To summarize briefly, my recent history has included:
- One live birth in 2018
- One ectopic pregnancy in 2020
- Two miscarriages in 2021
My first miscarriage was to 9-week-old twins. The second miscarriage happened very early at five weeks and is sometimes known as a chemical pregnancy.
Tests
After multiple losses, there is a series of tests my doctor did to make sure they didn’t contribute to miscarriage. This included:
- Factor V Mutation
- TSH
- lupus anticoag
All my results came back in the range of normal with the exception of my TSH which I was already on medication for.
I switched to a prenatal that contains the active form of folate rather than synthetic folic acid. There are studies that seem to indicate that some women have difficulty absorbing synthetic folic acid and this is more common in women with multiple miscarriages.
As a disclaimer, I want to state that based on my research I would say the studies on MTHFR gene mutations are not conclusive or seem contradictory. The CDC still recommends the synthetic form of folic acid. However, for my own peace of mind, this is what I am deciding to do. Consult with your doctor and decide what is best for you.
Lifestyle Changes
Before I got pregnant with twins I was down to my pre-baby weight. After the miscarriage, I put on weight, and then put on more weight after the second. I am working on getting back down to my initial pre-baby weight and am nearly there.
I switched from drinking coffee to drinking tea. Higher amounts of caffeine are associated with infertility and miscarriage. I wasn’t ready to quit caffeine altogether, but tea has about one-third the amount of caffeine as coffee so I get to still enjoy a warm drink in the morning while reducing caffeine intake.
I completely gave up alcohol. Although I was only having one to two drinks in the course of a week, I found it just wasn’t serving my needs at this time.
I am attempting a fertility-friendly diet. I am not going super low-carb like I have tried in the past, as I haven’t been able to maintain a low-carb/keto diet for more than a few months at a time. Instead, I am focusing on eating lots of whole foods, including vegetables, fruits, eggs, and meat. I am focusing on getting a lot of healthy fat and protein and choosing slow-digesting carbs in the form of whole grains, fruits, or vegetables.
I am avoiding gluten and processed foods.
Medications
My doctor is monitoring my progesterone levels and I am taking synthetic progesterone.
I am also taking thyroid medication and metformin to keep my blood sugars in check.
In addition to that, I am taking low-dose naltrexone. My doctor is prescribing it as an anti-inflammatory. The dose I am taking is much, much smaller than the typical dose. I was also taking this medication when I got pregnant with my firstborn which is the only pregnancy I have carried to term.
Supplements
Based on the recommendation of my doctor, I am using the prenatal FH Pro by Fairhaven Health*. This brand of prenatal uses the bio-available form of folate instead of folic acid. It includes antioxidants that improve egg health like CoQ-10 and melatonin. Everything I would want is contained in this single supplement so I avoid having to purchase and remember to take multiple types of pills. I take two pills three times a day so a total of six pills a day.
*If you choose to purchase this supplement through this link I receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thank you for supporting this blog!
Processing Grief
Pregnancy loss is traumatic.
My babies died inside of me, and then I delivered them at home in my bathroom.
When you deliver a live baby, you are inundated with well-wishes, meals, and gifts.
When you deliver a dead baby (or babies), not many people even acknowledge what you are going through.
Fortunately, God pushed me to join a Mom’s small group shortly after my miscarriage. I didn’t realize it at the time but it has been instrumental in me being able to process my grief.
I did not intend to share what I was going through because I don’t want to burden others with my problems, but instead, I have broken down multiple times in front of women who at the time were near strangers. I was not expecting the outpouring of sympathy and understanding, as many of the women shared that they had gone through similar losses as well.
It is easy to believe you are all alone in your grief. The truth is there are many many people who are grieving. We hide it because we don’t be a burden. But we should not be afraid to speak about it, because we never know who we might help, or who might be able to help us.
God did not mean for us to mourn alone.
Blessed are those that mourn, for they shall be comforted.
Matthew 5:4
It is better to go to a house of mourning than to go to a house of feasting, for death is the destiny of everyone; the living should take this to heart.
Ecclesiastes 7:2
I know not many people read this blog. But if you have stumbled upon this little blog and you’re reading this because you’re going through something similar, please don’t go through it alone. Please tell someone. Talk to someone. Talk to your partner, your friend, your therapist… even a complete stranger if they want to listen. You don’t have to go through this alone.
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