MMC - options

[roxixxx]

Hey im looking for some advice please.
I went for a private scan yesterday and unfortunately there was no heartbeat and baby measuring behind.
Went to EPU today to confirm. I'm meant to be 9w 4 days today, and baby measured at 8 weeks roughly. No heartbeat.

I've opted for D&C and booked in Friday, I don't wanna leave it happen naturally and the pills sounded awful, with the pain and the palm size clots.

I'm terrified of going under GA even though when I had my 6yo she was an emergency section and I had to go under.

At the end of the booklet I saw you can also have it on gas and air but she didn't mention that option.

Anyway, just looking for some advice, some experience, any wisdom.

Thank you x

So sorry to hear this.

Firstly, normally epu would want to confirm with two separate scans a week apart so it's unusual to be booked in straight away?

I've been through a natural miscarriage, a medically managed and two surgically managed. For me, the worst was the medically managed, both physically and mentally.

With surgery you're very well looked after, all in a controlled environment, it's planned and there is the possibility of them running tests if you wish. I personally would go for surgery if i was in that situation again.

Living far from the epu also was a factor for me-when I needed to go back in with medical management (couldn't stop bleeding) it was a horrible, horrible journey on top of everything else.

Be kind to yourself at this horrible time.

Thank you.
Basically she said, they either do 2 scans or have a second opinion and there was 5 people there, I had an external and an internal. They called someone else in to look for a second opinion.

The tablet, medical version. Sounds awful, especially heavy bleeding and living far from the EPU. I'm sorry for your losses also.

With the medical surgery option, I feel it's the fastest and easiest way.
What a terrible time! I never knew about all the options until now.

I'm sorry to hear this, it's such an awful and heartbreaking experience to go through. I had a MMC in Feb, found out at my 12 wk scan. Another sonographer came in to double check but I just knew myself anyway. I opted for surgical management as like you I was terrified and it was definitely the best option, you'll be fine physically and everyone was so lovely. I hardly bled afterwards. It's the emotional journey after it that's hard so just grieve how you want and take time off work. Don't rush back. Hope you're ok.

@roxixxx I’m so sorry for your loss. I’m literally just back from hospital after having my surgical removal. I had some fairly painful cramping after I took the pills in the morning before the surgery (like bad period cramping) but they gave me paracetamol and some sort of coedine which helped. I have the same again afterwards but better with painkillers and hot water bottle. The surgery itself was very quick and I don’t have much bleeding right now. Honestly the worst part is my throat is super dry from having the tube down it, so just make sure you have strepsils on hand and perhaps soup for food (the NHS sandwich after felt like eating raw dough). The GA itself was fine, went to sleep very quickly and frankly I’m really glad I was asleep for it, I think the emotional distress of it happening while I was aware would have been too much for me. I was very emotional coming out of it, think was finally coming to terms with the baby being gone, at my hospital you weren’t allowed anyone in recovery but all the staff were so nice to me and my partner met me as soon as I returned to the ward. I felt ready to leave and was discharged about an hour after I returned to the ward. Now on the sofa with a hot water bottle and Aladdin waiting for my McDonald’s.

I’m really sorry you’re going through this. But surgical management I think was the best choice - medical management sounds awful and this has been less painful than my natural miscarriage. All the best for Friday xxx

@roxixxx I’m so sorry that you’re in this situation. It feels never ending at the time and there are so many decisions to make so really feel for you.

I recently had an MVA (awake with local anaesthetic) as I didn’t want to have GA. I was given some painkillers to take an hour before the procedure and then a local anaesthetic injection at the start. There was gas and air available in the room but I didn’t end up using it. The whole procedure was so much better than I thought. Totally appreciate everyone is different and I know lots of people have struggled with the pain but I genuinely had a worse appointment for coil retrieval previously.

Happy to answer any questions or share more detail. The choice you make will be the right choice for you and I’m sure it will be ok whichever route x