ERPC- Questions

[Andie20521]

My little miracle was not meant to be. After seeing no heartbeat on Saturday I have an ERPC booked in for Friday, at LWH. I was letting nature take its course, but I'm going insane. I've been told to be at the hospital for 7am.

My DH will come with me, and DD (14 mo) will be at nursery (My mum will drop her off)
How long will it all take?
Can DH wait with me?
What do I need to bring along?

My SIL and Neice will be arriving from Holland at 10pm, planned a while ago and they have offered to cancel, but I think I will hibernate in my room for the weekend and let them fuss over DH & DD.

Is that a reasonable thing to do?

so sorry to hear that Andie

I have had a few erpc procedures so I can answer most questions.

It doesn't take very long at all, from start to finish mine have all taken about half an hour. Your Dh should be able to wait with you but that will depend on the hospital rules. My mum stayed with me for all of mine.

I would take some comfortable pyjamas/jogging bottoms and a few pairs of knickers. I took my own pads as the hospital ones were rubbish.

I also recommend taking something for you both to read as delays are usually common.

I think most people are allowed to go home after a few hours, personally I have ended up staying until early evening as I have low BP that takes ages to get back up after being anaesthetised.

Having your family around could be good for you, but if you feel like spending the weekend in your own company then you should.

Hope it is all over and done very quickly for you.

So very sorry to hear your sad news.

I had an ERPC in 2010, I was told when we were booking it (over the phone) that DH would not allowed to be with me, I didn't think to question it but it turned out to be wrong so he was able to stay (only thing was he was asked to wait in the communal lounge when I was actually having the procedure).

I agree with the heavy duty sanitary towels (hospitals were rubbish), also to add to the dark comfy clothing, take a long cardi or coat to get you to the car (I kept leaking) and a towel to sit on for the journey home.

You might like to take something to read or an ipod, there wasn't a tv in the room and I welcomed the distraction because depending on how many procedures they have to do that day you might not be first on the list.

I had to be in at 7am, went to theatre at about 9.30am and I think I got home by about 7pm ish (I to have low bp) So I couldn't really say what's "normal".

Take care of yourself.

i had an ERPC 3 weeks ago. I'll paste a current thread so you can read various people's experiences. What happens will depend on hospital policy and that varies greatly. I was booked into day surgery and had to arrive by 7.30am. I was admitted and told I'd be done second- all the ERPCS are done first where I was (on a specific day of the week). Not sure what time i went into theatre but it was just before 11am when i recall the nurse talking to me in recovery saying she was going to call my partner to come and collect me. I had to eat and drink and pee before i left. They already knew my partner was coming by bus which would take an hour so they got started on getting me fit to go home- doing the checks they needed to do- blood pressure, making sure i could get up and back into my clothes and go to the loo. I was so thirsty! I didnt want to eat but they insisted, the choice was biscuits or a sandwich, i had biscuits and lots of tea- there was squash also.
Day surgery department was very basic and very clean. I sat on a chair with a curtain around me for privacy whilst waiting, as did all the others who were admitted in the morning. Then after the docs and nurses had done their rounds and made sure everything was ready to go they got the first patients into gowns and gave us heated blankets to sit wrapped in. I did get a bit cold. All my belongings were taken away in a sack for safe keeping once the patient before me went in so I couldnt read a book or wear slippers. It was done to maximise efficiency and save people waiting around. No beds, no proper ward until the recovery ward. I left at 12 noon.

Bleeding after light but carried on for 3 weeks. see thread for full details. I was very pleased with how it went, the staff were all lovely and the set up at the hospital couldn't be faulted.

I wouldnt have wanted visitors but if it works for you...I was very groggy the rest of that day - and was told by nurse to sleep it off, which is pretty much what i did and the next i was still very tired. You need to sleep lots so if your visitors can play with your DD maybe not a bad idea.

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/miscarriage/1375926-Just-had-12-week-scan-baby-died-at-8-weeks-what-next

several people on here have had ERPCS . I hope it goes well for you and sorry for your loss.

Thanks for sharing your experiences. It really does help.

I have just told DH in no uncertain terms that I will not be looking after his relatives, and that now I have confirmed the ERPC for Friday, they should only come over if they want to look after DD for the weekend, and to re-book if its just a holiday they want.

I was very direct- Blame the fookin hormones!

I had a flash back to after DD was born, (Pre-eclampsia, crashed, emergency c-section/pullmonary embolism/pneumonia/cardio myopathy with weeks in hospital) and soft arse here running around cooking/cleaning while MIL/SIL played with the baby 4 days after I got out of hospital.

Nope if they come I will stash food, chocolate and my kindle in my room and refuse to come out! (Stomps foot!)

I am swinging wildly with my emotions right now, and it just hits me like a train when i least expect it.

I'll take a look at that link now.

If you don't want them to come then just say so. I found that after mine I didn't want to be around relatives as it made me try to put on a brave face and really I needed the space and privacy to let my emotions out a bit. Also you will be recovering from a general anaesthetic so you will definitely need to spend some time resting under a duvet either in bed or in front of the tv.

When I was discharged from the hospital it was only just gone lunchtime on the same day. They gave me a list of things not to do over the next 24 to 48 hours. Obviously driving and heavy work was on the list, but under the "operating machinery" it also included using the kettle and ironing! take full advantage of this to get others to bring you hot drinks in bed. If you think your SIL is likely to be able to run the house a bit for you while you recuperate then fair enough. Otherwise don't feel bad about cancelling. Especially if your DH is likely to feel he needs to spend the time with them rather than with you.

I had a fairy "good" experience with my erpc (well as good as these things can possibly be) as I got a private room on the day surgery ward. I definitely appreciated this as obviously I was in a right emotional state when the op was over. On a practical level I recommend taking in a packet of wet wipes or femfresh wipes with you. When you want to get dressed and ready to go home you will perhaps find that they haven't cleaned off that orange iodine stuff from your fanjo and you are in a bit of a mess downstairs. It's quicker and easier to use wipes than trying to sort yourself out at the washbasin.

I'm really sorry for your loss and hope the procedure goes smoothly for you tomorrow.

i'm really sorry for all your losses. I am going through the same thing. After being told i was having a "failing pregnancy" at 6 weeks i was a wreck. Since then i have had 4 scans, 1 of which detected the heartbeat. Since then i started bleeding and the hb stopped. Its been such a rollercoaster. 2 weeks later and i've got erpc booked for next week. I can't go through the trauma of going to the loo and not knowing what to expect any more. I have a gorgeous 20 month old and feel that i'm not truly there for her as i'm in this weird twilight zone. I'm just praying that after the erpc things will be clearer and i can try to get back to normal. i really hope i can give my daughter a brother or sister at some point in the future.