Miscarriage; Natural, medical or surgical?

[Yoshirabbit]

I am currently going through my first miscarriage. So far I have experienced mild cramping and moderate bleeding. I am waiting for the pain to increase in order to pass the baby. U fortunately I am unsure as to how long this will take, I'm aware everyone is different. As this seems to be taking its time (started on thirsday evening, it now being monday) i'm now wondering about medical or surgical alternatives. I'm going back to see the Dr tommorow where I will query this but I just wondered about other people's experiences. Has anyone had a medical or surgical miscarriage? What did it involve? Would you recommend them or is it best to wait and let nature take its course? Any feedback would be greatly appreciated.

[AndNoneForGretchenWieners]

Im sorry to hear that, OP. Mine started like a light period then all of a sudden got so heavy and I fainted, so went to the walk in centre who sent me straight to hospital. I lost the foetus down the loo in the walk in centre. Ended up having a d & c at the women's hospital the next day. It was all over and done with within two days.

[Yoshirabbit]

Thank you for your reply. I've heard these d&c s are good for getting it over and done quickly. I also hear they sometimes make you more fertile. I'm desperate to get this over with and to start trying again. It was my first pregnancy and my first miscarriage.

[MollyofTheFolly]

Hi, firstly, I'm so sorry you are going through this. I had a miscarriage in December, at 7 weeks.I had about a week of discharge/fairly light bleeding then it increased and I miscarried over a couple of days. On those days I passed several clots, which was distressing but I could feel it happening so would just say station yourself near a loo. Painwise, honestly, it was bearable, like a painful period, but I know everyone is different. I used paracetamol but the nurse in epu said cocodamol would help more if it got worse. I found a warm wheat bag very comforting and also helped with the cramps. Once the worst had passed I finished bleeding pretty quickly, I think it had gone completely in less than a week. I had a period exactly 4 weeks to the day from when I first bled heavily. I was very worried to go through it naturally, fear of the unknown, but the nurse said as I had started bleeding and cramping my body was doing it naturally so ideally let it do what it sadly needed to do. I've had friends who've had Mmc and had surgical involvement and they too recovered quickly afterwards. If you go down the non intervention or medical route there is an excellent thread on here with great practical tips and advice. Look after yourself.

[MrsEvadneCake]

Sorry to hear this Yorkshire.
Mine just stayed like a really heavy period for a few days with some clots. Then tapered off. It was nothing that a hot water bottle couldn't soothe pain wise. Mine was around eight to ten weeks. I had a scan to show all clear a week after.
Thinking of you

[lampfromikea]

So sorry to hear what you are going through.

I had a d&c almost 2 years ago after a MMC. I did feel that it was over with quickly and I didn't have it hanging over me. I think that helped me to move on from it quicker. I haven't a basis for comparison, but I found it less traumatic that I would if I was having a natural mc.

As for being more fertile, I can't answer with any science but we did conceive DD 3 months after (about 2 months after the bleeding had stopped and periods returned to normal). But I think that's down to your own biology more than anything else.

[Yoshirabbit]

Thank you Molly of the folly. I will have a look at the thread. Don't mind doing things naturally I just want everything done quickly! It's a long process. I feel totally fine but I've had to take time.of work incase something happens. Sitting around the house just makes things worse!

[AndNoneForGretchenWieners]

Forgot to say my second and subsequent mcs were more like a heavy period with clots, but each time didn't know I was pg until the mc. With the first one I was 17 weeks and had had scans, knew there was no heartbeat and was just waiting for it to happen because I couldn't bear the thought that they had made a mistake and I would have an op to remove a healthy baby.

[Yoshirabbit]

Thank you Mrsevadnecake and lampfromikea for your responses. It's reassuring to hear your experiences. Im sorry too for your loss. Such an awful experience. It really doesn't feel that painful for me just yet and I've no pain at all during the day, just on an evening.

[Tortycat]

Sorry to hear that op. How far along are you? I had 2 m/c at 5 weeks and they were no worse than a bad period. But I had one at 10 weeks and it was very painful - like early labour. Before that I'd has about 4 or 5 days of light bleeding, then it suddenly got much more painful. Main tissue passed overnight then a week of period then it stopped. I chose to wait as I was breastfeeding and medical intervention was contraindicated; and didn't want surgery. Though have friends who've chosen those options who felt they were right for them. Fwiw I got pregnant a few months after. It's a sad time but hope it goes ok for you

[Yoshirabbit]

Thank you tortycat. I thought I was 8 weeks when I had some brown discharge. Knew so.ething was wrong as all my symptoms had gone (didn't have many, just tender breasts, not sure if that was an early sign). Anyway, got a scan which showed 5 weeks so I guess the pregnancy must have stopped. 5 weeks wouldn't make any sense. I'm holding on to the fact that this is common and it was just a weak embryo. Hoping to get pregnant soon after. Not sure how long I should wait though. Another reason why I'm considering surgical methods so I can move on quicker.

[greentreeseverywhere]

my last misscarrige was at 12 weeks but stopped growing at 8 weeks. I waited about the same time you have and it wasn't happening just carried on with blood no clots or pain. just had the d and c or erpc as it called now. was quick and over my Bleding stopped aftwr a few days and my period returned the next month x

[Yoshirabbit]

Thanks greentreeseverywhere. I keep thinking either I'm getting off lightly with the pain or that there's something g hideous around the corner. Makes me scared to leave the house. Did you ask for a d&c or were you offered it?

[juni]

I'm sorry you're experiencing this.
I had numerous m/c between my 2 DCs and had 3 ERPCs, plus natural ones. I chose the medical intervention on the occasions when nothing was happening as I didn't want to go through the trauma of bleeding and then still have to have an op if not everything came out. The waiting is hideous isn't it, I changed my mind a couple of times and they fitted me in for the ERPCs quickly. Just bear in mind it is a gen anaesthetic which can take a while to recover from as well...

[Yoshirabbit]

Thank you junior. I think I'd prefer an erpc. I've just been on the phone to my hospital. They have me schedule in for a blood test tommorow (my third in 4 days) but it's clear to me I'm having a miscarriage and I just want them to do something quicker! Does anyone know how long you can wait to have an erpc? It's been 4 days for me now.

[socktastic]

So sorry to hear this op. I had an mmc at 12 weeks, baby had stopped growing at 9 weeks. I had medical management at the hospital. They gave me tablets that melted under my tongue at about 9am. By 12pm I had an explosive bout of diarrhoea which is to be expected. It took a long time then for anything to happen. About 5.30 I started having period pains then at around 7pm there was a gush and I passed the baby then. I then continued to bleed for about 3 weeks after.

Meanwhile, be kind to yourself and look after yourself xx

[tigerdog]

Sorry for your loss. I am having to wait for my ERPC for over a week due to theatre slot availability. Mine is tomorrow, a week after my mmc was confirmed. I was 8+ weeks but only measuring 7+4 with no heartbeat. I've had no signs of miscarriage since and still feel pregnant.

I had another mmc in November last year - similar circumstances but pregnancy measured 9+5 and I was at 10+ weeks. I also had an ERPC that time. Minimal bleeding, period 23 days later and then pregnant again 4 weeks after that.

I chose surgical management because I want to move on quickly. Time is not on my side age-wise and I will need recurrent miscarriage tests and possibly more fertility treatment. I also travel a lot for work and didn't want to be bleeding for weeks.

Good luck with your choice.

[Yoshirabbit]

Thank you everyone for your replies. I'm just fed up of the waiting. I've accepted that this has happened and I'm starting to feel more positive about the future but it's hard to look forward when this is still hanging over me. Hopefully when the hospital confirms the moscarriage with further drop in levels they will discuss my options and provide the option of a surgical procedure.

[BrioLover]

I had a miscarriage at 9 weeks in December, and after a few days of light bleeding went to the GP who referred me to the EPU. They scanned me and confirmed there was no heartbeat, and gave me the choice of method. Had the op two days later, was done mid-morning and home late afternoon. Was pretty sore for a couple of days after but so glad that I was not bleeding for days or had to pass the embryo etc. at home.

If I'd not wanted to make the decision there and then the EPU assured me I could just ring up and request it later. It's totally up to you.

I'm sorry you're having to go through this OP 💐

[Yoshirabbit]

Thank you briolover for your kind words. I hope the surgical method will be offered to me tomorrow and that I can get booked in quickly. It's tricky knowing how much time to take off work too. Right now I feel fine e but I've stayed off incase the pains worsen or if I pass anything.

[Looby1974]

Hi all

I am currently in the process of deciding which management method I would like. I'm overweight so scared of general anaesthetic because of any risk involved? I do not like the idea of a general anaesthetic 100%! I'm also worried about the pessary route and having to deal with that at home. I only have a sac to pass as the embryo couldnt be seen so they suggested it passed without me realising a while back. Any advice or experience would be gratefully received. Thank you x

[MummaBearR12]

Hi, sorry for your loss. I should be 10 weeks pregnant but found out that I had a missed miscarriage at 6 weeks so went for a medical management of miscarriage on Saturday that unfortunately failed. I went for a scan today that confirmed this and showed that I was still pregnant just no heartbeat 😭 So I go back on Saturday to retry the medical evacuation before the surgical method. Hope all goes well for you.

[Yoshirabbit]

Mummabear I'm so sorry for your loss and the terrible time you're having with things. It must be bad enough going through one procedure, never mind 2! I have a blood test tomorrow which should officially confirm a miscarriage then I'm hoping they will discuss my options with me. I think I'll go for the surgical method. I just feel that if I wait for things to occur naturally or take the medication I will still have the worry that something has been left behind. Even though I know they will check this with a scan. I will let you know how how I get on. I hope the surgical procedure is quick and effective for you. Lots of hugs. X

[emvy]

So sad to hear of so many going through this. I was also faced with this choice morning. I have chosen the surgical method as I would have had to have the medical method in hospital anyway due to there being two sacs to pass and the probability this would lead to heavier bleeding. Not wanting to see the physical evidence of the miscarriage, the possibility it wouldn't work anyway and the chance of heavier bleeding and more pain is what made me decide in the end to go for the surgical route. I go in tomorrow at 7am. I was told there is a risk of there being some left behind even with the surgical method yoshirabbit but it will be over much quicker and hopefully will be less traumatic in the long term.

I wish you all the best of luck with your treatments, a quick bounce back physically and sticky little beans in the future.

[LastMangoInPeckham]

I had MC last year, approx 7 weeks. Was not painful but bleeding went on for what seemed like ages

8 weeks later I was pregnant with DS. It made for a more anxious pregnancy, but worth it in the end.

Good luck

[Wombletor]

Hi op
Sorry for your loss.
I've had natural and surgical MCs. I would recommend surgical. Take care