Is it a mmc? What happens next??

[Holly6789]

Today I would have been 7w3d..
While on holiday last week I experienced bleeding and slight pain so went for a scan everything was fine but dr said it was a little small so maybe I wasn't as far as I though I was. I went back a week later for another scan (while still on hols) and only slight growth (should be 6wks at this point) dr said I would miscarry in next couple of days..
Since last scan I have had no bleeding or pain.
Went to my EPU yesterday and they explained that they would have to ignore my previous scans and start fresh as it was a diff hospital which is understandable. They took bloods and explained they couldn't offer a scan unless bloods come back over 1,000. They were 2,500 and I have a scan on Tuesday.
Has anyone had a similar experience?? I am very concerned as I would have thought I would have lost the tissues by now as the dr on holiday said it measured 4-5wks so stopped growing nearly 3 weeks ago! I believe I am having a mmc? And terrified of having to have it surgically removed and I am feeling that this Is going to be the case. Any help will be much appreciated! Also dr on holiday and doctor at my hospital yesterday both said that my cervix was closed and have had no bleeding for couple of days now.

I can imagine this must be really hard, but please try to stay as calm as you can before your scan on Tuesday.

I've had a full term pregnancy with lots of episodes of bleeding throughout (pg was stressful, but DC was fine) and also a MMC at 9 1/2 weeks with no bleeding at all, so reluctantly chose to have medical management.

The scans you had on holiday: it seems important that there was some growth between the scans, and the second scan - at only 6 weeks - was still very early. The Miscarriage Association say that a scan at 6 weeks won't necessarily be able to show a heartbeat, even in a perfectly developing pregnancy. Plus your cervix is closed and you're not bleeding any more, so I really don't think you can be sure what's happening until your next scan.

Fingers crossed you'll be fine. And don't worry about having to have surgery. If (and at this stage it still sounds like 'if') the worst comes to the worst, you'll have other choices about what to do (e.g. there are drugs or you can just wait and see). I'll link the Miscarriage Association leaflet which gives more info about those choices, but maybe don't read it unless you know from your scan that's the position you're in. Link to 'Management of Miscarriage - Your Options'

Hi holly, so sorry you're going through this. It does sounds like a mmc although there are of course stories of people just having ovulated later than they think and it all works out. I had a mmc before Christmas. I had a scan at 9 weeks and pregnancy was only measuring 6 weeks. I knew it had to be a mmc because measuring 6 weeks would have many that my positive pregnancy test was a week before conception even happened. i tried to avoid convincing myself that it would all be ok because i knew it wouldn't and i didn't want to get any hopes up. That's just me though! You know your body and your dates so night have a clearer picture. A scan the following week confirmed it. I miscarried naturally a week later so a whole 5 weeks after it had stopped developing. As I had some retained tissue, I was given surgical management. I found the surgery absolutely fine and much easier than miscarrying naturally. Recovery is swift and process is physically not at all traumatic.
For me the limbo between discovering mmc and it all being over was the hardest part. Once it was confirmed, i felt a sense of relief and then when it was all finally over, i began to heal. Be kind to yourself, distract yourself and just hibernate until scan. Don't go to work. Do you have support in real life? The Miscarriage Association are brilliant for information about the options for management.

I had a surgically managed MMC in December 2013. I don't think I could have handled anything else emotionally if I'm honest.

Hi all thanks for responding! Sorry to here of your losses too.
I have got it in my head that it is going to be bad news just as the dr on holiday said but I can't help holding on to a tiny but of hope which I think is normal! I read that in early stages if pregnancy it should grow 1mm a day and that's no where near what mine has! Also I had sore boobs and now that has gone. Yeah I have lots if support! The waiting between appointments and scans is just the worst though! I guess I will just have to hang on until Tuesday! I will take a look at miscarriage association thanks

Also, I had a full week if bleeding and mild cramps but nothing since the last scan.. Do I have a lit more bleeding and pain to come if it passes naturally?? I'm scared of this moment arriving as I have no idea what to expect

Hi Holly. I'm so sorry for you and the waiting must be very difficult. I started to bleed on 14th Dec at 11+5 so went to A&E. I was examined and told my cervix was still closed so not to panic. I was then scanned on the 15th Dec and they confirmed an mmc (the sac was the correct size, fetus was tiny and stopped growing really early on). Fingers firmly crossed for you, however if your EPU confirm an MMC, you have a few options as outlined on the miscarriage association website. Discuss these options with the nurse and it is likely they will ask you to take a few days to consider which route you would like to take. I opted to miscarry naturally which started that evening with heavy bleeding (Monday) with the majority of the pregnancy passing on the 19th (Friday). If this was to happen to me again I would choose medical management. I found the miscarriage itself painful, scary and quite a lonely process. Not because I didn't have support, but just because it was all happening to my body, I didn't know what to expect and no one could really help. The entire process has taken about a month and I am now awaiting AF. Let us all know how your scan goes on Tuesday, we're all here for any questions you may have and can hold your hand through the process if you need some support. Hugs to you. X

Hi Holly,

Firstly I'm so sorry to hear this. I've also recently found out I had an MMC on Tuesday. Had a scan at the EPU 2 weeks ago, all was fine and measuring to date. had a tiny bit of spotting and went back to EPU to be safe Tuesday gone and no heartbeat although previously seen. Died 4 days previous to this scan unfortunately. As no signs of miscarriage naturally, I opted for a MVA (manual vacuum aspiration as I didn't know this!) which I dreaded but they did it 2 days later on thur just gone. The hospital staff were honestly amazing, The procedure itself, although not massively pleasant was so quick and as dignified as possible. Since, I have had no bleeding and only minimal pain. Hoping to get back on track and conceive again as soon as possible. I had considered waiting to miscarry naturally but after the MVA I can't imagine to have to still be waiting. I had a team of nurses with me the whole time and a direct phone number 24hrs incase I have a question.

Thought I'd share this as I was so afraid of the procedure (but wanted to get it over physically as soon as possible) but it really was nowhere near as awful as it sounds. Physically I can start again...just got to get around the idea mentally now :-s.

Feel free to message me if you want any more info about it.

Take care xxxxxxxx

Forgot to mention (first time poster!) I would have been 10 weeks this week. MMC detected at 9 weeks, stopped growing at 8. Can't quite believe it to be honest....

Just wanted to share my story in hope it may help someone like many of the posts on mumsnet helped me through my miscarriages, I am a 24 year old healthy women but I've been through the horror of a missed miscarriage twice within 4 months of each other. First pregnancy was accidental I was on the contraceptive bill so was a bit shocked soon the pregnancy symptoms came a long with the excitement of having a baby, a couple of weeks later I has some discharge and pink spotting and noticed my pregnancy symptoms had died down( didn't become concerned because I knew it could be normal and also didn't want doctors thinking I was a drama queen) but progresively the spotting changed into a bright red colour and I began to cramp again I ignored this and went to work but it got worse and I phoned early pregnancy who told me to rest and if it got worse then to go to accident and emergency, eventually I went to A&E that night and was seen by a student doctor who assumed the bleeding was hormone related due to me being on the pill then a senior doctor came into room and again the only test she done was touch my stomach and told me everything was fine and it was hormone related and I was sent on my way the next day I went back to work and received a phone call from early pregnancy to say they had an appt slot for me the next day, the next day I went to appt and was told that pregnancy sack measured 10 weeks but bby measured 7 weeks with no heartbeat however they sent me away for a week to see if baby would develop one although by this time bleeding was heavy and they advised that this was only protocol and that they expected me to fully miscarry within the week, a week later I went back and it was confirmed that baby had died although I hadnt naturally miscarried, I then choose to go through an evac! After my evac surgeon discovered I have a complete vignal septum which is muscular and would arrange a follow up appt for options, by the time this follow up appt came I was already pregnant, both me and my partner were over the moon but extremely nervous, the surgeon advised me to wait 10-14 days before going to doc and having it confirmed, when I eventually went to docs for confirmation I explained about my last miscarriage and asked for early scan but she said she couldn't do it because my surgeon was dealing with me anyways I then tried to contact him with no avail, I then contacted early pregnancy and explained my story to them although they were really reluctant about giving me an early scan after a bit of a meltdown she agreed and got me in for a reassurance scan the next day, at this scan I was extremely emotional and scared however baby had a strong heartbeat and everything seemed fine midwife also explained risks regarding my septum but she made out like a septum was common, two weeks later I go back for a scan when baby would gave been 9 w 1day, when I went into the room the midwife didn't seem to be happy about my early scans and I was integrated for 10 mins about why I wanted these it felt like I had no right esp because I self referred myself, anyways she began the ultrasound and straight away I knew something was wrong just the way the midwife was looking at the screen, eventually another midwife came in and had a look and said we would expect to see baby's heart beat by now on an ultrasound and we can't they then done an internal scan which again confirmed another miscarriage this time my body reacted different I still have all my symptoms including lots of sickness the spotting is only beginning and I am booked in for another evac on Tuesday (tomorrow) and then will be having my septum removed in hope that one day I will be able to carry a full term pregnancy, I hope my story can help x

Hi Jane and happycat,
Really sorry to hear you have gone through this also! Thanks for sharing your experiences you really have helped me!
I think I am learning more towards MVA after hearing everyone's experiences. I would wait for nature to take its course if I knew it would be in the next week but there's no way of knowing this and don't want to be weeks down the line and wish I've have opted for MVA as I want it over as quickly as poss. I am frightened about the week ahead but you have made me feel a lot better about it! Thankyou! Roll on tomorrow hopefully something will be sorted xxx

Thankyou teeniedeenie I think you have helped me come to a decision! Sorry to hear you have gone through this! I don't think i could cope with it happening naturally, I'm not scared by the pain it's seeing the pregnancy tissue, although it would be v small I guess in my situation.
Thankyou for you're help

Hi again holly, its a difficult descion and the fear of the unknown can be quite distressing, just make sure you make the descion based on yourself, my first miscarriage I waited just over a week to see if I could do it naturally before surgery but it didn't happen and I was warned about infections coz baby had died a couple weeks prior, firstly I want an MVA that procedure seemed more comfortable with me but I wanted to be put to sleep which wasnt allowed so my only option after that was the evac, I personally\emotionally couldn't be awake knowing what's happening I'd rather hide from it by using general anestic and then when I wake its like closure, but everyone is different, good luck tomorrow I will leave a wee message after my surgery let you know how I get on x

I am worried about infection because if the doctor on holiday is right, it stopped growing 4-5w and I would be 8 this week!
Hope all goes well tomorrow for you! Yes let me know how you get on xxxxx

How did you get on happycat ?? Hope all is well