MMC experiences

[Josiejo12]

Hi all,

I found out after going for a scan at 10 weeks that I'd had a missed miscarriage at around 7 weeks. I'd had no symptoms that anything was wrong either so whilst I knew it was a possibility it was still a shock.
The midwife talked through the various options with us and we've come away waiting to see if my body will naturally miscarry as I was told this was the safest option. The thing is, I feel like a ticking time bomb just waiting. Every little niggle and I'm wondering if it's the start and I'm too scared to go too far away from home incase it happens. I'm thinking about waiting a week and if something still hasn't happened asking to go back in for medical management. I want to avoid surgery if I can, mainly due to increased risks however the thought of being treated at hospital and it all being over and done with is quite appealing.
I was just wondering what people's experience with this were and if you waited for it to happen naturally, when did it happen?

Hi,

So sorry for your loss! I’ve copied my experience which I posted on another thread below for you - my advice would be start the process as soon as you can, whether that be surgical or medical, so that you can move forward and put this behind you.

I went for a scan at 6 weeks due to a subchorionic hematoma where they found an empty sac and so, I had follow up scans at 7, 8 and 9 weeks. Unfortunately, the sac was still empty on each occasion. The process was so drawn out as they couldn’t class it as a miscarriage until the sac had reached a certain size, so I had 3 weeks of grieving and torture whilst debating my possible options for the miscarriage (medical, surgical or natural). In that time there were absolutely no signs of my body catching up and miscarrying naturally. It scares me that if it weren’t for the hematoma, I’d still be walking round today thinking I was almost 10 weeks pregnant.

I was initially adamant I was going to choose surgery, however by the final scan I had scared myself out of it because of all the waiting around and increased risks. By that point I was so desperate to get the sac out of me that I opted for the pills at the last second so I could begin treatment the same day, rather than waiting to go in for surgery later in the week.

This was on Monday this week (24th) - I took the pills vaginally at 12:45 and passed the sac 6 hours later at 18:45. The pain started at about 17:00 and was like a dull period ache which gradually got worse. I had prepared with new pyjamas, big pants, loads of snacks, a hot water bottle and took cocodomal/ibuprofen every couple of hours immediately after taking the pills. It was painful but bearable and the pain reduced considerably after passing the sac. I continued to bleed that evening and passed tissue/clots and I am still bleeding slightly now three days later but without pain. In fact I felt absolutely fine (physically) the morning after.

I know everyone is different and maybe I’ve been lucky but I am glad I opted for medical management and would opt for it again if I was ever unfortunate enough to be in this position again. For me, being able to experience the loss physically has helped me to process this mentally and put closure on the whole experience. Again though, I stress that we are all different and up until the last moment, I was seriously considering the surgery and acknowledge it’s probably the least traumatic option.

I just wanted to tell you my experience of medical management which was somewhat bearable and ok, as there are so many accounts of horror stories on here.

Hope everything works out for you! ❤️

@Josiejo12

I’m sorry for your loss and thought I should add my experience of having had the MVA (surgical procedure). I had an mmc at 8.5 weeks and embryo had stopped growing at 6.5. I found the whole thing torturous that my body hadn’t recognized it for two weeks so I opted for the MVA as my cousin who’s a doctor recommended me to do that to avoid miscarrying at home as I was in a bad emotional state and just don’t think I could’ve coped. I also found it disturbing that I was still getting pregnancy symptoms when the baby had stopped growing, it just felt sick to me and I found it difficult to cope with that so wanted it to be over as quickly as possible. The MVA was really quick and quite painless, I bled for a few weeks after but it took a while to get negative preg tests - about a month I think.

I hope that helps you, and sending all my love at such a horrible time. Be gentle on yourself and let yourself grieve, it’s really hard for a while.

I am so sorry! I have had three I am afraid. The first I waited and eventually after 7weeks I went for the medical management worked really well and I got pregnant with my DD three months later. Second I went for medical management immediately. Worked really well and I got pregnant 4 months later with my DS. The last one was the worst physically. It was twins. Medical management worked for one but the other was left inside. Eventually after trying again and 9 weeks of trying and bleeding I went for surgical. Worked really well. I am not trying for another so that was the last one. My advice is to consider your feelings as they change. They will accommodate your wishes. And take time. I still think of the babies I have lost. But I am not sad anymore if that makes sense.

Thank you all for you're responses, it's really appreciated. It's so helpful speaking to real women who have been through it. The midwives can give a description as to what it's like but it doesn't compare to people's real experiences. At the moment I feel like it'll never happen naturally. I'm giving it until next week, then I think I need to make a choice because I just can't keep waiting and need to start to move on.

I'm sorry you're going through this OP. I had a MMC earlier in the year, identified at 10 weeks and had an MVA at what would've been 11 weeks. The procedure itself was fine, like a pp it took a while to get negative tests (I think about 6 weeks) and then I had The Mother of all periods, which lasted another 6 weeks. I got pregnant again the following month and I'm now 16 weeks. Everyone's timelines are different but if you can afford to wait a bit before trying again I'd consider it. The way things worked out, I've been either pregnant or miscarrying for virtually the whole of 2022, and boy am I feeling it. Im obv delighted to be expecting again but with hindsight I think a small break would've been good, emotionally as well as physically. Wishing you all the best whichever way things go this coming week.

I'm so sorry this happened to you 💐.

I have had to MMC. The first at 7 weeks and the second at 10 weeks. I struggled with the idea of a natural miscarriage - much like yourself I would have been worried to leave the house or be alone. I opted for surgery in both occasions as I just wanted it over with quickly. I was also worried that natural or medical may not clear everything and that surgery may be needed anyway.

Due to the shape of my uterus I had to have a general anaesthetic . Both of my surgeries went well and I was able to go home that day. Slight bleeding afterwards and spitting for about a week later. It was painless and a quick recovery.

I hope whatever you choose is the option that suits you best - everyone is different and it's such a personal experience.

Sorry about your loss @Josiejo12. I also had a MMC at 10 weeks with the growth stopping at 7. I opted for medical mngt (pills), didn’t want to risk any scars from surgery - I know chances are tiny but didn’t need that additional worry on top of other things. Worked fine for me, it started with spotting, then bleeding like a period, and then briefly I had contraction like sensations and saw the tissue come out. It wasn’t pleasant but okay with paracetamol. After that just bleeding for a few more days. My period was only a little delayed after that.

@Josiejo12 sorry for your loss. I had similar but a week behind. Had a scan at 9 weeks and it had stopped growing at 6+1. I waited (well technically the epu wanted two scans to confirm mmc, and due to Easter and catching covid that gap ended up being three weeks). So before I properly got to choose I naturally started to miscarry.

I started to naturally bleed at 11weeks, first it was dark brown for a few days, then a few days of bright blood and intense cramps. Then I past a lot of stuff over three hours on the toilet. If you choose the natural management then a hot water bottle was the best to ease the pain a bit.

I thought it was all done, the cramps had stopped. Two days later I past more stuff at a restaurant. Then I didn’t pass any more but I kept bleeding. I had the second epu scan and they said there was more to pass but it would likely just be blood/blood clots.

3.5 weeks later I was still bleeding, I tested positive. Went back to epu and they found retained products and it still had a blood supply. I then chose surgery over medical because it’s more final, and that was the end of it.

I think mine is a long winded case. I know many pass everything over a short time and their miscarriage is complete.

I found out I had a Mmc at my 12 week scan - stopped at 9 weekend even tho I’d seen heart beat at 8

i had surgery

took 12 month to get pregnant again