How long will missed miscarriage take?

[SaturdaySauv]

Hello,

First of all- I’m sorry to everyone who finds themselves here

Missed miscarriage (of a very much wanted pregnancy) was diagnosed on Wednesday at 8+2 (private scan).

The GP referred me to EPU who today said they would need to scan again in a week before I can receive treatment.

The waiting for the situation to resolve is driving me to insanity. Is there anything I can do to speed the process up? How long did it take for others in the same situation to miscarry naturally?

I don’t want to do anything rash but I’ve considered trying to have a rummage myself and open my cervix, buying abortion pills online, taking high dose vit c and NSAIDS- all ideas are frankly a bit daft, but I’m just desperate to get on with things. Any less silly suggestions?

Sorry for your loss.

This happened to me too. The leaflet I was given told me that for 50% of women it happens within a week of diagnosis.

For me I had to wait 2 weeks to go back, it didn't happen in that 2 weeks so I opted for medical management and that also didn't work in the stated 48-72 hour timescale so I ended up with surgical management.

I was petrified of the operation but actually it was OK. The physical symptoms (aside from the general anasthetic) were OK - I had minor bleeding and cramping for about 10 days afterwards. I have to take a pregnancy test next week as that will be 3 weeks after the op - hopefully it's negative and then I know it's all sorted.

It was a long process for me - much longer than I thought - so you may want to prepare yourself for that x

Hi,

I just had my miscarriage at the weekend, 1.5 weeks after finding out on the scan. I had been spotting for about a week, then - you may not feel like it but it really helped me! - I went for a day of retail therapy and cocktails with a friend!! Low and behold things started the next day. I wondered if it was the day walking round shopping that started things off. I also had googled ways to start things off as I wanted it over and done with, but in the end just left it to happen on its own.

I hope it all goes ok for you xxx

Hi SaturdaySauv

Sorry to hear about your loss.

I think the answer to your question is it's different for different people.

I didn't want to wait around for things to happen either so I opted for the medical management. It didn't work twice which took up a whole week of side-effects and feeling in limbo, and so I had the surgical management in the end. If I have to go through this ever again I will go straight for the surgery option. I felt the recovery was a lot quicker and easier physically and mentally than medical management for me. But everyone is different.

The EPU should go through all the options with you and they'll be able to answer any questions you have to help you make your decision.

It may happen naturally before your appointment, but I think you just have to wait it out and see what happens I'm afraid.

I think Fergiepup22's way of dealing it sounds like a really good idea. Try to relax and do something to take your mind completely off it (I know, easier said than done); go for a long walk or shopping or something to help you cope with the wait; but please don't try anything dangerous or drastic.

Look after yourself and take it easy.

Thank you all for posting, and I’m sorry that you’ve also experienced something so dreadful.

I think my preference is surgical management. I’d hoped that could be arranged for next week. I’ve known things weren’t right since being 5 weeks pregnant so it does feel like a long spell in limbo. I’ll be 9 weeks on Monday.

I LOVE the shopping and cocktails approach fergie. I might see if I can set that up for the weekend. Or a least a good walk and a boozy pub lunch.

knit and o’driscoll thank you for sharing your experience of surgical management. That may come in handy if things don’t resolve in the meantime.

I'm in the middle of this right now. Private scan on 17/3 when I should've been nearly 9 weeks showed bean at 5 weeks and no heartbeat. Sent to EPAU who said the same and that it was 95% certain missed miscarriage-but had to wait 14 days for a rescan to confirm.

That scan was weds. And it was confirmed. Bean still the same size, sac not grown but body not letting go. Due to medical phobia I'm desperate to let my body sort it itself. But next week I should be 12 weeks - 7 weeks since bean stopped growing. I've had a week of minimal brown/black discharge (barely panty liner amount) and a week of very limited spotting-which has stopped entirely now. I've given my body till the 18th-otherwise I'm going to have to try the pills-I'm not mentally strong enough to go any longer, I need to be able to try and move on.

I too have been trying to move things along-long walks, hot baths, drinking the disgusting raspberry leaf tea, but nowt so far. I can feel my cervix and it's still closed. The waiting and hoping is so very hard. Sorry I can't be more help-but please know you are not alone.

Laney it’s such a long ordeal and I hope it resolves naturally for you so you don’t need much more medical intervention.

It sounds like you’ve been very strong to manage so far- you will find the mental strength to manage the next while from somewhere. I’m trying to tell myself to take it one day at a time.

I’m sorry to hear this. I went through this in Jan/Feb at 9 weeks. The waiting time was awful so you have my sympathy.

I had spotting after around 4 days. Opted for medical management after which I passed the sac but still had products and a very high hcg so eventually had ERPC after a month. Had a negative test finally a week after erpc.

Saturday - i hope things go ok for you. I don’t know if the shopping and cocktails started things but they certainly helped lift my spirits 🙂

One other thing to add that if this ever happens to me again in the future I would opt for surgical managment, my experience wasn’t a good one - it is my second miscarriage and my first was just like a heavy, long period. This was totally different and one I wasn’t prepared for xx

Anyone being physically sick?

Pips841
If you're vomiting it could be a sign of infection, so if it continues, gets worse or comes with other symptoms such as fever, chills etc then get to a doctor ASAP.

I had diarrhoea and [felt] sick with the pessaries for medical miscarriage, but that only lasted for about 4 hours. And I very nearly threw up when I was given my tablets to soften the cervix before my surgery, but I was given an anti sickness injection which worked fast.

How do you feel now? I've got really emotional tonight so come to bed early. I can't help feeling sad that I'll never get to meet this baby.. :(

Sorry you have to go through this.

Ive had two. One took a few days. Was no differant to any other time I misscarried.

The other I didnt realise until I passed naturally weeks later. 3 or 4 weeks after estimated misscarridge. It was not nice. It made me very poorly with an infection.

Ultimately only you know what is best for you and your body.

But if it happens again to me. I will deffiantly be pushing for medical management asap.

Thank you to everyone who has posted.

I’ve decided not to wait for the nhs and to have surgical management ASAP so have arranged the procedure for tomorrow through private insurance. I’ll update once I’m through the other side and I hope all of you are managing ok.

Laney do let me know how you’re getting on. I hope it resolves very soon

May I just jump in and ask how long you plan to stay off work if you are at all? I'm a bit of a work nerd so panicking I'm taking too long but really feel I couldn't cope with the stressful environment of work right now

Might be worth starting your own thread asking that question specifically as more people will see the thread title and respond.
I’m not sure how much time off I’ll need until after the procedure but probably until the end of the week I’d imagine.

@SaturdaySauv sadly no movement at all for me-if anything I'm going backwards. No discharge at all for three days. Should've been my 12 week scan today, it's been so difficult. So 7 weeks since bean stopped growing, three and a bit weeks since we found out bean was almost certainly not viable.

I'm desperate for it to happen naturally -trying everything, raspberry tea, exercise, just bought clary sage oil to have in a hot bath, I've emailed a reflexologist too to see if that may help. Anything to avoid that hospital a week on weds.

I really hope your surgery goes well-I wish I could be as brave as you but I'm not. I'm not coping well at all but the thought of intervention sends me into a blind panic.

Losing my baby was hard enough, but this is just torture.

Hello, I sadly find myself here. Second scan confirmed no heart beat today. I'm 8+1. My appointment is next Tuesday, same situ as OP just sitting it out hoping it doesn't start naturally to be honest as would prefer a D&C. First pregnancy, I'm 34, totally devastated

Same as you @Pips841 - I have a demanding job and already find myself back on emails today. Taken today off obviously but tomorrow may return

@Pips841 I’ve been off 3 weeks!! I definitely didn’t want that long off as it’s a relatively new job (6 months in), and I have soooo much to do, but I was so worried about things starting at work, and now I’m pleased I was at home when it happened. I was off 1.5 weeks to begin with waiting (which gave me chance to figure it out emotionally) then when it happened I’ve been signed off another week because I was so unwell afterwards (ended up in hospital and then came down with a really bad case of tonsillitis) needless to say I’m itching to go back on Wednesday and get back to normal!

Also worth saying here I work part time around my little girl, so have only missed 6 days at work altogether so far, will be 8 in total xx

I've been off three weeks so far-signed off until next weds as things stand. If it doesn't happen naturally I guess they'll sign me off again x

I've said about four days before surgery and the week after at the moment. I feel my body may 'expel' the baby sooner than my surgery which makes me petrified so my mum has been here a lot as I don't want it to happen when I'm here alone nor mind sitting in my office! So I'll take a week after my surgery and see
How I am then...

Saturdaysaav - I'm private but had to wait a week for a slot!!! Would have loved next day so I could get it done but no...

Saturdaysauv*

So sorry you're going through this OP - and to all the others too

I had a Mmc at 11.5 weeks, having had a good scan at 8+5, baby had passed away around 9-10 weeks.

I opted for surgical management as I couldn't face the wait for it to happen naturally or medical management (SIL took 3 months for her "natural" miscarriage) - but with a toddler & NHS role, I couldn't be off work indefinitely & was worried it would start when in work or sole charge of DC (had been warned it could be gruesome by EPU).

Surgery was over quickly & I had a week or two off work. I was a little uncomfortable after it but it was over so fast & helped me move on emotionally.

Such a sad time, I hope it goes ok for you tomorrow, OP.

Sorry you’ve also experienced this Hayley and prosecco.

Laney I’m sorry things aren’t progressing. It must be so difficult to wait it out. I think it’s a very brave choice.
If you’re considering the surgical management at all I’m happy to PM you tomorrow and give you the lowdown on how it went for me.
It must be scary to feel panicked about medical/surgical intervention.
I’m not looking forward to today but I’m hoping to feel some relief at moving the physical recovery along.