Period after medical management of MMC?

[GeographyTeacher]

Hello.

I found out on 27th July that I’d had an MMC, I would have been 12 weeks but baby likely didn’t survive past 7-8. I’d already started bleeding and cramping before our 12 week scan.

I had medical management on Saturday 5th August which was a really awful experience. I was in agony for several hours before something ‘popped’ and the sac was passed. I continued to bleed for 7 days and then the bleeding became more discharge like for another 2 weeks. It stopped about a week or so ago.

Today is the 1st September (27 days after the procedure) and I got what felt like period pains this morning and have started bleeding. It’s not looking like a usual period and not heavy yet but there’s small bits of stringy discharge and the cramps feel quite intense.

I’m unsure if this is more miscarriage related bleeding and the removal of retained products or my period? I’m unsure of my cycle length as I was only off the pill for 1 cycle when I fell pregnant. Could it be both a period and removal of retained products? Physically I have felt fine over the last 2 weeks but have had some strong smelling discharge and what I thought was thrush.

I did a test one week ago which was faintly positive and am due to test again tomorrow and will call EPU if it’s positive but would appreciate any shared or similar experiences on what this could be.

Thank you x

Dear GeographyTeacher,

I am sorry for your loss.

I had exactly the same experience as you when I went through the medical management procedure and the month after. My first period was heavy and full of (I think) the larger uterus lining from the pregnancy, so lots of little blood clots and stringy bits. It took so much longer to finish as well (around 14 days on and off spotting and clots). Sorry if TMI.

I was slightly positive on the pregnancy test before the period, and afterwards I was negative.

By the way - the hormone changes this last few weeks are on an astronomical scale! No one tells you that. PMT was awful / horniness (attacked other half). I guess my hormones are still stabilising 😂.

Hi, I'm sorry for your loss and I hope you are doing as okay as you can be.

I don't have advice sorry but can relate to what you are going through, so would be interested to follow in case others have insight. I had medical management in hospital on 11th August, and I passed the sac whole a few hours after the tablets were inserted (so painful). My bleeding stopped 22nd/23rd August. I took a pregnancy test yesterday morning which still had a faint positive line so have a scan on Tuesday to see if any retained products, but also yesterday when I wiped I had blood like the start of a period with stringy bits. Nothing on the pads I've been wearing since and is more like light pink now. I'm thinking perhaps it's not a period but I'm really not sure.

The only way to know if there may be retained products is to take a pregnancy test. My first period after my MMC was heavier than usual and I cramped even though I don’t usually. There were also small clots which is unusual for me. This didn’t happen during the second period so it will eventually settle down.

For the strong smelling discharge I would suggest seeing about that in case an infection (though may be thrush, you can't be too careful).
I had some pain the other day and discharge (not smelly really) so I contacted the ward I was on for the medical miscarriage (they told me I needed to contact for anything I didn't feel was right) and they got a gynae doc to call me back to ask questions then bring me in for swabs. They gave me antibiotics to be safe in case an infection, but turned out to be thrush so am treating that atm. But def get advice first before treating anything.

Thanks to those who have responded with advice.

Here is a bit of an update….I took a test yesterday (4 weeks post medical management) and it was negative. However….the confusing part is that I am now not sure what I had for the last 2 days was a period. I did speak to EPU yesterday who reassured me everything that was happening was normal and sounded like a ‘typical’ first period for my situation. It had a bad odour, felt very crampy, lots of clots etc…

After speaking with them I felt reassured but later in the day I passed something much bigger than a clot. It was a bit bigger than my little finger in length and was quite thick and substantial, like some sort of tissue. I’m now very confused that I tested negative despite passing this and multiple other clots and stringy bits of discharge. The bleeding I was having has now totally stopped. So I’m left wandering whether this was my body passing more tissue and not a period.

I’m now left unsure what to do. I did take something for thrush which has cleared the problem I was having but now I don’t know where I stand. I could ring EPU on Monday but don’t really know what i can say, especially if testing negative..?!?

This is all just so crap. How can women possibly attempt to ‘move on’ from the heartache of miscarriage when all these physical issues just seem to be never ending.

Really sorry for your loss, GeographyTeacher.

My medically-managed MMC was quite a few years ago, so I'm struggling to remember properly. But if I recall, they gave me a scan a week after, and it looked like there were still some retained products, but they decided not to try and remove them, and said they would likely come out when I had my next period. So in answer to your question, I guess the bleeding you've experienced could be your body passing tissue but nevertheless a new period.

I think my next period came pretty quickly.

I'll just put this here for information - you will have your own feelings about when/if you TTC again - but I got pregnant again after the first period, and that baby was born about 10 1/2 months after my miscarriage. (That "baby" is starting high school tomorrow!) So don't give up hope. Take good care of yourself, and if in doubt, get yourself checked out.

I'm so sorry. I had the same experience last year and ended up passing the sac naturally after my surgical management was cancelled (due to testing positive for covid). My first period was very heavy and full of large clots, so it does sound normal, if horrible.

Just keep watch out for any infection though - any temperature, shivering, blue lips, feeling sleepy etc can be signs of sepsis. I started with some of these symptoms and had very prompt treatment in a&e. No one wanted me that a miscarriage can become infected, so I feel strongly that there should be more awareness!

The whole MMC experience is very distressing and physically unpleasant. I have gone on to have another healthy baby, but I still think about the miscarriage most days.

Hello.

I just wanted to updated what has gone on this week for anyone in the same boat.

So after thinking it was my period, then it wasn’t….it turned out that it was.

I got worried and confused when (after testing negative) my body expelled some clots, and what looked like big bits of tissue and then bleeding just stopped for a day. But then the following day came the most awful period I’ve ever had. It was so heavy that I found I couldn’t manage it. I was back at work (teaching on my feet) and struggled big time. The pain and blood was relentless for 3 days solid but then tailed off.

My period came exactly 28 days after my medical management and lasted for 7 days so both heavier and longer. I’m relieved but also now scared for what I do next. I don’t know if I’m ready to try again but also feel like we should be…

Best of luck to anyone else on this journey x

Thanks for the update @GeographyTeacher. It sounds like you've had a rubbish few days, so I'm glad it's over now. Don't feel you have to rush into TTC if you don't feel ready. It sounds as if this first period has really taken a toll on you physically and mentally so it would be completely understandable if you didn't feel ready. All the best to you. X 💐