MMC at 12 wk scan, stopped growing at 9.5 wks

[appleseedpip]

I had my 12 week scan today, my first scan and also my first pregnancy. There was no heartbeat and the fetus had stopped growing at 9.5 weeks :( I had been feeling anxious too about mmc but thought I was being paranoid and worrying too much. I had no bleeding whatsoever so thought everything was going to plan but the news was devastating..

We were planning to tell our family on Christmas Day.. This whole thing has happened at a really awkward time of year and don't think I can get an appointment till the new year.. But I was wondering which procedures did other's go through if they had a MMC with a baby that stopped growing at 9.5-10weeks.. I've read elsewhere that women (majority who had lost at 5-6 weeks) that waited to MC naturally or took the pill experienced a lot of pain and bleeding.. It worries me how much more painful and bleeding it is for someone who is at 9.5-10weeks :(. I'm frightened of the operation route as I've never been under general anaesthetic but reading how much less pain and bleeding there was seems better.. I really don't know what to do :(

I'm trying to stay positive and remind myself that we were lucky to be pregnant and on our first month of TTC even if it unfortunately ended in a MMC, we know that we can be pregnant again. I also think the fetus just wasn't a healthy one to begin with and nature took it's course which if it was the case I'm greatful for.

2016 has honestly been an awful year. I'm glad to see the back of it but moving onwards and forwards a new year and a new start. Fingers crossed for us all for happy healthy pregnancies.

Oh apple - how stressful for you. Hoping all goes well for you and that you have a speedy recovery.

I'm not entirely sure which blood group I am but I think I could be rhesus negative. The midwife mentioned to me at the booking in apt that I'd need an injection later on in pregnancy; but I never even thought of it during a mc :/ The hospital never mentioned it either - maybe I should give them a call. Xxx

I rang and spoke to epu and they advised me that they stopped giving the injection following miscarriages of under 12 weeks around 2-3 years ago and that loads of research has been done in to why it's not needed in early miscarriage xx

Yeah, I'm A neg and they only give you anti-D if you miscarry after 12 weeks or have a procedure like an ERPC or MVA, there's no need for natural miscarriages before twelve weeks.

Sorry you've got to have an ERPC as well, I had the same issue in that I didn't pass everything naturally. I had my MVA last Wednesday and felt better immediately, relieved (although obviously sad) to draw a line under the whole drawn out experience tbh.

Hope it goes ok, glad you managed to have a nice Christmas despite it all.

Thank you greedy - you've put my mind at ease. I was worrying there slightly that I wouldn't go on to have healthy future pregnancies xx

Sorry for your loss - Im now in your situation. Ive read your thread and need to be ready for whats to come. The bit that you put about keep flushing toilet appeals as thats scaring me most. I cant cope to see it - poor thing x

Sorry Rac to hear your sad news. Sending you lots of hugs. How far gone were you?! I was 7 weeks but 11 weeks when I found out and I couldn't make out the foetus at all when I pissed the sac, even with scooping it out of the toilet (with gloves on).
Has your miscarriage already started naturally?!
Xx

Its starting now Im having contractions so not like period pain hurts more and is on off - theres blood but nothing major has come out. I would be 9.5 weeks but baby measures 7.5 ish Ive had a good look on the scan so I have a visually image in my head of its little body and as the image on the scanning screen is blown up I have visions of it being bigger. My husband thinks we need to bury it but I cant face seeing it. I really thought this baby was going to make it as the pregnancy symptoms were very strong. What on earth happened to stop it growing at 7.5 weeks? I know its all genetics or chromosones but I still cant believe it. I feel like I need to know what specific part of the development stopped as it had a strong hb at 7 weeks - maybe other organs had trouble - we will never know. I do have kids so for that reason I am so relieved about xx

When I had the contraction type pains I sat myself on the toilet for a while and a lot of it came away and then the pain eased off. Make sure you're taking pain killers.
Thinking of you xx

Thank you - does it go on for long?

I was given the pessaries on the Friday and then I started with pain that night and began passing blood clots and then I didn't actually pass the sac until the Sunday. I think it's different for everyone. I think I rested a little bit too much in the first few days though coz I bled quite slowly inbetween the trips to the toilet. On the Sunday night (the bleeding had slowed down but I still had pain) I got myself dressed and took the dog out; and when I came back I sat myself on the toilet again and passed more blood and then the pain eased off. I think gentle exercise helps to get things moving xx

This sounds like me I need to move more to get it moving along - thanks for advice. Its really painful. I had a mmc a few yrs ago and it was just a sack that was much easier to cope with. I have my rainbow baby and shes currently cuddling me and keeps saying I love you Mummy. Im going to have to be brave and get on toilet and let go urghhhhhhhhh

My dp kept telling me I needed to rest and that I shouldn't be leaving the house...but as weird as this sounds it actually reminded me of having a poo. The fact it didn't come away unless I was sat on the toilet. It was as though my body was telling me to get up and move.
Remember you can take ibuprofen and co-codamol again now so dose yourself up coz it can be quite painful xx

I will as Im in a lot of pain now. Xxx

I found it really painful too - just keep telling yourself that it will end soon and it'll all be over xxx

Oh Sugar, sorry to make you worry about your blood type, I'm glad all is fine with you in regards to that. I was on the cusp of needing rhogram if I was negative as I was past 12 weeks when MC. I just wanted others to be aware of this possible situation.

So sorry to hear you're going through the same Rac23. I too remember seeing my baby on the screen for the first time only last Tuesday.. Not moving with his/her back towards us :( I think when the process of the MC began for me I was too terrified to see the baby.. and mentally started looking at this process from a medical perspective in order to not have to cope with the emotional side of things that was occurring.. I too questioned why and how this could happen so late in my 1st trimester but one comfort out of all the checks and scans I've found out it was nothing I could have stopped. My uterus is healthy as well as my ovaries.. Fingers crossed for a better pregnancy next time for all of us.

How are you at the moment Rac23? In some ways I'm glad my thread has given you some insight, advice and preparation of what to expect. Everyone's MC is a little different and varied in experience. The initial stage/loss is quite intense and apologies for tmi quite bloody.. I highly suggest staying on the toilet for this part as heavily bleeding elsewhere in bed or on the sofa could be difficult to clean up. The worst part for me was 3 hours (on the toilet) and then every hour I had to change my maternity pad for about 8/9 hours, then it tailed off into a heavy period. Definitely have some painkillers. I took nurofen and during the most intense part of my contractions it was as if I had taken none. Hot water bottle was a god send too and I hope you've got some heavy duty pads.

I'm so glad to hear you've got your rainbow baby to give you comfort. You'll get through this ok. I did and these ladies on the board helped me through so much. Hope all goes well for you.

Today I went for my ERPC, as usual they called me up saying they told me the wrong appointment time and that I needed to get myself in straight away.. I thought I had another 2 hours to get ready and get my head round things so had to rush. Before the consultations I actually ended up having another scan as I mentioned I bled and passed something again last night. It showed that my body was still clearing itself naturally so I didn't have to have the op.. thank goodness.. I've still got a small amount of retained tissue but they're confident it will pass through in the week. I've got a scan booked in for two weeks time to make sure I'm in the all clear. Feeling already so much better today.. but still resting up as I'm still tired from everything. The end is in sight xxx

Thanks for the advice. I've had contractions all day just like labour but only the odd patch of blood when I go to toilet however i think its getting heavier. Its so horrible. Im still terrified the baby is going to be huge and scary to have come out if me. Just taken nurofen. Kids at a friends. Feel like Ive lost track of time and getting into life again is going to be hard.
So while Ive typed this ive had 3 contractions lasting about 20 seconds each surely to god this will start to get underway I'll be able to start moving on after the poor baby has left :(
Hopefully you wont need to go back after your next scan and you can wait for cycle to return again. 2017 has got to be better luck x

Auw Rac23, well done for sorting out care for your kids, will DH be with you? I think by the sounds of it you're on your way to it. I fell asleep with cramping and cervix pain at midnight and woke up at 4:30am with unbearable pain and the heavy bleed/passing so that was about 4 hours later.

Try not to be terrified.. It's an awful process and I cried a lot but you're clots and sac won't be huge. It's large things but nothing that a mother who has given birth can't handle. My baby was 9.5/10 weeks (3 weeks larger than you) and I managed to pass it naturally. It will be ok.. but if you do start feeling faint/dizzy be sure to call EPU.

I've been hiding out at home from all my friends and family and have been telling each group that I'm away visiting different people. I'm just not ready to see anyone yet as I'm worried I'll burst into tears but I'm slowly getting there and slowly getting my strength back. I know and can already sense I'll be back to normal, ok and my bright shiny self again at some point.. it just might take some time and the same will be for you too.

There was definitely a wash of relief and peace that came over me once the worst of everything had happened.. and you'll start to mend and begin to move on.. It's only been 9 days since I found out at my 12 week scan the baby's heartbeat had stopped and 5 days since the MC (to be honest felt like forever..) but considering last week feeling like the darkest time I've ever experienced in life so far I'm already feeling better and I hope you do too.

I hope I don't need to go back too.. If anything I congratulate my body for sorting it out naturally AND on xmas eve so that I could have a normal-ish christmas day.. It's strange how as soon as I consciously knew what had happened my body kicked in and started the process of MC within a few days. And there after with the 2nd scan and finding out I still had products left it was like 'Oh?! Oops? Did I not get everything out yet? I best get on that then' and got rid of more the same night! Amazing what our bodies are capable of and I do think we are the stronger gender for that matter.

I'll keep checking back here to see how you're getting on if you need anymore help or advice. xxx

Thank you (I dont know how to tag your user name)
Bodies are truly amazing and its a case of survival of the fitest.
I can take comfort knowing that you are a week ahead of me and in a better place. I can be there too soon.
Thank you for checking back for messages.
Im having a glass of wine now 🤔

Ahh don't worry apple - I'm glad you mentioned it, I would have only ended up worrying at a later date and at least I know all is ok now :) xx

And rac, for the first 4 days I couldn't stop crying at all. Once the process had finished I felt so much better - it was like instant relief. It happened to me two weeks ago and I'm feeling much more positive now. When I was told it felt like my whole world had came crashing down (I'd had no bleeding or anything initially so I had no clue) and I actually felt as though I'd be grieving for the rest of my life and I said to dp at the time that I wasn't sure I could go through it again.
But the last few days we have been talking about trying again soon after the new year. It's amazing how things can change in just a couple of weeks xx

Wine makes everything better, I'm currently in my dressing gown watching tv with a box of lindt chocolates.. I think I deserve it..

Its still not out this is dragging on beyond belief. My pain killers are topped up but im still contracting. I dont get it - it must be really attached on inside me

It went on for a couple of days for me too. It'll all be over soon enough. Take care of yourself x

Ive just rang the hospital to see if its normal - I swear the woman (sister) sounded highly uninterested. I told her its stressing the lifd out of me. Shes insistant on the scans need to be far enough apart just incase im not further behind. Which I know I am not and ive seen the private scan a week before with strong hb - boxing day same baby no hb. Its so frustrating. Shes also saying if they do have 2 scans both confirming the worst its got to be pessaries inside however same thing happened to my friend at same week and the gave her tablets you swallow on day of first scan. I dont know why I have to have this dragging on and potentially well into next week. I know this sounds ridiculous Im tempted to jump on the trampoline to get things moving

I wasn't given any tablets, only pessaries. I presumed the oral tablets beforehand were only given for an abortion to end the pregnancy before the pessaries. Maybe it's different at different hospitals xx