MMC found at 12 week scan

[EdithGrantham]

As in the post title I've been told at my 12 week scan that I've had a MMC. She didn't say at what stage the baby was measuring, but that there is a pregnancy sac but fetus hasn't developed and there's no heartbeat. On the scan picture it says 6.9cm but you can't really see anything, just a little kidney bean type shape at the side of my uterus. When I've looked online 7cm is expected size for 12 weeks so I'm a bit confused.

My gut instinct was to book in for surgical management which I've done but I'm now wondering if medical would be better if baby wasn't really developed. My main concerns with medical is that I don't want to see the baby as a baby when passed if that makes sense. Also, my daughter still wakes and is fed back to sleep overnight so with surgical the hope would be that I'll only be in for the day.

I'm so sorry you went through that wait, that must have been awful. I can't bare to think I'd have to wait that long feeling like this, I may book a private scan to see but as you said knowing its a snapshot in time. I wish you so much healing and @EdithGrantham sorry for posting on your post...first time using mums net and wasn't sure what I was doing x

@YearoftheRabbit23 sorry for your losses, glad to hear you had easy recoveries.

@LBGlasgow no worries, hope your pregnancy goes on to be a healthy one

@EdithGrantham I’m very sorry to hear of your loss. Two weeks ago today I had my 12 week scan and was told the baby had no heartbeat and was measuring 8+3. I had had a private scan with a strong healthy heartbeat measuring 2 days ahead of my dates at 8+4 so this was a real shock to process.

I was booked in for an MVA on the following Monday which is the local anaesthetic surgery, does your hospital offer this option? Mine only does general but another hospital in the same trust did so they booked me in there.

I found this had short recovery time and although uncomfortable it was only approx 7 minutes in total during the actual procedure and I preferred not to go under GA xx

I'm really sorry OP 💔

I had a MMC many years ago at nearly 14 weeks (my first pregnancy).

I opted for surgical management (it was really all that was offered in my case - Ireland).

However, I needed to wait 5 days for the procedure & in the meantime, I started to pass the embryo myself - hadn't been warned of this, and (warning) it was very heavy, to the extent I passed out, had to go to hospital in the middle of the night.

I was very unwell for a period & ultimately had emergency surgery, which was traumatic.

I had lost so much blood I needed a few weeks off work.

However, you'll have very little bleeding after an ERPC (previously known as D&C). Other than being tired, there were no other physical symptoms after the procedure, and normal pads were fine.

I was fortunate to become pregnant a few months later and have a successful pregnancy.

I was very accepting of the MC - aware of how common they are. However I had an intense period of grieving about a month after, that lasted for 6 weeks or so, and really floored me emotionally. I didn't cry so much about the baby, but more weirdly felt old / discombobulated / out of my body.

I wish you all the best OP, and I think the surgical management is the best route. Take care & I hope you have good support around you 💐

Hi @LBGlasgow I’m sorry you are experiencing this anxiety. I don’t want to cause you further worry but unfortunately I did see my pregnancy symptoms stop approximately one week after my baby’s heartbeat stopped, and I knew deep down that something was wrong but was hoping it was the placenta taking over. I had suffered terrible nausea from 7-9.5 weeks along with very sore boobs and tiredness etc.

I thought maybe I was being overly anxious as I had paid for an early reassurance scan 9 days prior which showed a healthy heartbeat.

In hindsight I should have paid for another private scan so that I didn’t have to wait another 2.5 weeks to find out at my 12 week scan.

I truly hope this isn’t the case for you and that your pregnancy is a healthy one but I would recommend booking a private scan if possible x

@Bali200 sorry for your loss. They do offer that but having read the details on both I do think the GA will be better for me. I'm booked in for Tuesday, @EarringsandLipstick they did say that was a possibility so now every time I go to the loo I'm looking for the slightest tinge of pink on the tissue but nothing yet. Sorry for your loss too and glad you went on to have a healthy pregnancy.

@Bali200 I've booked one for tonight at 7.15....I don't think I could wait the 4 weeks more until my nhs scan. I'm so sorry for your lose. Il update later with what we see, I just feel different and need to know

I've had 2 MMC both twin pregnancies (IVF). Both foetuses had passed at different stages they mesures 7 and 11 weeks. The second pregnancy I was 8 and 11. I had surgical management with both. Heartbeats seen in previous scans (im only saying that because you intend on having early pregnancy scans next time. The scan literally mean everything is okay in that moment.) The procedure bit was fine. The first one my bleeding was very heavy after and I was losing huge plan size clots after. Although, pain wise i only experienced heavy period like pain. The second was worse initially. I lost lots of blood during the procedure and was kept in over night (make sure you have a childcare plan just in case) but after the bleeding was very light and like last 2 days of period pain wise. It emotional bit that I struggled with to be honest. I had bereavement counselling after the 2nd MMC.

ETA: I went on to have 2 children. 1 following IVF. the second was the biggest shock of my life following 7 years of fertility treatment.

Sorry for your losses @MeAgainPeeps but lovely to hear you went on to have healthy pregnancies. I don't think DH will be able to stay in with me overnight if it comes to that as they've said I'll be on the ward rather than a private room so he will have our DD if I am in overnight. With the early scans I will try to keep that in mind, as I've said I'll try to think of it more as ruling out a MMC rather than confirming that everything is going to be ok, if that makes sense.

I hope everything goes okay. Have they said DH can be with you? My DH had to drop me to the clinic and leave. It's worth double checking so you don't have any surprises.

I understand about just checking with the early pregnancy scan. Just be mindful not to be booking lots of extra ones. After the losses I then had a lot of bleeding with my first DC. I bleed up till 16 weeks pregnant. I had so many scans. It caused me to have terrible anxiety. I'd literally leave a scan and be booking the next private one.

I'm thinking of you. If you need an ear after your welcome to DM me. People don't really talk about miscarriage and it can be a very lonely time.

@EdithGrantham thank you and good luck for Tuesday, I do personally believe that surgery is a better option than MM, I felt more in control of the situation and have heard some horror stories about MM so I didn’t want to personally go down that route. I hope it goes as well as can be for you and pray we get our rainbows soon 🌈 xx

@MeAgainPeeps yeah they've said the same; it'll be a case of him dropping me off then leaving until visiting time, I'm hoping that I'll be waking up during visit time rather than before then and having to wait on my own for him. And thank you for the advice re the scans, I guess I'll have to see how I feel, I was so lucky that everything was completely plain sailing with my DD and had hoped for the same experience again.

Thanks @Bali200 I'll try to come back and update after Tuesday.

I’m so sorry. I found out the same 3 weeks ago and had an MVA 2 weeks ago. I would definitely recommend the MVA to anyone who ever asks me of my experience. My miscarriage naturally started between finding out and my MVA and it was much more traumatic and painful than anyone told me, more painful in some ways than the birth of my child. Without the MVA I suspect would’ve gone on for a long time. It was such a shock at the start but 3 weeks on emotionally I’m already in a much better place. Thinking of you x

Sorry for your loss @Neve09 did you let the hospital know that the miscarriage had started naturally and were they still ok doing the MVA even though it had? I'm on the countdown to Tuesday when it will hopefully be all over and done with and I can deal with whatever comes next, feel like I'm in limbo at the moment

@EdithGrantham yes I let them know each time they contacted to arrange the MVA and whilst I was at the hospital, they were fine with it. The worst time was the waiting, but hopefully it’ll go quickly and by Tuesday evening you’ll be at the start of the next step of the journey.

Thank you

Just started bleeding this evening 😔 have rung hospital and the EPAU are in tomorrow and will ring me back in the morning to advise.

@EdithGrantham. Hope that you're OK and if you feel unwell or dizzy at all then go to a and e.

Thanks @Savvy21, it's very light at the moment and only slight twinges rather than cramps. Have a bit of a headache which I'm not sure if that could be related or just coincidence.

@EdithGrantham how are you doing today? Did EPAU get back to you?

Not too bad thank you, everything just feels very surreal. Yeah they just said to ring them if it gets any heavier. It hasn't yet, it's still very light, just like the last day of a period where I'd be in two minds whether to even use a pad or not. I guess I'll just have to see what happens between now and Tuesday.

@EdithGrantham I've been thinking about you today. I hope your feeling okay and are not in any pain.

Thanks @MeAgainPeeps it's so strange because as it is at the moment I can convince myself it's just a normal, albeit very very late, period and I feel ok but every now and then I "remember". Just having some cramps now but nothing major really.

@LBGlasgow how did your scan go? Hope you got good news. 🙏 x

@EdithGrantham hope your ok 😢I went through this a few weeks ago started spotting on the Thursday night then all properly kicked off on the Sunday morning ☹️get some strong painkillers in big hugs just awful xx