Chapter 22, Page 8

What about treatment? Sometimes it is possible to treat the problem - for example, by taking a cervical stitch to treat an incompetent os; or removing a uterine septum by hysteroscopic surgery. However, most treatment is "empirical" and is like shooting in the dark. Possible solutions could include: bed rest; progesterone injections and tablets; and uterine relaxants, such as terbutaline, during pregnancy, though their real value is doubtful.Often the only option is to try again. Remember, even if you have had three or more miscarriages, your chance of carrying the next baby to term is still more than 50% - even with no specific treatment, and just tender loving care!

Deciding when to start the next pregnancy is a decision only you and your husband can answer. It takes a lot of courage and both of you need to be ready.

Your next pregnancy probably won't be as joyful as you would like it to be. Insist that your pregnancy be monitored carefully. Whenever the slightest problem occurs, you'll feel vulnerable and terrified, but don't panic.Everyone will make suggestions about what you should do to make your pregnancy successful. This can be annoying, but remember people are doing it because they care! The easiest way to handle this is to listen, and then do what you and your doctor feel is best for you.

Your child birth experience can be bitter = sweet - memories surface about your loss, especially if you are at the same hospital. You probably will need to do some grieving in addition to celebrating the new life.

The experience of miscarriage will also affect your parenting. Bonding with your child may also be delayed because you feel the need to protect yourself from more sorrow, so you wait till you are certain that all is safe and sure with your baby. Moments of panic will occur when the baby is ill or too quiet or with someone else. You are also likely to treat your children as "extra special," and be less objective than other parents.

If you've experienced recurrent miscarriage, you may feel hopeless and confused regarding a positive pregnancy outcome. Remember that miscarriage is not an uncommon event. Your testing will focus on trying to find out the known causes of recurrent miscarriages. But knowledge of this problem is still limited, and no cause can be detected in up to 50% of couples with repeated pregnancy loss. This can be very frustrating, both to the patient and the doctor. The encouraging news is that the spontaneous cure rate is very high and successful treatment is available for treating certain uterine and endocrine causes. So even if your evaluation does not reveal a treatable cause and you do not undergo treatment, your chance of achieving a healthy pregnancy despite having had several miscarriages in the past is still better than 50% - and the only "treatment" you need is tender loving care!

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Credits: How to Have a Baby: Overcoming Infertility