Brown spotting after D&C, how long for?

[KnitKitty]

I had a D&C for MMC last week on Tuesday. Bled for 3 or 4 days and then have had brown spotting since then.

Every time I think it's stopping, it starts again. I didn't have any on Sunday (or hardly any), didn't put a pad in the next day and then made a mess of my underwear. I'll go for almost a whole day with nothing and then a bit more will appear.

How long did yours last for?

I was told not to have sex until bleeding has stopped as there is a risk of infection - I'm assuming that includes this brown spotting, even though it's intermittent?

I found out I was pregnant on February 18th, and was roughly 4-5 weeks along. Started bleeding on and off a few days later, but that stopped after about 2 weeks and then I found out about the MMC on the 7th March and it's been a long, drawn out journey which I am just sick to the back teeth of now. I want my body and life back to normal.

Hope you are doing ok cobaltRose ❤️ Don’t feel guilty at all!
Knit kitty I just wanted to say, you have been so supportive of everyone on these boards, it is really nice to know there are people like you around during our hard times. Hope you are doing ok too!

CobaltRose I have to admit I'm not very clear on what the difference is between ERPC and D&C. The hospital didn't name what my surgery was, they just said surgical management of miscarriage.

Sorry you're in pain. Don't be surprised if the bleeding starts up again or comes and goes, but hopefully it's all over and done with. Everyone is different. Keep an eye on the pain and contact your EPU if it gets worse or doesn't start to improve in a few days time. :)

Don't feel guilty about feeling relieved, I think we have all felt relief when the procedure part of this nasty business is over with because it's like a chapter of a book closing and it's easier to start to heal emotionally.

K0013 Thank you so much for saying that. I think I cope myself by trying to help others. Don't know what I'd do without the rest of you!

@KnitKitty, I think the ERPC is a bit more 'modern' than a D&C, IYSWIM. I know they use suction instead of a knife/instrument so it's supposed to be less painful and a quicker recovery than a D&C. My hospital didn't even offer a D&C, it was either ERPC, taking a tablet and going home, or letting nature take it's course. They said an ERPC was similar to a D&C (same basic procedure), just using suction instead of a knife/scraper.

And yes, I do feel some kind of closure and feel like we can move on now

Ahh ok! Thanks for clearing that up. I think mine was probably an ERPC too then.

Hi @CobaltRose so sorry for your loss. 
You have absolutely no need to feel guilty for the relief. I felt the same way with both of my miscarriages after the hardest parts were over with. Hope your recovery will be straight forward & I hope you have lots of support around you to help you cope?
Believe you're right re:ERPC and D&C- It was explained to me that they are the same procedure except that D&C is the older procedure and term whereby they used to use curettage (scraping of womb lining rather than suction) but I think the terms are still used interchangeably a lot of the time & most places use suction now (and only scraping if needed) even if some people still refer to it as D&C as the old procedure had slightly higher risks. So we've probs all had the same procedure really.

@KnitKitty sorry you're rest was still positive. I used up all my cheapies so am saving my last FRER until Monday. Hope it's negative by then - am feeling like I want to look forward now but just need to get this first cycle out of the way first.

Similarly trying to start to hit the gym though admittedly not as much as I'd like with work...working 12 hour night shifts next week so doubt I'll have much luck next week either! 🤷‍♀️

Sorry to hear about the rubbish time you're having at work @RedRobin7 I've generally found it easier once I knew people knew but was tricky when I wasn't sure if people did or did not know. I hope some of your colleagues offer you support & to let you talk about it if they do.

XxX

I also wondered about all the terms people use - my hospital just called it surgical management and explained they use a suction cup rather than scraping anything. @CobaltRose Don't be surprised if you find yourself bleeding again as I'm currently on day 17 of bleeding and I did have two days where I thought it had stopped completely. Today was going to be one of those days but suddenly had to do a very quick 10 min walk to my dinner venue and I felt the blood coming 😩

I definitely think it helps us all to help each other! My husband thought I was obsessed when I kept posting on the pregnancy boards and then he was confused why I was still on Mumsnet after the MMC. I think I need the support from you lovely ladies a lot more now than when I was pregnant - despite what I thought at the time.

My day was tough today. I thought joining my work event (despite management telling me not to!) would take my mind off things but it's mostly a day of death by PowerPoint with some flashing lights so I actually found myself lost in my own little world every so often. At the end of the day someone gave a commitment speech and his words were not only related to being committed to work or our teams but personal life too and I felt myself getting emotional! Everything he said made me think about my life and my baby and my husband and how we have to keep going and be committed to each other and not to give up on our end goal. Thankfully I managed to hold the tears back as that would have been a bit weird. My team didn't make much of an effort to see me or speak to me during the day and it did get awkward so I'm now very pleased I don't have to see them for at least another month. On the other hand, there's this one lady who every time she sees me always looks happy to see me and she was exactly the same today. I don't know if she knows but I am so grateful that someone was just normal towards me and wasn't avoiding me!

Thanks for the responses everyone. I think we likely all had an ERPC, since the terms are used interchangeably. I was supposed to go home the same day, but unfortunately my heartrate and temperature spiked a few hours after the op, so I was kept in overnight on antibiotics just in case. By the next morning they'd returned to normal so I went home yesterday, just over 24 hours after the op. I feel okay physically, aside from the pain. I can't really stretch up or down. Thankfully my fiancé is being a wonderful help.

@RedRobin7, you're right. Woke up this morning to find that during the night I'd bled through my pad and all over the bed! Ugh. Can't wait for this to be over!

@CobaltRose sorry you're recovery has not been completely straightforward. Am glad you're out of hospital now though & I hope the bleeding and pain settle down for you soon.

@RedRobin7 that's tough. Is tricky to try and predict what may remind you of it as bring everything up to the surface sometimes. Tends to be so many little unexpected things without being able to help it. Glad you've had someone at work who is helping you through it even if they're not realising they are.
I'm struggling today. I had a pretty big exam (my jobs sort of like an apprenticeship with training whilst working) the week of my 12 week scan & results are out today. Ive passed but is kind of bittersweet as passing this exam I have only one final exam left to do the next sitting of which is the first week of October which was when my EDD was so obviously if I were still pregnant I wouldn't have been doing it & would have no exams & only happiness for the next 18 months. Instead I will not be holding my baby in the first week of October but doing an exam... Life really really just sucks sometimes...😔 This exam also fed into my miscarriage guilt/fear that my stress may have hurt the baby. Know it's irrational (pretty sure my little one had a chromosomal abnormality) & actually I managed to keep my anxiety in check pretty well on the run up to this exam too but guess it's all part of the miscarriage grief mindfuck process.

Hope you guys are having better days.

XxX

@CobaltRose Sorry to hear you woke up with bleeding 😔 I mostly had a day without bleeding - just a little after my gym session. So based on our experiences in this thread you can expect to bleed for around two weeks. Everyone is different so could be more or less time. Either way, it sucks and I hope you're not in too much pain.

@Jessabean I'm sorry you're having a bad day. Are you having more good than bad yet? I think I'm starting to lean towards more good hours than bad so hopefully that'll move up to days soon. Well done for passing but I know that doesn't help much right now. I also keep thinking about next month when I would have been having my 20 week scan and finding out the sex (just before my hol) and the due date in September and how hard it's going to be. Right now I feel the Green Day song - Wake Me Up When September Ends - is going to be quite relevant! We have to try not to torture ourselves... easier said than done though!

I actually messaged the lady from yesterday whose gesture was appreciated but she hasn't responded and now wonder if it was a little too weird. I didn't mention the MC so she might just think I'm odd! I just think if we appreciate someone we should tell them because you also never know if they're going through things themselves and would like to hear something like that.

My first gym session has made me feel proud of myself for getting on with it. I've not been to the gym in 6 years 🙈

@KnitKitty How are you today? I forgot to reply about the tests. I was using the cheap ones from amazon but the line wasn't strong so I thought I'd get a clear blue digital to see what it said and it was "pregnant 1-2"... so I think it's nearly back to normal levels. Hoping to see that "Not pregnant" on Monday. Never thought I'd say that!

Evening,

I'm glad they looked after you properly CobaltRose and kept you in until your temperature was back to normal.

Jessabean congratulations on passing your exam. Well done, it couldn't have been easy concentrating well enough for it. And if you passed this one I'm sure you'll be able to do well in your next and final one too. I'm sure I read somewhere recently that stress isn't proven to have a direct affect on an unborn child, so please try not to feel guilty about that! What makes you think it was a chromosomal abnormality, if you don't mind me asking?

RedRobin7 I would have done the same as you, messaging your colleague. As you said, I would like to hear something nice about me, so I'm sure she appreciated it!! And well done for getting back to the gym. You should feel proud of yourself.

I'm not doing too badly. Just had an almost wobble looking at keepsake options. A friend of mine makes keepsakes so I was looking at what she does and wondering whether to order a bracelet with an engraving on it. I'd like to (both to have the keepsake to wear, and also to support my friend), but I don't know what to have engraved yet.

Thanks @KnitKitty for making me feel like I'm not a weirdo 😉

Wide awake this morning after what feels like I whole night of dreaming about telling people I lost my baby. I haven't slept properly in months as even when I was pregnant I was having vivid dreams and sleep talking more! I'm so tired and my eyes are getting darker every day. I look like I've been punched sometimes!

I'm struggling with the keepsake idea. I feel sad that I haven't found the right thing yet. At first I wanted a tattoo but I've not found the right tattoo or decided exactly where yet. Then I thought a necklace but still can't find the right thing. I was very upset about it last weekend and it was probably irrational. I know I won't ever forget my baby but I wish I had a nice way to remember him or her 😔

A friend has invited me over tonight for a takeaway and drinks. We have become closer since the MC because she has fertility problems, so I really appreciate her unexpected support.

Wishing you all a good weekend xx

Morning everyone.

Yup. Sure enough woke up to very heavy bleeding again! At least pain is a lot better. I'm up so early because I'm used to getting up at 6 for work (though I've taken the week off), plus I went to bed at 9, I was so knackered.

Is it normal to still feel tired nearly 72 hours after surgery?

Hi - morning.
I had mine yesterday and no bleeding all night (wondering if it is too good to be true?!?)
How many days are you post surgery cobalt?

@Pips841, I had surgery Wednesday morning. So it's still quite early days. Wish it would stop starting then stopping though!

@CobaltRose my surgeon hoped I wouldn't have a lot of bleeding. Fingers crossed. Are you sore? I'm not at all, making me doubt it even happened yesterday...

@Pips841, not too bad today. Just feels like I've pulled a muscle. I was quite sore the day after and Friday though. Felt like I'd been sucker punched in the stomach! I hope you remain pain free, it isn't pleasant. I couldn't bend down!

@CobaltRose I hope you are ok. Would there be an infection or something starting? Sorry don't mean to panic you! I went private and felt that my surgeon was great so maybe I'm lucky as I feel they have done a really good job. X

@Pips841, I had to be kept in overnight after my surgery because my heart rate and temperature spiked. I was on antibiotics for 24 hours because they suspected I had an infection brewing, and my obs soon returned to normal. I feel absolutely fine physically aside from the pain.

@CobaltRose maybe give them a call as mine said if any issues at all to do so x

@CobaltRose Sorry to hear you've had more bleeding. I felt exhausted and had Random heavy bleeds even 5 days later. I also had weird tummy and leg muscle pains but that was because of the positions we end up in during the surgery so it's possible for our muscles to ache.

If you are worried though you should call for reassurance. Nobody will mind and it's not wasting anyone's time.

@Pips841 sorry to hear you've also been through the same. This is the worst club in the world to be a part of 😔 Fingers crossed for you that you have little bleeding but I did get my hopes up on several occasions. I think I can finally say my bleeding as stopped!

Morning everyone

@Pips841 welcome to the group although I'm sorry you find yourself here & im so sorry for your loss
I'm glad your physical recovery seems to be going well for you at least.

@CobaltRose I'm sorry your still having bleeds. I luckily didn't have too heavy bleeding but did have the cramps for best part of a week on and off & it's not fun. I was also knackered for a good few days post surgery- I think some of it is the general anaesthetic as much as the blood loss.

@KnitKitty thank you. I know it's irrational and one of these myths that stress can impact on miscarriage it's just one of those irrational negative thoughts i seem to torture myself with at low points. I had thought this pregnancy was likely chromosomal abnormality as in the final scan at 12 weeks they had a thick nuchal translucency (fluid at the back of the neck)- am trained in ultrasound though not properly in obstetrics although did have to learn partly in training- which is part of what they measure for the screening at dating scan for chromosomal abnormality. That and I read somewhere that slow growth on early uss scans is also an association & on my first 7 week reassurance scan the baby was measuring 6 weeks only to catch up 2 weeks later at a 9 week scan. That and apparently that is the cause in vast majority of miscarriages usually.

Sorry @KnitKitty & @RedRobin7 that you guys are feeling bad over the keepsake thing. It's so hard to think of a way to memorialise someone who means so much to you so don't feel bad that you haven't found what's right for you yet. You'll know when it's right & they'll always be a part of you keepsake or no keepsake. I decided to get a keepsake box online in the end - is a pretty wooden box with a metal heart that you could get personalized engravings on. I have "never carried in our arms but always in our hearts" engraved. Been very pleased with it I can send you the link if anyone is interested. Knit kitty like the idea of your friend making the keepsake though I think that's a really nice idea. Still don't know what I'm going to do with the ashes though once we get them back...

Feeling better today. I had a moment yesterday pm on the plane where I realized that I really just want to enjoy life & be thankful for what I have again & feeling much more positive today now. Is also nice to be at my parents & spend time with family. The cherry blossom tree where we buried my first little one is in bloom at the moment as well. Makes me feel like there closer to me which is nice. Though probs makes me sound like a weirdo to say!

XxxX

Ugh just received a frustrating letter in the post. It's the report from my scan on Monday to check there was nothing left behind. The top of the letter says "EDD 02.11.18. 10 weeks + 2 days".... why is this on my letter? For a start I was due in September and would have been 13 weeks when I had the surgery 🙄

The rest of the report goes on to say there's no sign of retained products and about the blood clots so it's obviously a miscarriage follow up scan but I'm annoyed about the details being wrong. I guess there's no point moaning at them but it might be confusing when my doctor sees it on the system!

@Jessabean I too tortured myself as I'd had a really stressful time at work around the time my MMC happened. The the point where I was at breaking point as my work load was so high. So I'll always wonder if it contributed!!