Miscarriages

I am so sorry to hear that you are going through a miscarriage right now. I have had 3. They are not a good thing to go through. After my 3rd one. I did not want to try again. But that is when I found out that I was going to have a baby. This time I did not miscarry. Before I found out I just told myself that if it happens it happens if it don't it don't. I know that is hard to do. If you really want another baby keep trying. It will happen. It happeded for me when my son was 5. So you still have time. Just do not think about it. I will pary for you. Good luck.

I encourage you to contact or at least visit the Share Atlanta website www.shareatlanta.org (you don't have to live in ATL) This organization is devoted to helping families experiencing loss (miscarriage, stillbirth, etc..). I had a stillbirth with my first child and this organization was a tremendous help. It helps so much to connect with people who have been down a similar path. Not only did they help me deal with the loss, but they offered incredible support when I was pregnant with my second child. There was so much stress and worry with my second pregnancy, especially since I had made it to 38 weeks the first time. Getting through the first trimester was a breeze - I worried about the 3rd trimester. AGain, I found a great lady who had been through the same thing and we were preg. at the same time. it was wonderful to have someone to talk to that really understood what I was going through. We both had very healthy babies and a great friendship.

A dear friend of mine also had trouble conceiving. She often miscarried at 10-12 weeks. She had 2 children, but always dreamed of a big family. finally, after 4-5 miscarriages, she had genetic testing and it determined that she was the carrier of a defective chromosome. The doctors could not believe that she had 2 healthy children because the chance of her even carrying a child full term was about 10% and having a healthy baby was about 5%. The genetic counseling really helped her to deal with the realities of her unique situation. Genetic testing may be something that you should discuss with your doctor.

Good luck and God Bless.

Ask your doctor to check your urterus to see if maybe it is tilted and also stay off caffine,they have found out it causes miscarriages,M.

G.,
I am so sorry you are going through this- it is so heartbreaking. I will pray for you today!
Don't give up!! I too have had 3 miscarriages, and after 3 miscarriages, most MD's classify it as "chronic miscarriage" which essentially means that the insurance companies will pay for you to get testing to figure out what's going on. I would encourage you to see a Reproductive Endocrinologist, who will be most qualified to evaluate why you're miscarrying. It could be a simple solution. It was for me. I have 3 beautiful children now, and am so thankful I went to a RE.
Good Luck!
Steph

G.,

I have birthed six children, and I have had six miscarriages (after the last child). I understand how hard a miscarriage is (for me and my husband), but you are young enough to allow your body some time to heal and THEN see what happens. I did not have my first child until I was 29 and my last one was born at 39. In my heart I would still love another baby, but at almost 49, I realize my season of childbearing is over and now I am responsible for raising the one God has given me. I also have two friends, one who has 12 children (and she miscarried after the 7th one) and one who has 9 children (she miscarried after the 6th one), so don't give up hope!
Blessings to you!

G., I'm sorry that you are having so many miscarriages. I can't relate, as I've never had them, but I can only imagine how I would feel. I'm more of a natural person and take care of things in a more natural way, even our families health. If this were happening to me, I would be taking herbs to not only help fix the hypothyroid problem but also strengthen the uterus. There are so many things out there that has helped people have children without bad side effects.

You could go to a local health food store (not GNC, they are NOT a health food store) and tell them what's going on and the naturopath can help you. Also, you can go to this website, if you'd like, and read a little on a couple of things you could pick and try to do. www.herballegacy.com and then click up top on ailments and then you'll see a link further down on the page and click on ailments and you'll see them in alphabetical order. Look up and read a bit about some things you can do under 'miscarriage'.

You'll need to give it a few months to be able to strengthen your uterus. I wouldn't give advice if I didn't believe in it. (I've cured pneumonia without a doctor and in 3 days, etc., and I've got doctor and RN friends. lol. I do believe in doctors, I just feel that I should learn about my own body and take charge of what I can do to help it out and what I can't, go to the doctor for it...so far in 7 years, I haven't needed a doc except to deliver our babies. I'm a chicken when it comes to home births.)

Hi G.,

Have you seen an infertility specialist? I would recommend seeing one if you have not. No one can accurately say whether it is possible for you to have more children without knowing the circumstances but if you have already done it one time, you already know you have the capability. If you keep having miscarriages, at least you know you are able to conceive. That is often the most difficult part for many women and the most difficult to treat. If the inability to maintain the pregnancy is due to insufficient hormone levels, that should be fairly easy to treat. There are lots of potential reasons and only a qualified doctor can determine what they are. IF you current doctor is aware of your desire for a pregnancy and knows the number of miscarriages you have had, it seems s/he would have already done further testing to determine the reasons, or better yet, referred you to someone who specializes in this field. Good Luck!!!!

G.,
You really should ask your doctor(s) to check you for antiphospholipid syndrome. It's a somewhat rare blood disorder that can cause miscarriage in pregnancy and just a few years ago, there was little that could be done to help a woman with APS to have children. I am told that has changed now and when diagnosed and treated, an otherwise healthy woman can still get pregnant and have a viable pregnancy to term. I know all of this from personal experience! Please talk to your doctor about it. Good Luck!

I don't think the thyroid is not connected to the pregnancy problems. Based on the studying I have done on women's health, a lot of women who have hypothyroid are also low on progesterone. Being low in progesterone during pregnancy will cause miscarriage. You may want to consider getting your hormone levels tested - all of them and ask for saliva testing as that tends to be more accurate.

You could ask your doctor about possibly prescribing you a natural progesterone (not progestin (provera)- very bad for getting pregnant!) or you can purchase natural progesterone cream OTC. Buying OTC can be tricky because there are many products on the market that claim to be natural progesterone but are not.

I have been where you are and I have trouble concieving as well. I used an OTC cream and it has been wonderful for me in many ways.

C.

Hi G.,
Please don't give up on having another baby. Give yourself some time. You are young and there is plenty of time. I have an 11 yr old son and my daughter is 7 now. I have had four pregnancies. My first pregnancy I had a miscarriage at 7 weeks along then I had a healthy baby boy after that. We waited 3 years to try again and got pregnant and lost that baby (girl) at 23 weeks. It was devastating to lose a baby that far along. We waited 6 months before trying again and it happened and it was the longest 9 months ever! I could not enjoy my pregnancy because I was so worried I would lose it again. She was born a month early and everything was fine. My advice to you is don't rush into another pregnancy. But when you do, GO TO YOUR DOCTOR AND HAVE THEM PUT YOU ON EXTRA PROGESTERONE. Early miscarriages are partly due to lack of progesterone which makes a pregnancy viable and thrive. They will check you progesterone levels in the first trimester, please ask your doctor about progesterone!!! It worked for me both times! Best of luck! C.

G.-- YOUR MISCARRIAGES ARE DUE TO YOUR THYROID IMBALANCE. Simple as that. You KNOW that you are hypothyroid already and THAT is a positive in your case. Thyroid disorders are COMMON. Too many women miscarry one or multiple times with undiagnosed thyroid disorders because docs often miss them or aren't knowledgeable enough on them. If your TSH is anywhere above 3.0, you need treatment. For fertility's sake, it is best to keep your TSH around 1... for your post partum life, pay attention to your symptoms and supplement your thyroid with enough T4 and T3 to see a COMPLETE resolution of symptoms! As long as your TSH is in range (and relatively LOW in range) and your Free T4 and Free T3 (CHECK BOTH) are in the HIGH end (like upper 1/4 of the range) AND your symptoms have resolved, then you're good! Don't let a doc tell you that you can't take any more thyroid medication if you still have symptoms. You can take as much as is necessary to resolve your symptoms as long as you are not in the hyperthyroid range! I feel better when my TSH is 1 or slightly lower but everyone is different. Listen to your body and be you own advocate! Find a doc who will respect you and your desire to FIND THE REAL YOU again and will treat you until you feel better! I had FOUR miscarriages that could have been prevented if I had ONE doc that knew that a TSH of 3.0 or higher was a red flag. (Heck, I can't even get above 2.0 or I'm miserable!) My progesterone was chronically low, my basal body temp was always low, my cycles were long and irregular, I was mildly depressed, my TSH fluctuated between 2.8 and 5.5 and all 7 docs I went to said that "it isn't your thyroid". Well, guess what!? When another doc finally said "it looks like it may be a thyroid imbalance" and I was placed on thyroid hormone, (and I adjusted it until I was feeling normal and my fertility signs improved) I got pregnant and STAYED pregnant! 6 years later, I have 4 beautiful, thriving children!

I'm SO sorry for your losses. I wouldn't wish the loss of a baby on anyone. PLEASE fight for your body, for your overall health and demand treatment! I recommend the book "The Thyroid Solution" (by Ridha Arem) to educate yourself. Just please...get THYROID treatment! ((((HUGS)))) Keep us posted!

I had a stillborn daughter in Oct. 2006, with nothing really wrong with her or me for that matter I started trying in jan. 2007, and quit trying trying in Jan.2008 I have one son who I love for hom to have more siblings. And yes to answer your question I have been told not to stop there. There comes a time when you have to put all your faith and trust in the lord. K. B. mother of a 7 year old

Thyroid problems can cause fertility problems. I also had a miscarriage after our first child. I am much older than you. It is very common for women after the age of 35 to have thyroid problems. Do you have a good Endocrinologist? (Thyroid specialist????) I see Dr. Kate Wheeler in Riverdale. Have your thryoid antibodies checked., if they are high that might be the problem. They can do that with a blood test. Also, you might want to check into a fertility specialist after you see an Endocrinologist. I went to Georgia Resproductive Sepcialists in North Atlanta near North Side Hospital. web site is www.ivf.com They might also suggest to get your husband tested.
P.

Bless your heart, this must be absolutely devistating. Has the doctor given you any indication as to why you are miscarrying if it's not related to your thyroid? There are OB/GYNs that specialize in high risk pregnancies, have you consulted one?
I would take a little respite before you throw yourself back into another another pregnancy. Your body needs a breaks as does your heart.
When you feel ready, start asking the doctor why this is happening. If he/she can't tell you, find someone who can. At the very least you deserve to have a straight answer as to whether you should keep trying or explore other options.

don't give up! it sounds like something that i went through...you aren't having trouble getting pregnant, but you aren't holding the pregnancies...is that it? are you losing them fairly early on, like 7 weeks or so? i had this problem and after a few miscarriages they started me on progesterone pills, which thicken the lining or something, and helped the pregnancy to "stick"...i now have three gorgeous,healthy kids..so maybe ask your doctor about that...i don't know why but it seems they don't think of it right away...i know other people who've had the same problem...hang in there...the baby you have will be worth it! i think about it all the time when i look at my daughter, that if i hadn't miscarried i would have a different kid now, and i know it was the way it was supposed to be..good luck!

I had 7 miscarriages and now have 4 beautiful, healthy children. There was heartache but we did minimal testing to rule out other issues (a simple blood test) and then put it in God's hands. There is a 3 1/2 year gap between my first two then 5 years between the next two. Some of my pregnancies I needed to take progesterone in the beginning and others I did not. As soon as I found out I was pregnant I went in and they did blood tests to watch the HCG and progesterone levels to determine if the pregnancy was viable. I wanted my children closer in age but I think God knew I needed them spaces apart. Best of luck and I'll keep you in my prayers.
C. S.

Hi G.,
Have you tried consulting an acupuncturist? You may want to check and see if you can find one who has a focus in OB/GYN. There is a lot that can be done to support fertility and carrying to term as well as to support thyroid function. I wish I had known about this option when I was younger. Like you I had several miscarriages before my second child was born.

Best wishes!

my daughter continually miscarried. THEN they discovered she was short on some hormone. From the moment she is pg (and she is now too) she has to give herself a shot. Sept 28, 2006 she gave birth to a healthy baby girl. She is now due in July. She was going to see if she could avoid the shot, but just couldn't take the chance.

email me at ____@____.com and I would be delighted to give you her information. In fact I am going to TX to see her today, so perhaps I can find out what it was that is wrong and the remedy. Take heart.. and do email me.

K. proud gamma

I just wanted to say how sorry I am for your losses. I had two healthy children, then 2 confirmed miscarriages and 1 unconfirmed miscarriage. I am now due with Baby #3 in a few weeks.

Insist on a full work up from your doctor. Many doctors like to tell you that they "just happen" but there are many reasons miscarriages happen that are completely preventable.

Stick with it! Anything is possible. I have 2 children (a son who is 7 1/2, and a daughter who is turning 3 in May) and pregnant with my third (due in May). Before I had my daughter, I had 3 miscarriages. It was so frustrating and heartbreaking, but we just kept trying. Before getting pregnant this time, I also had 3 miscarriages. To be honest, with each successful pregnancy it seemed like when we quit 'actively' trying, it worked. I'm sure that my stressing over each and every day of my cycle wondering if I ovulated on time and if I conceived didn't help. But once I finally let myself relax and stop thinking about all the dates, things were successful. So don't give up and best of luck!

first :hugs: 2nd rest for a while enjoy your child you have the terriable 3s comming up and really the last thing you need is an infant in the mix. give your body time to heal , there is no rule that you have to have all your kids before your 30.

Hi G.,

I have a sister who went through the exact same problem. She has a problem with her thyroid and it does effect you trying to become pregnant. She is considered a high risk pregnancy and needs to see a specialist. She is such a sweet and loving person, and it broke her heart every time she had a miscarriage. But it did not stop her, it made her want to try again, and again, and again. She now has three beautiful girls. They are spaced in their ages, her oldest is 15, her middle child is 10 and her youngest is 2. She said that although it was not by choice for them to be as spread out as they are, she would recommend it to everyone. She said that she was able to enjoy each one individually in their younger years. Do not give up, keep trying you will be rewarded in the end. God does not give us more than we can handle. I will keep you in my prayers, for you seem to be a sweet and loving person and deserve to be happy.

I would go see another doctor. I don't believe it has nothing to do with your thyroid. My sister has thyroid cancer and after she was diagnosed she suffered several miscarriages. Get a second opinion!

I should probably also mention that my husband and I are an NFP teaching couple (we teach people how to chart their natural cycles and use that information to conceive or avoid pregnancy). One of the first things that we tell a woman who has really irregular cycles is to have their thyroid checked. The wrong dosage of thyroid replacement hormones can affect this too. If you were able to, could you track your cycles (there are several sources that can tell you how to track temperature and other signs without having to take a class if all you're doing is trying to figure out if your cycles are off)? I would try starting there first, then take it to a doctor who understands how to interpret and treat such things. It doesn't have to be a fertility specialist, most NFP-only doctors are well versed in charting interpretation. In my experience most regular doctors don't understand fertility charts etc because they are not taught this stuff in detail in med school. I have had my own issues with doctors on this kind of thing and most of my students have as well.