What to expect - miscarriage at 8 weeks

[Herewegoagain84]

Hello - I’m hoping some ladies who have experienced mc around 8 weeks can help. I had very heavy bleeding last Sunday which only lasted 12 hours but didn’t look good. Scanned on Tues and told gestational sac had collapsed and couldn’t find heartbeat (it was found about five days before that). Told to go away and see what happens.

It’s been almost a week, and nothing has happened yet except some ongoing minimal brown spotting. From what I’ve read dreading what is to come, and expecting terrible pain/large amounts of blood and clots.

I’m going back on Tuesday so if nothing has happened by then will they offer medical management? I’m worried about practical things like going to work - will I be caught off guard and start bleeding more heavily than can be contained in a pad?

Any advice at all would be welcome - I feel very nervous waiting for something to happen.

Hey, sorry you are going through this. Its probably one if the most horrible things I've personally had to deal with and the waiting is what makes it all so much harder.
We found out at last weeks scan there was no heart beat at 8 weeks. Then the waiting began. I really don't want to add fire to the flames of your anxiety/fear but I wasn't prepared for the amount of bleeding I suddenly experienced 2 days ago (exactly 1 week after the scan) when I was simply going to the toilet to pass urine. I'm lucky enough that I was at home, because it was the most overwhelming 4 hours for me. I felt more comfortable lying down because every time I stood up and walked it felt like I was wetting myself. In saying that... the pads did what they had to do, but it was a really messy job. I personally wouldn't have managed if I was at work.
In saying that... the day before this started I did get a heads up, there was bright red blood when I wiped on occasional trips to the bathroom and before the gushing of blood and large clots in the toilet started I noticed the cramps become more noticeable. Whether this is helpful to you I'm not sure but maybe if you start to experience what I did you'll know to call in sick to work? My boss is aware of my situation and very understanding and flexible which was useful.

Again I'm sorry you are in this situation and I hope you have good support x

Thank you so much for your reply @AJAN09. I was hoping to call in sick this week though I have a meeting on Monday I can’t miss... though if I have any warning as you describe then I definitely won’t go. How did you find the pain? I’ve read so many accounts of excruciating/writhing/labour pain - I think that’s what’s scaring me too! Was it manageable? Thank you again for sharing your experience - really helpful

Sorry you're going through this. The waiting just makes it worse. I found out at 9wks that it had stopped growing at 7+3 (I had previously seen the heartbeat). I waited one week after the scan to see if it passed naturally but decided I wanted it over with, I took a few days off work after the scan then went back to work. I had the first medical management pill on a Wednesday (I can't remember the name, the first one doesn't start it) then took the other pills called Misoprostol on the Friday. I took Wednesday to Friday off work. I did start bleeding a bit on the Thursday night. I woke up early Friday morning and put 4 pills in my mouth to dissolve (this process seems to differ depending on your hospital), then after 30mins I felt really a unwell, the next few hours weren't fun. I had read a lot of people's experiences before I took the pills which did prepare me and helped a lot. Sorry tmi... I suddenly had diarrhea and vomited at the same time (I had already put a bowl in the bathroom the night before incase I was sick). The cramping started, it wasn't too bad and I hadn't taken any painkillers at this point. There was some bleeding, no gushing, small clots, nothing too bad, like a heavy period. Once the feeling sick had passed I took painkillers and got into bed with a hot water bottle. I wasn't filling pads and mostly bled in the toilet as I sort of felt it was coming again. Regular painkillers helped, it never got too painful. I took another 2 lots of 2 pills 4 hours apart and didn't feel the sickness again. The next day I passed a larger clot which was the sac, i just came out, again I felt an urge to go to the toilet. The bleeding slowed down after this. I did have cramps before bleeding so that was a warning. Hope this helps as it really helped me to be prepared. My worst part was my reaction to the first Misoprostol pills and the emotional side.

I wanted to share my experience as it was quite different to AJAN09's.
I suffered a miscarriage at 8 weeks back in December. I was 6+ hours away from home in a hotel visiting family and friends. I had bad lower back pain that day but not sure how much of it can be explained by the car journey. I had had spotting on and off since the beginning of my pregnancy but an early scan showed a strong heartbeat and I was told not to worry. I woke in the early hours with cramping (not particularly painful tbh) and as soon as I stood up from laying in bed I felt a big rush of blood which was more than any normal pad could handle. I lost a tennis ball size mass of tissue in the shower. Personally, I did not find it painful at all, only emotional/mentally. At hospital I was examined and cleaned up using guaze to help expel any remaining tissue - this was the most uncomfortable part but was not painful. I bled like a normal period for 9 days afterwards. I used the extra thick pads for peace of mind but don't believe they were necessary. Also used these little plastic-backed sheets on the bed when sleeping again for peace of mind but never had any accidents. I know it's a different experience but I hope this helps and if you need any other information just let me know. The emotional recovery was worst then the physical side.

@Herewegoagain84 the pain for me was manageable. Everyone handles pain differently though. I was told I can take paracetamol, ibuprofen, and codeine.
I only took pain relief on the first night it started, so that I could sleep. The following day I used a heat pack just for comfort. It would come in waves. I did wonder if this was what labour contractions start out as? I don't suffer from period pain but I imagine that's what they feel like, just way more intense.
This is my second miscarriage, but the first was 12 or so years ago and I don't remember how I managed the bleeding but I do remember the pain getting to me back then.

During that first 4 hours that it was all go, I was a bit naughty and spent a lot of time just sitting on the toilet for the blood to come out. They do prefer you to wear a regular pad so you can keep an eye on how much you bleed. The times I had the pad on and lay down (on a towel), I made sure I got up occasionally and did a lap around the room so it could come out and didn't pool and clot. I soaked through 2 pads, and had to change 2 pairs of undies.
As @Charm23 says, it's more a mentally and emotionally painful experience than physical. Feeling the large clots pass is what set off my ugly cry... that didn't feel nice and I freaked out. My mum came over with back up pads and chocolate, and just sat in the lounge until my husband came home.

I hope its kind to you and you get the convenience of going to your Monday meeting 🤞

Thank you so much ladies - it’s helping me feel more prepared. Still nothing major going on, but heavier brown discharge this morning - could this be the start? It’s been on and off for weeks but this is definitely heavier.

Hello ladies. Firstly I want to say I’m so sorry for all of your losses; it really is the cruelest thing. I don’t usually post on forums but have been following these threads as two weeks ago, at our 12 week scan, we found out our pregnancy hadn’t progressed passed 7 weeks. This was a complete shock as I was still feeling symptoms and there had been no indication of anything being wrong. I was sent home and told to come back a week later for a second scan, then options would be discussed. I started bleeding that afternoon but apart from a few hours of cramps here and there, nothing happened.
Yesterday afternoon I went into hospital for a pessary and last night I’m 99% sure the miscarriage happened...
For me the pain was pretty bad and constant for hours, but it was manageable. I took paracetamol and the hospital gave me codeine too. Having got lighter through the week, the bleeding started heavily again early evening and the clots were bigger - this was the most shocking part for me and I did spend long periods of time reading a magazine on the loo as it just kept on coming. I’d already bought the Boots maternity pads but the hospital gave me some bigger ones to wear at night which I was thankful for. I actually managed to doze on and off (lying on a towel) but woke up around midnight and passed a sizeable mass. I say I’m 99% sure the miscarriage is complete as although I didn’t see what I passed (the toilet had paper in the bowl and I had to run to get there so it was all very quick), the intense pain then stopped pretty much immediately and the bleeding is now back to being like a period.
I had a week of being in limbo between my two scans and I did go into work for some of that week, but having now had the miscarriage I am very, very, very relieved that I was at home when it happened. I haven’t gone in to work today as I feel wiped out and very wobbly. A friend recommended taking iron sachets because of the blood loss.
As awful as it is going to be (mentally and possibly physically), I hope you aren’t having to wait for much longer as it really is torture isn’t it xxxxxx

@EmC89 I'm so sorry you were blindsided by the news. I feel terrible for you finding out at 12 weeks, just because for myself I was counting down the days until I would be 12 weeks as I considered that to be a "safe zone" and was waiting until then before relaxing and getting really excited x
I'm like you, I hadn't felt too bad with nausea but my boobs were incredibly tender... about a week before my scan I noticed they weren't as sore but because they were still tender I tried not to think too much into it. The morning of the scan I was literally sick with nerves and said to my husband I didn't think we would be getting good news. We were told to come back a week later for a scan to confirm but I got bloods done and they were dropping so I knew there was no need for a scan... and just as well because the time that my appt was originally made for was the exact time my heavy bleeding started so I'm glad I cancelled it because that while have been a kick while I was down.
I'm glad you posted your story.

And I hope everyone else is going well so far x