Miscarriage at 16 weeks, similar experiences

[Hampstead16]

Hello,

I am after other people’s experiences if possible please..

On the 9th of April we experienced a miscarriage when we were 16+2 weeks. I had experienced some pink discharge, contacted maternity triage - received anti D (I’m rhesus -ve) and a swab for culture and sensitivity and discharged home. Next day the bleeding was worse, contacted again and advised to come down had a speculum - was referred to colposcopy due to ‘atypical appearance’ and sent for scan, baby was perfectly fine on the scan, we were told we were having a girl and were sent home again.

That night I woke at 2am with abdominal and lower back pain, eventually went to sleep with some paracetamol and hot water bottle. The following day I was in agony same pains but more intense and I had a temperature of 39, covid -ve, called triage crying in agony and informed them of my temp, explained this had reduced to 37.8 with paracetamol. I was informed that I may have a ‘stomach bug’ and if it was an infection my temp wouldn’t reduce with paracetamol (incorrect information) and that I should just use a hot water bottle and have a bath for the pain. I couldn’t even argue I was that unwell.

The following day was the 9th and I just couldn’t handle the pain anymore, my husband called and demanded I was seen. I went the triage unit where they gave me codeine, it didn’t help. I began vomiting, initially the bleeding was improving but I felt something trickling so I went to the toilet. The midwife shone a light between my legs to see what was happening and advised me she needed to do a speculum, I was in agony but they managed and they couldn’t see my cervix. I was wheeled to central delivery suite into the bereavement room, I was asking if I was miscarrying the whole time. I knew I was but I wanted confirmation, I was told they didn’t know. As soon as I got onto the bed my waters broke.

The doctor came, scanned me and explained my uterus was full on clots and the baby was stuck in the vaginal canal and after checking I was fully dilated. I gave birth to a perfect tiny baby girl. I was given an injection to pass the placenta which they told me came out whole. I had to remain in hospital for intravenous antibiotics and was discharged the following day.

10 days later I passed something unusual so I contacted my bereavement midwife who advised me to come in. I had a scan and have 5cm of retained products and required an ERCP. Another night in hospital with IVAB, discharged just in time for the babies funeral. We opted for a private service.

We have a 3 year old son already, pregnancy was fine - I was on aspirin due to low PAP-A but in this pregnancy it was normal so did not require aspirin. I’m 29, BMI is in range and other than an under active thyroid which is well controlled I’m relatively fit and healthy - they suspect from my colposcopy appointment that I may have endometriosis. We sent the placenta away for testing and didn’t have a PM for the baby as we had a low risk result from a NIPT blood test.

Has anyone had a similar experience that can enlighten me as to what may have happened?

What can I expect from our follow up appointment in 14 weeks where they discuss a potential cause?

What will happen in future pregnancies if we decide to try again?

Thank you to anyone who replies ♥️

Just wanted to say how sorry I am about your misscarriage. I'm so sorry. I had a miscarriage recently at 11 weeks, but the feutus had stopped growing a few weeks before, so it's not nearly as traumatic as your experience. I'm sorry I don't have any answers, but it really helped me to talk to the misscarriage association. Maybe they could help you? I would write everything down you want to say when you go for your follow up appointment, incase it's too difficult to talk about. Take care, I'm thinking of you

@Letterbox22 your situation is just as traumatic as mine, I imagine it would hurt the same no matter what stage we are at. It’s our baby we’ve lost 😞 I’ve wrote everything down and have a list of questions, thank you for your advice about the miscarriage association. My thoughts are with you and your family ♥️

So sorry for your loss OP 💙 hope you are doing ok in the circumstances. That sounds so traumatic. Especially having to go back and forth like that.

I had a missed miscarriage in December, I was 15 weeks. Had some pink spotting so went for a scan, to find baby had stopped growing about 13 weeks (even though I’d had a good scan at 13 weeks). I didn’t go into labour, and about 5 days later I had surgical management.

like you I’d had the NIPT which had come back clear. I had a load of bloods done by EPU and nothing was abnormal so no reason found for the miscarriage.

I’ve got two kids and that was my third miscarriage. im actually pregnant again now, although currently waiting for a call back from epu as I suspect another MMC, that’s another story!

I believe you’d be eligible for the pre-term / rainbow clinic pathway if you got pregnant again (obvs different in different areas). I just had it confirmed that I would not be eligible, even though I was close to 16 weeks when I had my surgery, because baby had died weeks before and nothing happened I wouldn’t be eligible. As your baby was still the right size and you went into labour I think you’d meet the criteria. I believe it’s extra scans and they monitor your cervix length. You can ask about progesterone too.

good luck and take care of yourself 💕

I am so so sorry to hear about your loss. It is the most incredibly painful thing and I wouldn’t wish it on anyone.

I had a late miscarriage at 15 weeks in December and it started with very bad back and abdominal pain, similar to yours. This went on for about a week with a bit of spotting - I went to the GP, the midwife and EPAU and they all said it was fine, just growing pains. The baby looked fine on the scans however I was in severe amounts of pain and was taking paracetamol daily.

My waters then broke unexpectedly and I was rushed to hospital where they confirmed the baby had died. I had all the blood tests and tests on the baby - they just said they think it was an infection that got into the amniotic fluid and it was terribly bad luck.

For my next pregnancy, I asked for progesterone and they are going to check my cervix when I’m 14 weeks. Unfortunately, I have just been told at my 12 week scan with this baby that there are severe chromosomal issues and the baby won’t survive.

I’ve come to realise that life is cruel with little reason for things - I would say to take some time and research questions you want to ask at your follow up. They should have done tests for antiphosolipid syndrome, and Vit D deficiency. Also, ask what happens next time and if I were you, join a group therapy session as I did find it useful talking to other women in the same position.

Good luck and I’m so sorry again that this has happened to you.

@Bug84 That seems really unfair that you aren’t eligible for the rainbow clinic pathway! I really hope you’re okay and I’m so sorry for your loss. Unfortunately in my local hospital we don’t have a rainbow clinic yet!It’s an unbearable feeling, I have everything crossed that all is well with your current pregnancy, thank you for sharing your experience 💗

@Chester89 I am so sorry for your loss and for what you’re going through currently! It’s such an awful feeling and cruel that this happened to you. Thank you for replying with your experience 💗