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Miscarriage/pregnancy loss

Find support and share your experiences on our Miscarriage forum. See also legal rights and support after baby loss.

Original poster

17hr flight, potential to miscarry

45 replies

Yellowdott · 02/03/2022 21:53

I have a blighted ovum - sac measuring 5 weeks. I'll be 9.5 weeks by the time my flight leaves and 11.5 weeks when I return.

The sac seems to have completely stopped growing. I'm due to travel in a week so not enough time to arrange a D&C.

What's a miscarriage like this likely to be like? Would it be just a bit worse than a period because the sac only measures 5 weeks? In which case, surely would be fine to miscarry naturally on the plane, should it happen?

Sonographer said she wouldn't recommend it as it's a very long flight, but I'll lose so much money if I rearrange because the cost of flights has massively gone up.

Any advice would be much appreciated!

OP posts:
Frazzled2207 · 02/03/2022 21:57

Sorry you find yourself in this situation. Is the sonographer sure you are going to miscarry? I think you need advice from a doc here. If you are absolutely sure you are about to miscarry I’m sure you can get a tablet to move things on a bit, as you would in an early abortion. But it sounds like it’s not certain what is happening.

elizabethdraper · 02/03/2022 22:07

Mine was horrific tbh

Soaked through pads into mins.

Blood clots the size of livers

Had to bin the sofa and mattresses
Rushed to hospital, needed blood transfusions etc

The pain was worse than labour

But that was just my experience of a 5 week ovum miscarried at 8 weeks

lateral · 02/03/2022 22:09

Please don't travel. You could end up needing emergency care.

furmumma · 02/03/2022 22:11

First of all, I’m so sorry to hear of your loss.

I was in a similar situation with my BO a few years ago but it was a 3 hour flight, I was around 9 weeks when we went and 10 on return. I had a D&C booked for the day after we returned as my body was showing no sign of naturally miscarrying. However, I ended up with retained tissue which I naturally passed a week later - there was no way I could have done that on a flight as I did require hospitalisation but everyone’s experience is different.

Original poster
Yellowdott · 02/03/2022 22:34

Thank you all for sharing your experiences.

I'd thought that because it was measuring 5 weeks there wouldn't be a lot to come out, but clearly I'm wrong!

No signs at all of my body wanting to do it by itself and my pregnancy tests are looking very strong unfortunately.

I guess I'll have to lose a load of money on top of my pregnancy this time Sad

OP posts:
Original poster
Yellowdott · 02/03/2022 22:38

From the experiences shared, I think I better book a D&C as soon as they'll let me as well? The natural way sounds horrific.

So sorry you all went through what sounds like quite traumatic experiences Flowers

OP posts:
Original poster
Yellowdott · 02/03/2022 22:42

@Frazzled2207 it's a missed miscarriage, so my body isn't passing it naturally. They have no idea when I will pass it if I wait, and there's not enough time to get pills or a surgical option before I travel unfortunately.

OP posts:
morechocolateneededtoday · 02/03/2022 22:43

I miscarried at around 8 weeks, had stopped growing at 5 weeks. My experience was not as bad as the others. Had intense cramps which were like those experienced in labour but did not pass floods of blood. Urge to use the toilet and passed the sac which was the size of a plum. I would have struggled if that part happened on a plane but tbh you have no idea when it will happen if you've not started bleeding yet.

I had started bleeding when they confirmed it was definitely a miscarriage (this was 8 week point, it was suspected from a week earlier) then passed it 48 hours later

morechocolateneededtoday · 02/03/2022 22:46

If you've not started bleeding, seems unlikely to happen on plane but would you be able to relax and enjoy your trip knowing what you do..?

Don't underestimate the emotional side of it, it took me a while to accept and process it all.

Sorry you are going through this Flowers

Original poster
Yellowdott · 02/03/2022 23:02

@morechocolateneededtoday thank you for sharing! I have had several days to process the loss now and I think I'm getting there.

That's true - I don't think I'll miscarry on the way as I have no signs at all of bleeding and high HCG from my symptoms, but then it could happen on the way back. I'm visiting family I haven't seen since before covid and probably can't afford the far higher prices of flights so thinking of not going is heartbreaking by itself. I'll check my insurance but doubt they would cover the cost of postponing it.

OP posts:
OooohAhhhh · 02/03/2022 23:10

I had a MMC, the baby's heart stopped at 8+3, and I naturally miscarried around 3-4 weeks after that.
The pain that far on was horrific, very similar to being in labour & I was bleeding heavily.
However, I've had chemicals at around 4 weeks or a few days over which came out as a late painful period.
So, it's difficult to tell.
I hope everything goes ok.

drspouse · 02/03/2022 23:20

I'm surprised there isn't time for medical management - I had mine the next day. I really wouldn't go on a flight (or even be away with family) if there was this risk.

jackstini · 02/03/2022 23:21

I had a MMC - went for 12 week scan and was told had stopped growing around 7 weeks

I waited to try and miscarry naturally. Travelled at 1 week past. Came back at 2 weeks on. Was 3 weeks on when I had D&C

No certainty as to when it will happen but I was told that if it was over a month between actual and expected size then it was very likely medical management would be needed and natural miscarriage would be unlikely (but no guarantees)

For me, doing the travel/work, then having D&C when back was the right decision

So sorry for your loss Thanks

LuckyWithMyLot · 02/03/2022 23:29

I'm sorry OP, what a shit situation.

I found out at my 7.5 weeks scan baby stopped growing at 6 weeks.
I had a medical miscarriage one week later and it was basically a heavy period. Would have been awkward but manageable on a flight (I'd say a few trips to the toilet). I took Paracetmol and Diclofenac and pain was minimal.

I'd have been annoyed if I'd rearranged a flight for it to be honest but I guess the tricky thing is the unpredictability.

user1471604848 · 02/03/2022 23:37

I had a missed miscarriage at 8 weeks.
No heartbeat at the scan, and the doctor told me I'd pass the foetus within a few days. She said this tends to happen at nighttime (but didn't for me).

I was studying for a job interview, when I got cramps (not bad, like a period). Then had to go to the bathroom where there was a rush of blood. I didn't see a sac. I went back downstairs to study more, and think I had another rush of blood shortly after. I only needed a panty-liner, not big pads.
It would have been doable on a plane. But emotionally it was very upsetting. Since you haven't seen your family since before Covid, based on my experience, I'd go.

GreenFingersWouldBeHandy · 02/03/2022 23:40

Sorry you are going through this. But would you rather lose you baby or your money?

Just don’t go. Surely you can wait for while?

Justkeeppedaling · 02/03/2022 23:45

Won't your insurance cover the cancellation?

LucieLemon · 02/03/2022 23:47

@GreenFingersWouldBeHandy

Sorry you are going through this. But would you rather lose you baby or your money?

Just don’t go. Surely you can wait for while?

The pregnancy has ended irrespective of the travel plans??

OP is just trying to judge how manageable it would be should it occur during the long haul flight.

jojojane · 02/03/2022 23:53

@GreenFingersWouldBeHandy

Sorry you are going through this. But would you rather lose you baby or your money?

Just don’t go. Surely you can wait for while?

I'm assuming you never took the time to read the OPs post properly, but what an insensitive thing to say.
Original poster
Yellowdott · 03/03/2022 00:02

@GreenFingersWouldBeHandy I'd rather lose the money but already lost the baby, thanks.

OP posts:
Original poster
Yellowdott · 03/03/2022 00:04

Thank you all for the new replies. I think I will ask a doctor what I should do and what my risks are if I did go. But your experiences are really helping me to prepare for what may happen irrespective of what I do.

RE the insurance, they cover the c

OP posts:
Walkingalot · 03/03/2022 00:05

MMC at 13 weeks, stopped growing at 6 weeks. I found it incredibly painful and was pacing around. I guess it was labour pains, which would be the same whatever stage you're at? The passing of the foetus wasn't painful itself though. This happened 2 days after finding out and I woukd have hated to be anywhere but home.
Did you take out travel insurance before you were pregnant? If so, it might be worth checking. Sorry for your loss.

Original poster
Yellowdott · 03/03/2022 00:10

Oops clicked post too soon!

Re the insurance, they will cover my cancellation, but all flights for the next several months are far more expensive. I have elderly relatives that I haven't seen in 3 years thanks to covid, so this really happened at the worst time! Health is obviously more important than money. Just feeling crap about it all at the moment and wish my body wouldn't think it's pregnant when it shouldn't be.

OP posts:
PastMyBestBeforeDate · 03/03/2022 00:16

I had 2 relatively straightforward mmcs at 8 weeks. The first one was briefly like being in labour, the second was less painful. Neither involved any medical emergency. I would absolutely not have wanted to go through the first one without being able to curl up in bed and have a loo immediately accessible and plenty of fluids, painkillers to hand.

Moonbabysmum · 03/03/2022 00:17

I'm very sorry Flowers

Your insurance may concern cancellation but it's debatable whether they're cover your tenement costs if you required hospitalisation :-(