Mother-of-one speaks out about the heartbreak she has experienced during 27 miscarriages

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Mother-of-one, 33, who’s experienced 27 devastating miscarriages says it feels like her heart is being ‘ripped out’ every time because doctors can’t explain why she keeps losing babies

  • Lisa, 33, from Birmingham, has spoken out about heartbreak of 27 miscarriages
  • Mother-of-one had a very smooth pregnancy with her first born in 2007 
  • Endured two miscarriages before being diagnosed with unexplained infertility
  • Lisa had high level of natural killer cells, meaning body killing unborn embryos

By Chloe Morgan For Mailonline

Published: | Updated:

A mother-of-one has spoken out about the heartbreak she has experienced during 27 miscarriages.

Lisa, 33, from Birmingham, who doesn’t want to disclose her surname, had a smooth pregnancy with her first born in 2007 and assumed it would plain sailing in the future.

However, the trainee nursing associate endured two devastating miscarriages before being diagnosed with unexplained infertility.

Tests revealed Lisa had a high level of natural killer cells which meant her body was killing unborn embryos. But medication has failed to put an end to the heartbreaking miscarriages.

Lisa has told of her devastation days after Meghan Markle revealed in an article for The New York Times on Wednesday how she’d lost her second child after feeling a ‘sharp cramp’ while changing her son Archie’s nappy in July. 

Lisa (pictured), 33, from Birmingham, has spoken out about the heartbreak she has experienced during 27 miscarriages

‘I never knew it was possible to have unexplained complications behind building a family,’ explained Lisa. ‘It is frustrating and heartbreaking to say the least. Losing a baby doesn’t get easier but I have developed a thick skin.

‘I am super fertile but I don’t even smile or celebrate when I see two lines anymore. When the pains and miscarriage is happening, it literally feels like my heart is being ripped out.

‘But the harsh reality is – once it has happened – I am able to carry on as if it hasn’t.’

Lisa describes her second miscarriage at ten weeks as the ‘worst’ as she was hospitalised due to loss of blood.

Lisa (pictured) describes her second miscarriage at ten weeks as the 'worst' as she was hospitalised due to loss of blood

Lisa (pictured) describes her second miscarriage at ten weeks as the ‘worst’ as she was hospitalised due to loss of blood

Natural Killer (NK) cells and miscarriage

An overproduction of NK cells is one of the prime causes of pregnancy failure. 

NK cells activity is propelled by high-stress levels or by an auto-immune disease. 

In some situations, such as inflammation in the pelvic cavity, endometriosis, polycystic ovarian syndrome or inflammation in the fallopian tubes, the immune system sends signals to the circulating NK cells in the bloodstream which mistakenly starts attacking the embryo. 

When peripheral NK cells enter the site of inflammation uterine NK cells become incapable of protecting the embryo against the peripheral NK cells action. 

This leads to the damage to the embryo. 

Source: medical.net 

‘I was at a family meal and it happened when I went to the toilet,’ she explained. ‘I remember the blood was gushing out. It was so traumatic. I couldn’t believe I was losing another baby.’

The NHS are unable to investigate miscarriages further until the woman has suffered three.

Lisa sought private medical care as she couldn’t bare go through the pain again. But the tests came back normal meaning there was no remedy to put an end to the heartbreak. Lisa felt ‘confident’ that it wouldn’t happen again.

‘Being diagnosed with unexplained infertility makes it harder to accept,’ she said. ‘After three miscarriages, I stopped telling friends and family that I was pregnant.

‘As I have been almost waiting for it to happen again. I’ve seen strong heartbeats which have given me hope that it won’t happen again.

‘I often wonder why is this happening to me. At times it feels unfair. I am grateful for my daughter, 13, who I do not wish to be named, but don’t understand how or why I cannot carry another one.

‘I am desperate to have that overwhelming feeling of love that you get when you have a newborn.’

The average woman has 5% natural killer cells but Lisa had 11%. She prayed the medication to reduce them would work.

Doctors were baffled when the cells reduced to 2% but the recurring miscarriages continued.

In May 2019, Lisa was told the only way she will have a biological child would be through surrogacy.

‘I didn’t even have to ask my sister Joana, 31, as she has offered lots of times,’ she explained. ‘I can’t even compose how grateful and thankful I am for her to go ahead with it. ‘We did one round of IVF in October but it failed.

Meghan Markle’s tragic miscarriage  

Meghan Markle made headlines around the world after revealing she’d miscarried her second baby in July.

She fell ill at her home in Los Angeles before going to hospital, where she tearfully watched her husband Prince Harry’s ‘heart break as he tried to hold the shattered pieces of mine’ as they grieved for their unborn baby.

In the NYT piece titled The Losses We Share, she wrote poignantly: ‘I knew, as I clutched my firstborn child, that I was losing my second.

‘Hours later, I lay in a hospital bed, holding my husband’s hand. I felt the clamminess of his palm and kissed his knuckles, wet from both our tears.

‘Staring at the cold white walls, my eyes glazed over. I tried to imagine how we’d heal.’

‘Losing a child means carrying an almost unbearable grief, experienced by many but talked about by few.’

It is not known how pregnant Meghan was, but most women suffer miscarriages in the first 12 weeks.

‘I was sure it was going to work as the embryos were healthy and Joana, is a mum-of-two. That loss hurt more than the rest as I thought surrogacy was going to be the answer.

‘Thankfully, my sister is willing to try again. She said she will do whatever it takes to help me.’

Lisa hopes her story can break the taboo and encourage women to speak out about miscarriages.

‘I don’t think it is spoken about enough,’ she said. ‘I want others to know they are not alone and miscarriages do happen without a medical explanation.’