Trapped in a miscarriage

[TaylorWilliams]

At 10 weeks pregnant I had a sudden loss of symptoms. I knew something was wrong so booked a private scan and was told the baby had stopped growing at 6 weeks.

I had to wait 3 days for an NHS appointment, where I had the same scans and was given the same news. I was told I had to go back a week later for another scan to confirm there had been no further growth.

So we waited, and the next scan, now almost 2 weeks from the first confirmed again our loss. I then had to decide what to do. I opted for the tablets to miscarry at home, so had to return to the hospital for bloods, then again the next day for the tablets.

I had pains for 14 hours before the miscarriage started. It lasted 5 hours, and I was relieved my body had known what to do and done it’s job.

But no after care was offered. I was told I might continue to bleed for up to 2 weeks. But going through this for the first time how do you know what is normal.

The bleeding continued. I returned to work but had a persistent pain in my left side. I saw the doctor, still bleeding, 2 weeks later and she referred me to A&E.

The triage nurse saw me and I explained my symptoms but the Gyne consultant wouldn’t see me, because my home pregnancy test was negative.

4 hours later still in the A&E waiting room I had a massive bleed, and rushed to the loo to experience another miscarriage style experience.

I was in complete shock. Upset, embarrassed, confused.

When I later saw the consultant I was told the hospital pregnancy test had been positive and they suspected I had only had a partial miscarriage the first time. And that the rest had just passed.

I was told to return to the hospital a week later.

That was Tuesday this week. Still bleeding, another pregnancy test showed pregnant, and a scan revealed my womb is still lined and pregnancy material is still present.

They prescribed antibiotics and have said to give it another week.

I am now 4 1/2 weeks since the first miscarriage, still bleeding, still experiencing pains, still showing pregnant. And unable to move on.

It’s 6 1/2 weeks since I found out we had lost the baby, and I can’t move forward. Emotionally or physically.

I’m a strong woman, and I am blessed with an amazing husband. But I don’t know how to even begin to process what I’m going through. I sit at home alone all day just waiting to get better.

How do I?

I’m so sorry you are going through this. I had a similarly long-winded experience when I miscarried back in August. In all, it took 8 weeks for it to complete and for me to get a negative pregnancy test. I was distraught at the time, but all I can say is you will get through it in time, and it will make you stronger. I’m currently going through another miscarriage and feel much more able to deal with it emotionally this time. Take care of yourself as best you can. I hope this is all over for you very soon x

That seems very drawn out and unnecessary suffering, physically and psychologically.
Were you not given the option to take more tablets or to have an ERPC performed?

I'm so sorry you're going through all of this. I discovered at 9 weeks that development had stopped at 6 weeks or so. I bled a lot with lots of cramps and clots that first week but continued to bleed for weeks like you. It got worse and worse, sudden huge gushes with enormous clots. I kept going back to EPU and being told I wasn't actively bleeding right then so it might be over and they wouldn't do anything.

Eventually I had almost exactly the same A&E experience as you. It was so humiliating, upsetting, frightening. I bled all over the floor of a packed waiting room. Really traumatic. Thankfully due to my prior visits to EPU and the bleeding pattern overall worsening they kept me in for emergency surgery which was done the next day. Almost immediately after the surgery (which I initially wanted to avoid) I felt human again, I hadn't realised how ill I'd felt until I felt better again. The bleeding was light and stopped completely within a few days.

Please take it easy, be very kind to yourself and perhaps consider a d&c. Are you still under the care of the EPU? Can you call them back and be very persistent about the need for resolution both physically AND emotionally?

I’m so sorry that you are going through this. I went through similar and as the NHS no longer performs D&Cs then missed miscarriages can result in severe infection. I developed sepsis and was hospitalised for 3 days before they finally relented and gave me the D&C.

I think you need to kick ass and demand another scan to see if you have any matter left inside your womb. If you feel weak, shivery and cold with pressure inside your head then you have to go to A&E instantly and demand to be tested for sepsis. This is why they probably put you on antibiotics, to avoid this.

I am so sorry that you have to go through this.

Sorry, meant to say that the NHS doesn’t perform D&Cs routinely.