How much pain is normal?

[DharmaBums]

That probably sounds like a silly question but I'm in need of re-assurance please? Found out on Friday, after some heavy bleeding, that there was no heartbeat and baby had stopped growing at 5 weeks. Feel like the natural miscarriage process has started now and I'm in absolute agony, waves of pain like early labour and Paracetamol just doesn't touch it. Called the EPU and there's no one to see me tonight and they said it's better managed at home. Not passing much blood but just in pain. Can anyone give me any words of advice? When will it end?!

[FATEdestiny]

HI. I am sorry you are going through this.

You don't say how many weeks you are? I had a miscarriage at 13 weeks when baby had stopped growing at 5 weeks.

The pain is quite bad, bad enough for me to take to my bed. Much like early labour, it comes in waves of contractions. This lasted from first grumblings at 6am through to 11am for me - so 5 hours.

It is scary and frightening, but if you are prepared and know what to expect, this is much easier to deal with alone.

I will be honest here, so please don't read on if squeamish or if you'd rather not know - but there will be a lot of blood. A real lot. To the point where I worried I needed to go to hospital due to blood loss.

I would recommend getting yourself set up and ready for the night ahead.

Get all the towels in your house and lay them next to your bed. Put a couple of folded towels under you and expect to need to change these towels several times over the next few hours as they soak through with blood. Just throw the used towels on the floor for now.

Try not to get up until the contraction pains finish, just rest. I felt lightheaded when I first stood, due to blood loss.

You may also get some 'whooshing' blood come out when you sit on the toilet. I kept on bleeding heavily for 3 more hours after the contractions finished. Blood would pool if I lay down for too long, and there was large gushes of blood when gravity kicked in when standing.

It is a horrible, horrible thing to go through. But IMO better done in the caring, comforting environment of your home rather than a hospital filled with over-worked staff.

[DharmaBums]

Oh thank you Fate! I'm not at all prepared for this! I'm 10 weeks. Will do as you suggest....it's going to be a long night.

[FATEdestiny]

Hi there

Thinking of you. I hope you coped OK last night.

[DharmaBums]

Hi fate, thank you so much for your support. Unfortunately I was in agony last night and nothing has progressed so not sure how long this will actually take. Got stronger painkillers from the hospital at least to manage it. Just want it all over now

[Brummiegirl15]

Dharma I'm so sorry you are going through this.

I've just suffered my 3rd mc and for my 2nd I had the pain you described.

Try and get some ibuprofen as well to take alongside the prescription ones (unless they are ibuprofen ) and take alternate 2 hours with the hospital ones. This will keep your pain topped up. You can take them together as they are completely different reactions.

If you can, get your other half to buy you some maternity pads they will help with the gushing.

But my advice is, if you feel the pain is too bad or you are losing a lot of blood and you are frightened, do not be scared to go to A&E if it becomes too much.

Yes, home is more comforting but I found the pain level so frightening that I couldn't cope.

Do whatever you feel you need to do.

Be kind to yourself xx

[PassTheGinBottle]

Sorry you're going through this.

I was given prescription painkillers by EPU. They were great. See if you can get an emergency appointment with a GP or EPU tomorrow and get your hands on some proper painkillers.

[MamaLazarou]

Very sorry for your loss. For me the pain was like early labour. It lessened after about 10 hours. As well as ibuprofen and co-codamol, Sominex helped me to sleep. You can buy it over the counter in chemists.

All the best x