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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

induced miscarriage

13 replies

BumblBeee · 09/01/2008 22:16

Has anyone taken the pills to induce a missed (?) miscarriage?

I have been offered this or a d/c .

Wondering if I should let nature take its course instead?

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Springflower · 09/01/2008 22:25

Hi, Sorry to hear you've had a miscarriage and that you're going through this. I've had 4 miscarriages [but do have 3 children]and managed to cover natural, d&c, and pills (medical management). I think there's no right answer and it really depends on what feels right for you. I know some people dont like the idea of waiting and I gave up waiting after a week or so and went for the pills. I had to go in to hospital for some oral medicine and then 2 days later back to hospital for the day when they gave pessaries and then oral medicine every 3 or 4 hours (this depended if anything happened). I was in from 8am until 8pm and didnt pass the sac until 4 days later so it felt like a waste of time but apparently most places arent licensed for it to be taken at home. Please ask if there's any other information that might help and I'm sure others will reply.

Original poster
BumblBeee · 09/01/2008 22:30

That sounds like the procedure they have in mind for me.

Did they tell you of any risks involved?

I can't find any information on this.

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FAWKEOFF · 09/01/2008 22:39

hi bumble, i have just posted on your other thread x i have suffered 3 missed miscarriages and have always opted for the d&c as i personally felt it would be to traumatic to have the tablets and play the waiting game, but remember it is entirely your decision so IF the time comes that you definately have to make this decision then think carefully about what route you want to go down x x x i hope things work out ok for you

Springflower · 09/01/2008 22:49

The main risk I remember being told was that it may not be successful and you still might need a d&c after it. I'm not sure of your circumstances but I did find that the d&c meant that the physical part of it was all over and done with quickly and I was keen to try to conceive again straight away so it helped with that, I know not everyone wants to though. With the waiting it did drag it all on for me and I think if it happened again I would either go instantly for the medical management or for the d&c but I know its not an easy decision.

Original poster
BumblBeee · 09/01/2008 23:04

Was just reading a medical report on the choices but i know feel frightened and unsure instead of just unsure.

They say the pills can make you bleed heavily and possibly need a transfusion.

On the other hand I have had surgery a few times over the past year and a half and worry that there might be some risk in having more anasthesia?

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Lcy · 10/01/2008 09:20

Sorry to hear you are having such a hard time.It is a very difficult decision - and a frightening one.

I had a missed miscarriage in August. I had a D&C because i didnt want to go through the process of miscarrying the baby as i was 11 weeks. The hospital also couldnt guarantee me a private room and i did not want to miscarry on a ward. The D&C was painless, i went in at 9 and they took me down to theatre at 10.30 and i was home by 4. I felt a bit groggy after wards and had light bleeding for a week. The hospital wanted me to have a D&C or the medication because there were no signs of me miscarrying and it could of taken weeks.

Talk to your doctors and try and find out as much information as possible about the different options. Take your time and don't be forced into doing something you dont want too. Take care x

Springflower · 10/01/2008 12:09

When I had the pills they said that the first dose (as an out-patient) often started things off and I started bleeding the next day. By the time I went to hospital to get the next doses I was bleeding heavily but they continue to give more doses every 3-4 hours to try and induce the passing of the sac. I think one of the reasons for being in hospital is in case you bleed too much but for me I would have preferred to have gone home as I wasnt in any pain and as it didnt happen in the end. I was in a room on my own with a television and someone checked on me every so often which was fine.
I think although there can be a small risk with anaesthetics I'm fairly sure that it doesnt increase with the number that you have - its the same risk every time. Anyway, like others say its a lot to think about and difficult to decide - good luck.

Original poster
BumblBeee · 10/01/2008 14:01

Yes I don't know where they would keep me at the hospital if I took the pills?

Unlikely to be clean or comfortable.

OP posts:
JaneHH · 10/01/2008 20:58

Hi BumblBeee

Sorry to hear you've got to go through this and also that you've got to make such an awful decision.

FWIW I had to have an induced termination with pills (Misoprostol?) at 13 weeks last year. This was in Holland so I can't really advise on what the NHS would organise for you but: I had my own room; I went in on the Wednesday morning but I didn't pass everything until the Thursday lunchtime. So lots of mentally agonising waiting involved. (Physically, however, it didn't hurt more than a couple of Paracetamol could cure.) I ended up having to have a D&C afterwards under general anaesthetic anyway to remove the placenta, as this isn't going to come away naturally if you're not going to miscarry. I lost a lot of blood during the operation, apparently, but I don't know whether that was to do with the pills (as you mention) or just the D&C procedure itself. The only other side-effects for me from the pills were a raging high temperature and heavy period-like pain, though that is dealable with with Paracetamol.

If I could choose I would go for the D&C. In fact that is what I wanted but I was 2 days too late for that, according to the rules here, which is why I had to be induced. Lying there waiting for the miscarriage to happen (and also physically "giving birth" and sorry if TMI, seeing the foetus) is just too awful.

But as someone else says above, you have to choose what's right for you. eg I don't know how far you are (have I missed that?).

Good luck.

expatinscotland · 10/01/2008 21:02

the anaesthetic used for the D&C is very light and fast acting.

you'll only be under for about half a hour.

why not ring the EPAU and ask to speak to an anaesthetist about your concerns?

i'm glad i chose the D&C myself.

jessfot · 10/01/2008 21:32

Hi Bumblbee. Sorry to hear about what's happened to you. I had the tablets at 8 weeks as I didn't want to have a general anasthetic or spend any more time in the hospital. I had already passed the foetus (I think this is different to your situation?) and they gave me the tablets to take home to "deal with the retained products" (as the doctors sensitively put it!) The tablets caused me to bleed a lot at first and then for about 3 weeks after, but I didn't experience any pain. I know someone, though, who did experience a lot of pain with the tablets - the doctors didn't warn her that it was a possibility.
It can be frustrating because the doctors can't/don't advise you on the best option. The only thing they said to me about risks was that there is an ou chance that your uterus can be damaged during a D&C/Evac procedure, although I've never heard this anywhere else.
Good luck - give yourself some time afterwards if you can, to recover physically and emotionally.

Original poster
BumblBeee · 14/01/2008 13:42

Thanks everyone. I had a D & C Friday. It seems to have gone ok so far.

OP posts:
Original poster
BumblBeee · 04/10/2008 21:41

Further to this they found from sampling the embryo that I had had a partial molar pregnancy. I was then tested for a tumour for 6 months. This may not have been noticed if I had had the MC at home.

Just posting to give others something to think about when making a decision.

xxn

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