Waiting on a miscarriage experience?

[HopefulTTC2024]

Hello.
This was my first pregnancy so I'm very new to this.
I am 7w2 today, and having had some light spotting during the week, I had booked in to the EPU to check everything.
It wasn't good news though as the baby had stopped developing at 5w3. They said it looks like it isn't a viable pregnancy and that a miscarriage will likely begin soon.
They've given me two weeks to wait before going in to get scanned again.
I was wondering has anyone had a similar situation to this? What can I expect, when will the miscarriage begin and will it be very painful if the pregnancy was so early?
Thanks.

First of all I'm sorry for your loss. I was a bit further on than you at 9 weeks. Mine started with some light bleeding, although I had been warned that it may happen as I had a sub chronic haematoma. The night before I was due to go for another scan. I did begin having really intense pains that kept coming and going in waves. I also had a kidney infection so I wasn't sure how much of the pain was from that. Bleeding a little heavier but still nothing to cause concern. Had my scan and although the sac had doubled in size, the Baby had sadly stopped growing and didn't have a heartbeat. They did say to go back in a week to 10 days to see if anything had changed. I did end up back in A&E a few days later due to the pain. Examined by a gynaecologist who did have to remove some clots, but couldn't say if it's was a definite miscarriage or not. Booked in the next day for a scan, which confirmed the sac had collapsed. 6 days after my scan I had a really heavy bleed with large clots that lasted for around a couple of hours. It did end up soaking through thick pads quite a few times but thankfully slowed down enough where I wasn't panicking that I'd need to call
An Ambulance. After that I did think everything had passed. Took a pregnancy test after 3 weeks and it was still positive. Told to re test again after a week. This time slightly lighter but still there so back in for another scan. Scan showed retained tissue. I decided against a D&C purely because I'd had some trouble conceiving for a number of years, before eventually falling Pregnant 4 times but miscarrying within the first trimester. The Dr did say he had no concerns about just waiting it out if I wanted too. His words were my body clearly knows what it's doing if it's passed every other one without intervention. By this point though i was 5 weeks in so I opted for medical management. Had the tablets that afternoon. Was told I might start to have some strong cramping. I literally had one sharp shooting pain as I was driving home and that was it. The next day I was convinced it hasn't worked and was ready to phone up and see if I needed any more tablets, but by the following day everything else came away. Pain wise for me aside that first day of the strong wave like pains it was just like a really painful period but intensified although not enough for it to be unbearable. I did take 2 weeks off work though. When I first found out I'd potentially miscarried which I'm glad I did because the emotional and mental part affected me a lot and for the first week I couldn't even get out of bed and look after myself let alone look after elderly and vulnerable adults. Plus after my second loss I made the mistake of continuing to work to the point I ended up having a break down and was signed off anyway. I hope it all makes sense. I've been up since 4 this morning for work and I'm knackered so it might be a bit jumbled up.

@IBegYourBiggestPardon I'm so sorry for your loss, that sounds horrific. I really appreciate you taking the time to detail out your experience, it's been so helpful for me to go through as I am totally clueless at the minute as to what I am actually facing.
You've really helped me a lot so thank you.

I am so sorry you’re going through this.

had a miscarriage around the same point. In my case it was like a heavy period. I hadn’t been to the EPU but I went to the drs and they did a test and abdominal exam to make sure all was OK.

Wishing you all the best 💐

@HopefulTTC2024 so sorry for your loss. Ive had 3 early miscarriages (all before 10weeks). All three I had heavy bleeding but nothing to the point of needing to get medical assistance. Once the really heavy bleeding passed (usually about 2-8 hours) it's just like a mid flow period. Had a few strong cramps during heavy bleed the first two times but this last one was slightly different in that the cramps came 5 days before the bleeding. I don't know why. I didn't have any medical assistance with any of mine and had no issues re: retained products etc. If you are unsure of anything like pp I would advise contacting your local EPU and seeking advice from there.

Again sorry for your loss it really is shitty. Be kind to yourself, take time and try and do something every day that makes you smile 💐💐

I’m so sorry for you loss and that you’re going through this ❤️ I’m also experiencing my first miscarriage and it’s a lot to process. I had a similar situation but started spotting in wk 5 so went to the EPU but it was too early to tell what was happening so they asked me to come back in wk 7. The wait was excruciating but I felt so positive before my scan this Tuesday. Sadly, there wasn’t any growth and they could tell the pregnancy wasn’t viable. They discussed my options and I decided to go for medical management because I knew the miscarriage hadn’t progressed in its own in the two weeks since I started spotting and I wanted to have a bit more control. I took the tablets yesterday and while it was painful and unpleasant (cramps and passing clots for 4hrs), I could manage it with the pain relief they gave me and a hot water bottle. Today I have a few cramps and what feels like a light period but I’ve been up and playing with my toddler this morning. I found the wait in between the scans very hard and I’m sending you hugs for this time as it can feel a bit like you’re in limbo. Between wk5 and 7 I had very light spotting (only when I wiped) but I did have two days where there was a quick gush of blood that caught me out so my advice to you is to always wear a proper pad in just in case.
Look after yourself in any way you can, treat yourself in little ways and try to spend some time outside every day. I’ve decided to take the next week off work as I have a physically and emotionally demanding job, but I know work can sometimes be a helpful distraction so do what feels right. Sending you big hugs💐

Thank you so much for all your replies. This is a really lonely time and hearing stories of other people's experiences has really helped me feel like I'm not the only one.
My miscarriage started this morning, I had bad cramps and then heavy bleeding. It seems to have tailed off a bit now, a lot less bleeding and cramps that are a lot less strong. I'm just glad it happened on its own at least rather than needing medical intervention.
Did anyone TTC soon after their miscarriage or did you wait a while to recover more?

@HopefulTTC2024 not a problem, you're welcome. I didn't ttc straight away. Because it was my 3rd loss within 8 months we decided to give my body a rest. Plus I was also awaiting a referral to the recurrent miscarriage clinic in Leeds and was told it wasn't a good idea to fall pregnant before it. Then covid came along and it was cancelled anyway. I did fall pregnant again in 2021 but that ended in a chemical and haven't fallen pregnant since. I'll be 39 soon and my OH coming up 57 so whether or not it will eventually happen I'm not sure.

Sorry this is happening to you - it feels lonely but is actually quite a common experience but not one most women casually share. I had one at a similar stage to you, was like a particularly heavy and painful period and one sooner which was just like an ordinary period.
Took me a year after that to fall pregnant again and I carried DD to full term and had a lovely healthy baby who is now a teenager.

Sorry to hear that Hun it really is a shitty time. Sending you lots of love. Please take time for yourself. We never really set our hearts on TTC but after my first MC on 09/03 last year I caught again in June but MC again in August then caught again December only to MC end of Jan. It's been quite a lot to physically go through body wise as my body went into full pregnancy mode as soon as the beans implanted so my weight has been all over the place. Mentally it has been really rough as the first MC was a day before one of my DDs bdays and the 2nd 3 days after my eldest bday. Again we're not really TTC as such but I'm petrified of getting pregnant again. It really is up to you and the weirdest thing is you are mega fertile after a MC just like you are after giving birth. If you feel up to it I would say go for it but if you feel you need time to grieve and get your mind and body in a better space then do that.

Look after yourself and try to do something every day that makes you smile 😊💐💐