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Miscarriage/pregnancy loss

Find support and share your experiences on our Miscarriage forum. See also legal rights and support after baby loss.

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Original poster

AF after MC

19 replies

freelancegirl · 29/03/2011 16:33

Learning the lingo fast...

I had (am still having I guess) a natural MC after discovering baby had died at 7 weeks at 12 week scan last Monday. It wasn't exactly a shock as I had been having contractions all weekend. Sac was shown to be working its way to the door, so to speak, so they didn't mention anything else other than going home to let it pass. Passed the sac 6 days ago and bleeding still carried on. Yesterday it began to be a lot lighter and today another scan revealed there is still 2cm of 'product' to get rid of. Given antibiotics in case of infection and told to come back in 2 weeks.

My worry is that if this goes on for a long time, when am I likely to get a period again? Will it only be after all 'products' have completely gone? Am concerned now that I just should have asked for a D&C or similar to get it over with quicker, but it wasn't something that was mentioned.

Am also thinking it would be nice for it to be sooner rather than later due to the options for TTC again.

Has anyone else had experience of this? And should I invest in some pg tests to see whether they are saying negative or not. I asked whether we should test hcg and they said no

OP posts:

meliesmummy · 29/03/2011 17:27

If I was you I would do weekly tests until you get a bfn. You wont get a period until after a bfn, and if you carry on getting bfps then you will know to go back to the gp/hospital. Are they rescanning you at that appointment?

Original poster

freelancegirl · 29/03/2011 17:38

Good advice, thank you! Where can I get the cheapest tests? I only had a big posh Clear Blue Digital thing last time so might as well use cheapo ones. I will then do one in a few days time.

Yes they will rescan me in 2 weeks time at the EPU. That's the plan. Blood brown and very slow now so hope that last 2cm of whatever it is still on its way out!

My fear is that this will delay the AF by weeks more than it could have been.

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meliesmummy · 29/03/2011 17:43

I bled for 2 weeks so that all sounds normal. Tesco or wilkinsons do cheap ones, or try amazon, they are something like 10 for £3!

Original poster

freelancegirl · 29/03/2011 17:49

Can you get a negative test when there are still 'products' to be expelled. I know I have passed the sac and all the 'main products' (oh how I do love these hospital euphemisms!).

Thanks so much for your help btw xx

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GwendolineMaryLacey · 29/03/2011 17:51

The other thing is that your first period is only a true period after 20 bleed-free days. Any earlier than that and you should get checked out.

Original poster

freelancegirl · 29/03/2011 18:00

Thanks Gwen this is all really good info. Funny that we can rarely find out these things from doctors themselves. What did people do in the days before the internet...?

20 bleed free days. Negative tests. I need to write this all down as my brain still thinks it's pregnant and for some reason I keep feeling rather tired.

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meliesmummy · 29/03/2011 18:33

I didn't have 20 blood free days, only 7. And I know it was af because I had had a negative test and a clear scan. Good luck!

Ktay · 29/03/2011 20:04

Sorry you're going through this - I'm at the tail end of a natural end to a mmc too. No idea how clued-up my EPU are but they said not worth testing for 2-3 weeks. Doesn't really tally with what meliesmummy's saying though.

Original poster

freelancegirl · 29/03/2011 20:25

Hi Ktay, Sorry you are going through this too. I guess we should both stock up on some tests and give it a week or so and see what happens. melies you are proving to be a very valuable source of info. I don't know what I would have done without the advice I have got here and also the chance to vent like have had here!

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Minnie74 · 29/03/2011 21:06

Sorry you find yourself on here too. I didn't have 20 bleed free days either-probably about 14 in the end. I asked a nurse at the EPU about the 20 days thing and she said she'd never heard that before. I think as long as you've had a bfn they seem to think that's ok x

crochetcircle · 29/03/2011 21:51

Sorry for your loss. I didn't have 20 bleed free days after my mmc either, but I did ovulate after the mc and had a period 4 weeks later. I know I ovulated because I had a scan to investigate sporadic bleeding.

The midwife explained that mc are not like periods, the bleeding stops and starts. Mine certainly did that. I had a small amount of retained products after my natural mc like you (mc @ 11 weeks, baby sadly passed at 9).

Original poster

freelancegirl · 30/03/2011 10:06

Thanks crochet, Minnie Ktay and the rest. I guess i have to just wait and see how my bleeding goes. They say I still have another 2cm of 'product' to pass but I seem to have stopped bleeding now which is annoying. I really don't want to have to wait for another two weeks and then be told there's still stuff in there that needs taking out assistively as I would think why didn't they bloody do that from the start. And also am guessing that would set back my first AF. Although from what everyone says here I am not sure that it would set it back.

On the flip side I am being brave and started contributing to the ttc after mc thread on Conception. Although at the moment obviously I am still WTTC...

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Ktay · 04/04/2011 12:04

Hello freelancegirl, how are things going? Any more bleeding?

FWIW a quick update from me: got a BFN on Saturday evening, 2 weeks after the mc started. So might be worth trying a test if you haven't already?

Original poster

freelancegirl · 04/04/2011 14:08

Hello Ktay, thanks for asking. Good news about your BFN, how are you feeling?

I also got a BFN - Friday morning! I love that fact that somewhere, in another part of the country, so many of us are doing the same things... It made it two weeks to the day that I started to spot and have pain (although it escalated over that weekend and didn't expel sac until the Weds). So maybe there's something in the two week thing?

Bleeding stopped completely more or less the day before the BFN too.

I must say it was nice to get that - helps you move on don't you think? I am still scheduled to go back for a scan on the 12th to check there are no more 'retained products' but otherwise I guess it is now a case of waiting for AF.

In the meantime I am actually rather enjoying all the things I couldn't do when pg - mainly involving food and drink and going back to the gym to try to get some of the weight off I put on when pregnant!

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Ktay · 04/04/2011 21:20

I'm good thanks. Great to hear about your BFN - I agree it seems to mark a fresh start in some ways. This was the first test I'd taken since the mc (spotting started about 3 weeks ago but took nearly a week to turn into anything) so no idea how long it took to go negative. EPU suggested not testing for 2/3 weeks after the bleeding had started tailing off (so a good week or so from now).

I too am enjoying all the contraband. Not sure I'd regard the gym as a treat but horses for courses!

Best of luck for the 12th and for a speedy return of AF in the meantime.

Original poster

freelancegirl · 05/04/2011 00:12

Ah I know about the gym thing, but in the last few years it has become my sanity - I work from home and some days it's the only contact I get. Side affect is I have or rather HAD got very fit. Come join us on the How are you feeling after MC thread. There are loads of us having a good old chat about our feelings - physical and emotional - post mc and just general having a nice old supportive chat xx

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mopey · 07/04/2011 18:42

Hi guys - Hi again freelancegirl been lurking here as waiting with anticipation for my bfn - miscarried 2 weeks ago at 5 weeks - and at last today have almost got it - very faint line - feel like I am almost over another hurdle and one step closer to being able to ttc again - hopefully not too long to wait until af now.

Hope you are all enjoying lots of wine and soft cheeses etc - there have to be some upsides! x

Original poster

freelancegirl · 07/04/2011 19:06

Yay! That is good news. I felt like I was moving on a bit when that happened to me too. I have good moments and bad moments (do join myself and several fellow recently mc'd ladies on the 'How do you feel after MC'? thread if you feel you want to join in the chat) but BFN is definitely a moving on point. Just want my AF now!

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mopey · 07/04/2011 19:14

Me too - got very sore boobs and achey at moment so kidding myself that af could be on way but there really is no way as think it needs to be 4 weeks from bfn according to one website - really hope that is not the case - dont think I have the patience for that!! Will check out that thread - thanks

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