I have just had my 2nd miscarriage in 12mths. The first time, I started bleeding at 9wks and the baby's HB stopped at 12wks. I had 3 d & c's because after each one i still had 'retained product'. Finally 6wks after the 3rd one, the last of it passed on it's own (3mths of bleeding all up).
This time, i started bleeding at 6wks and the baby's HB stopped just after 7wks. I didn't want any more procedures so soon so decided to try medication management at home, with my OB's approval. I used misoprostal with some effect but still had 'retained product'. Tried two more lots of doses of misoprostal. Still have a little bit left and 2wks after i started the treatment my HCG is still 140. My Dr thinks it should be close to '0' by now so he has recommended I consider methotrexate. I'm scared of taking it because I'm worried about side effects. Like how long would I have to wait before i can TTC again? Are there risks of birth defects if I don't. My OB seemed to think i could try again in one cycle (but he seemed a bit unsure and is sending me to an oncologist for an opinion and to do the treatment, he's not doing it himself).
I think i'll also ask for one more blood HCG test in a week so they can see if my levels have dropped a bit and if so maybe continue the 'wait and see' approach.
Has anyone else had this dilemma or had methotrexate treatment for pg loss? Any advice?
I have known of methotrexate use for ectopic pregnancy's due to fact that it dissolves products of conception and has less chance of tube damage or loss. Its given on a gynea ward and you need to double flush after going to toilet for 48 hrs after each dose.
I had it for a ectopic m/c in oct 02 we were told to wait 3 cycles and to start TTC then we fell pg 5th cycle after the injection @ 20 weeks we found out our little girl suffered from anencepahly which is one of the worst and totally incompatable with like neural tube defects... I was induced at 21 weeks and my katy wwas born silently into this world
what I wasn't told about mehtotextrate is it basically destroys you folic acid stores and to get them back to a level that will help prevent NTD is to wait at least 12mths before TTC again and on the day of injection start 5mgs of folic acid daily
now there is no way to 100% prove Katy's condition was cause from me having the injection and conceiving so closely but for anyone choosing to use methotextrtae to resolve a m/c or ectopic I plead them to think carefully and if going ahead wait 12mths take the folic acid and pray hard you dont have to make the same heart breaking decison I did
hi i had an etopic pregnancy when my DD2 was 6 months old july 09 and had the methatrexate injection which worked i had my HCG levels monitered and they eventually went to 0 i didnt suffer any side affects from it.
i was advised not to fall pregnant until 3 months after we werent TTC but i fell pregnant while taking the pill in the middle of october so not quite 3 months after having the methatrexate i had to take a strong dose f folic acid early on in the pregnancy but i had a normal pregnancy our DD3 is now 9wks old and appears to be healthy and normal.
I would have to agree with what Rach75 has said. I won't go into any more details but its a risk I wouldn't want to take if there are other options unless given to maintain fertility (in the case of ectopic pregnancy) or in someone not wanting to have children in the near future.
THank you ladies for your replies. I really appreciate it.
Rach75: so sorry for your heartbreaking loss. I can understand why you would want others to think carefully about this treatment choice.
Caplaylomay: COngratulations on the arrival of your DD3. Delighted that you were able to have a successful pg after your ectopic. Thanks for your feedback.
Mildez: I've 'met' you in the other threads and imagine you've had some experience with this as midwife? Thanks for your advice.
I will give it some serious thought and try to avoid it if possible i think. Waiting a few extra weeks for HCG to go back to zero without Methotrexate might make as much sense for me as taking Methotrexate and then having to wait months to TTC. (I really want to try again ASAP). And as i don't have the dangers of an ectopic i can probably have more freedom of choice. I don't completely understand why my OB prefers this over a wait and see approach. Need more information. Maybe he's concerned about the causes of my persisting higher HCG levels?
Methotrexate dilemma
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