Experiences of medical management of miscarriage

[Holly6789]

I'm hoping someone would be kind enough to share their experience of having a medically managed miscarriage.
I recently found out a 8wp that I have had a mmc that stopped growing at 4w3d. I have to go back next Tuesday for another scan just to be certain and to discuss my options as I have not miscarried yet.
The doctor said that I probably won't be offered surgical removal as as 4wk it is too small and would be difficult to find. They mentioned medical management but didn't go into detail about the procedure all they said was that I would be kept in until the products are passed. I was wondering how painful it was and how much blood I will loose and how long it will take to come to a stop. Also how long after AF arrived? I am frightened as I don't know what to expect!

Hi holly v sorry for your loss. I had MM for incomplete natural MC at 10 weeks. If your cervix is not already opening you may have to take an oral tablet the night before to assist this, then they cause contractions of the womb by inserting a couple of tablets into your vagina (you can do it yourself using a tampon to hold them up close to your cervix) I was only kept in for an hour to make sure no allergic reaction then sent home, with another dose to take 24 hrs later. The tablet caused onset of cramps and bleeding about 4-6 hours later. How much blood you pass depends how far along you were. A 4 week sac would be v small and no worries about seeing anything resembling a baby, but your lining may have continued to thicken. My natural MC have all involved heavy bleeding until the sac detaches and is passed then it settles right down, more like a period then spotting for about 10 days. My first cycle has tended to be about a week longer than normal but it can really vary. If you are anxious being in hospital is probably for the best. If you do go home ask for some painkillers, IME paracetamol didn't really cut it.
I suggest you have a look at the Miscarriage Association website and at the thread on here titled 'tips for coping'.
I hope it goes as easily as possible for you and that you encounter compassionate staff. IME the emotional side of things is more difficult than the physical, we are here for you whenever you need us.

Hi Holly, so sorry to hear your lose. I had a medically managed miscarriage about 3 weeks ago after the baby stopped growing at 8.1. I had read lots of horror stories online but i am confident it was the right decision for me. I took the pessaries at home and they took about 2 hours to work. It felt better to me to be at home and my DH stayed with me the whole time. The pain wasn't as bad as I expected and eased a lot once i had passed most of the sac. I also sat in the bath to relieve the pain but i don't think i was supposed to do that because of the risk of infection (although I wasn't told that by a nurse but have subsequently seen it mentioned online). The bleeding also wasn't as bad as expected (but i have very heavy periods anyway).

I'm really sorry you are going through this and i wish you a speedy recovery.

Sorry for what you are going through!! I had MM MC on 22 dec .... Was not as bad as I exoected!! Was given pessaries and sent home .... All happened 4 hours later with cramps and 2 large clots then bled medium for 4 days!! Hope that helps! X

Hi all sorry for your losses and that you have gone through this too! Thank you for responding you have helped me a lot.
I have read lots of horror stories that have put me off but really don't want to wait any longer for it to happen naturally. But thanks to you guys it doesn't seem as bad as I thought!
How long did it take for AF to arrive afterwards??

I was the same .... I actually said to my husband "what if I die" ..... I was so worked up about the whole thing but like you I wanted it all over so we could recover and try again!

I had mine on 22 dec and still not had AF ..., but my hcg levels are still high and no one knows why as a scan showed emoty uterus! I think it is nornally 4-6 weeks but you do ovulate within that time xx

Sorry for your loss. I was in hospital last week for medical management, but it didn't work for me and I went on to have surgical management (erpc). The medical management gave me period-type pains, and quite heavy bleeding with clots (but not as bad as other stories I read about). However, I did not pass the pregnancy sac itself and so was offered either trying more pessaries or surgical treatment. I just wanted to get it all over with, and opted for the surgery. I hope that we can all start to feel better soon. Take care x

Thankyou ladydoc for sharing sorry to hear also.
I'm going in on Friday for my mm just hoping it works first time as I've already waited long enough. It seems the pregnancy has got pretty comfy in there and spent want to budge! Xxxx

Hi holly, I had medical management today (stopped growing at 6 weeks), I had to stay in hospital until the products had passed as I live too far away to have taken the tablets then gone home. I was given 4 tablets to insert myself, then sat around waiting for something to happen. After 2.5h I only had mild cramping, but very suddenly I had a severe need to go to the toilet, and just after that I passed the sac. The pain ramped down immediately after that. Depending on the hospital, you may have to pee into a bedpan, to let the nurses check when the sac has passed. I found this a bit difficult as the tablets gave me the runs but managed by hovering between the toilet and the bedpan! Sorry if that was TMI but just to warn you about it, I had no idea so it was a bit distressing for me. Back home now and only experiencing mild bleeding and cramps.

Good luck

Hi StrangeCharm, thank you so much for sharing such a great help!
I go in at 9am tomorrow I'm so nervous! I too have to stay in and they said they would examine everything I loose so the bed pan is looking likely that's the part what worries me the most. Thanks for helping and wish you a speedy recovery! Xx

Hi Holly.

I had a mm mc on 23 Dec. I was nine weeks but foetus had stopped growing at 7ish weeks.

I stayed in and passed everything into bed pans (I had runs too because the tablets make your bowels as well as your womb contract).

The whole thing was pretty painful and unpleasant but doable. I'd probably opt for it again if I was unlucky enough to have to make the choice.

Sorry for your loss and best wishes for tomorrow x

Hi patienceisvirtuous sorry to hear you have gone through the same thing. Thankyou for responding! I'm dreading it tbh but hopefully this time tomorrow the worst bit will be over. How long did you bleed for afterwards ?? Xx

Thanks love.
I bled for about a week and a half. It eased off though towards the end.
Let us know how you get on. Yes, this time tomorrow you'll be feeling loads better x

Well I guess I was wrong thinking I would feel better by now! the medical management hasn't worked! Got to repeat it again today looks like I'm spending my weekend in the hospital. If it fails again I have to have ERPC but they don't do surgery on weekends! Xx

You poor thing Hollie, it's vile when it drags on, I just wanted it dealt with as swiftly as possible. Hopefully it will work today and you can start moving forwards.

Oh I'm really sorry to hear that Hope the next round works for you