MMC experiences please

[CurlyWurly1991]

Hi, I should be 7+6 today but after a private scan yesterday I found there was no HB and baby was measuring 6w2d. Sac as expected for my gestation. Just trying to get my head around it all. As it was a Friday I have to wait until Tuesday to speak to GP - duty midwife said I would need to be referred to gynae as not yet ‘booked in’ as antenatal. Made things much harder than they needed to be.

What should I expect? I’ve had no bleeding but since the scan some strong period Pains. I have stocked up on OTC painkillers and big pads. Fearful of pain and lots of bleeding, having read up I would prefer the surgical option but appreciate it may start naturally before I get the chance to request it.

should I be cancelling social stuff? Getting childcare for my 10y old? Letting work know? I’m due in on 4th Jan.

thanks so much

@Francescarae hope you're okay though I know you won't be. Did you go home for it to happen or stay in the hospital? I hope your experience of this MM is similar to mine and the pain and discomfort of it exiting is all done with by the early hours. Give yourself time to recover. Such an awful experience, really feel for you right now x

Thank you, sorry you went through it too. I was sent home from the hospital after the tablets at 1pm yesterday, nothing has happened yet have just taken the second dose, I did think things would happen quicker, really hope it won’t be too bad, just need it all to be over with it’s been an incredibly hard experience x

Oh crikey I was thinking you'd have been at the end of that phase by now, sorry. I had the pessaries each time, all put in at the hospital and then home, all happened through the night. Are you taking the oral version?

That deflated, low feeling is awful and what I always felt strange was that the world is just carrying on as normal around you and you're going through this horribly difficult time. It's all very unfair. Big big bugs x

@Francescarae Im sorry you are still waiting for the miscarriage to start. It is just awful, did they give you a timescale about what happens if it took some time?
I have the surgery on Monday and had lots of scary dreams about being under GA as I haven’t done it before but think it is the best for my current situation, hopefully.
Take care xx

@MudandMoet yes I had the pessaries at the hospital too and have taken the oral version this morning, I have 2 more oral tablets to take just before lunchtime so surely something will happen by then! Really thought the worst would be over by now, it’s all the waiting which is hard and I’m nervous.

@CurlyWurly1991 they said it usually happens within 3-6 hours of the pesssries at the hospital which was 1pm yesterday but they did say that everyone is different and sometimes it can be much longer really hoping it’s over with soon x

@CurlyWurly1991 dont worry about the GA you will be fine, they do it all the time and you will have no idea what happened it will literally just be like you’ve had a nice sleep, it’s probably the easiest option x

@Francescarae Oh I hope it doesn’t take too long and you are being taken care of xx

Gosh I'm so surprised the pessaries didn't make it happen last night, I didn't have any tablets to take at home either time. I'd imagine the anticipation must feel terrible by the stage. Fingers crossed it's over with soon x

Thank you, I was convinced it would happen yesterday or last night, I had 4 pessaries yesterday which seemed like quite a lot so really thought it would happen, just a waiting game now I suppose, think it could be a long day x

@Francescarae it might be worth giving yourself a cut off point to call the EPU? Maybe 24h after taking seems reasonable. I hope they support you and help with this difficult stage.

Frustratingly they are closed over the weekend so if not it will be Monday. Next tablets in an hour let’s hope something happens x

@CurlyWurly1991 I had a GA for my surgical management a few weeks ago and hadn’t had one before, so I was nervous like you. The anaesthetist came down to talk to me beforehand which was really reassuring, and then I got into the room and there were absolutely lovely staff there getting things ready and chatting to me, they were honestly brilliant.

They got me to lie down on the bed and then the anaesthetist looked for where to put the cannula into my hand (I looked away because I’m a bit squeamish). Then they popped a mask on me and got me to breathe deeply, and I think the anaesthetic went in at the same time because all I remember really is them saying to take deep breaths and then I was falling asleep. There was maybe a second or so when I was aware I was going to sleep but it wasn’t scary at all, it felt very gentle.

Then I woke up in recovery and it felt like I’d had the best sleep ever (which I told the anaesthetist 😳). I’m not sure what they give you to bring you round but I didn’t stop talking for hours 😳 I didn’t feel groggy afterwards, maybe because the procedure is so quick, it’s just a ‘light’ GA.

Then I was taken back down to my room and waited there to be discharged. I had the procedure about 12-12.30 and was home again about 4pm.

The one thing I wish I’d known is about the cannula - once you’re in recovery, there’s no needle in your hand. It’s just a tiny, bendy plastic tube, and you can’t tear your hand by moving/flexing it. That really worried me, and then when the lovely HCA took it out, she showed me it was just this tiny bendy thing. So you don’t need to worry about doing any damage to your hand.

I hope it goes really smoothly for you. They told me that the actual procedure was only about 10 minutes, and it was ultrasound-guided which I was relieved about, so they could check they were getting everything as they went. I’ve had a negative test since, so it looks like they did.

Let me know if you have any other questions about the GA, procedure or recovery, I’m absolutely happy to talk about it if it’s helpful to anyone else. Wishing you all the very best 💐

@Francescarae so sorry you’re going through this. I hope things start getting going for you soon x

@meepthebeep thank you, it’s really helpful to hear what the surgical management was like for you. I’m hoping it isn’t too unpleasant an experience. I guess there is no ‘good’ option when managing a MMC.
@Francescarae thinking of you and hoping you are OK x

@meepthebeep thank you x

@CurlyWurly1991 thanks, 25 and a half hours later and still waiting! At this rate I might be having surgical management too if nothing happens x

@CurlyWurly1991 I think for me personally it was the least bad of the options. I totally get what you mean, none of them are ‘good’ but I’ve found (so far) that recovery has been fine and pain was pretty minimal. The first day I was a bit sore, it was more like period crampiness than anything. I did have slightly erratic bleeding for maybe the first week, so I’d recommend keeping pads on just in case. I hope it goes just as smoothly for you.

@Francescarae I think I’ve seen posts on here about some posters having to go for surgical after medical. I really hope things get resolved for you soon either way, I know how sad and difficult the waiting is. Thinking of you x

@meepthebeep I tried expectant management for 10 days so already feel like I’ve been waiting so long, I really thought The medical management made things quicker and more predictable, also being stuck at home makes all the sad feelings worse, miscarriage is so hard and it’s so sad we’ve all had to go through it x

That sounds so hard, I really feel for you 😔💐 by the time my MMC was discovered, everything had been ‘stopped’ for 5 weeks or more, so even though we’d just found out, I felt that I’d sort of done expectant management already. Then from finding out at the first scan, it was two more weeks before I had surgical management, so it took a while. Those two weeks felt like forever.

I totally know what you mean about making things more predictable and manageable, or wanting to make them more predictable. Do you have anyone with you at home? Take it easy, that’s easier said than done of course when something like this is happening, but be kind to yourself.

@Francescarae How are you doing today?

Hey @CurlyWurly1991 im okay, it finally started at 8.20 this morning, so far not too bad just like a period but relieved that something is happening. Hopefully it all goes okay for me. How are you feeling about tomorrow? X

@Francescarae Ah ok, I’m glad you aren’t waiting and really hope it goes as well as possible for you. Take care xx
I’m feeling ok thanks, just getting things ready (hospital gave me a list) and can’t eat/drink after 12am tonight. Need to arrive there at 7.30am tomorrow. Lots of things to think about. Looking forward to all this being over.

You will be fine, what time is the surgery? X

There’s no set time but they told me it would almost definitely be before 12pm. I am no good when hungry (especially as still feeling pregnancy hunger/nausea) so am probably most worried about being hungry all morning!

@CurlyWurly1991 just to warn you when I had surgical management the doctor went through a form with me asking if we wanted to name the baby, and what I wanted to happen with the remains, if we wanted to take it home or to send to the crem. I was 12 weeks at the time. I was a bit surprised and did end up crying because I hadn’t thought of any of these things.