d&c or natural miscarriage?

[yeahyeah]

Hi, I only just found out I've had a missed miscarriage...I am about 8 weeks, but there is just an empty sac...the dr said I could have a d&c or wait, and I thought I'd much rather wait and have it happen naturally...does anyone have any insight or advice? I realised I know absolutely nothing about it, and not sure what to do. But we have booked a nonrefundable weekend in paris this weekend! So really want to try to go...

Hi, I msorry to hear of your loss. There are a lot of threads about this on here you might want to look at, but in my experience an ERPC was the best option for me.

It made me feel like I could draw a line under the experience and move on, however I understand is is not like for everyone. The actual op was very quick and I was home that day with only very mild bleeding and cramps afterwards.

Also, no one told me exactly what it might be like to actually miscarry at home. Whilst waiting for the ERPC I partially mc in the bath. WIthout giving too much information I found it very traumatic and not something I would want to go through again - you may just want to bear this in mind if you are planning to be away from home.

Im sure lots of other people will be along soon with their experiences and you can make an informed decision about what is best for you.

I chose an ERPC when I was 8 weeks and had missed mc. For me I just wanted to get it over with and didn't want to see what came out. Sorry tmi.

For me the op was quick - only in hospital for 3 hours. Afterwards I had no bleeding at all, although I believe that is not so common. However, I still found the whole thing very upsetting and do sometimes wonder if I shoudl have let it happen naturally, in hindsight.

However, you should do whatever feels right for you.

HTH

Hello Yeahyeah. I'm really sorry to hear this. I recently went through both a natural miscarriage and a d&c with the same pregnancy. The natural miscarriage is something I do not wish to go through again. It was very painful and traumatic and there was a huge amount of blood loss (and I was in hospital for the whole duration). Unfortunately it had to be followed up by a d&c because of retained blood. The operation was incredibly quick and surprisingly painless. I wish I had had the option of this stragight away.

Its a highly personal decision but I would go for the d&c if it happened to me again.

Have had 2 natural mcs and 1 d+c, from personal experience the 2 natural were more traumatic. The missed mc with D+C I did have a 2wk wait to see if I passed baby but never happened. To be honest it was a lot easier to have the D+C apart from the initial worry about general anesthetic etc.

echo what kezza said - I had natural miscariage at 12weeks and without details extremely traumatic and heaertbreaking - then had to have D&C anyway.

Very personal choice but do bear in mind that it will not be like a heavy period, it is much more than that.

DimpledThighs, how can it be that for something that happens so frequently to women we are so badly informed by health professionals on what to expect, and how to make an informed choice. I hope this is all helping yeahyeah

I had a natural m/c first time (in April) and it was right for me then, although I found passing the baby (6 weeks pg) traumatic I needed to prove to myself that it was really over. 2nd time (August, 10 wks pg, but baby died at 8 wks)around I was on holiday when it started, wanted to do it naturally again, but fate took a hand and I ended up collapsing and losing a lot of blood and was admittedto hospital for ERPC.
I think that you have to do what is right for you, but a word of warning, I went on holiday before I started m/c, thankfully took out medical insurance and am putting through a medical claim of £1,000 for treatment, ambulances etc, was on holiday in the Channel Islands at the time.
Hope this helps

I have had one very early (5ish weeks) natural mc, which was physically untraumatic but, as I said, very early, and two mcs at around 7/8 weeks involving D&Cs - one incomplete and one blighted ovum. With the blighted ovum I had very high hCG levels and could have been waiting for weeks for things to get going if I hadn't gone for the D&C. I think I passed part of the sac during the incomplete mc and do not want to have to go through that again - it was not very painful, but very frightening. Both D&Cs were painless and physically not traumatic and uncomplicated, and the bleeding afterwards was manageable. If, God forbid, it happens again, I really think I would have the D&C.

Sorry, I meant to say I am very sorry about your mc.

Sorry to hear you are going through this. I take a slightly different tack to the other posts. I had a mc 12 days ago at 13+5 but it had died at about 8 wks. I have had 2cs in the past 3yrs and for me it was REALLY important physically and emotionally to deal with this naturally. I can't say it was a pleasant experience, but for me, surgery would have been absolutely awful - both cs's have been horrendous & it would have had to have been a medical emergency before I went in an operating theatre again. The consultant and midwives all tried to persuade me to have a D and C, saying a natural mc would be v painful and I may bleed for 4-6 weeks.
I had contractions and blood loss for about 12 hours, including contractions every 2 minutes for about 5 hours. Fortunately it was at a w/e as I could never have looked after the kids during it.
That is the bad side - on the positive side, the bleeding stopped 99% within 3 days and I have only had slight blood loss on 3 occasions since then. I was able to see the embryo and have a little ceremony. Despite the pain & discomfort the whole experience was positive for me. I would have been heartbroken to have had a D and C, BUT I realise that my circumstances are different to most other women and remain totally respectful of individual choice. Hth.

Sorry to hear yeahyeah

I have had 2x natural m/c and one D&C. All about 8 weeks At the last m/c i was trying to make a decision and asked exceptionally qualified surgeon. What was best both now and later for fertility, etc. He said some women like d&c as it is over sooner, some women prefer natural both cases can have left over products so a further d&c needed. I asked why some women cannot get pg after d&c and he said sometimes they can scape away to much lining and it can leave you temporily infertile. He said they would have to do a bad job though. Anyway I decided on natural after that. There was some hevy bleeding and pain and then it eased after i passed embroy. It wasn't pleasant but i was at home which was nice, i felt more comfortable there than at hospiatal with last d&c. Hard decision with going away m/c could still take weeks to happen naturally if you have no bleeding yet.

I really think it is a personal decision. I have recently suffered a missed miscarriage where the embryoes (twins) died about about 6 weeks. I found out at an 8 week scan and, after discussion with my consultant, decided to try to let things take their natural course. 3 weeks later, I had had virtually no bleeding so my consultant suggested I opt for a medical TOP which involves taking drugs to induce a miscarriage. I passed lots of clots but a scan 2 weeks later showed not only that one of the sacs was still there but was growing and was now measuring 9 weeks. I therefore had a D&c that day to gtet rid of it. for me the D&C experience was very good - no pain, virtually no bleeding afterwards. But by then I would have been 14 weeks and that is a long time from when I found out. If I had my time again (and kn owing what I now know about my body's unwillingness to let go of pregnancy) I would opt striaght for a D&C. But as you can see I tried not to as there is a slight risk if temporary infertility

Hi yeahyear, really sorry to hear your news.
Here's my experience, if it's of any help:
I had a missed miscarriage at 12 weeks. Found out at first scan that the baby had died at 6 weeks. I wasn't offered an ERPC / D&C so had a natural m/c.
Initially it was like a normal period, then got heavier & more painful. Waves of pain, I suppose like contractions (although I've never given birth, so I'm not sure if that's the right description).
After a few days of bleeding I went to see GP as the pain was becoming so bad that over-the counter painkillers weren't enough. She examined me & sent me to hospital where they removed some 'tissue' from my cervix. Couple of days later the bleeding got really heavy & I started passing big jelly-like clots (sorry if TMI). I was admitted to hospital overnight. After the really heavy bleed, it settled down and got lighter.
Altogether I must have been bleeding for 3 weeks, although the last week was just light bleeding/spotting.
I wouldn't wish to experience another natural m/c again, as it was awful.
When the doc was removing the 'tissue' from my cervix, I saw she removed a little white blobby lump, and I think that must have been my baby - it was so sad.
If, God forbid, it shopuld happen again, I would request an ERPC / D&C.

Sorry to hear your news yeahyeah
Like others on here I had a natural m/c at 12 weeks (I was given the choice and took the natural route) but ended up with a ERPC anyway 2 weeks later
If it ever happened again I would go for a D&C straight away as I found the whole experience very traumatic ...
Having said that, I have heard that an m/c at 8 weeks is much less blood loss than at 12 weeks ...
Nothing prepares you for the physical aspects of a natural m/c ... when you have no outward signs of being pregnant anyway .... I wish I had known what to expect before hand. I was very relieved, when it happened, that DH had taken time off work to be with us as there was NO way I could have looked after DS ....

Hi everyone thanks for all your posts. As it turns out we didn't go to paris...were able to cancel everything, and reality hit and we realised we really didn't want to. I also took myself to a much better hospital and had another scan. There are two sacs but not really anything inside them so they advised me not to have a D&C, they said they wouldn't offer me one anyway, and hopefully it should be like a really heavy period. Nothing has happened yet, is not nice waiting, but I'd rather anything than an op! I think the embryos must never have really developed...who knows...I was about 9 weeks I think, but the sacs look more like 6 weeks and they are collapsing. I hope to god it's not as bad as it has been for some of you! Thanks for your help with it all.

yeahyeah, I had a m/c at around 7 weeks. I had a scan at the start of bleeding and wasnt offered a d and c. I was told to wait and see what happened naturally as like you, the sacs appeared empty.

The worst thing about it was that I was very aware of what was happening iyswim, and unsure, until I had another scan, if everything had passed. It was just like a heavy period and didnt have any pain.

fivemadmarchhares...how long did it take for you to start bleeding? I am just concerned that Im going to be waiting forever...thanks for letting me know...

sorry just reread your message and can see you had already started bleeding...

Yes, it was the first I knew anything was wrong.

How are you today?

Hi there Guys

Hope you all had a good Christmas and are looking forward to a good New Year. I am new to this thread but have been using Mumsnet for the past 2 months. As I recently had my 4th m/c. I had to have a d & c this time as there was still a bit to left in . That was on Thursday ( 21st), everything was fine but yesterday I had the most terrible sharp pain in my lower abdomen, only once that day. Today I have been getting a few more moderate to heavy pains, but no blood loss. Can anyone give me any advice, please.

Hi everybody. I just read this thread with interest and would like add my experience.
I had a missed m/c (blighted ovum) and opted for ERPC. I had no bleeding afterwards and 8 weeks later I found out the ERPC hadn't been succesfull (had to find out myself through private scan). Since the tissue had calcified at this point I needed to have 2nd ERPC. That was 8 weeks ago and I had again no bleeding and have had no period yet. I wonder if they have done permanent damage to my uterus (Asherman's syndrome) and the future will show if if this is the case or not (they will only look into it if AF has not returned 12 weeks after 2nd ERPC). I think opting for an ERPC was the biggest mistake in my life and if should ever m/c again would certainly opt for the natural m/c. Now this comes from sombody that had never had a nature m/c and a very bad ERPC experiences.

sunshyne - I am really upset to see that your post went unanswered - day after boxing day and I guess there was hardly anyone around.

It upsets me that you were going through this. I hope everything worked out.