Waiting for period after surgical management of MMC

[PickupperPenguin]

Hi there,

I had surgical management for a MMC a week before Christmas. By the time I had the surgery, I would have been around 13 weeks, but the pregnancy had stopped developing at around 6 weeks.

The surgery went well as far as I know, and it was ultrasound-guided to make sure there was nothing retained. The surgeon said beforehand that it was a gentler version of ERPC and that rates of complication (including scarring) were very very low.

I had a negative test on 27th December, which I think is quite early, as that was only 9 days after surgery. I also think I ovulated around New Year, based on EWCM and feeling/arousal (TMI, sorry!!).

Today i’m exactly 4 weeks on from surgery and had expected my period over the weekend based on my ovulation guesstimate and previous cycles.

Yesterday and this morning, I’ve only had a small amount of very light brown stringy discharge, and that’s only on the ‘inside’ when I gently wipe inside - nothing showing when I wipe normally or on my underwear at all. I’m getting a small amount of cramping and also a bit of a dodgy tummy (which I usually get with AF). But discharge-wise, I’m very very dry (which I also think is a normal pre-AF thing for me).

Do you think this is the start of my period? I’m getting impatient because we really want to TTC again as soon as we can, and we’re just waiting for this period so we know where we are in my cycle.

I’ve started to get worried about Asherman’s, although I’m reassured somewhat by the surgeron saying how gentle they are during the procedure (it was more of an MVA under general, rather than a D&C, as far as I understand).

Can anyone help/advise if something similar happened to you? I feel like I need my proper AF to come so that I can really feel like the miscarriage has finished and I can TTC again.

Hi there. I had to have a termination for medical reasons but it took 5 weeks for my period to return - so hopefully you are nearly there. I was definitely relieved when it did arrive, it felt like I could get back on track and move forward. Hope it happens for you soon and try not to fret.

Thank you for your reply @MrsScotland, I’m so sorry you had to have surgery too.

Things have increased slightly to pink/light red, still only on wiping but definitely an increase from what it was this morning. I think it’d be sensible to count this as the start of AF/CD1 and go from there. I read on another thread that the first period after surgery can be light because they’re so thorough in removing the lining.

thank you again

Just in case anyone else is reading this after surgical management and wondering about their own cycle, the flow has got more constant and slightly heavier over the course of the day, so I’m definitely confident to call this a proper AF now. Hugs to anyone else going through this! Thank you for your help @MrsScotland

How is it going this morning @PickupperPenguin? No problem for the reply!

Thank you for asking @MrsScotland - it’s got really quite heavy and crampy, definitely much heavier than my pre-pregnancy/MMC periods. I’m relieved because it seems (touch wood) like everything’s ok and having a good clear out, and it arrived bang-on 4 weeks on from surgical management, but it’s still hard to have a period when I keep thinking I should’ve still been pregnant.

Thanks so much for checking in x

Sorry for your loss.

I recently had my first period post surgical management in early Dec, and it started same way you described. I had strange brown spotting when wiping for about 3 days before it got heavier and period eventually started. I was confused as I’ve never started my period that way before. Reassuring to know you had similar.

If you’re TCC, you should count day one as first day of full flow of blood rather than the spotting.

Good luck!