Risks with D&C?

[SunStruck]

I had a missed miscarriage at 9 weeks (I am now 12 weeks, baby stopped growing at 9).

My midwife recommended me to wait when I found out, for natural management. Nothing has happened though and I've just been back today for a scan - Nothing is 'looser' and she can't see that it will naturally come out anytime soon. It's now been 3 weeks and the recommendation is wait for maximum one more week before D&C due to infection risk.

I am traveling for 2 weeks next week though, so I'll have to it this week. I'm nervous that this procedure will hinder my chances to get pregnant in the future 😥 This is my first pregnancy (and miscarriage).

What can I expect? I have to admit I really want it out of me now as my life is put on hold. Have you recovered quickly after D&C?
When did things go back to normal?

Hi OP,

Firstly I’m so sorry this has happened to you

I had a blighted ovum/missed miscarriage (I had a sac but nothing growing inside it and no signs of it being expelled naturally either) so I opted to have a D&C. The surgery itself was quick and I was home the same evening.

From the procedure itself I really didn’t feel any after effects apart from some light bleeding - if it wasn’t for the General Anaesthetic I could have gone back to work a couple of days later but I did feel groggy for a few days due to the GA. The one thing I would say is that it did hit me quite hard emotionally so please do make sure you’ve got some support in place. The boards here were really supportive and there are some specialist websites out there too.

In terms of hindering future pregnancies, whilst I can only speak from my own experience, it’s really doesn’t. After my procedure I got pregnant the next time I had unprotected sex It wasn’t intentional but similar to you I’d sort of thought that the D&C might make things tricky so I wasn’t as carefully as I would have been. The way it was explained to me is that it gives you a blank canvas so to speak.

Again though my emotions were all
over the place so emotional support is vital. Sending you loads of love and luck ❤️

I've had four ERPCs (same as D&C) for two incomplete, one missed mc and one blighted ovum, and never had difficulty getting pregnant again afterwards (successfully or otherwise) - the longest I ever took to get pregnant again, in fact, was after my sixth mc, for which I had medical management. Never had any pain etc either, and mcs after ERPCs were not due to the procedures.

I had the same as you - discovered at 12 week scan that baby had stopped growing at 9 weeks. I told them firmly that i wanted the d&c straight away as i wasn’t mentally able to “watch and wait”.

The procedure was very low stress, half an hour unconscious, an hour or two in recovery having tea and toast. Very kind nurses.

I am now, a few months later, 11 weeks pregnant (had scan two days ago so currently that is true). I have spoken to several people in a similar position, and anecdotally at least, none of them have had trouble conceiving afterwards that could be attributed to the d&c. Good luck with ehatever you decide.

Amazing, your stories were exactly what I needed to hear! Going in on Tuesday. Will feel good to be able to start afresh again rather than just wait!

So sorry for your losses too, but happy to hear you got pregnant so easily again after 😄

Very best of luck OP

@SunStruck I can only give you my experience of erpc but it was fine. I had it on 2nd May, taken in at 2pm and I was back with my husband on the ward at 3:15pm. I had some pain after and bled for 2 and a half weeks but it was less than a period. I got my negative hpt exactly 3 weeks later. I was absolutely PETRIFIED of the general anaesthetic (never had it before) but I'm glad I went for that option in the end. Baby had died at 8+1 and I ended up having the procedure at 11+3. I had no signs of it going anywhere before then.

Sorry to hear your news op . It's a totally rubbish time. I was off work for 4 weeks in total. Physically, I could have been back within a week but emotionally I was not ready. I teach very small children and was not able to give them my all, plus, my hormones were wild after the surgery.

@GileadWivesAreFashionIcons @Chanel05
Thank you both xx all went very well and not in pain now or anything, looking forward to start afresh! Hopefully my period comes back very soon.

All stories here really helped x

Slightly late responding to this but I’m so glad to hear all went well OP. Very best of luck for the future x