Miscarriage UK NHS management at 17 weeks 2018 Dec.

[Motherhood123]

I dont know if what happened to me was a miscarriage or if i had an abortion or both as the baby still had a heartbeat when i was induced at 17 weeks due to infection.

I lost my waters on sunday 16th december 2018. When they did swab of my vagina they found an infection and in the scan they showed baby still had heartbeat. I waited 3 days in hospital to see if baby is surviving without fluid and he was but my infection was getting worse. The midwives were telling me it would end in miscarriage anyway but in the meantime my infection is getting worse and i could potentially go in to sepsis and ruin my chances of getting pregnant in the future. The scan showed there was no fluid at all around the baby so if i did decide to take this pregnancy to the end having no fluid around baby can cause baby to be born disabled and potentially die anyway shortly after birth.

On the 4th day i was induced with a oral tablet and pessaries and my contractions started within half hour and baby was delivered 40 mins later. He was not breathing. Midwife said even if baby was born breathing at 17 weeks thry wouldnt be able to put him in incubator because be was just too small.

I have an appointment with nhs consultant in 3 weeks to discuss what happened and what the results showed but i feel like i need to know if i had an abortion or if it was miscarriage. My mum says knowing the answer wont change what happened and it wont change my feelings.

Im really struggling to cope with this loss as we were trying for 2 years and were on clomid and metformin to help us get pregnant. I had so much hope and dreams with Adam and it was just snatched away from me. I delivered him 3 days before the gender scan, gender reveal party and my wedding anniversary.

I dont think i ever be that happy again. We are trying to get pregnant as soon as im physically and mentally better but i know ill be more on guard, worried and anxious.

This was my first pregnancy and miscarriage. I wonder what extra checks NHS will do? Ive heard that some women get a stitch / cervical cerclage or even told to be on complete bed rest for the whole pregnancy.

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/miscarriage/3457699-Miscarriage-at-17-weeks-December-2018?msgid=83508564#83508564

I just read about medical miscarriage where a miscarriage starts naturally but you are given medicine to complete a miscarriage. I think that is what happened in my case.

So sorry for the loss of your little boy, I can't begin to imagine what you are going through You have had a loss, please try not to focus on the medical terms for it, as your mum said it doesn't change how you feel. You didn't have a choice. I hope that the consultant appointment is helpful and that you have lots of support x

I’m so sorry. It is a horrible thing to go through.

I understand wanting to be able to use the correct medical term. I went through something similar and understanding the process did help me come to terms with it, I think.

In my case, it was a termination for medical reasons. Essentially an abortion but with fewer of the negative connotations and judgements that people associate with that word.

Given that your waters had broken, which severely limits the baby’s chance of survival, I think you had started to miscarry. A lot of people don’t realise that miscarrying is a process, not an instant, fixed time event. And there is nothing you can do to influence events when there is a ‘threatened miscarriage’ (I also had one of those. Two weeks later it was a full blown miscarriage).

I hope the doctor is able to give you all the answers you are looking for.

I have been in a similar situation and it was a loss. My dd would have been 13 yesterday. Your life was at risk due to the threat of sepsis. I assume they put you on AB first? Sadly this isn’t uncommon. I suggest you reach out to SANDS for support. Like you, I had experienxed infertility prior to conception. You’ll need to find out whether you have cervical incompetence and a subsequent pregnancy will need to be closely monitored. Please discuss this st your next NHS appointment.

@Motherhood123

I’m so sorry for your loss! I had my first daughter at 31weeks due to PPROM birth caused (we later found out by an infection) I know 17 weeks is very early but it might help to think of it as a PPROM birth rather than miscarriage?

I am now ttc again. I had an extremely traumatic ectopic pregnancy and ruptured uterus in October 18 and know that it takes so long to get over something so so hard. 💐

Make sure your doctors get you good help! I was diagnosed with PTSD and doctors have been very helpful with counselling etc and am just on the road to starting again (which is terrifying!)

In terms of support for next time after initial PPROM (withDD one!) they said birth would be consultant led after 12 weeks (unfortunately we did it quite reach that with ectopic!) Now with ectopic as well as soon as I’m pregnant again (when /if 🤞🏻) I’ll be under the EPAU consultant from the get go!

I found it helpful to focus on the what happen next for me getting through everything too but also be gentle with yourself and get lots of support! 🌈 ❤️