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Miscarriage/pregnancy loss

Find support and share your experiences on our Miscarriage forum. See also legal rights and support after baby loss.

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Original poster

How to speed up a natural miscarriage?

43 replies

AliciaJohns · 07/04/2008 20:52

In brief: was 10 weeks pg and had some bleeding, went for a scan on Friday and there was no heartbeat, and baby was measuring only 7 weeks 4 days. Have been bleeding all weekend but only period type bleeding and no pain. Have to go back on Friday for another scan to check progress and am worried that I will be booked in for a D&C if things are not moving, which I really don't want.

I've been drinking raspberry leaf tea in the hope that this may help move things along, but does anyone have any other advice?

OP posts:

whomovedmychocolate · 07/04/2008 20:58

Sorry to say, but the bleeding you've experienced may be all you get. If your baby was only measuring seven and a half weeks, that's how far on I was when I lost my first and all that came out was a normal period type bleed, not even that heavy. The second time it was much heavier but it really does depend on the particular miscarriage.

I found exercise made the bleed heavier and obviously anything that causes uterine contractions (e.g. things like orgasm though you probably don't feel up to it) can help squash things down and out.

Bear in mind as well if you are using towels with dry weave top sheets they suck in an enormous amount and soak up clots fairly effectively overnight so it's hard to tell how much has gone into them.

You can delay the D&C a few more days btw so long as you have no signs of infection - obviously if you can naturally expel everything it's better than a surgical procedure, both for you now and for your future pregnancies.

Sorry you are going through this, it is just horrible

Original poster

AliciaJohns · 07/04/2008 21:26

Thanks. It's just awful isn't it (massive understatement!)? Sorry you have had to go through this twice. I hope I never have to deal with this again. Thanks for your advice.

OP posts:

whomovedmychocolate · 07/04/2008 21:31

Ah thank you but I'm really lucky, I've lost two and I have a DD and am pregnant with DS now (23 weeks) so it can all work out.

It is a horrible thing to go through but you will get through this and there will be other chances and hopefully next time you will sail through, probably without even realising you are pregnant till the kicks start. I conceived this baby two weeks after miscarrying the last one!

ThursdayNext · 07/04/2008 21:33

In a similar position to you, I was given the choice of waiting for a natural miscarriage, taking drugs to make a miscarriage occur or having a D and C.
I waited for a few days hopeing for a truly natural miscarriage but then opted for the drugs as wanted to avoid a DandC and found the waiting really hard.
Don't know if that's an option at your hospital? I found the miscarriage itself OK.
Much sympathy, it's so tough.

Original poster

AliciaJohns · 07/04/2008 21:48

Thanks guys, funny thing is I kind of knew it wasn't right cos I never really 'felt pregnant' like I did with ds (now 15 months).

Thursday I was given the same options as you but the nurse basically advised me to go with the natural process as I had already started bleeding. I would prefer to avoid intervention although it's upsetting me that I am basically flushing my baby down the loo... silly I know, but I can't help dwelling on that.

OP posts:

whomovedmychocolate · 07/04/2008 21:51

I felt the same with both miscarriages - they just felt different to DD and DS.

As far as flushing the baby down the loo, you aren't. At your point in gestation there's no heartbeat, nothing more than a bunch of potential cells. I'd far rather deal with things myself at home than be the subject of a medical waste bin at the hospital. Rest up and let things unfold, it'll be okay. You are doing what's right for you.

llareggub · 07/04/2008 21:55

Sorry to hijack, but I am in a similar position although my pregnancy did not progress beyond 6 weeks. I haven't had a bleed, how long should I wait before seeking advice?

whomovedmychocolate · 07/04/2008 21:56

You may not at six weeks, until your next period. Be on the lookout for flu-like symptoms. You may just find your next period is a bit heavier than normal.

Original poster

AliciaJohns · 07/04/2008 22:00

Yes it's funny isn't it, I never thought I had ANY intuition whatsoever, but perhaps I have more than I thought! I know what you mean about just being cells etc - but i had a scan at 6 weeks after some initial bleeding, and at that point there WAS a heartbeat - so I can't help thinking of it as a baby. Nothing I can do about it though, and a natural process is probably easier to recover from and with less risks to me?

OP posts:

llareggub · 07/04/2008 22:31

What do the flu like symptoms indicate?

scully · 08/04/2008 05:46

I could have started this thread, scary how many of us are here at the same point, at the same time
Hi Alicia, I saw you on the other thread. I have also been avoiding an erpc, had one last year and it was ok, just didn't want a 2nd one if I didn't have to. I should be 10wks, but there was no development past 6wks. It will be 2wks this Thurs since we were told pregnancy wasn't viable and 4wks Sat since my 1st scan when all the doubt began. Not that I'm counting or anything but just feels like an eternity.
My hospital hasn't given me the option of taking any medication to speed it along, I haven't asked though either. The consultant and my gp have both said that the amount of bleeding can vary, considering it was earlier than last year's m/c.
They are just monitoring my hcg levels once a week to check they are reducing, and leaving the decision up to me. Some days I think I must be a bit mad to live in limbo like this, but just wasn't entirely comfortable with an erpc, when I have had no symptons.

PrePG · 08/04/2008 10:47

I had a similar situation as well. I started to spot a bit at 11 weeks, went in for a scan and there was no heartbeat. The baby measured only 7 weeks, but I had had a scan at 6+3 which showed a heartbeat.

I started spotting on the Friday, bled like a normal-ish period throughout the weekend and it wasn't until the Tuesday night that I had very painful cramps. Ended up spending most of that night in the bathroom and passed the sac. I was able to feel it, it felt like a lot of pressure and then something just falling out of me (sorry if TMI). After that it returned to light bleeding for another several days. In all, I think I bled for about 10 days.

whomovedmychocolate · 08/04/2008 20:28

llareggub - Flu like symptoms - feeling generally crappy and knackered, sore muscles, fever, can indicate an infection. Pain also but you can have that with miscarriage with no infection. Also vaginal discharge which burns or smells etc.

llareggub · 08/04/2008 20:32

Thanks whomovedmychocolate. That is useful to know.

Jacanne · 08/04/2008 20:45

My first pregnancy ended at 10 weeks but it was a missed miscarriage so it had in fact not gone beyond about 5 weeks. I had quite a lot of bleeding and passed some quite big clots as well as intense period pains so I suppose they are all different.

Sorry that you are having to go through this

joanjude · 09/04/2008 09:45

Logged on here looking for the very same info! have had 2 mc - first missed mc had ERPC second natural - 6 weeks now and lightly spotting, absence of pg sypmtoms. Not seen a Dr yet but just know - just wish it was over. Not sure what to do whether to sit it out or go to see a Dr.

Got a 2 yr old DS but still feel so very very sad but I was devasted after initial mcs - hope don't feel like that again!

ThursdayNext · 09/04/2008 13:41

Alicia, how are you getting on? I had also started bleeding, but was given different advice from you and was encouraged to have some kind of intervention.
I didn't have any symptoms with that pregnancy either (my first), but I had very bad morning sickness from early on when pregnant with DS and DD. It makes me wonder if there was something wrong with the pregnancy that ended in miscarriage from the very beginning, if you see what I mean, so that it was never really going to result in a baby?

Joanjude, I don't know if you have an early pregnancy unit at your local hospital, but I found my local one very helpful. They offer advice, treatment and scans. I think it can take quite a long time from spotting to miscarriage, if that is what's happening, so it might be worth checking out. I hope you find it a bit more bearable this time if you are having a miscarriage.

joanjude · 09/04/2008 15:09

Thanks ThursdayNext - made call to EPAU seeing them Friday morning will know for definite then.

To those in a dilemma over intervention (I had to have intervention as concerns over infection) I had the ERPC and it wasn?t a bad experience and went on to conceive on the next cycle (although lost it). It had a sense of being over whereas the natural mc lasted over 2 weeks and having blood tests and scans every few days always clinging on to the chance that things maybe ok
One thing is for certain mc are such a different experience for everyone ? you see them on telly and its dramatic pain, gushing blood and over in minutes! I?ve never had to take a paracetamol!

scully · 11/04/2008 01:01

Well I'm relieved in a way, 2wks after finding out pregnancy wasn't viable, m/c began on Wed. Haven't had any cramping, constant bleeding but not heavy so, so far, ok as it can be.
I go back to see the gynae today to see what they, will probably have a scan in a week or two to make sure it's a complete m/c.

napa · 11/04/2008 07:16

glad things are starting naturally after your wait. hope its not too bad. take care of yourself

dutchbird · 11/11/2008 18:01

hello,
i am 7 weeks pregnant but started to bleed on friday, went for scan on monday, saw no heartbeat, did see a heartbeat when i was 5 weeks and 2 days. it is now tuesday, both my partner and i have taken a week off work to deal with it all. its the waiting bit that is the hardest. no cramping yet but im going for a lot of walks to hopefully speed it up. thank u all so much for ur notes, it is helpin us a lot with what is about to come. this is my first pregnacy ever and im 34, never been trying before.

DarrellRivers · 11/11/2008 18:18

Dutchbird, what sad news.
I have only had miscarriages v early on at 5/6 weeks and both physically have been fine , but emotionally so hard to deal with.
Wishing you help and support with the week to come

Lana8 · 01/11/2011 20:14

i was diagnosed with missed abortion about 3 weeks ago.the baby was 9 weeks and 2 days.i started having slighnt bleeding but nothing more then that.was wondering if theres anything i can do to speed up the process.i would hate to go to the hospital:( This is hard enough.

Angel723 · 27/09/2012 02:53

Had a positive pregnacy test on sept. 19 a few days later I started to spot light red only lasted for a day then on the 25-26 started spotting brown now I'm cramping. Is this the beginning of a miscarriage?

messtins · 27/09/2012 08:15

Hi Angel I hope not. A lot of women experience bleeding in early pregnancy and in about 50% of cases everything is fine. In the other 50% it will progress to a miscarriage. You may wish to contact your GP who can refer you to the local early pregnancy clinic. If you are only 5 weeks then they may not be able to see anything on a scan, but can examine you (things like a positive pregnancy test and a closed cervix would be reassuring) and then scan you at about 6 weeks to check for a heartbeat. There is nothing you can do at this stage to influence the outcome, but sometimes knowing either way what is going on can make it easier to deal with.
I've bled in all my pregnancies and at the moment am the living proof of the 50% figure - 2 DSs and 2 1st trimester miscarriages. The moment where you see blood and all your hopes fall apart is the worst thing. I hope this is not bad news for you, but if the worst happens we are here to help you pick up the pieces. Jen xx

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