Positive Experience of MVA - MMC 7wks

[LimeStork]

For background context if anyone wants it, I’m in my late 20s and got pregnant during our first “cycle” of trying and this was my first pregnancy.

After being given the horrific news, I decided I would follow expectant management for a few weeks and then go ahead with medical management. Surgical was never on the cards, in fact, I purposefully buried the papers for surgical at the bottom of my bag. Needles/blood tests/injections make me very nervous and even thinking about the word ‘surgical’ made me so nervous.

A week after the news, I decided that expectant management would be too much for me to handle mentally and I decided to do medical management. Went to the hospital in plans to collect my tablets but got told the doctor wanted to speak to my first. My sac was apparently slightly too large/on the cusp of being too large which meant there was a chance I would bleed extremely heavily and it would be way too dangerous for me to follow medical management at home. She said she recommended the surgical route but did not force any decision, I could still do medical management as an inpatient. After some time thinking, crying and wondering why things are yet again not going to ‘plan’, I decided to proceed with surgical AKA the MVA route under local anaesthetic.

MVA experience:
(There was no gas & air in this centre)
The doc started by cleaning area with gel, then proceeded to insert what I think is called the speculum (?) very similar to that of a smear test. He then puts something in like a tube or something, not too sure what it is called? Overall, once the speculum/tube are in, it’ll just feel like something is “stuck” but the same feeling as the start of the smear test. No pain, just that weird sensation.
Next - part I was DREADING the most, the local anaesthetic. Hate needles, hate blood tests. I had been told I would get 3/4 of these? I shouldn’t have been worried because it was a piece of cake. It helps telling them how you feel so they can help make the process easier.
The doc told me to cough and that’s when he injected, I actually don’t remember feeling anything maybe the smallest prick for the first one? He then did another which didn’t feel at all. Later, I found out he did 2 more which I had no idea about.
No pain again but quite discomforting at this stage. Glad that bit was all over.
Had a quick breather as doc got set up.
Next, not exactly sure when but the “vacuum” part starts, couldn’t really hear any noises or anything.
1st pass - slight cramping nothing crazy just enough to take a deep breaths in and out feel a little better
2nd pass - Similar cramping again but less
3rd/4th - They (doc and nurse who was scanning me) just saw a tiny bit in a corner place to get out, this one I needed quite a lot of deep breaths as it was the last bit.

He then cleaned up any blood and then removed the speculum etc.

After the process, they put pessaries in your bum, nothing to be concerned about, it’s quick and painless.

TOP TIPS
-Number 1 is BREATHING - breathing long breaths (which I wasn’t doing at the beginning, I was panicky and did short quick breaths) helped so much and got me through
-Ask all your questions, there’s never a silly question even right before the procedure
-Ask the doc to tell you when they are a % through I.e. I said let me know when 50% done, 80% done etc which was helpful
-MUSIC! I had one AirPod in with some familiar music, it helped me to concentrate on the music whilst I was focusing on breathing
-If you want to, you can bring someone with you just to have a hand to hold (my husband was not facing towards the procedure just towards my face and can also see the scan if he wanted to).

all in all, I couldn’t imagine doing any other way of dealing with this MMC. It’s been one day and I’m walking around, feeling as much like “myself” as you can when these things happen. Took yesterday and today off work to just let myself rest.

I am the biggest surgery wuss and if I can get through this then all you ladies can!!

edit: Total time taken- Take tablets first on arrival then wait 1 hr. Procedure was 15 mins then waited about 10 mins after finishing and had some water before going to another room to do obs, got the Ok to go home 30 mins later.

Sorry for your loss.
I also had a positive experience taking the surgical route. I decided from the beginning it seemed like the most pain free and quickest way. We found out at our 12 week scan just over 2 weeks ago that baby had stopped growing at around 8 weeks, we waited another week and nothing had happened naturally, so I opted for surgical management.
I had blood tests on wednesday, went for the procedure friday, we got there at 6.30, we were put in a private room, I had the tablets to open my cervix at around 7.30 and then i was wheeled down to theatre, my hospital use general anaesthetic, so I was asleep the entire time.
I woke at around 9.30 in recovery and was taken back to my partner in our room, where I stayed until around 1 and they let me go once I had eaten, drank and passed urine.
The most painful part was passing urine that day and a couple of days of cramping on and off but apart from that, I only had bleeding for around a week.
Now just have to do a pregnancy test this week to make sure its showing up as negative again.

I’m so sorry for your loss & going through this entire process. It’s been such a huge bag of mixed emotions. I had the slightest spotting in discharge and I got a scan done where everything was fine then a week later at my first antenatal I was around 8+4, midwife suggested another scan, which is where we got the dreaded news.

I am glad that you also had a positive experience going down the surgical route, I know so many are hesitant on it as I was too but in hindsight I can’t now imagine going down the other routes at home.

I had my procedure yesterday and the bleeding has not been very heavy and the cramps are very light or sometimes not there at all.
How long after did they suggest the negative test be taken? They actually didn’t end up mentioning it to me and I totally forgot to ask although I did see it on the info docs given.

Sending lots of love your way!

Sorry for your loss. I went down that route. Hated it. Hated being awake. Gas and air didn't help. The pain was horrendous. But was glad when it was all over. Would of definitely preferred to have been asleep

Thank you, I had really bad nausea and all the normal symptoms so it was a shock at the scan, but I really feel like I had a gut feeling. I have 2 children already and I was definitely more nervous for this scan and felt like something might not be right. Definitely a lot of mixed emotions and I'm so nervous to try again incase it happens again but hopefully not!
My cramps were also mild, I just had one random day about 3/4 days after where the bleeding slowed down and the cramps kicked it up a notch, so I had to have a few hours with a hot water bottle until they'd calmed down.
They told me to take one 2 weeks after and once its negative we are safe to try and conceive again.

Sending love back, hope everything works out for you! x

Hey, just came on to say I've reached the 3 weeks post procedure and got my negative test result now, it was still positive at 2 weeks!
I've also had a constant headache for the last 2 weeks, I wake up in the morning with it and it does fade with pain killers but soon comes back as soon as they wear off, so I dont know if that's the hormones rebalancing. How have you been since?

Hiya! Sorry for this late reply, I didn’t see the previous message! It’s so strange because I feel totally ‘normal’ and myself then have these random bursts of sadness of what could have been. I do feel very nervous to try again, I think it being my first pregnancy I already feel super anxious about any little symptom being a ‘sign’ but I’m just overthinking 🤔Do you feel like you felt something was difference compared to your previous 2 pregnancies which triggered your gut feel?

Sending positivity out for the future for us, that’s the only thing we can control is our mindset I guess!

I’m so glad you said regarding those more intense cramps as I hit day 3/4 and had them for the entire day, the hot water helped a bit. I have also had headaches behind my eyes/ feeling really tired the past few days but I assumed it was just me needing more sleep!! I have been using a Vicks inhaler for relief if that may help you!

I hope you have been feeling okay after seeing that negative test. Tomorrow marks 2 weeks since the procedure, I am wondering whether to take a test or just leave it until 3 weeks now as well?

Could I ask how your bleeding/spotting has been? I thought mine had stopped (was only very light brown marks (old blood) for this past week) but the other day I randomly saw red discharge when wiping but have not seen it since and gone back to not really having anything. I am ready for this part to be done, feels like it’s going on forever!!

I am so sorry for your loss and glad that you are on the other side of the procedure. The anxiousness before it was awful, I was scouring the web for as many positive experiences as possible! Hope you are feeling okay post procedure xxx

I do the same, I've had random sad days but on the whole I'm not too bad, we've had a lot going on though with a house move and decorating, so plenty to keep me occupied!

No I think that's the cruel part, there was no signs at all that anything was wrong, just a feeling that I hoped was wrong. It's so hard not having a why aswell!

I did have a really bad cold aswell that wouldn't shift, so I did think it could have been that causing the headaches but that's nearly gone now and my head is still the same, hopefully now the test is negative my hormones will sort themselves out and it'll shift, its definitely getting better!

My bleeding has stopped now, but I did have similar to you where it stopped and I thought that was it and then I'd have a random bit on certain days... I think like you say I just wanted this part to be over so I'm feeling better now I've had the negative and we can get back to normal and try again!

Good Luck, hope it happens for you soon xx

It was years ago now. Got two children and pregnant again.

Hope you get your rainbow soon xxx

Wow, I can’t wait to be on the other side of all of those and be telling the same story. Congratulations, wishing you a peaceful pregnancy! Sending lots of love xxx

That’s so exciting, that is a fantastic distraction! Hope it all goes smoothly for you all :)

Cruel is the best word to use, it’s awful not knowing why. I got a call yesterday saying the results from the histo came back with nothing abnormal which is promising. They also said I don’t need to do a pregnancy test (?) I might wait a few weeks and do it anyway!

I hope your headaches have got better now! My bleeding has stopped which has been a relief. It feels like now I’m constantly waiting for the ‘next’ stage AKA getting my period, just want that sign that my body has reset more than anything. They said it might not come for 4-8 weeks after the procedure. Lots of waiting around!

All the best xxx

Oh really? Every hospital must do things differently, they told us to not start trying again until the test was negative... I haven't had a call with any results from the testing but they have rang to double check i managed to do the test and that it was negative. She said if it was still positive they would need to bring me back in to scan and make sure they definitely got everything. But also when I googled it that did say it could take up to 60 days to get a negative test, so they might just be overly cautious.
They have definitely got better, thank you, so must have been the hormones.
Yeah I know what you mean and it just drags out when you're waiting for it!

Did they ever mention about recommending to try only after the first period? Or did they say re the negative test only? Yes, I wonder if they have different things they say depending on local or general anaesthetic perhaps!

No they didnt say anything about the first period, they just said after you have your negative test your safe to start trying again x

hey @Ohwelldone wanted to check in and see how you were doing? hope all the house stuff is coming along well!
today marked a month since my MVA and still no sign of my period, hope it makes an appearance soon 🤞 xxx

Hi, I'm good thank you, how are you? House is coming along slowly but progress 😅 ... I got mine last weekend, so you'll hopefully not be too far behind! xx

I am good too, thank you! Woohoo, it’s like a milestone isn’t it, what a relief! Was it like your regular flow or heavier/lighter? Thank you, hopefully it appears soon :) Glad you are making some progress on the house and good the holidays are round the corner too so you can enjoy it properly🙌🏽

Hi @LimeStork how are you? ... I've not long got my first positive pregnancy test since my MMC and I'm a bag of nerves already 😬 ... I thought I'd check in and see how you're getting on with your journey? 🧡

Omg I’m SO pleased for you, congratulations!! How are you doing? Hope you are settled into your house. I am actually around 6 months pregnant, it’s been a real journey and those first few months were very mentally tough and even now I have some shaky thoughts and moments but it’s been a real blessing going through ‘firsts’ for the first time like feeling kicks! Xxx

Aww yay, that's Amazing! Congratulations! 😍 It's so good to hear a positive after a MMC too, I'm absolutely dreading going to a scan... did you have any early ones? I don't think I'm really accepting it until I've passed at least 12 weeks.. I've not really got any symptoms yet either, so that's another worry, but I'm sure they will come, I've read that's not an issue and it's super early. I'll just be over here overthinking everything until the end 😅 xx