Pregnant after 4 losses in 12 months

I have been promising myself for the last 10 months or so that I would come back and write this post when I was finally in a good place to do it and to give a bit of hope to others who might be going through the same thing. By the way don't hate me for how easily I fall pregnant - I do realise how lucky I am, but it doesn't help with the losses!

My partner and I started TTC in July 2012 and fell pregnant in September (I am 34 now). This pregnancy only lasted 6-7 weeks before I miscarried (blighted ovum). We basically started trying again straight away as my GP said we could as soon as we felt ready and I fell pregnant again in November. After the stress of the first pregnancy and the two fairly unpleasant ultrasounds, I opted not to have any tests (blood screening had been one during first one) and the doctor was happy enough to leave me alone. I got to 12 weeks this time before I started spotting and had to have an emergency ultrasound. This showed that the embryo had stopped growing at 6-7 weeks (termed a missed miscarriage). This pregnancy had to be ended using Misoprostyl. I was completely shocked and devastated as you can imagine, and this process was quite unpleasant (though it was quick and I did avoid a D&C which I was grateful for).

At this point my doctor gave me a referral to a Gynaecologist, but as this was a public hospital based service they put me way down the list and gave me an appointment for August. I kind of took this as a good sign that they didn't think I was a hard case and immediately started trying again, determined to be pregnant again way before August (this was February)!

I had positive hpts again in March (miscarried at 5 weeks) and April (miscarried at 4 weeks) and also had a scan after the fourth miscarriage to check the shape of my uterus. The sonographer said it looked perfectly normal to him (was told it was heart shaped previously) but asked if I could be pregnant (this completely messed with my head!). I explained that my period had just ended so I really didn't think so. This turned out to be nothing, but no one really explained what he was seeing that he thought looked like an early pregnancy. In hindsight I blame these two losses on the Misoprostyl - I think you need to give yourself a longer recovery period after using it than I did.

Anyway, we kept trying and fell pregnant again in June. I had some spotting at 6 weeks and had an ultrasound to check this out. This was the first time I actually got to see a heartbeat and was told that this pregnancy was viable and the spotting had no real explanation (possible just leftover implantation blood making its way out). This happened again about ten days later, and fortunately I hadn't cancelled that Gyno appointment and was seen by him that week (at 8 weeks). He did another scan and was also happy with the result. He said the bleeding was probably nothing to worry about (still gave me heart failure each time!). He ordered about a million blood tests though to check out as many different things as he could, and asked to see me again in two weeks.

I had another appointment with him today (now 10 weeks) and had another scan, which showed the most adorable little gummy bear with a lovely heartbeat (I won't lie, this is the first time it has looked like person to me!). He told me that he is very happy with how the foetus had grown in the past two weeks and that it is measuring exactly as it should. He also said from here it is very unlikely that anything will go wrong. He did confirm this time though that my uterus is heart shaped and the foetus is in the right side. All my blood tests came back normal and we are basically putting down the other losses to bad luck.

I get to see him again in three weeks and also have my booking in appointment with the midwives in maternity and pretty much get treated like a normal pregnant woman from here on :-) Until then, I am nauseated, sleeping like crap and have developed a lovely post nasal drip (so frigging disgusting) and I couldn't be happier about it!

So sorry to hear you have lost so many little ones. Really hope this one is it.

What a heartbreaking journey you have been on! I am so thrilled for you that you are pregnant with a happy healthy baby!! Wishing you great health for the rest of the pregnancy!!

That is awesome news! Thanks for coming back to let us know.

Great news after such heartache, fingers crossed for a happy & healthy pregnancy :)

Oh how wonderful you have a healthy little one in there. I cannot imagine such heartache as all those losses. :hugs:

Congratulations!

Thank you for all the good wishes - you are all so lovely. It was such a relief to be able to tell someone (only my parents and my partner know) my story, especially people who "get it" :-)

Hi, just wanted to check back in and let you guys know that things are still going well. I will be 16 weeks on Tuesday! Had a bit of a panicky weekend though. Started feeling movement at 14 weeks and one day and was generally feeling the baby moving about a couple of times a day, which was very exciting. On Friday though I realised I hadn't felt anything all day, then nothing on Saturday. Woke up all freaked put this morning and texted my midwife (have opted to use group practice, which is brilliant btw) to see what she thought. She got back to me and told me she was calling the maternity ward on my behalf to let them know I was coming in. They were completely lovely about it and after a bit of searching with the Doppler finally located the baby way down in my pelvis and heard a nice strong heartbeat. Was sooooo relieved. It's awful, but I can't help but think the worst. I just have no real faith that things are going to go well, and really feel ripped off that my innocence about this whole pregnancy thing was taken from me by the previous losses. Still, one day at a time! The other midwives have assured me I can drop in any time I am worried and they will check on things, which is so nice :-)

I had a similar journey to you chinatree, and you will be ok, I know exactly how you feel. As the pregnancy progressed I found my confidence grew and I came to realise you can have a good outcome. Hang in there and I hope you are holding your little one before too long xx (well not too soon)

I am another who had a similar journey. I remember a few times not feeling movement for a few days and it does mess with your mind.
Goodluck with the rest of your pregnancy x

Wow you are one strong lady! I had my first and only mc last year and i was a wreck (total understatement). I have no idea how i would have coped with 4!! I am so sorry you went through what you did.

So glad to hear your current bubba is a sticky one! :)

38 weeks tomorrow! Still have some niggly fears about everything, but this pregnancy has gone really well. I feel good and haven't had any real discomfort or issues. Baby is measuring perfectly and has its head almost fully engaged. Shouldn't be long now:-)

Wow! You're nearly there :)
Will be on the lookout for your birth announcement!