two miscarriages this summer-what am I doing wrong?

[mamaw/two]

I'm not sure that this is the right place for this, so if it needs to be moved that's fine.
Here's a quick history, I had a miscarriage 10 yrs ago. Baby had been developing and just quit around 8 weeks, I had a natural miscarriage. One year later I got pregnant again and had a healthy dd, followed by 3 more healthy pregnancies and babies about every two years. I figured the first miscarriage had been a fluke, as well as probably due to me not taking care of my self and smoking and drinking when I didn't know I was pregnant (I didn't find out until two weeks before the miscarriage). After baby #4 was born, I spotted for 7 monthes before it quit and then my period resumed and things were normal. I was diagnosed hypothyriod and was working to naturally resume a normal hormone level, I always have a period of hypothyroidism following each baby. In May, I discovered that I was pregnant. I began spotting at 6 1/2 weeks pregnant and was told after an ultrasound that it was a blighted ovum and it only happens once in a woman's life, at most. I just found out last week that I was pregnant again, but the second line was staying faint and not getting any darker, the bleeding started yesterday.
I'm guessing that I have some sort of hormonal imbalance that is not letting my body stay pregnant. Has anyone had luck with any cleanses, herbs, accupuncture, or anything else, that has helped with something similar to this? I tend to be a person that stays away from drs, so I'm looking for something that will allow my body to naturally balance itself. Any advice would be very welcome.

[lastrid]

I don't know what your diet is like, but I would think increasing your fat soluble vitamins would be an important place to start.

[boysmom2]

I have had several m/c as well and I remember somewhere in all the reading I did that having your bedroom dark enough at night is important for proper hormone regulation. It even said that in addition to black out shades you might need to cover your alarm clock and stuff a towel under the door to block light from the hall. Even if you think you're sleeping just fine, the light can still stimulate your brain to think it's not really night time.

And many to you. I hope you can find peace even if you don't find any answers.

[KatieBonita]

The MTHFR gene malformation causes miscarriages. You can be tested for it but the treatment is to have FOLINIC acid instead of Folic acid.
It also messes with your thyroid when pregnant same treatment.

Good luck.

[Panserbjorne]

First off, there is NOTHING YOU ARE DOING WRONG. There is no fault here. There are times when our bodies need support to function in an optimal way, but that is not the same thing.

There are some good points mentioned here, and perhaps you would be best served by seeing a practitioner that specializes in wellness so that you are getting a good evaluation and targeted support. That would be a good step that would hopefully get you some answers, and a plan moving forward. I'd recommend an ND, but a doctor of TCM is also an option.

This can perhaps be helped with some dietary changes, perhaps with some lifestyle changes as well. But please remember to take it easy on yourself. This isn't something that happened because of anything you did.

[boysmom2]

Originally Posted by Panserbjørne

First off, there is NOTHING YOU ARE DOING WRONG. There is no fault here. There are times when our bodies need support to function in an optimal way, but that is not the same thing.

There are some good points mentioned here, and perhaps you would be best served by seeing a practitioner that specializes in wellness so that you are getting a good evaluation and targeted support. That would be a good step that would hopefully get you some answers, and a plan moving forward. I'd recommend an ND, but a doctor of TCM is also an option.

This can perhaps be helped with some dietary changes, perhaps with some lifestyle changes as well. But please remember to take it easy on yourself. This isn't something that happened because of anything you did.

Well said.

[JaneS]

Originally Posted by KatieBonita

The MTHFR gene malformation causes miscarriages. You can be tested for it but the treatment is to have FOLINIC acid instead of Folic acid.
It also messes with your thyroid when pregnant same treatment.

Ditto.

What are you doing to support your thyroid and how were you dx?

Is it possible you have Hashimoto's autoimmune thyroiditis? did you have antibodies testing?

[Llyra]

You're not doing anything wrong! About 15 % of pregnancies end in miscarriage; some sources say it may be as much as 25%, since so many miscarriages occur before a woman even realizes she's pregnant, and so many early miscarriages aren't reported to anybody who keeps track of such things. And the probability of two consecutive miscarriages is about 2.5%. Miscarriage rates increase with age.

There are so many possible causes, and so many of them are beyond our control-- chromosomal abnormalities are the most common cause. Most of those are random events. Some people will point out that our bodies are exposed to a multitude of environmental toxins, even if we eat a clean diet and use non-toxic products on our bodies and in our homes. To try to look for a cause may only make you feel unnecessarily guilty. There's no harm in taking a look at your lifestyle-- making healthy changes can only help. And looking into your thyroid issues, of course.

But I wouldn't put too much energy into looking for causes.

And , too. I've had several pregnancy losses, and I know how heartbreaking it is.

[mamaw/two]

Thank you for all the kind words and advice.

I was dx by blood test for the thyroid, they didn't test for any antibodies. I have been taking selenium, zinc, and lots of d vit, as well as a thyroid support vit. I have been nursing and/or pregnant for the more than 9 yrs (2 1/2 yrs of that was tandem nursing!) and I know that it has taken alot out of me. I supplement with alot of vitamins and minerals to try to keep up. My diet has steadily improved over the years as I learn more. We actually joked during my first pregnancy this summer, that that baby would be our healthiest yet because we were eating so many fresh organic greens, and having green smoothies everyday! We make most of our own bread from whole grain organic flour and eat organic grass fed and finished scottish highland beef and our own organically raised chickens. So diet is a big deal to me and I think is mostly very good (we do eat out once in a while though).

One thing that really stands out to me in pp's was the folic acid reference, I have been taking high levels of b-complex to keep away migraines and for energy, not to mention the thyroid support vit has even more folic acid in it.

Does anyone have any references on folic acid versus natural folate and it's role in hypothroidism and miscarriage?

[JaneS]

So your TSH was high? Are you testing regularly... is it now low? Hashimoto's can cause up and down TSH and can only be dx with antibody testing. It is tied to gluten intolerance. (The thyroid protein is similar to gluten protein, so if the body attacks gluten, it also mistakenly attacks the thyroid).

Real Food Folate thread:
http://www.mothering.com/discussions....php?t=1184692

[pianojazzgirl]

Originally Posted by KatieBonita

The MTHFR gene malformation causes miscarriages. You can be tested for it but the treatment is to have FOLINIC acid instead of Folic acid.
It also messes with your thyroid when pregnant same treatment.

Good luck.

Yes. I am homozygous for a MTHFR genetic polymorphism and I need to take methylfolate instead of folic acid. (Thorne is one good brand that makes it by the way, and they have B complexes with it instead of folic acid). I have 2children with 2 miscarriages in between and a miscarriage after dc2.

[A&A]

Some women/clinical trials have had success with a low-dose aspirin a day (which is 81 mg., I think).

[JaneS]

Thyroid antibodies correlated with m/c and infertility
http://www.thyroidscience.com/

[Koalamom]

Hugs mama!

I sounds like you are eating well, really well!

I have heard that you aren't supposed to supp with selenium while pregnant but I don't know enough about that to say much more. Is tht why pregnant women should take it easy on brazil nuts? Anyone?

The B vitamins are good, but what about a whole food b complex like garden of life raw b complex, or brewers yeast? Thanks pianojazzgirl, I didn;t know Thorne made a b complex. Off to check that out.

[orangefoot]

You aren't doing anything wrong mama.

Have you been tested for blood clotting disorders? Protein S Deficiency (which I have) Protein C Deficiency, Factor V Leiden, G20210A Prothrombin gene mutation, Antithrombin III deficiency, MTHFR C677T and Activated Protein C Resistance are all genetic disorders which can cause pregnancy loss.

If you have had three losses your GP should refer you to a specialist clinic to investigate the reason for you losses regardless of the fact that you have also had healthy pregnancies.

The babycenter high risk boards are a mine of information about these blod disorders and other reasons for recurrent loss but you have to gloss over the super-medicalised choices some people make over there and try not to shake the screen in frustration.

[mamaw/two]

Thanks for all the replys, it really gives me alot to think about. I know that I'm not supposed to feel that the miscarriages are my fault, and if it I had only had one I would chalk it up to a chromosomal abnormality and move on. But two in a row...it's just got to be something I'm doing wrong or something that's wrong with my body.
I'm feeling really good about the changes I've made. No more synthetic vitamins! I did some cleanses, lots of epsom salt baths, and have been doing accupuncture. I'm starting cell salts and am waiting for my New Chapter prenatals to arrive in the mail! The yoga teacher at our health club was gone for six monthes on leave and has returned, so I'm back to yoga twice a week! I'm hoping all these things make a difference, not only for a successful pregnancy, but to get myself back to optimal health. Thanks again for all the suggestions and kind words

[mamaw/two]

Originally Posted by bluebirdmama1

Hugs mama!

I sounds like you are eating well, really well!

I have heard that you aren't supposed to supp with selenium while pregnant but I don't know enough about that to say much more. Is tht why pregnant women should take it easy on brazil nuts? Anyone?

The B vitamins are good, but what about a whole food b complex like garden of life raw b complex, or brewers yeast? Thanks pianojazzgirl, I didn;t know Thorne made a b complex. Off to check that out.

I will check into that more, thanks!

[mamaw/two]

Originally Posted by JaneS

Thyroid antibodies correlated with m/c and infertility
http://www.thyroidscience.com/

Interesting article. Luckily, I have gotten my thyroid #'s back to normal. Haven't ever been tested for antibodies though. At 6 monthes pp my tsh was 3.84, which is at the high end of normal by some standards and others say is high. By 12 monthes pp it was 1.81, so completely normal. The t4 has been normal all along. The t3 was 0.80 at 6 monthes pp and 0.91 at 12 monthes, so it had come up into the low end of normal! Above and beyond the blood test #'s , I'm feeling much better than I was, so that has to be a good sign.
If I end up with another miscarriage, I will be asking for the thyriod antibody test. My midwife isn't willing to do any testing until I have three consecutive losses.

[mamaw/two]

Originally Posted by A&A

Some women/clinical trials have had success with a low-dose aspirin a day (which is 81 mg., I think).

I have heard of this, off to research that and look up white willow bark...

[Lady Lilya]

The low dose aspirin thing is what they did before they could test MTHFR status. With the MTHFR gene variations, you need a lot more folate (not folic acid!) to avoid having micro-clots. Since the blood vessels for the placenta are so tiny, they are easily clotted. They found aspirin reduced that, but upping your folate would get to the root of the problem, if you have an MTHFR gene variation.

I was able to get the test ordered by my gyno. I also got my folate tested, and homocysteine.