QuestionQUESTION: i have had three miscareges one when i was 18 at 3wks another in june of 2007 when i was 5wks and 7days and my third miscarege this past monday dec 17 at nine weeks5 days. im seeing a specialist gynecologist that deals in high risk pregnancy he did about 20 test and two ultra sounds before i was 6wks.at 6 wks i heard the hert beat and the fetues was the proper size and was told everything looks well, at 8 and a half weeks i had a terrible feeling some pregnancy symptoms disapeared but i tried to stay stay poitive and relax, i didnt start bleeding there was a bit of blood when i wiped but no spotting on my undies, i didnt miscarry until 15 of dec when i was 9 wks 5days and i woke up sunday morning with terrible cramping it continued until monday at 4 am when i passed my tissue it was so painful it felt like not only my heart was broke but it felt like i was being pulled inside out, it was the nastyiest most unconferterble feeling . and my family doctor put me on half besd rest i didnt work didnt lift didnt fall, the only time i got up was to pee eat or lay on the couch, one thing i dont understand is why i keep miscarrying the specialist is going to do more testing since it was my third miscarege,why does it take three before they really do test,im coping pretty good i think because i knew that i wasnt gonna carry and i dont think i will ever try again its 2 hard on my body and me emotionally,my heart nearly tore in two the first two times,if it wasnt for such a wonderful fiance who is my knight in shinning armour i think i would have completly lost it,we decided that we awerent going to try again until we find out exactly whats going on and how to prevent it??? do you have any ideas??
ANSWER: Hello Miranda
I know exactly how you feel when you explain about miscarriage being heartbreaking. It's bad enough the first time, but to have to go through multiple miscarriages must be destroying.
Firstly, its great that they've referred you to a specialist. They can look into your miscarriages and investigate further to see if there is anything physical or genetic which is causing the problem.
Looking into your miscarriages from what you've written, the first two were very early. Most early miscarriages are put down to a problem during conception which means that the foetus wouldn't have developed properly. Doctors aren't exactly sure why this happens but one explaination, and a logical one at that, is that either the egg or the sperm is 'faulty' or old.
When I had my miscarriage, this is what happened to me and they estimated that the foetus didn't go beyond 5wks and my body had started to re-absorb it. I didn't miscarry until almost 11wks.
I really wish I could tell you what is causing your losses, but sometimes it's put down to wrong timing and bad luck. It's certainly no consolation, but if they find nothing wrong the thats a positive thing.
Don't give up, Miranda. You are obviously leaving a good amount of time before each try which is good. Keep yourself healthy, give up smoking and alcohol if you can, cut down on caffiene and get lots of fruit and veg into your diet. It may be worth having a look at your lifestyle with your GP, apparently some vitamins which are present in multivits can cause problems so it's worth doing to give yourself the best chance.
During your next pregnancy, if you experience ANY symptoms such as cramps, bleeding, loss of pregnancy symptoms etc, go and seek medical advice straight away. If you're unfortunate to experience another miscarriage, then hospital is the best place to be. This way they can collect the foetus and are able to investigate why the miscarriage happened. You'll be looked after by specialist nurses who will be there for emotional support and there will be pain relief available, please don't sit at home and suffer.
Why do they wait til the 3rd miscarriage before they can do anything about it? Well, it's estimated that 1 in 4 women miscarry at least once in their lives. They believe that it's even more than that as some women don't even realise they're pregnant, they just experience a late and heavy period.
It's such a common thing that they simply don't have the resources and funds to investigate every single one. Most women go on to have a healthy baby afterwards, so it has to be three as by then, there may be an underlying problem.
If it's caught at the early stages during the spotting before anything is lost, they can sometimes tell by ultrasound what the miscarriage was caused by by looking at the development of the foetus. This is what they had done with me.
To be able to investigate thoroughly, they do need the foetus and any other tissue that is passed. Many women choose to stay at home or if it's sudden, often lose it down the loo.
I would see what the specialist comes back with before you try again. If he can find no genetic or physical issues then it will take another try to investigate any further. It sounds dreadful I know, but then theres always the plus side that you'll sail through your pregnancy and have a beautiful, healthy baby!
It may be worth asking if there is any sort of counselling available to help you with your previous losses. Take some time out and if you can, maybe have a weekend away with your partner. Spend some time together, have a laugh, have a cry then come back with a clearer mind. A change is as good as a rest they say!
I do hope that this has helped you a little and given you a better idea of what it's all about. I wish you the best of luck and I hope the next pregnancy goes on to bring you both a big bundle of joy.
Kindest Regards
Sarah
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QUESTION: hello again and thanxs for your help and the only reason i stayed home this time is because i had a terrible experince in june when i miscared i went to my local hopital in veg and my cervix was checked and the next day i was sent to the royal alex in edmonton and was told i was going to see the specialist (which who know is my specialist but i never seen him that day) and go for an emerg ultrasound. the night before i came to the hospital i didnt spot anymore that night or morning. but while at the royal alx i sat in a waiting room from 9am til 3pm before i got my ultrasound then twenty mins before the ultra sound i felt really bad pressure and a feeling of had to pee. thats when i passed everything and all the blood at once. then my fiance and my best friend were pissed from waiting and not getting a bed for me alday,only after they started complaining i finally got a bed. by that time i got into the ultrasound i already miscaried in the hospital bathroom, boy was i a wreck crying getting mad,she continued to do an internal( a student)which made it even more painful she got an ear full so the student went and go the ultrasound specialist, the ultrasound lady did it that was so extremly painful but they didnt even find the sac everything was expelled already. i had to go back down stairs wait another hour to be told it was a miscarege and to go home. thats why i didnt go but i realize i should have called an ambulance because the pain of passing the tissue at 9 wks was incrediably unbearable and stressful when passing the tissue it felt like i had to be and the tissue ended on the floor same with the sac thanx god my mom was here she cleaned it up i just could do it without her. i have a support group that i talk to online cause i find it easier to talk while typing and i will be ok my fiances reallly supportive hes my best friend we talk about everything we cry together. we go every sunday to go ride our horse out in the country and its just the two of us
AnswerHi Miranda
I'm glad to hear your mum was there to support you when you needed it.
I'm sorry to hear of your experience. Your emergency ultrasound should have been just that. My conclusion is that because you had stopped bleeding, they didn't feel the urgency to do the scan straight away.
When you're miscarrying, any internal procedures will be uncomfortable, this is because your cervix softens and opens up. The cramps are in effect labour pains!
If you had a complete miscarriage, which it sounds like you did, they would send you home as there's nothing more they can do. If there had been a foetus or any tissue remaining which could be seen during the ultrasound, they would have offered you surgery called a D&C. Unfortunately I refused and decided that I'd rather go through the 'heavy period' that I was told to expect. Instead I was caught out in the middle of the supermarket and lost a lot down the disabled loo...in the same fashion and ferocity as you did with your 3rd no doubt.
I will say this,,,,,If you're unlucky enough to experience another miscarriage, go straight to Casualty as soon as you start spotting. Explain your previous history and they should get you straight in for a scan. If they don't, ask them to do so and explain that you want to know so you can prepare for it rather than being caught out like you were before. As you have a history, they should act pretty fast. Please don't let your dreadful experience put you off.
As I said, I do hope that you dont have to go through this again and your next attempt will be successful.
Kindest Regards
Sarah
