"Best" option for MMC - surgery, pills, wait+see?

[lovelylara]

Found out at a scan today that I was not around 10 weeks as I thought as my baby had died at around 7 weeks :( I have had no bleeding.

I am seeing the hospital's early pregnancy unit tomorrow.

I have read the Miscarriage Association's leaflet on the 3 options above but would like to hear from those of you who have been through similar which option you chose. I don't like the uncertainty of the wait and see/natural approach but I am a bit scared off the possibly more painfulness/risks of surgery or pills...

[Daisybell1]

I'm so sorry Lara

I had an erpc last July. I couldn't cope with the wait and see as I have a monstrous toddler to run around after, and the pills involved 2 further trips to the hospital which is an hr away. I went for the erpc as it gave me certainty.

The op itself was fine, the anesthetist held my hand as they put me under and I woke up 1/2hr later. I was in for the day but no bleeding or pain afterwards.

[LightAFire]

So very sorry to hear that

The downside to wait and see is you have all the hormones chasing through you and the sadness sort of drags on IYSWIM.

Obviously though any surgery always a risk - but the ERPC procedure is fairly minimal. Don't know much about the pills.

Good luck choosing and wish you all the best for next time x

[jamtoast12]

I had a mmc years ago - found out at 12 week scan that the baby had stopped growing at 7.2 weeks. I had surgery as recovery was meant to be quicker and it was tbh so I do recommend.

[jamtoast12]

Sorry to hear your news though as mmc are often a shock as they generally don't give symptoms :(

[CreatureRetorts]

Sorry for your loss :(

I went for wait and see as was already bleeding. However it was bad - ended up in a&e as lost blood - a bit of tissue stoppedy cervix so I was haemorrhaging as my cervix couldn't close up. So had the erpc anyway - which in itself was fine. Mine was a horror story - I wasn't prepared for the pain and mess. Noone had warned me.

[Bakingtins]

I've done natural and medical MC, and had effectively an ERPC under general after birth of my son for retained placenta. I'd go for surgery if you have that option open to you. When I've MC I've already been bleeding so not been offered it. 2 out of 3 natural MC I ended up in hospital, and one of them was still incomplete and had to have medical treatment after. ERPC least bad option IMO.
I'm very sorry you are in the position of having to make such a shitty decision. We're here when/if you want to vent or ask questions.

[squizita]

I am in the same boat as you, so sorry to hear you're in this bad situation and to make it worse the waiting time. I have had 2 MCs which passed naturally (not missed). However I am going to ask for surgical intervention in the likely event they say this pregnancy has failed and is a MMC because I can't stand the 'limbo' of not bleeding and also as it is my 3rd I want to get testing underway and they can do pathology on the sac if it is removed.

[plentyofsoap]

Hi, i had a mmc a few years ago and had the operation which was straight forward. Unfortunately I am again in the same position so will take the same path as I need to be "fine" and back on my feet quite quickly. I am sorry for your loss.

[lovelylara]

Thanks all. Went to hospital this morning and hope to have ERPC on Friday. Funnily enough, have started bleeding a bit today. My mum has stocked up on pads for me

[Honey786]

So sorry for your loss xxx

At my 12 week scan I was told that there was no heartbeat, they dated at 9 weeks (which still confuses me) and baby measured at 7 weeks. I got given three options and decided straight away for ERPC as I couldn't face the wait or the experience of natural misscarraige.

The procedure was quick and I was home soon after. I only experienced painful period pains for couple of days while I passed blood clots but the bleeding went on for about 2weeks.

I've started my first cycle yesterday exactly 28 days from ERPC but I'm bleeding extremely heavy. Sorry for the details, just giving you a heads up for what to expect although everyone is different with different experiences.

Hope this helps xxx will be thinking of u on Friday x

[DerbyNottsLeicsNightNanny]

haven't read the whole thread, sorry about your baby. Exactly the same happened to me last October - I thought I was 10wks but it had died at 7. I had the surgery & was glad I did, apart from waiting around for ages the day of the op it was very straight forward and I felt (physically) really well afterwards - straight back to normal that evening and certainly fine the next day. Emotionally I was a bit all over the place on and off for a few months but don't think this was in any way connected with the operation, it was the mmc itself. Hope you get on OK whatever you decide X

[lovelylara]

Just an update in case anyone is interested or it helps anyone in a similar position. Please don't read the rest of this if the description of a miscarriage will be too upsetting.

So I was meant to have the ERPC this morning (Friday) but ended up miscarrying naturally yesterday.

I started having cramps from around 9pm on Wednesday and went to bed but couldn't sleep.

At around 3am I got up to have a drink. While I was standing up, I felt an extra, intensely painful cramp and a sort of movement inside me and rushed to the bathroom where I started bleeding (bright red) in the loo. I was in agony, breathing really quickly and feeling dizzy. I lay on the floor for a bit, trying to get comfortable, but was in so much pain. There wasn't as much blood as I had expected (having read up a bit about what to expect in advance).

By around 4am I was back in bed with a hot water bottle on my stomach and the pain had subsided.

By morning, I had no real pain, just slight discomfort in the stomach and a feeling of weakness/tenderness.

I went to the hospital and received an internal scan at around 2pm (yesterday). I was told very clearly by the consultant that there was nothing left at all inside me and that I did not need the ERPC.

However, after returning home I went to the loo at around 4.30pm and passed the gestational sac with what presumably had a foetus in it!! It was definitely not a blood clot or anything else (sorry if TMI, but it was sort of hanging between my legs and I had to give it a gentle tug to remove it in some loo roll). I just don't understand how the doctor missed it and was pretty shocked to see it.

So this morning I went to a different hospital to get another scan in case there was anything else left. Fortunately there wasn't.

I still have bleeding but it's fairly light and I am not in pain, just feel a bit sore/tender inside.

Sorry this is longer than I expected but it is somewhat theraputic to write it all down. Thanks for listening.

[LightAFire]

Oh Lara, how completely awful for you.

I am horrified that they missed that and put you through this. I hope very much that you will soon be better and that you never have to go through a MC again and that it all goes smoothly next time, sending all my very very best wishes to you x

[CreatureRetorts]

Oh Lara that's awful :( but, and a small one, hopefully now this is done you can start the next phase. It took me a while to move on but I was glad once I'd passed everything. Hope you're ok.

[squizita]

How horrible for you Lara, I can't believe they missed the sac! My natural MC in Feb, they specifically asked if I had passed it (I had but broken up in bits) when scanning.

I am waiting for my ERPC Tuesday. They gave me a pot in case I mc before as they like to check for cause and molar. Obvs very much hoping it all happens in the hospital tbh!

[lovelylara]

Thanks for your kind words everyone. Squizita - I am so sorry you are going through the same.