Medical Management as an In-Patient - what to take/expect

[happygojo]

After a private scan on Monday found an empty sac, I went to the EPU and they confirmed an empty sac larger than 25mm so I am booked in for medical management on Saturday afternoon/evening, they said to plan to be in overnight but once it was 'done' I would be discharged ASAP. Anyway I have heard of people being given tablets and sent home.... but I think I will be in for the duration, which is what I want, I don't want to be scared and in pain at home - I would rather be in the hospital. Anyway does anyone have any experience of this? I am wondering what to take with me, what to expect and general advice.

I am devastated obviously but I don't think it will fully hit me until it is over and I have done everything and only the mental wound is left. I am dealing by planning and researching

I opted against natural as my body just isn't registering that there is no baby, so I could be waiting weeks..... with PG symptoms which I think I would find unbearable and they gave me the risks of surgical and although it would be preferable to wake up and for it to be over, it would mean waiting longer and not worth the risk unless it is necessary

So sorry you're going through this. I'm in the same situation, going in on friday. Baby died at 10+5 so definitely staying in for the procedure as not sure how bad it will be. The nurse told me to bring plenty to do - I've got a couple of box sets I think I'll take and my laptop to watch them on, plus a book/ magazine. Also planning to take lots to drink and a thermos of ice cubes as hospitals are always boiling. Taking snacks too. Will be watching for any further advice as like you I like to plan/ be prepared.

I have actually had an overnight stay on the ward before for a bartholins abscess and I had NOTHING with me, so I am going to try and be prepared, with stuff to watch, stuff to read and stuff to eat. I think I am going to take some jogging bottoms, slippers, hoody, EAR PLUGS (Wards are noisy places and can feel extremely lonely so sometimes blocking it out is best).... I have heard some people recommend leggings because it helps keep pads etc in place.

I hope it isn't too bad for you, it is so horrible and such a cruel twist of fate... but we will get through it

Very sorry that both of you have had this loss. I have no personal experience of this type of inpatient stay but in general terms I woud advise that you may find concentrating on particular things is hard to do - both because of the ward environment but also because of what's going on. So I would suggest bringing a range of dvds and books including old favourites and the very lightest stuff stuff you can find. If you can download games to your laptops too you may find that occupies you well even if you're not a gamer by inclination.
Your own blanket and/or pillow can be a comfort too.

If there are other clothes at home that you may want your partner to bring in later on if needed then make sure you leave them in a obvious place. Negotiating somebody else's wardrobe is hard enough. Negotiating that in a hurry because something is wanted urgently when you yourself are upset is a recipe for bringing the wrong thing!

I hope the procedures go as smoothly as they can for you both and you get home very soon.

Really sorry for both your losses. I had an overnight stay with medical management last year as my baby had died at 12 + 5 and they said that I was too far along to be allowed to go home given the risk of blood loss and pain.

Basically I went in at 9 o'clock in the morning and was given my own room for the duration with a toilet just outside. The nurses that were going to look after me for the day came and spoke with me as well as the doctor to explain what was going to happen. They took my vitals and some blood and I was left on my own (dh had had to go home to look after our ds) for a bit until they came in to give me the tablets.

So, I took the tablets at about 11.00am and was basically left to my own devices with nurses just popping in every few hours to check my vitals.

When you go to the toilet you are not allowed to just go and then flush it away, you have to put a pot like thingy over the toilet to catch everything that you then leave for the nurses to collect. Apparently this is so they can monitor your blood loss and see when you pass the baby. I found this really weird to do but get why they do it.

It was a really boring day and I just spent most of it watching tv, doing cross stitch or my puzzle book. Nothing happened for hours. They were talking about sending me home at one point but I think because of the handover from the day to night doctors by the time the doctor got to me it was too late to go home so I had to stay - which to be honest I'm glad about given that I passed my baby about 11.00pm.

As I knew a stop over was a possibility I had already packed my toiletries, pjs and some clean clothes for the next day. I would also make sure that you pack loads of sanitary pads and extra knickers because it really is quite messy. I hadn't even thought about this and ended up with some lovely paper knickers and the biggest pad ever provided by the hospital.

In the morning I wasn't allowed to have anything to eat until I had been seen by the doctor just in case they decided I needed surgery as I hadn't passed the placenta. I think I must have one of the last on his rounds and by the time the doctor came round I was absolutely starving and he decided that they would just send me home with an ultrasound appointment for the next week to let nature take its course. Fortunately they did manage to whip me up some food that I ate whilst waiting to get picked up by dh.

Overall, forgetting the horrible reason I was there, it was ok stopping overnight. The worst bit was just how boring it was, the loneliness and the fact my dh wasn't there when it finally happened given it was late at night and he was home with our ds.

I hope that your stays go ok given the circumstances.

I'm really sorry to hear your news. This is what I went through this week. Scan on Monday with an empty sac too. I was in hospital Wednesday and Thursday. The midwife I spoke to say I was likely to go home on the wed night as most woman do but did not tell me that unless you have the 5 sets of 2 tablets my hospital won't let you go home unless you have passed the sac.

Unfortunately for me I wasn't bleeding enough so they kept me in. I was having a pretty bad reaction and bleeding too much during the early hours of Thursday morning so the doctor did a and c which wasn't as bad as I expected.

Pain wise I was fine until the evening but I did only have paracetamol. The nurse told me in the morning it varies for everyone.

I hope everything goes ok and feel free to message me.

I'm home now. It went ok, the pain got quite bad and they gave me pethadine - the nurse just said don't try and be a hero and that pethadine was the best decision I ever made. They managed to get the sac when they examined me after 2nd set of pessaries. They let my bf and mum stay with me (i sent them home at 2am when the worst was over). Now pain isn't too bad just have paracetamol and heat pads. I'm just glad it is over