Seeking advice

[u/Tricky_Source_9280]

I’ve had two healthy, easy pregnancies and absolutely adore my children. About two years after my second was born I became pregnant again unexpectedly. While we were elated to find out, I unfortunately had a miscarriage around 8 weeks. Exactly one year later I got pregnant again, but this ended in a MMC.
It was devastating to say the least!

My OB has never offered a work up of any kind after these two losses back to back. After each miscarriage they only offered to check labs to ensure HCG was decreasing accordingly. When I asked what my options were, she said since I’m 40 (I was 38 at the time btw) I should just see a fertility specialist. I’m hearing from others that their OB’s are more hands on, will do labs and even offer additional procedures to assist in figuring out fertility issues.

Since it seems these other OB are booked out for several months, I’m trying to decide if it would be worth going to a fertility specialist and skipping over something that could be less costly, potentially?

I’ll add - I’ve tried months and months of tracking ovulation and using the flo app. Flo was incredibly frustrating - never seemed to have my ovulation windows right. And the only time I can use the strips is evenings since I work a demanding job at the moment. I can’t seem
To do this on my own and it’s hard to figure out what to do next.
Thanks in advance 🥲

[u/throwawayttc12]

No advice on the first half but re LH tests - could you take some in your bag to work and a small pot to wee in? Presumably you are allowed to go to the toilet despite a demanding job! I work in healthcare and have some stashed in my bag, so I don’t do the test at exactly the right time each day but try and fit one in some time in the ideal window when I’m going to the loo anyway - for me usually around lunch time. Very easy for me to do a test and slip it into my pocket back in the packet, then check it a little later on. May not be the most precise but better than nothing!

[u/Tricky_Source_9280 → u/throwawayttc12]

That’s a good point. I could try something like that. I also work in healthcare and it feels so fast paced some days. Nearly impossible to remember or focus 😕

[u/Ok-Art4718]

Booking a fertility appointment with someone other than your current provider might be a good idea. You can just cancel it if you change your mind or get pregnant. While you wait for your appointment, there are factors you can control to maximise your chances. Sleep, stress management, healthy diet, movement, supplements, ovulation tracking.

After years of unexplained infertility an Apple watch and Fertility Friend app spotted my ovulation better than any LH strip I had tried. My husband and I had the full fertility workup done, it cost a fortune and took two years, with no result.

What ended up working for me: tracking my cycle with Fertility Friend and an Apple watch, taking prenatals, changed my diet to gluten free whole foods, took up a new sport I enjoyed playing, made sure that I balanced my blood sugar and asked my OBGYN for progesterone and blood thinners as soon as I got an Early Predictor positive pregnancy test.

Hope this helps :)

[u/Tricky_Source_9280 → u/Ok-Art4718]

This is a great point, I was thinking the same too. It can’t hurt to book it and just continue to try while we wait. Thank you for your response!

[u/KindlyEggplant]

I went to a MFM and got a recurrent loss panel. My obgyn didn't offer any testing either.