What do I Look for?
Question
After six babies, one every other year for 13 years of marriage, we recently had a very early miscarriage. We were only about seven weeks along, but had told the children and were very excited about having baby #7.
I am 34 and am worried that I may need progesterone, or else suffer more miscarriages. I’m not sure what to expect in this cycle. The bleeding only lasted a few days, and the last day was the 16th of May, but I haven’t had a temperature shift indicating ovulation. Will this cycle be more of a “post partum” type cycle? I had only had one period since my last (sixth) baby before the miscarriage. I used to use NFP after baby #2, but gradually we realized we were open to having more children, and weaned ourselves off the method – so this is a “back to school” type of thing.
I want to make sure there is not a luteal phase defect, and I would like to avoid unnecessary* progesterone – however if I knew what I was looking for, it would be easier!
What should my cycle look like? What are warning signs? I really don’t want to lose another baby…
Stephanie
Answer
Last Updated: August 15, 2023
You and your husband are to be admired for your openness to life and desire to do the best for your family.
I definitely recommend that you begin charting again and if at all possible see a NaProTechnology trained MD so that you can have the expertise of his training of using bio-identical hormones cooperatively with your menstrual cycle. He has to use your cycles biomarkers to determine the time in your cycle to do that. Those markers are menstruation, the phases of estrogen and progesterone and peak of the mucus in particular, and all need to be normal in length and duration.
I would not take any artificial hormones by another doctor.
If you don’t chart your mucus or need a refresher course I would also suggest a Creighton trained NFP Practitioner. A practitioner will teach you the significance of what is normal and the warning signs that you should know to access your reproductive health.
You should check the Questions and Answers already posted under “Achieving a Pregnancy”, then, “Inadequate Luteal Phase”. They can be very helpful to you.
Judy Wilmurt
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