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Miscarriage/pregnancy loss

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Original poster

Blighted ovum any advice?

26 replies

Hugglemonster · 08/11/2013 12:44

Hi all I was just wondering if you could give me some advice on our situation.
I went for a private scan on Wednesday this week and I should have been 7+3 the nurse did an internal scan and said that there was only the sac there and no baby.
She refered me to our local hospital that afternoon and they also did a scan and said they agreed with the diagnosis of a blighted ovum but to come back in 7 days for another scan to check again.
The only problem is we go on holiday this Wednesday so they are going to do the scan on Tuesday morning to check everything and the nurse has said that if it is a blighted ovum I have 2 options to go on holiday and wait to miscarry naturally or she can given me some meds to induced the miscarriage but it will mean lots of heavy bleeding on a 11 hour flight and once we're there. Then there is a thought in the back of my mind that they may have made a mistake with dates and baby could suddenly appear in a couple of weeks.
So what would you do in my situation? And does anyone have their own experiences of a BO?
Thank you x

OP posts:
Ruggle · 08/11/2013 13:37

Hi
Given that your scan was so early, it might be possible that your dates are slightly out. If you were really less than 6 weeks along they wouldn't necessarily see the baby anyway (which is why early scans are not recommended), so I would definitely wait it out, and have a scan when you are back from your holiday.

Good luck!

loopylouu · 08/11/2013 14:24

If you do get bad news, please don't risk taking the meds and going on a flight. A miscarriage even at 7 weeks can be very painful and heavy and you have no idea how your body will cope, my MC happened very, very fast and I lost a huge amount of blood.

I miscarried a ten week pregnancy (at 14 weeks) and went into cervical shock - it's rare but it happens and I needed an ambulance and medical attention asap. I don't know how things would have turned out had I been on a plane.

I am sorry, I don't mean to scare you but you need to be at home incase you have to call for medical help.

Twoandtwomakeschaos · 08/11/2013 15:41

I had a blighted ovum "twin" with one of my pregnancies (previous FT SB, so frequent scans starting v. early on). I don't know if it was because I was still pg with the other child, but I had no obvious loss and was, in fact, told it would probably be "reabsorbed" thought only rabbits did that?. Anyway, I was also about 6 weeks.

Original poster
Hugglemonster · 08/11/2013 18:58

Part of me thinks have the meds and get it over and done with but the other half thinks let nature take course and what will be wil be.
Dh has said its up to me what we do but I'm so torn

OP posts:
Bakingtins · 08/11/2013 19:41

I hope your dates are out and you can see a baby on the scan next week. I agree with loopylou that you do not want to be miscarrying, particularly a medical miscarriage which can bring it all on very quickly, on a long flight. It would also be pretty miserable to be miscarrying naturally away from home with foreign medical system.

Original poster
Hugglemonster · 08/11/2013 19:43

We are going to the US so at least they're English speaking and have good hospitals and care

OP posts:
Happilymarried155 · 08/11/2013 19:47

The exact same thing happened to me.

We went for a scan on the Thursday and were leaving for holiday on the Friday, it was also a very long flight. We had the horrible news it was an empty sack. We decided to wait for it to happen naturally and I went loaded with sanitary towels, pain killers and plenty of painkillers. I can honestly say I'm glad we went, it really took my mind off such a terrible time. I did miscarry whilst away but just made sure I relaxed and took care of myself.

Good luck in whatever you decide to do. I hope it's a mistake and your dates are early. Just wanted to share my story as it was so similar.xxx

Original poster
Hugglemonster · 08/11/2013 20:05

Thank you for sharing happilymarried and sorry you had to go through the same x

OP posts:
Happilymarried155 · 08/11/2013 20:14

Your welcome, it's a hard decision to make and I'm sure whatever you decide will be right thing to do. If you want to ask any questions you know where I am x

Original poster
Hugglemonster · 08/11/2013 20:17

Thank you x

OP posts:
nulgirl · 08/11/2013 20:18

If you do decide to go to the US then you should double/ triple check that your health insurance would cover you for any issues you may encounter. The last thing that you want on top of everything that you are going through is a huge medical bill if you need treatment whilst there.

Good luck and hope the scan brings positive news.

Original poster
Hugglemonster · 08/11/2013 22:06

Thank you

OP posts:
HenriettaPie · 08/11/2013 22:15

I had the same thing, I went for an early scan and just an empty sac. I decided against the drugs and let my body do it naturally. In my head I was worried to take the drugs to bring on the miscarriage incase they had made a mistake and just not seen the baby. I know that's very unlikely but I would have always thought 'what if??'

I miscarried naturally about 4 weeks later. Still upsets me to think about it but I get comfort in knowing I done all I could!

Good luck whatever you decide xx

Bakingtins · 09/11/2013 05:18

sorry, huggle I got interrupted earlier.
I hope my response did not sound unsympathetic. It's a horrible shock to be told there is no baby, and rotten timing wrt your holiday.
Is there any doubt in your mind about your dates? Did you get at BFP 3 weeks ago when your period was due? They would expect to see a foetal pole at 5-6 weeks and a heartbeat at 6-7, so if there is nothing at 7 weeks really you would need to be out by 2 weeks. Is that possible? It's v difficult in the early stages, the guidelines are that they err on the side of caution and rescan, and you do hear of people who get good news a week later.
I also agree with whoever said check your travel insurance, both to see if pregnancy complications are covered on the medical insurance and also if you'd be covered if you postponed the trip. I'm v surprised they would send you on a flight mid-medical management. I've had it once and had to stay in hospital for a couple of hours after the pessaries, then was allowed home. If you are not already bleeding the protocol is oral tablets to soften the cervix, then starting the next day, 2 lots of vaginal pessaries 24 hrs apart which bring on strong contractions and bleeding. Most people seem to stay in hospital until the sac is passed.
I hope you get good news next week and are not faced with this decision, but it makes sense to have researched your options in case the news is bad. The Miscarriage Association is v good for factual information, and the thread on here about practicalities of miscarriage may be helpful in making your decision, should you need to.

Original poster
Hugglemonster · 09/11/2013 18:01

As I said I'm so torn part of me doesn't want to go through a medically managed miscarriage on the flight but at least it will be over and done with and I can enjoy the holiday. I've got terrible sickness that lasts all day so that would be gone and I wouldn't have the waiting to miscarry hanging over me fit the whole 4 weeks either.
I really don't know I'm so confused.

OP posts:
Bakingtins · 09/11/2013 21:29

You really really do not want to be miscarrying on a flight. It is often not like a heavy period. I think anyone suggesting that's a good idea is really irresponsible, please get a second opinion before considering that as an option.

Happilymarried155 · 09/11/2013 21:48

You definitely shouldn't take the tablets before getting on the flight. If you really want to go on holiday you probably need to wait for it to happen naturally. It might not take too long, think mine happened about 9 days after scan.

Generally mine wasn't too bad and was quite like a period but I did have one hideous night where the bleeding and pain was quite bad-I can't think of anything worse than being a plane at that time.
Xx

Taz29duffy · 10/11/2013 10:31

Could you maybe postpone the start of your holiday by a day or two and have surgery as its relatively painless and recovery quick. Plus you don't have waiting on things starting hanging Over you on holidays. When I went to early pregnancy clinic after being diagnosed with a blighted ovum, as I'd no previous children and my periods light and generally pain free, they strongly advised me to go down the surgical route. A friend who went for the medical route had a very painful and traumatic time- she fainted twice. That is def not something for a long haul flight. Honestly be kind to yourself and I know you need and want this holiday, but don't underestimate how traumatic this can be.

Original poster
Hugglemonster · 10/11/2013 11:12

There's no way we can move the holiday it has been booked for 9 months and it was a huge cost

OP posts:
Original poster
Hugglemonster · 10/11/2013 11:12

There's no way we can move the holiday it has been booked for 9 months and it was a huge cost.
I have had 3 natural mc before all at no more than 6 weeks. So I know what to expect with the natural one

OP posts:
Waggamamma · 10/11/2013 16:57

Please don't consider miscarrying on the flight. Every miscarriage us different. When I started bleeding it was like turning on a tap and wouldn't stop. I needed medical help quickly, even then I had so much blood loss it was touch and go. If I was on a plane I would probably not be alive now. Not vekng dramatic.

Sorry I know that's worse case scenario but you really don't want to go through that. Less severve scenario what is there is turbulence and you can't get up to the loo to change pads etc?

So sorry for what you're going througg.

Xmarksthespot · 11/11/2013 06:59

Hi, I had a BO too but didnt find out until I started to bleed at 12 weeks - I was told that my body absorbed what may have been there, so I'm guessing it happened about 5 or 6 weeks in. I had a scan done and it was an empty sac. I decided to go down the natural route without realising what that entailed. I was told to expect a heavy period. I had light bleeding for a few days then on the 5th day it was a previous poster said - a tap had been turned on. I couldn't get off the toilet for all the blood. Not even a maternity pad would have absorbed the blood that was pouring out. I didnt realise that large clots would come out too. I just had to wait it out until it slowed down - that was after about an hour. I decided to go to hospital just in case it got worse and I spent a night there. I left in the morning very washed out and exhausted. After the worst was over I then bled for about 3 weeks. I wasn't offered drugs to bring on the miscarriage, my only option was to have a D&C but I wasn't up for being put under a general anesthetic and being away from my toddler. But in hindsight that may have been a better option as I wasn't prepared for the blood loss. If you go on holiday, personally I'd avoid the drugs as you don't want to bring on something like this whilst flying. You could take the risk of flying and miscarrying naturally on holiday but just know where your nearest hospital is and be prepared with towels and heavy duty pads. Either way, I don't think any option is great because really you don't know what's going to happen. Just take care and make sure your partner is aware of what could happen and that he can support you. I don't mean to scare you (I had no pain throughout all of that, just some light manageable cramping) but you just need to know what could happen. Take care and hopefully you get through your holiday with nothing happening.

Xmarksthespot · 11/11/2013 07:02

sorry, I just re-read your post that said you've had 3 natural mc already so you know what the deal is. I'm so sorry its happened again.

Original poster
Hugglemonster · 12/11/2013 13:26

Just thought I'd update
Went for 2nd scan today and had the BO confirmed, spoke to dr and came to the decision to wait for natural miscarriage. The dr gave me some medication to get rid of the sickness so I can feel a bit more normal while I wait for the mc to happen.
So although not the best news, feeling positive about things and looking forward to going away tomorrow.
Thank you everyone for all you advice x

OP posts:
Bakingtins · 12/11/2013 13:30

Sorry to hear that Huggle hope your holiday passes without incident and you manage to enjoy it in the circumstances.