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Mumsnet doesn't verify the qualifications of users. If you have medical concerns, please consult a healthcare professional.

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Mumsnet doesn't verify the qualifications of users. If you have medical concerns, please consult a healthcare professional.

General health

What's a D & C?

42 replies

Aniles · 21/07/2005 10:11

My doctor said I might have to have one, it sounds a bit scary

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Toothache · 21/07/2005 10:12

Its a procedure sometimes carried out after a miscarriage. It is basically to make sure nothing is left in the womb that may cause infections. They access the womb via your cervix.

Have you had a miscarriage?

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BareFootAngel · 21/07/2005 10:13

i had one after my dd2 as i had retained placenta ,putting it simply its a clen of your womb.........someone will of course give you more details on here,,dont worry though hun

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Aniles · 21/07/2005 10:20

OMG! that's worse than I was thinking
I went to see my doctor because I've been bleeding continuously for 6 weeks. He's given me 2 lots of tables to take to stop the bleeding and pain and if it doesn't stop within 10 days then he's going to send me to have a D&C. Nothing was mentioned about a possible miscarriage. A D&C is not neccessarilty related to a miscarriage then is it?

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Nemo1977 · 21/07/2005 10:20

I had one after a missed mc where they clean out the womb to remove any 'products' left behind. It was carried out under general anestetic and was under for about 20mins in total.

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flamesparrow · 21/07/2005 10:21

No - it isn't always for miscarriage. Sometimes they have a poke about in a situation like yours to make sure there's nothing in there aggravating you.

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charleepeters · 21/07/2005 10:21

do you have anithethic to have it done??/ i may have to have one to, and i realy dont want to feel it!

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Nemo1977 · 21/07/2005 10:21

anile sit may be to just remove whatever is causing the bleeding. to give clean base for womb iykwim

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BareFootAngel · 21/07/2005 10:22

hey dont panic!! hes saying it as a last resort and it really isnt that bad honest quick and easy..its prob as you are having heavy periods he wants to spring clean your womb so to speak

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Toothache · 21/07/2005 10:22

ANiles - I don't think it's always connected to a m/c! I hope I haven't upset you.

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Nemo1977 · 21/07/2005 10:22

charlee i wasnt given a choice over whether i was put under. To be honest i think i would prefer to be asleep anyway

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BareFootAngel · 21/07/2005 10:23

i had a general anasthetic but that was 14 years ago so may have changed darling if you are getting worried phone up the gp and ask if youcan talk to him or nurse get them to explain to you ,,but please dont panic

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flamesparrow · 21/07/2005 10:25

My friend has had several - all under general.

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Nemo1977 · 21/07/2005 10:26

mine was in dec and under general.

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Aniles · 21/07/2005 10:27

Thank you everyone for your speedy replies. Toothache, don't worry you haven't upset me

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Aniles · 21/07/2005 10:30

If the bleeding was in fact due to a miscarriage, would a pregnancy test show positive or not?

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Nemo1977 · 21/07/2005 10:31

aniles it may show positive as even after my d+c i showednpost for about 10days...

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Aniles · 21/07/2005 22:09

Now this is way TMI, I might even have to change my name afterwards...
I didn't get a pregnancy test because when I had the opportunity while I was out shopping earlier I thought I was just being rediculous. But I've just been lying in the bath thinking and I remembered that at the beginning of the bleeding, about 6 weeks ago, I passed a big lump. At the time I was really shocked but at the same time I remembered a friend telling me about what awful periods she has and saying that she regularly passes big clots, so I didn't panic too much. I remember thinking 'thank goodness my friend told me about that because otherwise I'd be really worried'. A miscarriage didn't even occur to me at the time, it was more a feeling of bloody hell my insides are falling out!
Whaddya think?

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Nemo1977 · 21/07/2005 22:31

aniles it does sound possible hun as mcs can happen in all different ways. I have had 2 natural mcs and they were both different one i passed a huge lump but the other was bleeding and little clots. It really does just depend on your body.

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Aniles · 22/07/2005 11:10

Thanks again for replying Nemo
I've done a pregnancy test and it was negative. Does that definitely rule out a miscarriage? Does anyone know what else could cause such prolonged bleededing?

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Aniles · 22/07/2005 21:47

bump

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Aniles · 23/07/2005 17:07

cough!

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foxinsocks · 23/07/2005 21:39

aniles (without wanting to be too gross), I get very heavy periods and when they are at their heaviest I pass huge lumps. I remember reading somewhere that when you bleed a lot, the blood starts to clot and that's what the lumps are (if it's not a miscarriage) so heavy, prolonged bleeding with lumps would be expected I think. For your info (stop reading if queasy!), the lumps look like pieces of liver.

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foxinsocks · 23/07/2005 21:41

heavy period info

mentions the clots and the D&C bit

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Aniles · 24/07/2005 00:05

thank you foxinsocks, that's very helpful

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MrsATeam · 24/07/2005 01:08

Hi there Aniles DO NOT PANIC it is not as scary as it sounds.....it is a very simple operation to clear your womb with what is left behind...either from...sadly...a miscarrage or after giving birth with a placenta that will not budge. For whatever reason you are having one....I hope that is goes okay