Recurrent Miscarriages?
QUESTION
Dear Midwife,
I have had 3 miscarriages over a period of 14 years, no live births.
The first was in 1994, the second in 1999, the third in Dec. 2008.
Does this qualify as "recurrent"? I was not trying to conceive with the first two so never really pressed for information about what happened. The last one was deemed a blighted ovum.
I am 39 years old and now actively trying to conceive. Is testing recommended? Additionally, the pregnancies were with a different person each time. Does this mean the problem likely rests with me?
ANSWER
All women who are 39 are at higher risk of miscarriage. And at your age with your history, my opinion is that you should be consulting a fertility specialist immediately if you want to have a baby. Even if you choose to "adopt" an egg and do in vitro, the clock is ticking. I do wish you luck, but time is of the essence.
-- Cynthia, CNM
Cynthia Flynn
Cynthia Flynn, CNM. PhD, is the General Director of the Family Health and Birth Center which provides prenatal, birth, postnatal, gynecological and primary health care to underserved women and their families in Washington, D.C. Recently Cynthia served as Associate Professor of Nursing at Seattle University. There she not only taught, but remained in full scope clinical midwifery practice at Valley Medical Center where she cared for pregnant and birthing women, and practices well-woman gynecology, family planning, and treatment of sexually transmitted diseases.
Cynthia founded Columbia Women's Clinic and Birth Center, where she took care of pregnant women and infants up to two weeks of age and attended both birth center and hospital births. Before Cynthia earned her CNM, she worked as a registered nurse in labor and delivery and postpartum and is a certified Doula and Doula trainer.
