

OP, I definitely understand your frustration/pain and I am sorry for your losses. I am 38, TTC for 2 years and during that time got pregant twice on my own with both ending in MC (one at 8 weeks and an ectopic pg that was caught at 5 weeks). Devestating. Then went on to fertility treatments- four IUIs and finally got pg on number 4. I am 36 weeks now and have had a very normal pregnancy. Hang in there-- I know it is rough but staying relaxed and positive and taking care of yourself is important. I found that accupuncture really helped me, as well as yoga for fertility (highly recommend Pulling Down the Moon). Also, agree with PP recommendation on progesterone which your RE should prescribe...

[Anonymous]

OP here - Thank you all so much for your advice, experiences, and words of encouragement. I am always so surprised and thankful that there is a community of women right at my fingertips on this message board!

In response to 12:18, I don't really know why I miscarried, but my RE suggested that in most early miscarriages it's due to chromosomal problems. Your story gives me hope though and that is so priceless. Thank you!

I'm already feeling more positive and will try to hold onto some hope for one good egg.

[Anonymous]

I had 4 miscarriages almost in a row. I was under Re care after
and they had me wait in between losses - 2 were natural mc
2 d and cs. Anyway testing also normal and I had one re
Pushing for donor egg saying I'd never conceive my own
(which was odd since I was getting pregnant- hate that guy)

Anyway we decided to try an iui and that pregnancy stuck!
When we tried for dc2 I just didn't get pregnant- seems like
I did 6 iuis when we finally said we'd doivf. Igot pregnant -
Had two sacs - one was a blighted ovum (mc) and the other dc2.

The fact that you. Canget pregnant is huge sodontvive up
Hope. We were lucky dhs job covered ivf and we should have
Gone to ivf much sooner acter that many iui faired. Hth

[Anonymous]

You might try reading a book called "Coming to Term." It's by a science writer...his wife had more than one miscarriage...went on to have healthy babies...that experience made him interested in the science of miscarriage and multiple miscarriages...it's compassionate plus very fact-based...what I took away from the book is that getting pregnant multiple times, even if there's miscarriages, is a good sign, because so much has to go right for the pregnancies to happen. And that having miscarriages is so common that having two in a row, even though it feels devastating, may just be chance...Anyway, I am so sorry for your losses. I went through some assisted repro stuff and my first pregnancy ended in miscarriage after I had seen the fetus and heard the heartbeat...so I know it can be hard. (I am thankful to have had a successful pregnancy and have a dear baby now) Best of luck to you. You might try reading that book.

[Anonymous]

PP here...one of the things that I remember from that book is that even women who have had 4 miscarriages in a row are likely to go on to have a term pregnancy, even with no medical intervention whatsoever....and yet some doctors don't know this information and give bad advice about the odds.... (If I am remembering it correctly...)

[Anonymous]

When I was single, I tried to get pregnant for nearly 2 years. Of 12 IUI cycles, I got pregnant twice, both miscarried (1 at 5 weeks, the other at 9 1/2 weeks). I wasn't sure if I was actually having infertility issues, or whteher it was related to stress, medical intervention, diet, weight, etc. By the end, I worried about everything, and worried about being worried.

I ultimately did get married, and surprise! We got pregnant on our first try, and it stuck. We had SO much stress being newlyweds, having unexpected financial and job problems, home repairs, you name it. It turned out that when my body was ready for pregnancy, it was ready, despite the external factors that I had previously worried were affecting my ablity to conceive.

Good luck!

[Anonymous]

Yes, I had 2 mcs and then a 3rd when I lost a twin and all happened after 2 surgeries for endo., IUIs, an IVF, 4+ years of IF etc. Went on to have 2 healthy children. One at 35 and another at 37.

Research diet and IF, eat well, meditate or do yoga (some sort of stress reducer).

Good luck! It does happen.

[Anonymous]

I'm so sorry for your losses. I've had 4 miscarriages - 1st (6 weeks), 2nd (13 weeks), 3rd (14 weeks), 5th (5 weeks). But I also have a glorious 2 year old and am expecting a second (19 weeks). It is nervewracking, frustrating, and unfair - but it was oh so worth it for us.

I read the book Waiting for Daisy after my last miscarriage, when I debated whether to try again. And was inspired to try one more time.

Good luck on your journey.

[Anonymous]

Yes! I had two miscarriages. At 38 I was told my FSH and Estradiol numbers were lousy, as in, "we're surprised you're still menstruating." I was told it was highly unlikely I'd be able to conceive, and I couldn't do IVF with my own old eggs. My husband and I decided not to go the donor route and were really unsure about adoption. We took a mental break from thinking about it. Then, at 39 I got pregnant and delivered at age 40. My pregnancy was super healthy, and I delivered a very healthy baby. Crazy things can happen.

[Anonymous]

OP - I am sorry for your losses. I had two losses in a row as well, I also have two children, one born after the losses. I recommend consulting a specialist to ensure there are no issues for your own peace of mind or so they can be managed of they exist. Sometimes it really just is shitty luck though. I agree with PPs that you shouldn't give up b/c many people do have multiple losses and go on to have healthy children. My beautiful daughter is proof of that.