TTC after miscarriage/loss

Hi ladies,
Have started this thread as a place to come for those of us that have experienced miscarriages/stillbirth and are carrying on the journey to ttc our huggable babies.
If you have suggestions, advice, questions or would just like some support I'm sure this will become a open, positive and comforting place to come.Know that you're not alone as there seem to be lots of us floating around the forum who have similar experiences and are here to help.

As a brief intro, I'm turning 40 next month and have been ttc with dh for 2.5 years. I have had 4 missed m/c's during that time. After our 3rd m/c we had lots of tests done and an ultrasound but no cause has been found. Tried progesterone suppositories during 4th pregnancy but unfortunately mc'd due to Trisomy 16 so no chance any treatment would have helped. I'm currently doing acupuncture weekly and have been doing a herbal detox for the past 3-4 weeks. Acupuncturist thinks I might have problems with my thyroid or adrenals so working on those. I've been wondering for a while if I might have a thin uterine lining as my af is very light and short. So acupuncture will hopefully help with this and I'm trying to look up what else I might be able to do to help.

Sorry - did turn into a bit of a novel - feel free to join in

Yay! Thanks Tulip for starting this up. It's just the thread I've been looking for!

Im 33 years old and have only been TTC #1 since Feb this year. We had a big surprise after getting a BFP one month after TTC but sadly needed a medically managed missed m/c at wk11 after finding no HB at wk 7. Who knows why?!?!?! I'm healthy, fit, no problems with my menstrual cycle, etc. So on we soldier...

First question of the thread... when did your AF start after the m/c. It's only 22 days since my mc (and just under 2 weeks since my spotting stopped - though it was never heavy after I left the hospital). And I started spotting today with backache and crampy feeling? What the heck? Also noticed a big temp drop this morning. But my HCG's were still at 45 one week ago (and have been dropping at a steady rate). Maybe is this still part of the mc?

Thanks, Tan. I feel like I'm getting AF, but it just doesn't make sense with dates and hcg levels. But your right - anything goes! I've learned in the last 3 months that everyone is so different and symptoms/sign can mean totally different things. My friend who's due on the day I was is still spotting and has been all along just like I was... but I miscarried and she didn't. Argh. I just want to be past this (as I'm sure all of you do to!)

Hi guys,
Great you're here! Always felt this thread had been missing - the m/c support thread can be very quiet and there hasn't really been an appropriate place to ask lots of questions without feeling like I'm tread-jacking lol! Have also been aware that as much as it's great to get m/c out in the open I don't want to worry or add stress to anyones journey while they're ttc - so many of us ttc and facing fertility issues I don't want to be a constant reminder of something else that can go wrong. As you've said Tan, we're so used to having control over different aspects of our lives, m/c can really leave you feeling helpless.
So. I've felt really positive that surely our luck ttc has to swing our way sooner or later and that it's just a numbers game however strangely stacked. I've always wondered how the idea of a stork arriving with a baby came about... wouldn't that just fix it all lol!!
Americangirl, totally agree that 'anything goes' seems to be what happens with our cycles after m/c. For me, I have aways had d&c's after my m/c's as emotionally I haven't been able to cope with the thought of waiting for it to happen naturally and the possibility of it not being complete. I've also chosen d&c last 2 times as the hospital are able to run a number of tests that can help to determine cause if they have our bean with them. After d&c I've only had 2 days of light bleeding and af has always started 5 weeks after the procedure. I've heard of ladies having all manner of af's after m/c tho.
Like Tan I'm concerned my uterine lining doesn't become thick enough to support a healthy bean.
Did a bit of googling today and there is so much contradictory info about Red Rasberry leaf tea and Vitex (if it's safe in first trimester) so going to ask my acupuncturist if she knows. Some totally safe things I learnt to help build your lining are: eating up to 5 brazil nuts per day and also eating pineapple core from 1 dpo to 5 dpo. Also, there is an acupressure point about 2 inches below your bellybutton. Apparently if you massage it in a circular motion for about 2 mins a day it can also stimulate your lining.
So, sorry to ramble - but 3 totally harmless things that could make a difference. Saw pineapples on special just the other day so going to give it a try. Due to ov on Wednesday. Started our BD marathon yesterday so definately in the game this month.   

Thanks RT, great thread for those of us that have lost little angels.

I am 40, will be 41 at the end of the year. We started trying in Sept 09 and was lucky to fall pg pretty much straight away. Unfortunately we lost 3 pregnancies in a row - 2 natural and one D&C. It was the hardest thing I've been through and it was a really low time in my life. I ended up seeing a specialist and they couldn't really tell me why, it was just one of those things and eventually I'd get the recipe right. Although they did pick up on my thyroid levels not being high enough so now I take medication for that. And then sure enough we did fall pg and in Jan last year our little ray of sunshine was born - I never thought I'd get to be a Mum. She is my little miracle
We started trying again as soon as my AF returned, it took us 7 months and I fell pg again but unfortunately that ended in m/c. It was twins as well - a real kick in the guts. I thought because I'd already carried a pregnancy to full term I was exempt from m/c. Not to be I coped well though, I had a real live baby to worry about and she kept me busy and made me smile. We are back on the horse again and fair to say its taking longer than I'd hoped. I was convinced I was UTD this month, I felt so seedy yesterday but big temp drop today and spotting. Bummer. Thats my novel anyway hugs to you all

Yeah I think I will wait a bit longer. I have just done some reading about AF after no ov and it all says you can have AF but it's not really AF - it's a shedding of built up lining. That might explain my light periods? I tell you, I could scream! I am sick of guessing and trying to work it all out! I am keen to do Vitex first but also I forgot to say the nurse said that if Vitex stimulates progesterone then that's not what we want right now, we want estrogen to make the eggy come out. Maybe I have been not always oving the whole time. It would explain the lack of symptoms I have been getting post ov. Oh well, I don't want to leave another novel, so I think I will wait for a bit and see if AF arrives.

I ov every month as far as I aware, or as far as FF tells me I do! But my specialist has suggested clomid for me if I'm not UTD by August. I think I'll do it, I'm keen to get the next pregnancy under way sooner than later. I guess I'd have to do a monitored cycle so I can imagine DH will be cringing at the cost. I feel like I'm running a bit low on time though. Be interested to see what your accu lady says RT...

Welcome BG! Well, I say that in a supportive way. It stinks to be in our positions, but hopefully this thread helps us stay positive and sane!

Tan, I don't know much at all about clomid so I can't help you out much there. I know for sure that you can get AF without ovulating - I would say it's quite likely to have that happen after a m/c. I read in a few places that any bleeding or spotting 2-3 weeks after a m/c is most likely still due to the mc and not AF. Some places say you can only count AF if you had no bleeding/spotting for 2-3 solid weeks. That's why I'm a bit worried about my spotting and cramping right now. It seems too soon for AF so I'm wondering if it could be retained product

With regards to the herbal drinks, I'm a bit paranoid (and DH is a pharmacist)so we're not too keen on anything that isn't backed by heaps of medical research. Just best not to risk it in our opinion. I guess I just think that if something REALLY does all the stuff it's suppose to, then why aren't doctors recommending it and why isn't there more research to support it. I know I'm biased though because of DH and our circle of doctor friends.

And to all of us, my doctor said to me today "you're body will know when it's ready, so just trust it and don't try to rush it!"

Thanks for starting this redtulip - great idea!

I'm 31 and DH and I decided to start trying for our first this year. I ended up pregnant in the first month of trying, but miscarried when I was almost 12wks (embryo stopped growing at around 6wks). I had no idea - had all the pregnancy symptoms that whole time (morning sickness etc), then started spotting when I was 2 days away from 12wks. My sister had bleeding early in her first pregnancy (everything turned out fine) so I wasn't too worried ... I must say, I never thought about the possibility of miscarriage - was only worried that I might have trouble getting UPD! We'll wait a couple of months before TTC again (allow a bit of time to "clear out").

Americangirl - my 1st AF after the mc came about 3&1/2 weeks after the last of the mc bleeding (which all up, including spotting before & after everything came out, lasted about 2&1/2 weeks). The mc was natural (no intervention). That AF lasted only about 3 days - I was expecting more, but oh well. That was end of May - don't know when I should be expecting my next AF!

It's great to have a forum like this to discuss this sort of thing - it's something I haven't really talked about with anyone. I don't want people to know (maybe it's just that I don't want people to know I'm trying for a baby), but miscarriage seems to be something that isn't really openly discussed (in person anyway), which is odd seeing how often it happens!

Hi emsbet... glad you found us - you can definately feel safe to ask/share as much as you like here   

OOOOH Vine, Wednesday as in tomorrow Wednesday lol??!!! FX very tightly for you!