Pregnancy stories after a D&C

[lmp69]

Good morning ladies,

Sorry for the long post but I am looking for some help/advice or even your success stories please.

So I fell pregnant in January of this year (first time trying so we were absolutely over the moon and shocked it happened so quickly)

I had a couple of early scans at 6 and 8 weeks and all seemed well but went for another scan when I should have been just over 9 weeks and unfortunately the heartbeat was no longer there. This was on 07/03 and I then went on to have a D&C procedure on 12/03. I bled on and off for about a week and a half after my surgical management.

Fast forward to today 12/04 I am 4 and a half weeks post D&C and yet to see the return of my period (or even any sign of it for that matter!) I am still testing positive on Clearblue tests and also on FRER but have used a cheaper test too (I think it was Clear & Simple) and this is stark white negative.

Could I be pregnant again or if not, why have I not had my period return yet? Do any of you ladies have answers for me on how long it took for your period to return after a D&C and also, any success stories on pregnancy after the D&C?

Look forward to seeing some responses! xx

Didn't want to read and run. I had a similar experience last year - surgical management for a missed miscarriage at what should've been 11 weeks. Despite them scanning thoroughly to check the pregnancy was all gone, I continued to get positive tests for 6 weeks following. I then had the heaviest and longest period of my life, which I'm convinced was actually the end of the miscarriage. I bled very heavily for 48 hours and then on/off for another 3 weeks. It was confusing and frustrating at the time, especially because I thought surgical management would mean it was all dealt with in one go.

Happy news is, once my monster period was over I went on to get pregnant again very quickly. My 13 day old baby is currently sleeping on my chest. I hope you get some clarity soon, be easy on yourself and remember that things will get better.

Hi @elepants thank you for commenting.

First of all I am sorry you went through this too but happy for you that you got your rainbow baby! Congratulations.

Can I just ask if you were trying to get pregnant again after your surgical management? I ask because we have been trying again since so I am partly wondering if it is a new pregnancy? But I just have a gut feeling it is still leftover HCG.

Also do you mind me asking after your period returned how long it took you to get pregnant again the next time round?

Thank you! x

Hi, I don't have the answers you've asked but just wanted to reach out as had a very similar experience to you. I also got pregnant in January, first pregnancy after about 3 months of trying so we were also over the moon and shocked it happened so quick!

Had absolutely no signs anything was wrong until week 11 when I had some brown spotting but was assured everything seemed ok by my gp and also by drs in a&e. Went to 12 week scan and there was no baby :( just embryo measuring 5 weeks. We were devastated.

Weirdly I started to naturally miscarry that evening. Bleeding lasted about 2 weeks with one 24hrs of the most blood I've every seen. I've had no bleeding now for 1.5 weeks and am waiting for period to start. My husband and I have also started having sex again so in the same boat really! Not sure what to do or what
To think until my period comes I guess...

I'm so sorry you went through similar, its absolutely crushing. Let's keep fingers crossed we can both get pregnant again quickly and everything is ok ❤️

I had an MVA after a missed miscarriage last year. Baby had stopped growing at 9 weeks. Bled for a week and had a negative test 2 weeks after the procedure. It took about 6 weeks post procedure before I got a period though.

If you’ve not yet tested negative since your D&C I would contact your EPU or GP for advice. They can do blood tests to check what your HCG is doing if you think it’s possible you’re pregnant again.

To add that I had a further 2 cycles and then fell pregnant again. Am now 16 weeks.

@lmp69 Ask away! Not sure I can answer everything but I'll try. Yes, we were actively trying again immediately after the surgery. Don't know about you but I desperately wanted to be pregnant again. So when I did a test at about 4 weeks and it was positive I really hoped it was a new pregnancy. But then I continued testing over the next two weeks and it never got darker, then I had the mega period like I said, and figured that was the true end of the miscarriage. I bled for 3 weeks, then had a much more normal period 4 weeks later (so in total it took about 12 weeks from the surgery to my first normal period - I don't think that's usual though). And I got pregnant again immediately after that.

As another pp suggests, if you're still testing positive it's worth contacting the EPU. No one told me to, but turns out it's usually recommended to test at 3 weeks and contact them if it's positive so they can check if it's a new pregnancy or not.

Final thought, while I'm enormously grateful that I got pregnant again so easily, and I wouldn't change it for anything, it did mean I spent 15 solid months either pregnant or miscarrying. It definitely took a toll physically, and I think emotionally too. I'm only now grieving the miscarriage in a way I didn't before. If you can see your way to having a little break between pregnancies it might be better, physically and mentally. Not sure. Wishing you all the luck whatever the next few weeks and months hold.

@sweetpotato29 Sorry to hear of your experience :(

It is so difficult, I have taken another FRER this morning and the line is still there but still very faint, and not getting any darker, so I don't think I am pregnant again I think it is just leftover HCG! Which is hard to accept. In a way I just want to see a negative now so we can move on and know where we stand!

I hope you get your positive soon and that everything works out for you next time round ❤

Hi @Miscellaneousme thank you for your comment.

Congratulations on your new pregnancy!

I think I was holding onto the fact I haven't had a period yet and the fact I am still testing positive that I am pregnant again but I don't think I am, I think I am just hoping.

I was told my period should return within 4 weeks and obviously it hasn't but I guess that is different from person to person.

If it hasn't returned by the end of next week I think I will phone the EPU back up and see if I can have some bloods done. It is all so difficult 😞

Wishing you a happy and healthy pregnancy x

@elepants oh I totally agree with you, we are so desperate to get pregnant again, I think so much so that it already feels like a lifetime since I miscarried💔

I am in exactly the same boat test wise, because my period hasn't returned yet I am getting obsessed with testing and I really need to stop!

I am really struggling and I feel as if whilst it may be a benefit to make sure my body has fully recovered from the D&C to be able to support a new pregnancy, I feel like the only think that will make me get over it is being pregnant again 😞

I used to smoke and I quit just before we started trying last time but since our bad news I have had a few cigarettes and been drinking a little more purely to help me with the pain but I am worrying this will now impact me negatively.

My head really is just al over the place at the moment and feel like it is all taking over my life!

I know it is really difficult... and also you're not sure who to talk to about all this sort of stuff as it's never been taught so I find myself seeking information from women who've been through it on here as you are too!

I've taken 2 pregnancy tests since and they've both been negative. It was bittersweet as horrible to see it in black and white but I do have some relief that I know physically it's over. Just waiting around for period.

All I will say is that you need to be kind to yourself at this time. Try not to work yourself up into a state about testing and worrying about the results. What will be will be - your body will do what it needs to and if it doesn't then you reach out to EPU to find out what's going wrong. Don't beat yourself up for doing things that comfort or relieve your stress like having a cigarette or two. Try doing little positive things aswell for your mental health like drinking lots of water, getting out for a walk or exercise, keep taking your vitamins. It's going through the motions but it's one step at a time. We'll get there ❤️

Hi ladies,

Just wanted to post an update to try and seek some more advice.

AF arrived yesterday in FULL force (very heavy) which was exactly 5 weeks after my D&C. It feels so bittersweet to have a period, as I haven't had one since the new year which obviously I caught pregnant just after.

Anyways, at least it is here now and I know my cycle has resumed so I now start tracking again and when I do hopefully conceive again it will help with dates! Also happy AF has returned so I don't have to go back to the EPU for tests, as it is such an upsetting place.

Do you ladies think it is safe for me to start trying again this cycle? or what the chances are of me catching again already? I hope this can be the month for me I pray. I usually ovulate around day 12 so this should be next week I am hoping!

Imp 69 I know this is an old post but after your 3 scan were you offered a scan before the d&c xx