First period after miscarriage, but when could I have ovulated?

[Rabbitjungle1]

Hi all. I found out at 9 weeks pregnant that, having seen a little heartbeat at an earlier scan, it had stopped beating at 6.5 weeks. I opted for surgical management on the 30th Sept. Up until Mon/Tues this week (so 3.5 weeks post-procedure), I was still testing faintly positive. I have had slightly tender breasts the past few days and last night had mild cramps and started bleeding, so it looks like my period has arrived (at 3w 5d post-procedure). I did a pregnancy test this morning which is my first negative since July.

Even though this all probably sounds fairly text book I was surprised about my period because, since I have so recently still been testing positive and as far as I understand you do not ovulate when there is still HCG in your body, I can't figure out when I would have ovulated... It would have meant just 2-3 of days between HCG level reaching zero, ovulating, and period starting. Is the first period after a miscarriage known to be different to a normal period? Or am I mistaken and actually it's possible that I ovulated a couple of weeks ago, when I was still testing faintly positive?

Sorry about your mc.

Mine was very similar. Bled for about 3 wks post d&c. Negative preg test at 3.5 weeks, and at 4 weeks had a period. But I'm pretty sure I didn't ovulate in between. (I was tracking bbt so should have spotted it)
I think that's pretty normal.
Annoyingly, I'm now 18 days into my next cycle and it looks like I haven't ovulate this time either. Again, research suggests this is common, but how frustrating. I'm just trying to make myself believe that it's better for my body to settle down and get back to normal for a bit before another pregnancy.
It's hard, all this waiting. Are you keen to try again?

Interesting, thanks @lizziecat1. And really sorry to hear about your MC too.

I had very minimal bleeding post d&c (3-4 days only). It's odd because I thought a period was essentially the result of releasing an egg that wasn't fertilised, so it's strange that we'd have a period without ovulating?! Maybe I need to brush up on my biology...

I am keen to try again, yes. I wasn't really at the time - I simultaneously yearned for it and also felt like I would never want to try ever again - but 4-6 weeks on from it I do feel ready. I have endometriosis too, and being off contraception isn't ideal so that's another reason I don't want to wait unnecessarily.

I take it you are looking to try again when your cycle settles? As you say, it's just so frustrating waiting for the body to catch up, isn't it 😶

@Rabbitjungle1 yes - I'm desperate to try again! And am not very good at being patient...
I think if you don't ovulate, it's technically not a 'period' - it's a withdrawal bleed as hormone levels drop away. But it often appears just the same, although cycles can be shorter or longer than usual without ovulation.
Hope you go into a nice, normal ovulation cycle now. I've also read that we may be more fertile in the 3 months after a mc, so here's hoping for bfps very soon!

@lizziecat1 aah okay, yes this makes sense, like the withdrawal bleed when taking the pill. I guess I was expecting that not to be the case when off contraception, but clearly it takes a bit longer for everything to settle down again! I mentioned to a friend yesterday that I still hadn't had a negative test (as only tested negative this morning) and she was gobsmacked at how long the hormones stick around for!

Yep, fingers crossed things settle for both of us quickly and we aren't waiting too long for another BFP 🤞 It's the being in limbo that I hate!