Menstrual Cycle after Miscarriage

[Babbles]

This is the first time I have ever thought to post anything. Since my miscarriage in August 08, I have been reading all the threads and found a lot of support from the threads on this website.
I miscarried in Aug 08, I was 10 weeks, a blighted ovum. I had a D&C to remove the retained products of conception. Naturally, I was devastated when it happened but I think I dealt with it really well - back at work the next day infact. For me, fertility has always been an issue and it seemed like absolute miracle that I initially I could conceive naturally.

I had my first period after miscarriage some 7 weeks later. Doctor advised that this was normal. Its now 6 weeks and no sign of another of a period. Is this normal? Pregnancy tests all negative. Has this happened to anyone? I just want to get back to normal. Sadly, i think that perhaps I didn't take enough time after the miscarriage to tackle my emotional issues, because I seem to have fallen in a heap now and worry about every little thing my reproductive system does or doesn't do.

How long does it take to get back to normal? Has anyone had a similar experience?
Look forward to your feedback
Many thanks
Babbles

[don23]

Hello Babbles
First of all, im very sorry to hear of your loss its such a sad situation to be in. I have had 3 miscarriages this year, the first at 10.5 weeks and was a missed miscarriage (babies heartbeat had stopped at 8 weeks) so i know how hard it is. I miscarried naturally but a scan revealed retained tissue so i too had a d&c. Im sorry i cant be much help as my cycle returned 4 weeks after each loss but i just wanted to let u know that what u r feeling is completely normal. I have days/weeks where i am fine and then all of a sudden all those emotions come flooding back and im in tears. Try to take it easy and cry when u need to. With regards to your cycles...i think that it is normal for your cycles to be a little irregular after a d&c. It can take a while before your body is back to normal. Hopefully somebody will reply that can be more helpful to you.

Take care

xx

[rach78]

Hi Babbles,
I'm so sorry you have to be here....
I don't know that what i'm about to tell you will make you feel any better, but someties I think it is comforting to know that you're not alone.

I had my d&c in july, I've just gotten my 4th period since and they have still not returned to 'normal' for me. It took around 5 weeks for me to get my first period after d&c. This month I had a 40 day cycle (it's usually about 30) and ovulated really late, Other cycles have varied between 30 and 35 days. I've also experienced spotting in between each of my periods and my cramps have doubled (or maybe tripled) in intensity since my d&c and I constantly feel nauseated.- all things I have not experienced before my d&c.

Like you, I'm still hanging for everything to return to normal. It's a painful reminder that things are just not quite 'right'. This is our 2nd month ttc since my m/c, it is a constant frustration that my body is not doing what it's supposed to do/what i want it to do. So in answer to your question, I think it maybe takes some of us a bit more time to get back on track (physically) after a d&c - I actually think my hormones are still all over the show, considering how 'off' my periods have been the last few months (I'm hoping it's hormonal anyway). I'm always thinking something is wrong with me (reproductively) whereas before i didn't worry at all. I'm actually going to see my doctor to talk about all of my a/f issues next week - just need the reassurance I think, maybe it's natural to worry when you have been through something so traumatic. Maybe if things aren't going the way you'd expect them too it might not be a bad idea to head to your dr too??

As for the emotional side, I still fall into a heap all the time, moreso now than ever before - I was the same as you - I thought I dealt with things really well, went back to work etc., etc...
However, I believe that eventually it is all going to catch up with us- for me it did, really only in the last 1-2 months, I have been grieving pretty badly, very emotional and not dealing very well. I've always been one to 'suck it up' so to speak and just get on with things but with something as painful as losing a much loved and wanted baby I think that you need to take the time to let yourself feel, and work through all of the emotions.

I hope you are starting to feel better and that af has finally arrived....

Take care

[MummaSue]

Hi Babbles (and everyone)

Yours is one of the first posts that I have read which has struck a real chord with me. Here is a snapshot of my story:

DH and I have been TTC for 6 years now. I had blocked tubes and severe endo which was operated on in April this year. In September I had a hysterosalpingogram which showed my left tube had blocked again but my right was clear, and while they were there they unblocked the left one. Following this procedure, i met with our FS to chat about FSH/IUI and we were waiting on my next cycle to start the treatment.

Well AF never arrived and I found out on the 14th Oct that I was 5 weeks pregnant but miscarried on the 19th. I didn't need a DC and it all came away by itself.
Like you, I handled it all really well, but here I am, over a month later and waiting on AF to arrive and it isn't. I don't know what to do.
It is hard too, emotionally, and I feel that as the days go on, it is getting harder not easier.

Anyway, I just wanted to share my story with you. And offer my support.
I unfortunately have no answers - and neither does google!! LOL

Take care
Sue

[Karen van]

Hello Babbles

I like that - it sounds like a really peaceful stream.

You can tell you're emotional still when reading posts makes your vision blurry. I am so sorry to hear about your miscarriage - it does take a lot of time to process it all and to stop thinking "I'd be ... months pregnant now if I hadn't miscarried" although on many other levels you do process and deal with so much of what you and others feel. You sound like a very strong person so it can be hard to surrender to some of the things that happen in life.

I am in a similar situation to your self. I had a miscarriage back in September 08 at 9 weeks but didn't need a D & C as everything passed naturally as a scan a few days later revealed. We decided to bury the baby with a personal ceremony and luckily it happened during my school holidays (teacher) so there was time to bawl my eyes out and lie around in between chasing after my three year old. So I felt to an extent that we had tried to face and deal with the loss of our baby. But you know how subtle these things can be.

My first cycle came back after four weeks with pretty much a similar run to how it normally operates. And I thought 'OK we're back on track now' - at 39 I've decided not to go down the IVF road for myself personally (although the admiration I feel for the commitment of women and their partners who do walk that demanding road is unbounded) and that I would probably only give it one more year at most with 31 year old partner. I am blessed with my little girl and I'm not silly enough to be too greedy with the fates.

But now - yippee-ay-oh-dee-ay - we are up to the second cycle since my m/c - am doing conscious conceiving using ovulation kits and had done a lot of preconception care naturapathy wise prior to trying - and ovulation was around 12 - 14 days - had many attempts at the old conception tango and on day 28 with no period in sight - felt a little hopeful. It's now day 36 (I have never missed a period, run between 24-26 days in length and am like clockwork) and four pregnancy tests later you have to accept the jury's in on the 'no baby in the house' verdict. So - have lots of mild PMS symptoms I don't normally get - ongoing sore, swollen breasts and nausea when I eat or drink and am totally confused. I would love to be pregnant again but I am actually more concerned about the absence of the period since it had seemed to settle so well initially. Am still trying to get into a doctor to ask about it all but actually rang my mum to ask her when menopause came to visit for her as there are only three reasons your period stops and apart from pregnancy I don't fancy any of the other options at 39.

I'm thinking a saliva test for hormone levels might be the next logical step for me.

I don't know if any of these ramblings are of use or interest to you but this is a wonderful community of support so hopefully we can offer something that can ease or inform how you are feeling.

Much love
Karen

[Karen van]

Quick update - on day 40 AF rocked up - thankful for that - joyous crone-dom is not for me yet by the looks of it!!!! Funny to be so happy to see a period when you're TTC - being a woman delivers so many surreal moments where you just have to wonder where sanity went when you blinked...

Hopefully on cycle 3 since m/c now and we might get to see a little more regularity back again - here we go on the TTC rollercoaster again!

Best sticky vibes to everyone
Karen van
)

[alic]

Hi, Have never posted before but found all of your comments to be of comfort. I think I'm a little further on than you all, in that I naturally M/C in April '08 at 8 weeks. My period didn't arrive for 6 weeks and then all seemed OK (28-32 days for the next few months). Like you all, I also just got on with life and took a pragmatic approach to the M/C, and thought I'd dealt with it all OK.

However, over the last 2 months , when ttc I have experienced really late periods. This month (the month when the baby would have been born) it was a record and very cruel 44 days until I had my period. Boobs were like rocks and painful to the touch and have felt sick for weeks (but not pregnant), as well as tearful and highly anxious. Again I was highly relieved to have had my period.

I'm guessing its hormonal imbalance (either that or I'm going crazy) and will be going to see a specialist in the New Year to try and get back on track. I just wanted to share this with you all, as it can be so stressful, confusing and frustrating, but I guess a miscarriage is a common, but quite a major event that needs some time to recover from both mentally and physically. Good luck to you all in that process.

[Karen van]

Hi Alic

Glad we could be of comfort because Lord knows - there's little comfort in your body playing silly buggers with you (I figure that's what my 3 year old is for... )) - maybe this is why some practitioners suggest that TTC could be left for at least 3 cycles after you m/c - perhaps many of us take longer to get back on hormonal track than others - at my age - I certainly didn't expect to just bounce straight back. I have found my nettle, red clover flower, oatstraw and raspberry leaf tea mix infused for a few hours in a jar daily seems to have settled everything down PMS symptom-wise (I also have a lousy digestive system so it has been brilliant for that) and am feeling the best I have all year. Here's to getting on with the job!

BFN
Karen van

[laluna]

Babbles

I had a missed miscarriage in August 08, which required a curette and with no sign of a period for 6 weeks, I decided a visit to my natupath. She put me on a mixture of herbs to try and get my body back in some sort of balance-which worked!-big time! At the end of October we found out I was pregnant and a week and a half later I started bleeding and was told I had had a failed pregnancy. Another curette! We then decided I would not go back on the herbs and see what happened and this time my first period arrived yeasterday 4.5 weeks later. I think our bodies react in different ways and there may be other alternatives worth looking at. It is such a emotionally draining time when you are waiting and also dealing with losses. I have found what is best for me is to go with how you are feeling and talk about it. Some days are worse than others, with tears and if only questions and scenarios.
I don't know if this has helped at all but sometimes it's nice to know you are not alone. I wish you the best of luck
Laluna

[anital]

Hi Babbles,

I had a miscarriage about 5 months ago. We found out at 10 weeks when we had our first scan, there was no hearbeat. We were absolutely devasted. I still find it difficult to talk about sometimes without breaking down. I was actually quite surprised at how hard i took it considering i was only 10 weeks along. But we were so excited when we first found out. The whole ordeal was a nightmare for the rest of the week. I was booked in for a D&C which never happened, even though the hospital kept me in over night with no food or water. Finally the next morning the doc came around to tell me they could only fit me in that evening. I made them take my IV out and booked in to a private clining a day later. I ended up having the D&C on our 4th wedding anniversary

After the inital bleeding (and pain)from the D&C (which lasted 2 weeks!) I didn't get a period for 6 weeks after that and ever since my cycles have been at a minimum 40 days long and PAINFUL for the first 2-3 days.

I don't know if what's happening to my body is normal but I plan to go and see my doc once my next period comes along (currently at 32 days and counting...). We're talking about trying again maybe in a couple of months and i'm now worried the D&C has screwed up my whole system.

I went thru so many different moods and phases after the D&C. My poor husband just didnt know what to do. He was so supportive and gave me my space and time to do what i needed to. We really lost our connection for a while there, but thank gd we are now back on track. I don't think i'll ever get over it, but i realise that i need to move on now and enjoy the things i have. It was our first try and i'm only in my mid twenties so we have time to try again.

I never realised how common it was to miscarry, very few people actually talk about it.

I hope you have a lot of love and support around you

AL

[alic]

Just wanted to provide an update to my previous post, when I was still hormonally challenged and basically still quite unwell 7 months after my miscarriage with our first child, last year. At the time I went to see a couple of local GPs who wanted to diagnose me with irritable bowel syndrome (after I quite clearly stated my symptoms of ovarian pain, sore boobs and excrutiatingly long cycles)

I finally went to see an obstetrician privately, who after a tv scan had my problems diagnosed within seconds. I have mild PCOS and my system was struggling to get going again, my eggs were not reaching full maturity, not being released regualrly and were clogging up my ovaries. Having received this diagnosis I was able to take some positive action regarding diet and fitness and after ruling out all other potential probs such as blockages, sperm count etc. we were able to discuss various treatment options (as we have no children and I'm 38 already).

Since January I've been following a low gi diet and exercising more regularly (45-60 mins sessions) and have lost 7lbs (now weighing 135lbs) and, most importantly, my last 3 cycles have returned to normal (between 29 and 31 days). I've been booking in with my local GP nurse every cycle for a blood test (timed 7 days before bleeding is expected to start) in order to measure my progesterone and sure enough levels have indicated that I've started ovulating again. My ovarian pain is gone and I look and feel healthy and happy.

Last cycle my progesterone was much higher than usual and caused me to do a hpt, which showed a big fat positive. I am 6 weeks and 1 day pregnant now, with no complications yet (I'd already started spotting at 5 weeks last time) and I feel completely different about this pregnancy. This was conceived naturally, as I was due to start on clomid this coming cycle.

Time will tell whether all goes well, but I just wanted to share my experience that; a) if you can find a healthcare professional who can tell you what's wrong, you can regain control of the situation and b) by regaining control you stand a much better chance of taking that crucial first step on the long road that is pregnancy.

Good luck to everyone xx

[lauren22]

sorry for hijaking this thread
but a question i have piercing pain in my lower left abdomal ovary area
but its been only just 2 weeks since my miscariage?
i could not possibly be ovulating and ive only had ovulation pain and handful of time mostly when i first got my period at 11
i dont think it would be but what else could it be?

[falling]

Hello,
I have just read some of the forums, searching for answers or reasons that some others might have fallen into the same situation. I have been trying for several years now to conceive with my secound husband. I have conceived 4 times in the past seven years, my first mc was at 4 months, in 2001, then after that i couldn't seem to get passed 10 or twelev weeks. My last one was on june 9, 2009. I am in the process now of going to an IVF specialist. I did use clomyde with every try, but I always seemed to conceive. I know i have taken breaks in between, cause some times emotionally, every loss has a scare in my heart. My age worries me, cause i now am 42, but i figure that as long as i have a menstral cycle I still have a chance. My doctor thinks it has something to do with the cord,and not gentics. cause with every mc i have had i always had the gentics tested. they all came back fine. so gentics is not a problem. But I do think its, me. and I blame my self alot. If there is any one around the same age as me, and having trouble keeping pregnant please i would like to know what type of complecations are you having or had?