A couple of questions about recurrent miscarriage

[Cricket]

Hi ladies. I'm not sure if this is exactly the right place to post, but I'm hoping you might have some info to help me out here.
DH and I have 7 beautiful children, and up until this year I had never had a miscarriage, though it did take us over a year to conceive some of our babies. Over the past 5 years, I have been trying to get my weight into a healthy range. I was 215lb (97.5kg) and have gradually worked down to 142lb (64.5kg). I am 5'7" (170cm) and my weight has been stable for a little more than a year. I exercise (pilates/barre/light weights/cardio) 30 min, 5 X week. Over all, I feel healthy, energetic, and happy. My cycles vary 2-4 days per month, but are generally regular and predictable.
We began trying for another baby in January of this past year, and conceived immediately (when it used to take a few months at least) but I never "felt" pregnant, and miscarried at 7 weeks. We were advised to wait a month before trying again, but we had a little slip up and conceived again right away. (again - this was unusual for us) This time I felt pregnant - nausea, fatigue, etc. Miscarried again at 10 weeks. We decided to wait a couple of months. Tried again in August. Conceived right away, had some early symptoms, pregnancy tests had stronger and darker lines as the days progressed, but I miscarried a week later.
My family doctor has referred me to an ObGyn because she thinks I might need to take progesterone. She also suggested that I might need to gain a few pounds. I've done a little reading about progesterone, and I don't feel like I have any of the symptoms of low progesterone. It also seems to be a little bit controversial as to whether it's effective or not. And I find it a little hard to believe that my weight (which is right in the middle of the healthy BMI range) could be an issue. But I am willing to give these things a try if they are likely to make a difference.
Can anyone give me any other insight or suggestions or share their experience? Do you know of anything else I should be asking about? Chromosomal issues are unlikely, since we have healthy children already. My bloodwork and thyroid levels are normal. No sign of lupus. I'm 34, so getting a little older, but I don't think I'm in the "too old to conceive" category yet.
I'd appreciate any help or info you can give. Thanks!

[dinky]

I had multiple miscarriages while trying to conceive DD#3. All of them were early into the pregnancy. It took a long time to work out what was going on with me, finally I found a great Ob, who put me onto progesterone pessaries and aspirin. It worked and I now have a wonderful 10 year old daughter! I was unsure as well, but you need to have faith in your Ob, I changed Obs for my last child as I felt that my other one just didnt give me the support or understanding that I needed at the time. I also lost a lot of weight between #2 and 3 and it does have an effect. I had a lot of bloods done, and that was why he felt that this course of action would be the best for me!
Good Luck!

[Mildez]

So sorry to hear about your recurrent miscarriages.

I don't think your weight has anything to do with it as it sounds like your in a very healthy range. You do not have trouble conceiving at all. 3 pregnancies in 8months is a sign of very good fertility. In saying this as it has now been 3 losses I am sure there are some tests they could run to see if there is a reason for your miscarriages.

Has your GP offered you any preliminary tests?

[Cricket]

Thanks for the replies ladies. I haven't had any specific tests done, but in the reading I've done on recurrent miscarriage, it looks like 50% of the time, no cause can be determined, and in the other 50%, it's a physical problem (uterus deformity, or something like that), a chromosomal issue between the parents, a clotting issue, an immune problem, thyroid issues, lupus, or a hormonal issue. Most of those can be ruled out for me, since we have healthy children, my thyroid has been checked, there is no sign of lupus, etc. I think the hormonal option is the only other treatable possibility they can consider, although I guess I'll know more after talking to the ob. I just wondered if anyone had been told something similar - that though they were a healthy weight, they might be better off a little heavier. It's good to hear of others having success with progesterone. Maybe that will do the trick for us.

[kelly218]

I have two children. We decided to ttc number 3 & ended up having x4 miscarriages. My OB who also happens to be a FS put me on aspirin, progesterone pessaries & clexane. There isn't much research out there for recurrent miscarriage after having had children already.

[leahamytaylor]

Have they checked your lining?
Maybe you need to ask about lining issues and maybe go on progesterone to maintain the pregnancy.

[Cricket]

I met with the ObGyn yesterday. She figures that age is the biggest factor, and that the eggs are not great quality any more. (Wow! I really didn't think I was *that* old!) She wants me to wait two cycles and then try again, and she'll see me right away after a positive pregnancy test to monitor hormone levels, do an early ultrasound, and try some progesterone, although she doesn't think progesterone is the problem. She also wants me to take prenatal vitamins every day. I guess we'll wait and see what happens.

[Trillian]

Cricket, everyone's fertility can decline at different rates and though you are only 34, your fertility and therefore the quality of your eggs could still be affected. There is a lot of information and studies out about this topic now about how chronological age is not a certain factor to fertility if you're interested in reading up on it further. good luck and I hope you are pg again very soon!

[Cricket]

I kind of said the saame thing to DH - some people go bald at an early age, and I guess some people have declining egg quality at an early age. It's just surprising to me, I guess, because I feel fit and energetic, and I was conceiving so quickly. Obviously that doesn't change what's happening to the eggs though. If you can give me some links or further info to read up on that, I'd appreciate it, Trillian. Is there any way to improve egg quality, or is this an irreversable thing?

[foreva*your*mummy]

cricket, I was wondering how you went? I am 34 also and have 3 healthy children we have been ttc for the last 4 years with 4 M/C.
my OB doesn't seem concerned and tells me I am just making up the numbers for all the women who don't have any Miscarriages!
I told this to my amazing doctor and she said she wants to refer me to someone else.
I am taking aspirin and take clexane in all my pregnancies because of a blood clot, my OB told me he will put me on clexane if I get pregnant again at 7 weeks ( usually I start at 12 weeks).