abnormal early scan / MMC advice

[AnnieStar12]

I had a 7 week scan last Friday and it was measuring 5/6 weeks no heartbeat. I know my dates exactly as I had IUI so there's no chance I'm 7+days out. The EPU said this isn't enough to confirm miscarriage until they scan me again this Friday. I guess there's no hope, but has anyone had any miracle stories after no heartbeat / fetal pole at 7 weeks? I feel nothing so far - no cramps or bleeding and pregnancy test still very strong so my body definitely still thinks its pregnant.

I know the odds are bad so am preparing for the worst, and looking up options. Really unsure whether to opt for the pills or surgical option. What have people's experiences been with both? I just want it over with asap so willing to do whatever is quickest. All advice appreciated!

Aww bless you op.
When I found I was pregnant woth my 4th(now 38 weeks) I thought I was further along but only measured 6 weeks.

Just try and relax. Do you have another scan booked?

Sorry just re read and saw u have one on Friday. Just relax and wait till Friday hun

@AnnieStar12 I'm sorry to hear what you are going through, you must feel very confused and anxious right now.

I would really recommend downloading and reading the information on management options from the Miscarriage Association: https://www.miscarriageassociation.org.uk/leaflet/management-of-miscarriage/. I read this when I was between scans for my MC and it really helped me to understand the different options, success rates and what I thought would work best for me. I opted for surgical management as I wanted the best guarantee possible that it would be 'over' on the day, and I also didn't want to miscarry at home as I was worried about the pain and blood loss.

I hope you get better news at your next scan, but in the event that you don't, please do ask more questions if you need to. ❤

@jadey1991 goodluck with your pregnancy! Good to know it can work out okay for some with smaller than expected scans!

@CluelessInLondon thanks so much, this is just what I need to read. I am being realistic and know that it's over 99% likely Friday will only confirm the MMC so I want to be prepared. I know I want it over with asap which is the only reason I would opt for the pills as I am pretty sure they give them to you there and then. With the surgical option I think I would have to wait until next week. Right now, that feels like a lifetime away. But I really hate the idea of pain and bleeding at home. How long did you have to wait between confirmation of MC and the procedure? Thanks for sharing your story. I hope your recovery went okay.

@AnnieStar12 I had my two scans 9 days apart and I was in hospital for surgery the day after my second scan, so it was very quick. It was a really distressing day but I don't think there's any way around that in the circumstances, whatever management you choose - but for me, surgery was the right choice as it gave me a degree of control over the process and ensured that the physical aspect was over on the day. The surgery went smoothly for me and my recovery was very quick - very little pain or discomfort, just a bit of cramping during the afternoon after I got home from the hospital, and I was bleeding lightly for about 3 days afterwards.

Hi @AnnieStar12, I’m so sorry you’re going through this. I chose medical management as I didn’t want to go into hospital if I could avoid it. I got the pills same day as my second scan and they worked quickly, it was painful but manageably so. For me it was the right decision but I have had a longer recovery than described by @CluelessInLondon, I’ve had a small amount of retained tissue and it’s been six weeks now since I took the pills. It’s passing naturally and the hospital are still monitoring me. At the time I’d have been devastated if I’d known it would take this long but it’s given me some headspace which has been quite helpful. I found the Miscarriage Association links posted above very helpful when deciding too. Hope it all goes smoothly whatever you decide

I'm so sorry you're going through this OP. I guess they ask people back because there's always a chance for some pregnancies, but like you say perhaps not this time if you're 100% sure on dates. My first pregnancy was a MMC with a blighted ovum and epu made me wait 2 weeks to scan me again just to be sure even though I was crystal clear on my dates. It was a very tough wait. I went with medical management as it was during covid and they couldn't guarantee surgery access. As it turned out it worked well, and like PP said could manage at home with over the counter meds and codeinethe hospital gave me. Fast forward 3 years to now and I have gorgeous DS, 23 months, and just found out we've had a MMC at 9+4 after we saw heartbeat at 7+2. Brutal. Medical management tomorrow and praying it works again.

From experience I'd say share with those you love and seek support from professionals if you need it. Miscarriage association and tommy's are great. I also found these boards so supportive and understanding the first time round as well. Wishing you well OP, you'll come out the other side x

@AnnieStar12 How did your scan yesterday go? I hope you are okay.

Thanks everyone for the supportive and helpful messages.
I had the scan yesterday which confirmed what I knew :(
I’m booked in for a general anaesthetic surgical procedure for Monday. Tbh, all the “management” options sound horrible, but this one feels the least bad as I can be put to sleep and just wake up when it’s all over!

How long did people take off work for recovery time? Any other advice for before/after welcome.

@AnnieStar12 I'm so sorry - even when you already know what's coming it's still painful. It's good that you've been able to get booked in quickly for the surgery though, it helps to have a bit of certainty at such a confusing time.

I only took the day of my surgery off work, but mine was on a Friday so I also had the weekend to recover, otherwise I might have taken longer (I can also work from home, which helped). One thing to be aware of is that about 2-3 days after the surgery there is a really big crash as your hormones start returning to normal - I was warned about it by the nurse in the EGU and whilst I couldn't really do anything about it, it helped to know that was what was happening when I started to just feel really emotional, having felt alright the day after the surgery. Had I realised how bad that would be I would probably have taken an extra day or two off work as I found working a struggle at that point. Everyone is different in how they feel and how quickly they are ready to get back to work, but it might make sense to assume you need the full week off and you can always go back sooner if you feel ready.

Things that it might help to have at the ready at home are painkillers and a hot water bottle - I found I had some cramping after the surgery, just like mild period cramps, so I took a couple of paracetamol and rested up with a hot water bottle when I got home from the hospital. For going into hospital, if it's like my experience there'll be quite a bit of waiting around, so take something to read or watch to help pass the time.

@CluelessInLondon thanks for that - I’ve told work I won’t be in all week so I have plenty of time to recover. Can’t wait for this to be all over now!

@AnnieStar12 I've been thinking about you today - I hope the procedure went smoothly and you are back home recovering. Take care. ❤️

@CluelessInLondon thank you x
It was all quite straightforward. I was put straight to sleep on entering theatre and then woke up when it was all over - I was expecting pain and bleeding, but so far I've not had any pain and the bleeding is barely anything, mostly light spotting type blood! So hopefully that's all a good sign and I can just try move on.

Sorry for your loss. I had surgical under GA last year and went back to work 12 days later. I'd started bleeding a few days before the GA procedure but had retained tissue.

The timelines felt about right. (I was a few weeks further on than you). It takes a little while for the hormones to settle down. I felt really tired the 2 days after. Bleeding didn't take long to settle and I didn't need pain relief after the GA so fingers crossed it sounds like you're going to experience similar.

@Whataretheodds thanks for sharing. Can I ask, how long did it take you to start ovulating after the operation?

@AnnieStar12 Glad to hear everything went smoothly and you are doing okay in your recovery so far - sounds very similar to my experience. I got my LH peak just over 3 weeks after my surgery - I was still testing positive on a pregnancy test two weeks later, got a negative test at 3 weeks and my LH peak the day after. My period came back two weeks after that.

@AnnieStar12 I didn't track but I had a period about 30 days later so pretty much in line with my usual cycle. I didn't want to start trying before I'd had a period.