Infertility - treatment?

[Northy81]

Hi, I was diagnosed with APS by Professor Reagan at St Mary's after 4 miscarriages. I found it difficult to even get pregnant each time, and have been trying again now for 7 months. Has any one had any problems falling pregnant and do you have any recommendations? At St Mary's they told me not to take aspirin until I get pregnant, but didn't say why. Any ideas? I have no other APS symptoms except occasional migraines. Thanks in advance for any suggestions.

[daisyd]

Hi If you look at Hughes syndrome miscarriages HSF patient day may 2012 their is as far as I can remember a discussion on this problem, really wish everything goes well for you.

[daisyd]

I should have said its on YouTube and is interesting for all problems

[Hidden]

Yes, as about - you can access the YouTube clip or order a full transcript from our homepage: hughes-syndrome.org/. I managed to persuade Lesley Regan to give a talk for FREE last year I hope things work out for you soon.

[Kay722]

Hi, firstly I'm very sorry you have experienced the pain of miscarriage, losing one baby is heartbreaking but for it to happen again and again is soul destroying - I know as, I myself have had 5 miscarriages BUT a also have 5 children aged 19, 17, 10, 8, and 19mths. I had 3 miscarriages before giving birth to my son, then I had my 3 daughters, then suffered another miscarriage before having my 19mth old daughter, we decided to try for another baby but that pregnancy also ended in miscarriage, I have an appointment next month to discuss and hopefully be tested for APS..... As I'm desperate for another baby!!! I can't say I've ever had a problem "getting pregnant", (9mths was the longest it ever took)!!! I know this doesn't really answer your question, but felt I needed to get in touch, as you are not alone in your quest for a baby, and even though I have 5 gorgeous kids it doesn't make my "grief", any easier, having said that, I do feel blessed and incredibly lucky that I have had 5 successful pregnancies.....(miracles do happen)!! As for taking the aspirin before becoming pregnant, I went to my GP asking for it so I could try to conceive a month after the miscarriage but he wouldn't give it to me (even though a dr at the hospital suggested I go to my GP and ask for it), he instead referred me to the consultant I'm seeing next month, but I'm a bit confused really I thought I would be seeing a "blood" specialist but I'm seeing the gynaecologist!!!!!

Im sorry I haven't been of any help, and I sincerely hope you get to have a baby soon!!!

All the best

Michaela x

[LucyLocket]

Hello there . . .

Oh this sounds so familiar! I was referred to the Miscarriage Clinic at St Mary's after only having 2 miscarriages because the doctors already knew about my autoimmune antibody status. I can totally relate to what you must be going through though as it wasn't just a case of losing babies for me but I found it incredibly difficult to even get pregnant in the first place. Like so many other women, I'd taken the pill before coming off to try for children and I was very lucky to get pregnant without huge problems (although with the benefit of hindsight I'm fairly sure that I had one early miscarriage before this - I just thought I missed a period and then had one from hell but I was very very naive at that point). After I did have my son (early due to pre-eclampsia) we started ttc again after about 2 years but I found it hard falling pregnant - when I did I had the first miscarriage at 12 weeks - after another 6 months got pregnant again and then had a miscarriage at 8 weeks. After that - nada! I was diagnosed with PCOS (polycystic ovary syndrome) - had investigative laps - managed to be misdiagnosed with appendicitis - diagnosed with endometriosos . . . saw Raj Rai at St Mary's (lovely chap!) who did ovarian drilling for me . . . still nothing happened . . . started to investigate IVF ICSI at JRH Oxford but was told our chances were less than 3% so we gave up and started to look at overseas adoption. Anyway, out of the blue I DID fall pregnant again and this time was under the care of St Mary's - I started on aspirin once I was pregnant and had very regular scans and managed to carry my daughter to nearly 38 weeks. By this time I was almost 40 and despite trying, we never got pregnant again. However, I know that I'm a very lucky person to have my two lovely children - there are 6 years between them.

I would say to you not to give up hope - it took me 4 years trying for a baby before I managed to have my daughter. I read everything I could on the subject and a lot more is known now - they are finding out things all the time. I ate as healthily as I could - I tried reflexology, acupuncture and chinese medicine but to be honest with you I don't think any of that made much difference. It was the help and support from St Mary's that made the most difference plus I really think that I got so stressed and anxious about it all that when I relaxed, my body was able to perform more normally. One of my friends did go on to adopt from China which is what we were going to do and her Chinese daughter is every bit as much her daughter as her natural born son is her son so I would say to you that there are other ways of becoming a parent. Still it's early days for you still at 7 months of ttc so please don't give up hope yet. I found it so hard seeing other people with babies or pregnant tummies so try and find yourself support groups where other people are going through the same thing - I did this on babycentre and am still in touch with friends I made there worldwide some 7 years later!

I hope that this will give you a little bit of encouragement anyway!

Terri x

[Northy81]

Thank you for your encouragement and support. I guess we just need to keep trying! I also have a chromosome issue, so I know that miscarriages are always going to be a problem for me, even though the APS can be treated, which is why I'm so desperate to get pregnant as soon as possible. It's been nearly 3 years since we first started trying. I'm going to try acupuncture next.