What to expect following ERPC?

[Gurraun]

I had a partial miscarriage at 8 weeks last week and 2 scans showed sac firmly in place so I opted for an ERPC yesterday.

I had a long wait as just as they were going to take me down they realised that although I have 2dc they were both ELCS so I needed pessaries and another 2 hour wait.

This meant I didn't get back to the ward until after 5 and was pretty much forgotten about until I asked if I could go at 7.30pm.

I didn't see the doctor so only know it went ok from reading my discharge notes and have no idea really what to expect in terms of bleeding/pain. This morning I have light bleeding and quite bad period type pains deep into my bottom - is this to be expected and when should it improve?

Thanks and sympathy to everyone who has the misfortune to be on this board and able to answer my question :-(

[maz210]

Hi, firstly my sympathies, I experienced a missed miscarriage ten years ago and the memory still makes me well up.

I did experience a lot of pain and very heavy bleeding, I'd say similar to post partum blood loss a day after birth. My husband said that when they brought me back from theatre and moved me from the gurney I was laying in a pool of blood. I was three months gone when the baby died so don't know if my level of blood loss was normal for that stage.

I hated the pains too, it felt especially cruel to go through such an emotional loss and then have to suffer physical pain too. I know that probably sounds a bit childish but at the time I can remember just wishing the pain would stop as it kept reminding me. I took strong prescription painkillers and the pains tailed off over a week or two and my next period was completely normal.

I hope this is over for you soon and that you start feeling better. Take very good care of yourself, it's an awful time. Unfortunately I developed panic attacks in the week after that still bother me to this day, I think the emotional weight of a miscarriage is very often underestimated.

[Gurraun]

Thank you for your kind and thoughtful reply. It is a very crappy time 😢

[HighHopes16]

I had an ERPC 4 weeks ago - I experienced heavy bleeding and period pains/back ache for the first few days following the procedure.
For 2-3 weeks after the procedure I had spotting and occasional stomach ache.
Apart from slight bloating I now feel physically back to normal and ready to ttc again.
So sorry for your loss.

[Gurraun]

Thank you - you too. Stupid question but presumably I have to use towels and not tampons to limit infection risk? All questions I would have asked had anyone been to see me afterwards!

[NotSpartacus]

Hi there, I'm sorry you're going through this.
Yes to towels instead of tampons and showers rather than baths (reduce infection risk).

With my ERPCs I don't recall bleeding much in the day or two after but that definitely stepped up if I did too much and was very very heavy one day. So take it easy if you can.

[Gurraun]

Thank you - gutted as hot bath with glass of wine in hand was only silver lining!

Bleeding much more than I expected and supposed to be back at work tomorrow. This is miserable 😓

[maz210]

Can you go back to the doctor to be signed off? I took two weeks off after my miscarriage, I wasn't well enough to go back before. How understanding is your employer? I think most people will understand that this is a bad time for you and won't mind if you need a few more days.

[HighHopes16]

I was told by the hospital I would only need two days off work but I was still bleeding and in a lot of pain on day 3 so I ended up having the whole week off. My employer was very understanding when I told him the reason why when I got back to work.
It took me a lot longer to be psychologically back to normal (if you ever can be after a m/c?)
Take Care

[HighHopes16]

Oh and you can self certify for a week - so no need to be signed off by a doctor just yet.