Babies after PCOS m/c?

polly-pcos · 05-28-2006, 12:02 PM

I expect this question has come up many times before but I was wondering if anyone knows of women who have suffered m/c due to PCOS (I mean the doctors have found no abnormalities in the babies, or problems with the cervix etc) and then gone on to carry full term.

I have been dg PCOS after I was scanned following a second m/c, looking back I have had it since I was 11/12. I have always had regular periods and although I am not certain I assume I ovulate as the only two times we have been lax with birth control I got p/g. The first time I was p/g I was really stressed- dh, work, not planned etc (I am part of the generation who thinks they have to control everything!) but after the first scan everything changed, we relaxed were coming round to the idea then I m/c at 14/16 wks. The second time I did all the right things and dh had the champagne (not for me!) ready to take to my parents to tell them I was pg when i realised i was losing it at 10 wks! Obviously we were devastated- to the point where dh says he doesn't want kids, is too scared of me m/c again.

I would like to know if there is something they can do for women in my situation to keep them p/g. I understand it is linked to hormones. We have gone through a drastic lifestyle change, I am losing weight upping the exercise etc and wonder if they can test to see if my hormones would facilitate a p/g or if you can inject them or something.

It's not just that the thought of a m/s scares me but I know that lots of pg are not good medically. My aunt has 'sticky blood' which i have tested neg for, and has had lots of trouble with prolapses caused by the pg she had that never came to term.

Littlebullet · 05-28-2006, 04:15 PM

I'm sorry about your losses =( I can understand how frustrating it is to not have a cause for the m/c's. I was always told it was just not a viable pregnancy.

I would have all your hormones tested to see if you have high androgens, prolactin levels, thyroid etc. I would also talk to your doctor about upping your dose of metformin to 1500-2000mg. This dose has been proven effective with PCOS. If he refuses, get a different doctor or get a referal to an RE (reproductive endocrinologist). Metformin reduces the risk of miscarriage in women with PCOS. Some women stay on it the entire pregnancy and others just until the second trimester starts, when the placenta takes over. You can also try a low dose of clomid to improve egg quality. You may want to consider charting your BBT. It can tell you if your luteal phase is long enough for implantation etc.

If you do a search here or on the mommy/pregnancy board, you will see their are many many women who were able to go on and have healthy pregnancies and babies after m/c's. I hope this answers some of your questions.

Jennifer

SheriKCMO · 05-28-2006, 05:34 PM

i second everything jennifer said, especially how a proper dose of metformin has proven to help many cysters carry to term. additionally, many need to supplement progesterone. there are so many success stories around here, it's hard not to have hope, but you just need to be with the right doc, figure out your trouble, and get great care next time. once you are able to feel hope again, there will be a way to get you to the finish line.

i'm very sorry for your losses and hope you find some comfort here. ((hugs))

LaurAnnHere · 05-28-2006, 05:43 PM

I'm so sorry for your losses. There are many women here who have had multiple m/c who have gone on to bring healthy babies into the world. I am one of them. I really believe that low carbing and progesterone supliments are what helped me have my son. During the 3 years I was doing fertility treatments I lost 6 babies. I've lost 2 more since I had my son. I do have an incompetent cervix, but that doesn't account for first trimester losses. The only thing that I did differently was follow the Atkins diet.

mtm71401 · 05-28-2006, 07:01 PM

I have had 3 m/c total (all in the 1st trimester) and am not yet to full term but things are looking good this pg. I was able to do it with 1500 gloucophage and prometrium 200mgs (progesterone).

I am very sorry for your losses. (((((HUGS)))))

Your dr can test your progeterone after O and can tell you if it's low and then do it again after a BFP. I was taking prometrium 3 DPO to make sure I was covered for when I got pg. I came off both progeterone and gloucophage at 14 weeks but some women stay on it the whole time. GOOD LUCK!! I have been where you are and thought I would never carry a successful pg because of PCOS, but it's possible. It's all about finding the best treatment for you. PM me if you ever want to talk.

polly-pcos · 05-28-2006, 07:27 PM

Thanks for all your advice and support. I think we are a little behind on the PCOS front over here in the UK. When I think about TTC (hopefully not too far in the future I will get my hormones tested, i hope the diet and exercise help. My GP is pretty good and put me on a low dose to startas a tummy upset and teaching don't go well together! It's really useful having so much good advice and experience on hand.
Good luck with the pgs and tttc!

jpang · 05-28-2006, 10:55 PM

I don't know if the miscarriage I had was related to PCOS or not. I wasn't diagnosed at that point, but I suspect it was pcos related. I got pregnant immediately after the miscarriage and went on to have a healthy baby boy. My dr. had me on prometrium for the first trimester as a precaution. Honestly, I'm not sure if that helped or not. I was on it when we realized my betas weren't rising enough for the baby we lost. Obviously it didn't help that pregnancy.

I have a friend who had 2 or 3 miscarriages back to back. Her dr. never used progesterone b/c he felt that it would only prolong a pregancy that was destined to fail. She did get pregnant easily again and has had 2 children with very easy pregnancy.