How long did your miscarriage last and how much time did you have off work?

[Prettypennies]

Hi all,

I am about 8 weeks pregnant and have started to bleed heavily with cramps in the last few hours. May I ask if you miscarried, how long it was until it was all over? I have a scan tomorrow morning but I’m pretty sure things aren’t looking good. Also, how long did you have off work following a miscarriage? I can’t imagine going back to work on Friday, I am in bits 😢

💐to everyone who has been through this.

I'm so sorry for your situation.

I ended up having a D and C after medical management of a missed miscarriage, so my experience slightly different, but I ended up in hospital for 2 days, then off work for a couple of weeks. I was self employed at the time, (childminder) and worked term time only, and the second week of the two weeks off was half term, so convenient in some sense. Physically I was ok to return to work after the 2 weeks, but I had made sure that that all people I would mix with knew of the situation, and were very supportive.

Passed the majority of the miscarriage over 2 days, a Saturday and Sunday. Bled for 2 weeks afterwards. I didn't take any time off work as my boss was leaving that week and I needed to do handover.

I couldn't have gone to work whilst I was actually miscarrying just physically it wouldn't have been possible.

Stupid idea as I didn't really process it and got hit hard around the due date.

Everyone will deal differently, so don't compare.

I have recently miscarried around 6 weeks pregnant, and bled for about 2 weeks. Not massively heavy, similar to a period.

I'm on maternity leave so didn't have time off, but I have felt ok about it for various reasons.

However I previously had multiple failed rounds of IVF and have taken 2 weeks off after one of them hit me very hard.

It's totally personal to you and the situation. So your work offer any pregnancy loss leave?

I was 7 weeks when I miscarried yesterday. I’ve been off this week and will more than likely take next week. This week to deal with the physical aspects, and next week for my mental health and emotional recovery. Everyone is different, we all handle things our own way. Take all the time you need. Pregnancy loss is usually covered / protected under pregnancy related leave. Don’t feel pressured to go back too soon.

Thank you all for sharing your experiences, and I’m so sorry for all your losses. I’m trying to think practically about returning to normal, but I feel like the next few weeks are going to be emotionally and potentially physically struggling. I’m surprised how long it can take to physically recover from a miscarriage.

I think a bled for maybe 1-2 weeks. I didnt have time off. But the first two days were a weekend.

I’m so sorry for your loss. It’s a very hard time. I had one loss at a similar gestation which was physically over in around four days, so not too bad, but I couldn’t afford to take any time off work.

I have also had later losses closer to viability where I had induced birth and held them, had milk etc, those were a little more easy to explain as I did spend the night in the hospital for one of them so physically couldn’t be in work so took as many days as I decently could, I think it was three for the first one and five for the second. It’s all a little blurry, there’s so much shock and grief. Take care of yourself. If you need some time off and you can afford it, have it.

I was 8ish weeks and it was pretty much over in a day. I had a little bit of bleeding, as a heads up all was not well, then suddenly got horrific cramps and bigger bleed for about half an hour. I was pretty sure it was over at that point. I had a midwife appt arranged coincidentally for that day and I got booked in for a scan the next day, when it was confirmed all over. I think after that it was a like a normal period.

What took me by surprise was how it affected me around the due date that would have been. I had small children at the time, so wasn't working, so at least I didn't have to think about time off work. Give yourself some time and space and bear in mind that you might get some profound feelings during the following months of what would have been. Im sorry 💐

Sorry to hear, give yourself enough time to recover physically and mentally.

I had a miscarriage last month at 10 weeks, the day before I was due a D&C. The bleeding came on and passing the pregnancy was extremely heavy - no way I would have been anywhere other than a bathroom. I had a scan the next day and was told I still had a lot of tissue still to pass. I bled for 2 weeks but it was like a normal period.

I took 2 weeks off work to recover and ended up being honest and telling them why.

Sending love

First one (9 weeks or so) I went to the mat unit for confirmation, and then took the rest of the day and the following day off.

Second one (11 weeks) I rang the GP to let them know, I remember the cramps were awful and I was at a wedding and on my feet most of the day. When I rang the GP on the Monday morning they suggested I take the day off but there didn't seem a lot of point as I was happier being distracted by work.

No set rules. I only told one person at work as they needed to move some equipment for me while I went to the mat unit.

Sorry for your loss. I mc at around 8 weeks (stopped growing at 6). It took around 3 days from when bleeding started to become heavy and cramps to start. I had 2 days with periods of intense cramps until I passed the sac and then it all subsided. Continued to bleed for another 1-2 weeks but like a period.

I took 2-3 weeks off work. Physically, the blood loss left me exhausted and emotionally I was an absolute mess. I had a few wobbles when I tried going back and was then told to do a phased return. I am so glad I had a supportive GP who did this because it truly was the best thing for my mental health. I worked in a stressful role which would have just pushed me to burnout

I'm so sorry for your loss

At 8 weeks, I bled for around 10 days but the worst of it was over the first 2 days. After that it was like a normal period.

I took 2 days off work but it is such a personal thing. I felt like I needed to "anchor" myself in work so it was helpful at the time. But do whatever you need to do to look after yourself at this time, there is no right or wrong, it's such a heartbreaking thing to experience 💔

I’m so sorry @Prettypennies. I’ve had two MMCs, after the first I took a week off, and I took a few days after the second. You can self certify for seven days (I don’t think you need to tell them exactly what it’s for?) and you can get signed off by a GP for longer. This is a useful resource, and I hope you see someone at your scan who might be able to offer you some advice too. https://www.miscarriageassociation.org.uk/miscarriage-and-the-workplace/employees-information-and-support/#:~:text=You%20should%20be%20able%20to,this%20note%20from%20someone%20there.

Recurrent miscarriage sufferer here; I remember vividly not taking time off work for one of my miscarriages (I'm a primary teacher) and really that was ridiculous; went from sitting down to standing and bleeding so heavily I soaked through my clothes and almost passed out.
After an ERPC for a missed miscarriage at around 14 weeks I had about a week (signed off).
Following emergency surgery for a ruptured ectopic I was signed off for two weeks so went back after that.
I'm sorry for your loss ❤️

Unfortunately ive had 2, my first passed naturally (well kind of) i still had to have medication to past the final parts. This took a couple of hours, then more hours with medication. I told my work id miscarried and was told that i wouldnt get paid sick pay, even through ssp and they wont be able to authorise my time off, so i miscarried on the friday and had to go back the following monday.

My second, i just had medication and passed within 24 hours. The bleeding was heavy afterwards, and then it would get lighter and then got heavier again.
I told my new manager that id miscarried for the second time and she told me i needed to take the time off, she told me to take a week off and then began pestering me regarding when i was coming back. My sick note from the hospital granted me 4 weeks, but i dont think that sat well with my manager, sp i was only able to take 2 weeks off, which i was still pulled into a meeting for saying they understand why i had it off, but its my bradford factor thats being hit because if it, if it wasnt the case of being 'poorly' they called it.. poorly.. they wont have gone down disciplinery road.

Some places are very different to what u worked in, usually they can be very supportive and give you as much time as you need.

Just take your time, if you cant face it, get a sick note, end of the day, its still a loss, you are still greiving, nobody can blame you for taking the time off.

So sorry for your loss, theres always going to be a rainbow! Take your time to get through this!🌈 x

@LER2023 your work sound ridiculous. Your absence is pregnancy related which is protected in law and should not be used in any absence management procedure.

If, due to any future absences (non preg related) they try and go down a disciplinary route due to Bradford factor, ensure they don't include any days that are pregnancy related as that is discrimination and illegal ❤️

@LER2023 that workplace is disgusting. I wouldn’t have stayed. I’m so sorry you got treated that way. Nobody should have to go through the worry / stress about work on top of such a devastating loss. You deserved better.

Hope you’re okay now?

lots of love to all 🩷

It took about 48 hours for me to miscarry at 7 weeks (in 2012) and then I got an infection and bled for 12 weeks in all. I didn't take even a day off work. Don't do that, absolutely the wrong ridiculous decision. Be kind to yourself, I'm sorry for your loss, it really is awful.

@ThelastRolo20 @EmiJomobean everything is okay now im out of that job completely after they dismissed me (but the pregnancies both built up to it😂)

During my second pregnancy i always said i'll lose this baby, because the amount of stress and pressure they put on me, if something didnt go right i had to be the harsh one to fix everything and when i had everyone coming to me and shouting at me and moaning like babies, i then shouted at management, week later i miscarried.

Cant all be helped im afraid.

But like i said all is well and and OH are currently trying again (im not in a job just yet due to the previous dismissal, being a struggle to get into another one however pregnancy never phased me when getting a job previously. I believed i was 7 weeks pregnant in my previous job when i first started and let them know from the get go, in which they said they would support me😂😂 (guess it was a total lie, but they liked to think they did.)

Waiting to conceive with baby number 3 and hope for the best!🤞🏻🌈

@LER2023 rainbow baby dust for you 🌈🌈 xx

Mine started and finished within about 3 hours, was pretty traumatic. I had about 1.5 weeks off work afterwards. luckily I recovered physically very fast, and I WFH so I could go back but be flexible.

@Prettypennies I’m so sorry to hear this, like others have said- take time off work, you’ll need time to heal physically and emotionally.
my first miscarriage I took 2 weeks off work , bled for around 8 days but was might lighter towards the end, I’m currently experiencing a missed miscarriage now and I’ve told work I won’t be in next week and will let them know on Friday what my plan is, but I have no hesitation in taking more time off ( I work in healthcare and all my patients have had to be rearranged which I usually feel dreadful about but in this situation I couldn’t possibly go into work )

I’m sorry to hear you’re going through it all again 😔 how far along are you? I hope you have a swift recovery and have support around you. It’s so difficult thinking about the practical things like work and arranging doctors notes etc, when I just want to hide in bed. I know I won’t always feel like this.

Thank you all for sharing your personal experiences & I hope you all go on to have your 🌈 babies xx

I had a MMC spotted at 12 week scan. Started bleeding at 13 weeks and bled for 4-5 weeks, one night and one day was really bad and the rest was like a heavy, never ending period. I took 2 weeks off work as that was what our policy allowed to be self certified. I didn’t need the whole time off but everyone encouraged me to take it, it was paid and actually the break was great for my mental health at the time (even disregarding the miscarriage).

How did your scan go OP?