Thrombophilias factor v leiden - recurrent miscarriage

Hello Everyone,

Im new on here so please bare with me, I just feel like I need some friendly advice from ladies that have been through the same as me.
Im 28 and have a lovely daughter already who is 4 next month, since having her Ive had in total 4 miscarrages now which have all been very different, I was so shocked to even have the first miscarriage as Ive already got a little girl whom I carried with no problems at all.

I lost my first baby at 9 weeks and was devastated, To be honest the doctors at the time were not that helpful they just gave me the basics that 1 in 4 women have miscarriages and its so common blah blah so 6 months later i tried again and only got to 6 weeks, again they were not concerned at all and said they wouldnt investigate until I had a 3rd which came along pretty soon after also at 6 weeks.

I was then referred for tests basic blood tests which I was told would more than likely all come back not telling me much, So i didnt have much hope they just said because I already have a baby keep trying its just one of those things. Doesnt make you feel good though when you are told things like that as you want an answer BUT in the mean time my mum found an article in a magazine about taking low dose aspirin during the first few weeks of pregnancy, I spoke to my doctor and he said yes by all means take it if i feel i want to try it but nothing has proved that this does work.
When I fell pregnant again I decided to give it a go, I was very nervous about taking it and being pregnant again, I went for my 6 week early scan and they found a heart beat, I was so happy I just cried I couldnt believe it, I had several scans after that and was told everything was fine But was informed one of the blood tests I had done had come back that I have thrombophilias factor V Leiden, This is a gene that is passed on from only one of my parents and is a clotting agent in my blood, basically my blood clots a lot quicker and more and this is related to re-current miscarrage but because I was taking the Aspirin it had helped thin my blood and therefore everything was good. At the time it went in one ear and out the other as I was just so happy I was pregnant and had seen my babys heartbeat.
I got to nearly 10weeks and started bleeding, I just couldnt believe it I rang the doctors etc and they gave me the usual rest up etc etc but I knew in my heart that I had Lost this baby too. I was so angry I ended up paying to see a private doctor to scan me and talk me through what had happened as my hospital couldnt fit me in that day, even though im with the recurrent miscarriage group. The outcome was that because I have this Factor V Leiden I should of been prescribed Heprin injections to thin my blood more as the Asprin just wasnt enough in my case.

I was then on a mission to basically give my doctor a piece of my mind as I had these tests done in December and didnt get told til june this year (when I was pregnant again) that I had this thing, 6 months too late in my mind. He phoned me and told me that I am not allowed the heperin injections as my strain of this isnt severe and he would just prescribe me with Asprin again. I was so upset and by far this has been the worst miscarriage I have had. to top it off I had my D&C on my husbands Birthday!

I have since demanded to see another doctor who was lovely, she took the time to talk to me and explain everything about this Factor V Leiden, she has agreed that If I decide to try again she will prescribe me the injections. At the time I was adament that I couldnt put myself or my family through another miscarriage, I just dont think people really understand how you feel about losing a baby unless you have been through it yourself. Its true what they say Time is a healer and now im starting to feel ready to start trying again.

Have any of you ladies been through the same thing? Or do any of you have any success stories about taking the heperin if you have Factor V Leiden, some postive news will really do me good at the moment.

Really sorry my story is so long, just wanted to share what I have experienced in the hope it may help someone else. (When I mentioned to my own Gp's at my local doctors that I have this, none of them knew anything about it!!) So i hope it will help.

I know something about this

I'm going to have to be brief because I'm about to leave for relatives for Christmas, but I had 6 miscarriages and although I didn;t have factor 5 leiden, had a similar condition which basically made my immune system overactive - and I had to have aspirin, heparin, and steroids during the first three months of my seventh preganancy - which happily ended in my boy Ted five years ago. I was featured in the newspapers at the time.

I can tell you exactly the book you need to read - its called 'Is Your Body Baby Friendly? - avaialable on Amazon - it will tell you everything you need to know about your condition - and how to fight for the treatment you definately need. It's written by an American doctor called Alan Beer (who sadly has now died but his clinic continues to produced babys!) who is regarged with sceptism by the UK medical establishment.

I can also tell you the name of a doctor in the UK who is one of the leading experts in this area - he is called Hassan Shehata - he has a website called 'The Miscarriage Clinic' - he is brilliant and can treat you privately. Be warned - do not go and see Professor Leslie Reagan at St Marys - she's a haridan and an empire builder and a bully who will tell you she is the only person who knows anything about miscarriages which she does not.

I must dash, but I will tell you more if there's anything the book can't explain. It really is a revolutionary explanation of recurrent miscarriage which is not properly understood in the UK yet. = MOst GP's know nothing - a few consultants know a little - most are sceptical about any new treatments which include heparin and steroids - which I believe you will need. Get yourself up to date with the latest research from the book and then fight hard for the treatment you need"! And good luck.

Gillian Strachan