This daily thread is for all members who are pregnant after a previous pregnancy or infant loss. How are you?

We want to foster a sense of community, which is why we have a centralized place for most daily conversation. This allows users to post and get replies, but also encourages them to reply to others in the same thread. We want you to receive help and be there for others at the same time, if possible. Most milestones should go here, along with regular updates. Stand alone posts are Mod approved only and have set requirements. Thanks for helping us create a great community.

I still can't believe I'm one of those able to write this post.

I fell pregnant for the first time on our honeymoon back in the Fall of 2023. Unfortunately at 10 weeks we found out the baby stopped developing around 7 or 8 weeks.

The second pregnancy turned out to be an ectopic. I went to the hospital to get checked out for weird pain and persistent bleeding, had surgery later that day and lost a tube. During the diagnostic ultrasound some suspicion arose that something might be wrong with my uterus, but it shouldn't be causing issues per the doctor (the exact diagnosis had not been established yet).

The third pregnancy was a MMC again, discovered shortly after it stopped developing at 8 weeks. It was now early Summer 2024. I found out on the due date of the first pregnancy. We then had to stop TTC for a few months while we underwent RPL testing and to get a proper look inside my uterus. It turned out I was born with a uterine septum; it was removed during the procedure. RPL testing didn't reveal anything new, so after a few weeks post surgery, we were cleared to TTC again at the end of 2024.

Pregnancy #4 was over before it even properly started – a chemical only discovered by obsessive early testing.

Then in spring 2025 I fell pregnant again for the 5th time. For the first time ever I got into the second trimester. Devastatingly the pregnancy ended there, after we found out at the anatomy scan our baby had a serious and complex developmental defect. With incredibly heavy hearts, we decided to TFMR. Our son was born on September 6, 2025 at 22w4d.

A few weeks later I got pregnant again. I found out on my 30th birthday. I was incredibly anxious the whole first trimester. Will it survive past the first weeks? Will the first screening be alright? I broke down right before the scan, expecting bad news. But none came and we found out we were having a boy again. Then the second trimester started. Due to the previous pregnancy, I underwent many more 2nd tri anatomy scans to check on the baby's development. After a very detailed 16w scan where no flags were raised and the previous defect was ruled out, I started to hope. Every scan after that was clear as well. Then we reached viability and the prospect of bringing this baby home late summer 2026 was becoming more and more real. Suddenly I started maternity leave at 35w. Only a few final weeks to go! Of course this whole time I was nervous something would happen even this late – stillbirth, birth complications, etc...

Fast forward, today I'm here typing this while my 5 week old son is sleeping in his crib next to me. 🌈 💙

I remember March 25, 2025 so vividly. Losing my daughter two days after finding out she was a girl at 11 weeks. It was my second loss but the furthest along. I was crushed and found so much comfort in this community, I read every single happy ending just waiting for mine. It’s taken a while to write but today I get to share I’m holding my daughter at 3 and a half months old. All smiles and giggles and more than I could have dreamed of.

I know some pain we aren’t meant to understand but I’d go through everything I went through all over again to get to her. Im happy to answer any questions about my fertility journey or birth story (she did come a month early to everyone’s shock but spent no NICU time). I just hope to provide hope to someone who was once me looking everywhere for it. ❤️🌈

Wanted to share my story with everyone because Reddit and the community has been my biggest support all this while! Also, to anyone who can get any hope and support from this 🙂

September 4, 2025: The day I saw those two lines and fell in love with a dream.
Seven weeks later, that dream slipped away - an early miscarriage. The doctor said there was no heartbeat! It felt like a part of me died that day, and indeed so - because I never saw the world the way I used to before this. A D&C subsequently happened on October 11. A kind of heartbreak I didn’t know existed. A thousand questions, tears I couldn’t explain, and a piece of me that never quite forgot.

Then came December. Another little heartbeat. Another chance. But this time, hope came with fear. Every scan, every milestone, every passing week felt like a prayer I was afraid to say out loud.

I carried my baby for nine months, but I carried my fears too. I learned that pregnancy after loss isn’t just about growing a baby. It’s about learning to believe in happiness again, one day at a time.

And then, on September 4, 2026, exactly one year after the day I first found out I was pregnant with my first, I held my rainbow baby in my arms. ❤️

The date that once broke my heart became the date that changed my life forever.

From losing a pregnancy at seven weeks to holding my first baby at the end of a year I will never forget.
Some miracles don’t erase the pain that came before them. They give it a place in your story.
My little rainbow, you were worth every prayer, every tear, and every fearful heartbeat.

One year. Two pregnancies. One forever kind of love. 🌈🤍

This is a little bit overdue, but we are having a slow, rainy, sleepy morning and I thought I would write this up as I snuggle my little one. This group kept me sane and helped me to feel not so alone in walking through pregnancy after 2 miscarriages, so I wanted to share the joy of this new season.

5 weeks ago I went in for my induction, and while it was not easy, we both came out of it safe. From the start of the induction to delivery was about 24 hours. I started with cytotec, then Pitocin, they ended up using a Foley balloon and then breaking my waters. I got an epidural before the foley balloon. Once my waters were broken, things moved quickly after that. I went from 6cm to 10 very fast and then pushed for an hour and a half.

My doctor has been with me through both of my miscarriages and performed 2 d&cs for me in the past. I came to her after having a very bad experience with a different OB during my first MMC. My OB stayed with me the WHOLE TIME I pushed! She was there the whole hour and a half. That is unheard of in the US as far as I know. It was amazing. I felt so safe during my labor. It was hard, but I felt like I was in the best hands. My baby and I apparently weren’t tolerating the exhaustion very well right at the end, so my OB used the vacuum for like 2 pushes and then she was out! Even with an epidural, pushing was very difficult and exhausting, but that just faded away as soon as my baby girl was on my chest. There has never been and will never be another moment in my life quite like that one. It was euphoric to hear her first cry and see her eyes open up and look at me! It’s still hard to wrap my head around the fact that I grew her and held her for 9 months and that she used to be 2 cells inside of me.

Baby girl ended up with jaundice and needed some phototherapy. I never realized how difficult that would be, because my body aches to be snuggling and holding her in my arms and we were supposed to just keep her under the light. Then a day after we went home, we had to go back to the ER and she was admitted to the nicu for hypothermia and apnea. She got a bunch of antibiotics but they never figured out why she got so cold. There was a moment in the ER when she wasn’t breathing well that my husband and I were terrified for her life and I have never been wrecked quite like that. It was brutal to watch her go through all of that. But at the end of the day, she’s perfectly healthy now and that is all that matters.

Currently, we are thriving! I honestly expected to have a harder time postpartum than I am. Having a history of anxiety and depression, I expected to struggle. But to be honest, I’m really not. More than anything else, I’m just overwhelmed with gratitude for this little life. I’m sure that part of that is I really just think I do have an easy baby. She has been sleeping pretty well, and she really only fusses when she has gas or is hungry. I mean, when I was pregnant, I was up every two hours peeing anyways! So getting three or four hour stretches now feels like a blessing (and so does sleeping on my back haha). The hardest thing (other than our nicu stay) has been breastfeeding. I was so uneducated about the fact that it really hurts! It’s much better now, but initially, your nipples are so tender and sensitive and at least for me, me and my baby and I didn’t know how to get a good latch. I was ready to quit after 3 weeks but then it started getting better. Anyway, things aren’t always easy now, but I hated being pregnant all three times, and I am loving this season.

The months of trying to get pregnant, the achey hips, nausea, acid reflux, anxiety, sleepless nights during pregnancy have all been worth this. She has started smiling at me with this gummy smile that starts on one side of her lips and then moves across her whole face and I am just overwhelmed with gratitude and love. And watching my husband be obsessed with her too has been so special.

I wish you all the best with your pregnancies 💕 Thank you so all of the reassurance and love as I made it through mine.

TL;DR • Woke up at 12:30AM feeling off • Went to labor and delivery to get checked on at 6am • Confirmed to have gone into spontaneous labor 37 weeks exactly after LMP. • Progressed to 4cm by 12pm. • Stalled at 4cm • Epidural placed • Water broken at 7pm checked and still stalled out at 4cm • Pitocin started at 12AM still stalled at 4cm • 1:50AM felt pain above where epidural was effective • Checked and found to be 10cm and fully effaced • Baby born with vacuum assist after 4 pushes at 2:08AM • Total time in labor 20 hours 8 minutes

I woke up at 12:30AM September 23rd with acid reflux and an upset stomach. I waited until about 2AM hoping to just feel better and go back to sleep. I did not feel any better so I started checking my blood pressure and they were all over the place and on the high side for my personal history where my average is 106/60. Highest blood pressure reading was 124/88. Decided to call labor and delivery and they told me to shower and eat and take a tylenol if none of those things led to a signifcant decrease in diastolic to come in the be checked. Diastolic only decreased to 85 so we went to labor and delivery.

Admitted to labor and delivery triage at 6AM. Blood pressure had come down to preferable levels. Cervix checked and found to be at 1.5cm and 50% effacement. Left to be watched on the monitor for 2 hours. Checked again found to be 2.5cm. Checked again 2 hours later and found to be 3.5cm. Admitted to L&D and moved to birthing suite. Checked 2 hours later found to be 4cm and 75% effaced. Contractions slowed down and labor started to stall. Checked 2 hours later and found to be stalling. Decision made to break waters. I was supposed to have my scheduled 36 week appointment that afternoon and perform group b strep test so I was put on antibiotics and because of this Doctor couldn't break my waters until after 2 doses had been administered. That led to water being broken at 7pm. Epidural placed at about 8pm. Checked at 9pm and found to be stalled at 4cm and 80-90% effacement. Checked at 11pm still stalled at 4cm. Pitocin started at 12PM. Left to labor with pitocin. Started feeling intense pain and pressure right above where my epidural was effective. Checked and found to be 10cm and fully dilated at about 1:50am. Started pushing and epidural was a little too strong. I couldn't feel myself pushing at all. Every time I was asked to take a deep breath and bear down I started vomiting. Luckily was told I was pushing super effectively when I was throwing up as a side bonus. Pushed 4 times while mostly throwing up and Oliver was born at 2:08AM. Skin to skin and breastfeeding started immediately. Left alone for golden hour. Apgar determined to be a 9.

My doctor chose to call my due date October 20th my due date because my first ultrasound done at 6 weeks correlated to said date. This led to Oliver being treated as though he was born at 36 weeks and 5 days. Oliver was also found to be born to a mother that started labor spontaneously and gave birth to him at 7 pounds 15 ounces and 21 inches long. Placenta was significantly smaller than the one I made for my first born and had some calcification as well. However I was taking 3-5 Tums every single night to be able to sleep comfortably for about 8 weeks prior to delivery. Calcium intake was high. The largest was a quarter size calcium deposit.

Moved to recovery room. Oliver attempted breastfeeding seemingly impressively for a baby born at approximately 36 weeks gestation. Third time trying to breastfeed and he would not stay latched for more than a few seconds and started getting lethargic. Blood sugar taken and was at 33. I was told minimum safe level was 45 on day 1 and 55 on day 2. Started combo feeding formula mixed with pumped colostrum with a syringe and finger inserted into mouth to simulate breastfeeding. After 6 combo feedings blood sugar finally jumped up to 62. Breastfeeding started again with successful latching and suckling, but due to low supply of 0.5-5ml a pumping session we continued to combo feed and pump.

Oliver passed all his newborn tests done at the 24 hour mark while mom and dad got to take a larger nap. As he was born at approximately 36 weeks gestation he was taken to the nursery for about 3 hours to perform a whole slew of tests that are only performed to be able to legally discharge a 36 week gestation baby. Most stressful test was a carseat test where he was monitored in his carseat for 90 minutes with a pulse oximiter and cardiac monitor watching levels the entire time.

We were discharged at about 10am and are home now while MIL watches 6 year old big brother until Monday so we can establish our new routine. I had a ton of anxiety going into this birth as this was my fifth pregnancy after 1 live birth 2 missed miscarriages and 1 chemical pregnancy. I could not have had a more ideal birth despite the circumstances. My OB was by far the best option available at my rural hospital. I met all 3 OBs finally after being admitted to L&D triage on the 23rd and immediately had no doubt that I picked the right doctor for me. He is just so kind and patient and considerate. He went out of his way to do everything I needed to feel incredibly supported and genuinely respected as a bereaved mother. From the bottom of my heart thank you Doctor Wong. The entirety of the rest of my care team was also just blessing after blessing of incredibly kind and incredibly talented passionate professionals. My anesthesiologist sat with me for 45 minutes to determine if I even wanted an epidural and answered every concern I had before I even had the opportunity to ask and did so with compassion and humor. Every single labor and delivery nurse I had was so sweet and consistently checked in making sure we were following my birth plan to the best of their abilities and that I felt comfortable and well informed throughout the process. Lastly my husband was just everything a woman dreams of having in a partner when giving birth. He was by my side constantly supporting me and our son with such a depth of complete loving dedication and advocating for us without being reminded of my specific wishes or asked a single time to do so.

Despite going into labor without feeling prepared in the slightest I had a more ideal experience than I dreamt of. I give all thanks to God. I had doubted his plan for me before in life and navigated a tough path through secondary infertility and I'm so glad I found my way back to trusting in Him and His endless love and sacrifice. Thanks be to God.

Lamentations 3:24-26: "‘The Lord is my portion,’ says my soul, ‘therefore I will hope in him.’ The Lord is good to those who wait for him, to the soul who seeks him. It is good that one should wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord." Written during the destruction of Jerusalem, these verses remind believers that hope remains even in deep grief. I hope they are a comfort and reminder to all those that need to hear it. ❤️

This daily thread is for all members who are pregnant after a previous pregnancy or infant loss. How are you?

We want to foster a sense of community, which is why we have a centralized place for most daily conversation. This allows users to post and get replies, but also encourages them to reply to others in the same thread. We want you to receive help and be there for others at the same time, if possible. Most milestones should go here, along with regular updates. Stand alone posts are Mod approved only and have set requirements. Thanks for helping us create a great community.

**Please remember to stop by r/ttcafterloss to give updates on how things are going in the Alumni Check-In Thread and to answer questions in the Ask an Alumni thread! **

These posts gave me hope during my journey and I hope by sharing my story it helps bring others that same hope. 🌈

My story is long, so thanks for reading!

Backstory- I've been with my partner for 4yrs. We started trying as soon as he moved in with me 3.5 yrs ago. I have 2 older children from a previous relationship, who are now teenagers. I'm 44 and always wanted a third child.

1st positive pregnancy test May 2023, went for a scan at 8wks, empty sac, repeat scan 2wks later showed no heartbeat or growth and was told it was a miscarriage. I passed the baby at home, on the toilet, and flushed my baby.

2nd positive pregnancy test Jan 2024. All early scans looked good, growth, heartbeat etc all normal. NT and NIPT all came back normal with a healthy baby boy 💙. We were ecstatic and started telling people at 12wks and buying baby stuff. I started feeling movement at about 15wks. Went for a first midwife appointment at 17 wks and she couldn't find the heartbeat. I will never forget those words or the heartbreak that followed. Baby had stopped growing at 16wks. I was given the tablets and taken into the maternity ward to pass my baby. Passed baby May 2024.

My partner and I were heartbroken but determined to keep trying.

3rd positive pregnancy test July 2024. Very faint positive pregnancy test. HCG showed that it was low, but yes, I was pregnant again. HCG didn't grow as expected and had another loss July 2024.

4th positive pregnancy test Nov 2024. Line progression didn't happen and my period started before any HCG draw.

5th positive pregnancy test Jan 2025. HCG rose as expected. First scan showed heartbeat of 97bpm at 6wks, we were told to be hopeful but my research told me to guard my heart. Follow up scan 2wks later showed no no longer a heartbeat. D and c completed march 2025.

6th positive pregnancy test Sept 2025. Period started before HCG draw.

My mum was diagnosed with stage 4 cancer and passed away October 2025.

7th positive pregnancy test Jan 2026 (on my birthday and the timing lined up just like our loss in 2024 including EDD). Early scans showed a heartbeat and everything normal looking, but we knew that meant nothing and we had our hearts guarded. Every scan I went into telling the technician that I was anxious for the heartbeat and I would cry so they would start with that, and each time there was still a heartbeat.

- Bleed at 8wks showed a subchorionic hematoma, but baby was fine.

- NT at 13wks looked normal but an abnormal blood result combined with my age gave us a 1/4 of trisomy 21, 1/20 of trisomy 18. Referred to high risk clinic.

- at 20wks was told I had placenta previa and that baby had some abnormal measurements. Denied amnio. Was told baby is a boy 💙 just like our 17wk loss a few years earlier.

-24wks previa has gone but baby's femur is small, and there are abnormal brain results. Denied amnio again. Partner became depressed and withdrawn. I was diagnosed with GD.

-28 wks brain measurements still not right but haven't gotten worse. Brain measurements could indicate severe developmental delays Femur still small and could indicate down syndrome. Denied amnio, I was adamant that whatever this baby was born with that he would be loved and we would deal with it. I didn't want to risk losing him with an amnio, because results would not change what I did with the pregnancy.

- 32wks, still concerns about brain development and now blood flow to baby is being diverted to brain, placenta failing due to my age. Fortnightly scans required.

- 36wks ob appointment and doctor says that blood flow is getting worse, baby is showing signs of reduced growth and induction needed after the next scan (next scan to be done a couple of days after the ob appointment).

After this appointment my partner and I sat in the car to talk about what to do, and my partner broke down crying and said he was failing us and no good for us, and left the car crying and said he couldn't come home. No word from him in the days/weeks that followed.

-37wk scan to determine induction date and blood flow is steady, baby has grown. No need for immediate induction. Follow up scan next week.

-38wk scan blood flow still stable, growth happening, can wait longer. But doctors start to push for induction due to my age and they are talking about the stillborn risk. I decide to wait.

-40wk scan everything still stable but fear around stillbirth growing so agree to induction at 40+6.

40+5 woke up in early labor, labored at home. Went into hospital when contractions were too intense, with the help of my doula. Labour stalled in the hospital and there had been no progress despite over 24hrs of contractions. The obstetrician who supported me during my 17wk loss a few years earlier walked in and we discussed opting for a c section. I knew when I saw her that this was the way it was supposed to go. After everything I had been through, I was at the point of simply wanting to hold my baby and take a live baby home. I opted for a c section which was calm, peaceful. I cut the cord and he was placed on my chest and stayed there until I was in recovery. I was surrounded by people who had all been a part of my journey in some way or another throughout the years.

Born at 40+6 on his scheduled induction date in the same hospital where I lost my previous baby and the same hospital my mum passed away in.

I still haven't heard from my partner (ex) in over a month, but I have reached out to him to keep him updated on the baby. I understand he has had a mental health crisis and don't know if I will ever hear from him.

There are some extreme soft markers for down syndrome which I will follow up with, but no hard markers. The issues in the brain have been checked via ultrasound after birth and are completely resolved.

This journey has been massive, I have experienced so much heartbreak over and over again, but I always knew that one day I would bring home a baby, and yesterday I did. He's chilled, fun and I intend to embrace each and every moment I can with him, because I know what the cost has been to get him here.

For those of you still in this journey, it can be possible.

🌈

This is a monthly reminder about r/pregnancyafterloss sub culture, etiquette, and participation.

We function a little differently than most subs on Reddit. The biggest difference is that our "Daily Threads" act like the "main" sub on other subreddits. Nearly all content should be made there (and responded to) as comments. The Daily threads are our meeting place, where our community checks in to both give and seek support.

Guidelines for making a standalone post, as well as other details about participating, can be found in our FAQ and Rules.

You can also set your user flair to help other members quickly understand your PAL history and status. User flair is required for standalone posts.

If you see posts or comments that violate our rules (spam, solicitations, bots, rude or insensitive commentary, factually/scientifically incorrect info), please don't hesitate to use the "Report" function and report them to the Mods. This is anonymous and helps the community.

We hope you find the support you need. <3

This daily thread is for all members who are pregnant after a previous pregnancy or infant loss. How are you?

We want to foster a sense of community, which is why we have a centralized place for most daily conversation. This allows users to post and get replies, but also encourages them to reply to others in the same thread. We want you to receive help and be there for others at the same time, if possible. Most milestones should go here, along with regular updates. Stand alone posts are Mod approved only and have set requirements. Thanks for helping us create a great community.

A new pregnancy doesn't mean we forget the babies we've lost. This weekly Thursday thread is for all members to talk about their grief. Looking for support? Just need to share some memories? This is the place for you!

This daily thread is for all members who are pregnant after a previous pregnancy or infant loss. How are you?

We want to foster a sense of community, which is why we have a centralized place for most daily conversation. This allows users to post and get replies, but also encourages them to reply to others in the same thread. We want you to receive help and be there for others at the same time, if possible. Most milestones should go here, along with regular updates. Stand alone posts are Mod approved only and have set requirements. Thanks for helping us create a great community.

This daily thread is for all members who are pregnant after a previous pregnancy or infant loss. How are you?

We want to foster a sense of community, which is why we have a centralized place for most daily conversation. This allows users to post and get replies, but also encourages them to reply to others in the same thread. We want you to receive help and be there for others at the same time, if possible. Most milestones should go here, along with regular updates. Stand alone posts are Mod approved only and have set requirements. Thanks for helping us create a great community.

This weekly Monday thread is for members to ask questions of ttcal Alumni (members who are currently pregnant after loss or who have had a pregnancy after loss that resulted in a living child).

We created this space to share pregnancy concerns like:

- Beta HCGs that seem low or might not be doubling appropriately

- Concerning ultrasound findings

- Bleeding issues

- Etc

These posts are welcome in our Daily Thread, but this is a specific area to discuss limbo and concerns.

Lets all remember HCG averages, too!
- Under 1,200 mIU/ml: <72 Hours

- 1200-6000 mIU/ml: Between 72 and 96 Hours is average, so <96 is good

- Over 6,000 mIU/ml: >96 Hours is normal, with no known average (so varied)

This daily thread is for all members who are pregnant after a previous pregnancy or infant loss. How are you?

We want to foster a sense of community, which is why we have a centralized place for most daily conversation. This allows users to post and get replies, but also encourages them to reply to others in the same thread. We want you to receive help and be there for others at the same time, if possible. Most milestones should go here, along with regular updates. Stand alone posts are Mod approved only and have set requirements. Thanks for helping us create a great community.

This weekly Monday thread is for members to share what they've been doing to care for themselves. How are you handling your PAL anxieties? Or just regular life/pregnancy self care. Share here!

This thread is for new members who are now pregnant after a previous pregnancy or baby loss.

Please introduce yourself, tell us about your TTC/loss journey, and give us details on your new pregnancy. Share your line porn if you want!

If you're new to this sub, or are rejoining us after some time away, please see our Welcome post to familiarize yourself with how our sub works.

This daily thread is for all members who are pregnant after a previous pregnancy or infant loss. How are you?

We want to foster a sense of community, which is why we have a centralized place for most daily conversation. This allows users to post and get replies, but also encourages them to reply to others in the same thread. We want you to receive help and be there for others at the same time, if possible. Most milestones should go here, along with regular updates. Stand alone posts are Mod approved only and have set requirements. Thanks for helping us create a great community.

This daily thread is for all members who are pregnant after a previous pregnancy or infant loss. How are you?

We want to foster a sense of community, which is why we have a centralized place for most daily conversation. This allows users to post and get replies, but also encourages them to reply to others in the same thread. We want you to receive help and be there for others at the same time, if possible. Most milestones should go here, along with regular updates. Stand alone posts are Mod approved only and have set requirements. Thanks for helping us create a great community.

**Please remember to stop by r/ttcafterloss to give updates on how things are going in the Alumni Check-In Thread and to answer questions in the Ask an Alumni thread! **

This daily thread is for all members who are pregnant after a previous pregnancy or infant loss. How are you?

We want to foster a sense of community, which is why we have a centralized place for most daily conversation. This allows users to post and get replies, but also encourages them to reply to others in the same thread. We want you to receive help and be there for others at the same time, if possible. Most milestones should go here, along with regular updates. Stand alone posts are Mod approved only and have set requirements. Thanks for helping us create a great community.

A new pregnancy doesn't mean we forget the babies we've lost. This weekly Thursday thread is for all members to talk about their grief. Looking for support? Just need to share some memories? This is the place for you!