Can anyone talk to me about ERPC...?

[PassTheGinBottle]

I'm booked in for one later in the week after an 8 week loss.

I've read leaflet after leaflet, and I'm working my way through the wonderfully supportive Practicalities thread.

Can anyone whose (sadly) had to go through this tell me about your experience please?

Was it painful afterwards? Did you bleed for long? I've heard about a hormone dip after the sac has been passed, does this happen with an ERPC? I have so many unknowns...

Sorry for all the questions, and thank you in advance.

Hi Gin

I'm so sorry for your loss. I've had 3 mc's and 2 of those required ERPC's so sadly yes I really can give you advice. I'm actually still off work after ERPC number 2 so it's all very recent experience.

Is it the right word to say it's ideal? Probably not. But for me, I found my 2nd mc / 1st ERPC very distressing because I was in a lot of pain and bleeding a lot. Therefore to be knocked out and wake up and all be over was ideal. I was bleeding really heavily but woke up and there was nothing. No pain, no blood. It was all over.

The GA made me very very tired and that makes you even more emotional.

ERPC number 2 I had a silent miscarriage so no pain and no bleeding beforehand. Was away from my bed on Ward for a total of an hour, it's very very quick.

Again woke up, no pain, no bleeding. It was over. For me I needed that.

Some people prefer the cathartic process of passing it all and that's ok, there is no right or wrong. But for me - ERPC was absolutely the right decision.

I'm still off work but that the distress of 3 mc's in 7 months - not the ERPC.

I hope that helps but if you have any specific questions please just ask.

It's shit and I'm so so sorry xx

I'm sorry Gin, hope my experience can reassure you a little.
I had an ERPC 31/12 after it was discovers baby had stopped developing at around 5 weeks.
I had slight discomfort after the surgery and was given codeine in the hospital. My bleeding was quite heavy the first day, but then like a regular period, and I controlled any cramping with paracetemol and a hot water bottle.
I was very very emotional, and they do compare it to the baby blues - I think its normal to be upset, angry, confused, and then throw in the hormones.
The most important thing is rest, it tires you physically and mentally. Take all the time you need and ask for help if you need it.

Hi,
sorry to hear that you are going through this. I had a mc last week, and initially opted for medical management but this didn't work. I then had an ERPC last thursday, and went home about 3 hours after. Physically I found it very straightforward - no pain, and the bleeding was minimal afterwards. I am now 5 days on, and really just minor spotting now. Emotionally I have been very up and down, very weepy, but I think that that is a normal way to feel after going through a mc. Best of luck to you, and I hope it goes as well as can be expected.

Ladies thank you all so much for sharing your experiences. I really do appreciate it and find it comforting that you all got through it as well as could be expected.

I'm sure in my mind I'm doing the right thing but ERPC just feels so...clinical.

I've also tried it both ways "naturally" and erpc (twice each way) and agree that the erpc is far far better. I was a bit sore after one of them, not really at all after the other, with minimal bleeding afterwards. By contrast the natural m/c's were drawn out and messy and much more painful, as well as harder to deal with.
If I were in the position again I wouldn't hesitate to have the erpc. Hope it goes well for you.

Sorry for your loss gin
I've had a natural MC at 6 weeks which was as fine as it could be. Then an ERPC a few years later- not by choice but it was over fast and bled lightly and recovered well.
Had a MMC in March last year and ERPC- that was minimal bleeding afterward and the whole process was quick. Mentally I recovered quickly but unfortunately got an infection of womb lining so bled on and off for three months. I shouldve realised sooner as it was easily treated with antibiotics!
Had another MMC December 23 at 11 weeks.This time I opted for an MVA- you are conscious and it's done under local anaesthetic. That was the most cathartic for me as no GA to get out of your system and they scan straight afterward toale sure no damage or retained tissue. It wasn't painful just strange and they give you has and air.
I went home an hour later and bleeding was minimal for a couple of weeks. Is an MVA maybe an option for you?
I hope whatever the decision you.make, you take all the time you need to recover

gas and air

Grockle and catbus I'm so, so sorry for your losses. Thank you for sharing your experience.

It's reassuring that everyone is saying ERPC was the right choice for them and they felt well afterwards, generally.

My main concern at the moment is what happens to the...tissue / baby (?) after the procedure.

Sorry to hear about your loss

I had an ERPC last Friday after my second miscarriage. My first miscarriage was a natural one, but it took four weeks and was utterly devastating.

I had actually been bleeding for two weeks before my miscarriage was concerned, but I still went ahead with the ERPC as the bleeding had almost stopped and I just wanted it over with. The op was fine, I went down at 9.30 and was back up with my husband at 10.30. No pain, very little bleeding. For me, it was very much the right choice. Yesterday was the first day I felt less tired again, and the emotions have really hit me today. But at least I'm not having to deal with the emotions alongside the physical pain and bleeding.

Before the procedure I signed a consent form for my baby to be cremated in a communal cremation, but that's done in a respectful way with a blessing that we can go along to. It was heartbreaking to sign that form, but I preferred that to it going down the loo like my last baby.

I was fortunate, but the hospital were amazing. I was put in a side room with an en suite, so I had total privacy. The ward was a gynae ward with middle aged ladies and not a baby or pregnant lady in sight. Everyone there, from the cleaner to the doctor, was really kind and respectful. All this helped a lot.

Do take the time you need to recover. This time I reached out and told people what was happening, and I was blown away by the love and support I have had. I hope you get the same.

It gets incinerated where I am, but for me that was less horrible than flushing it down the loo in a public toilet, like last time. (sorry for grimness, but I think its important to talk about the realities of m/c)

Well the choice was taken out of my hands - I passed the sac earlier today. It was massive! Quite an amazing thing. I feel so much better now. I did flush it, but I wasn't going to bury it or anything. I'm just glad it was me that did it and we were at home.

Thank you so much for sharing your experiences ladies

Glad to hear that you are feeling better. I hope that passing the sac wasn't too traumatic for you. I'm not sure how I would have coped with that. Big hugs

I won't lie; it was extremely unpleasant. But strangely comforting to have it out and know that the worst was over.

@Brummiegirl15 I read your post about your miscarriages, so sorry to read this. Just wondering did you go on to conceive again? xx I’m in a similar situation