[nurse cutie]

Hi,

I was wondering if anyone could help me with this topic. I have recently experienced a miscarriage. Date of LMP 2/26/08. My Hcg levels FINALLY dropped to low 100's yesterday. It took FOREVER for them to drop. Found out I was miscarrying 2 weeks ago, and it has seemed like forever. Anyhow, I am aware that my age may be a factor. I just turned 40. My husband is 52. This is our 2nd life together and we just married last year. We weren't really trying at all, but was going to see what would happen. I have only one ovary yet I am VERY fertile. Have 3 kids already (very thankful for them) yet do want a family now with my hubby (hope you guys understand that.. ). I had a miscarriage last 9/19. Very early mc... just went from pos. hpt on a Sunday to a negative. Hpt on Wednesday and then started bleeding, a little heavier, yet normal period. This time saw a gestational sac even up until a week ago Sat. but Hcg #'s were dropping. And I eventually miscarried and now my numbers are down. That makes 2 times since last August I have been pregnant and miscarried. I am so heart broken :( . My ob MD tells me that I am still young and that my husband and I should go through genetic counseling. What does that entail? Also, should we wait a few months before relaxing again? Has anyone out there been successful at conceiving and carrying baby over 40 years old after having miscarriages? The MD said it was a "mother" issue for the baby to mc and that it really doesn't have anything to do with my husbands age. Is that true? My mother had a normal pregnancy and birth with me at age 43. I mean I am glad my husband has no guilt over this, I truly am... he was broken hearted as well. But after me NEVER having an issue, not even in my early 30's of conceiving and having a baby, I am confused at why it is such an issue now. OHHHH... also... I did smoke for the last 5 years and recently quit (promised myself if I ended up pregnant again I would stop immediately... which I did) so could that have something to do with it?? Please... any answers would help me right now.

Thanks.

[DoulaLC]

So sorry to hear of your loss... miscarriages can come about for a variety of reasons, some partly under our control, some out of our control.
Smoking does increase the possibility, but was that the actual cause?. no way to know really. Age can be a factor as well, but it does not mean it was the cause either. The age of your husband can play a role in his sperm health simply because of his lifetime exposure to various pollutants and chemicals.
Unless you had a specific reason for the miscarriages, one can only speculate as to the cause.
It is not unusual for a woman to have children earlier in life and find herself having some difficulty when she is a bit older. It can be surprising, and frustrating, because it may have been so easy before and you just expect it to be the same way. Your mother having had you at 43 can be a plus and you have already seen that you can become pregnant. Without having some testing done, for both of you, there is no way to know if there is an actual concern that needs to be dealt with, or if it was simply "meant to be". At 40, it would be wise to start on the testing as, even though you aren't old, you are considered to be at an advanced maternal age (such a lovely expression!). You don't have the luxury of time on your side to just wait and see how things go. One of the first tests that will likely be done is to check your progesterone levels... low level is a fairly common cause for recurrent miscarriages.
I wish you well and much success... :)