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Original poster

Experiences of blighted ovum please

37 replies

NarkySparkly · 11/09/2008 15:37

Hi all,
Would be 10 weeks pregnant tomorrow but on Tuesday night I noticed some brown discharge which then turned into rusty coloured wipes after I had been to the toilet.
The cramps started and I knew I was miscarrying so I went to see my GP for a referral to the early pregnancy unit - he refused to refer me, instead instructing me to go home and rest for 3 days.
We phoned two hospitals but neither of them could see us without a referral so we paid for a private scan last night where a blighted ovum was confirmed, measuring 22mm.
Am now waiting for an appointment for an ERPC but it's not likely to be until Tuesday.
Am just wondering what the chances are of miscarrying naturally by then and looking for advice from people who have been in the same situation.
Thanks for reading.

OP posts:
cocolepew · 11/09/2008 15:42

Sorry to hear this, I had a D and C after mine. I bleed on my own but had my d + c the next day, Dr said he wanted to be sure it all came away. 2 other MCs I didn't have anything but they were early. You might lose it all naturally if you're having to wait.

Your Dr is a git.

Original poster
NarkySparkly · 11/09/2008 15:46

Thanks for sharing cocolepew.
Agree about the doctor - neighbour is a GP and she is furious.
Have just had cofirmation of D&C on Tuesday. It feels like such a long time away. Have been told to go to emergency gynae if bleeding and pain become too much.

OP posts:
cocolepew · 11/09/2008 15:50

It does seem like a long time to wait, maybe I was just lucky only having to wait a day. Not wanting to give TMI and scare you but a lot came away naturally for me. Hope you are ok.

thornrose · 11/09/2008 15:51

I'm sorry you had this happen, it happened to me and I had a D and C because I felt a bit uncomfortable about waiting for it to happen naturally.
The Miscarriage Association is really helpful if you need any support.
I had lots of mixed feelings about it and needed a bit of help to get my head around them.
That GP is an utter shit by the way!

cmotdibbler · 11/09/2008 15:52

I'm so sorry for your loss. My first pregnancy was a blighted ovum (found at 12 week scan as had had no symptoms of anything wrong). I had an ERPC the next day, but was told that many blighted ovums don't miscarry on their own for a long time.

When you are in a better place, please make a formal complaint about your GP - the complaint I made about my mc care made me feel something positive had actually come of it all (I had 3 mcs in a row, and the care each time was crap) when I saw that things had been changed.

Look after yourself - a weekend of crap mags, TV and lots of wine is my solution

Original poster
NarkySparkly · 11/09/2008 15:56

Thank you thornrose.
My DP has written a letter to complain. Lots of people have had problems with him.
I feel quite numb at the moment. I was expecting bad news and didn't allow myself to have any hope. I wasn't emotional last night after the scan, or this morning when discussing options.
The cramps have stopped and I only seem to bleed after passing urine. I've passed a small amount of black blood onto a pad - is this ok?

OP posts:
thornrose · 11/09/2008 15:58

Is this the first "proper" blood, has it been brown so far?

Original poster
NarkySparkly · 11/09/2008 16:01

Such lovely words cmotdibbler, thank you.
I'm so sorry for everyone of your losses ladies.
The consultant I saw at the private hospital last night which such a lovely man with a wonderful bedside manner. He happened to be at the hospital this morning (getting a coffee before starting work for the NHS) and came over to talk to us and check we were ok. The same can be said for the sonographer I saw this morning who agreed not to scan me (I had brought the scan pics home with me last night to give to the NHS and knew there was no hope). She was so mummsy and showed so much empathy. I do feel very angry with the GP - at the moment, I'm glad to have somewhere to direct my anger.
What pain killers/pads did you ladies find effective? Do I need to purchase some maternity pads?

OP posts:
cocolepew · 11/09/2008 16:02

You might pass clots as well.

DumbledoresGirl · 11/09/2008 16:02

So sorry for your loss.

I had a blighted ovum with my last pregnancy. There was no question of a D & C as I was also carrying a live baby. I only had to wait a few days before everything that had to come away did so. I was forewarned what it would be like and I am glad that was so as it would have been very alarming otherwise.

Like you, I had brown discharge and light bleeding initially. When the "stuff", for want of a better word, came out, it was moreorless in one or 2 goes and it was masses of dark brown sludge, sort of like a huge sloppy bowel movement without the smell obviously.

Sorry for that, rather horrid detail I know, but it might help you to know what to expect. I was 9.5 weeks btw when the blighted ovum was diagnosed, and 10 weeks when it all came out.

Original poster
NarkySparkly · 11/09/2008 16:03

I've had some rusty coloured wipes and a few very, very small clots but no bright red bleeding yet...the only way I can really describe it is prune-juice coloured (sorry TMI!).

OP posts:
DumbledoresGirl · 11/09/2008 16:06

You might not get bright red blood. I don't remember having very red blood after the first night, but then I was still pregnant with ds3 at the same time as having a blighted ovum, so maybe my case was different. And brown or black blood is normal and to be expected. It is old blood that has to be expelled as opposed to the red stuff which is new loss.

Original poster
NarkySparkly · 11/09/2008 16:06

Thank you DumbledoresGirl. I think I'd rather have an image of what it will be like so I can prepare myself and be aware of what is 'normal'.
The hospital didn't really tell me what to expect. They only told me to be concerned if I was filling a pad an hour with blood. I've been lying down a lot and resting - not sure this will help with getting things going. At the moment I feel as though I want everything to be over but at the same time I don't want to see/feel anything so would prefer a D&C.

OP posts:
DumbledoresGirl · 11/09/2008 16:07

That should say "any brown or black blood....."

DumbledoresGirl · 11/09/2008 16:10

You poor thing. I can so well remember the distress of it all and I was still carrying a baby (though his security was at risk so I had that worry too). For me, when the loss happened, it was very quick. I am not sure how much use any pads were tbh. You need to take it easy this weekend, indulge yourself with lovely food and special cuddles with your partner, and I hope it all passes for you as quickly as possible.

thornrose · 11/09/2008 16:10

Oh I really feel for you, that feeling of just wanting it all over I remember so well.
It does sound like it's starting to expel naturally, fingers crossed for it to be over quickly.
I wonder if being a bit more active might actually help it along, hope that doesn't sound insensitive you probably just feel like lying down and I don't blame you.

cmotdibbler · 11/09/2008 16:12

It can vary anything between not an awful lot worse than a heavy period, to lots and lots of bleeding, really bad cramps, and big clots - or anything in between.

My second miscarriage was at 8 weeks, and that was heavy bleeding, but then when I went to the loo there would be lots of clots, and passing some liver like tissue. Sorry if TMI, but it is better to know what to expect.

If you need maternity pads, then you need to go to the hospital - I 'liked' the night time towels as they are better when you are lying down.

Paracetamol and codeine is good for pain relief

Original poster
NarkySparkly · 11/09/2008 16:18

Thornrose, I do think I need to be more active - it doesn't sound insensitive at all. I have a toddler who is being looked after by my sister at until tea time so I should try and get things moving before she arrives home. I'd hate for her to see me in pain/bleeding.

cmotdibbler, The clots I have passed so far have been no different to a period. I am using always night time bads at the moment but haven't bled at all in bed. Am also lying on a towel because I don't want to ruin our new matress.

The sac is 22mm - does this mean that it's continuing to grow? I'm also RH-. Am I right in thinking that I don't need anti-d if I m/c naturally before Tues?

OP posts:
jellycat · 11/09/2008 16:32

Hello NarkySparky, sorry you're going through this. I had a blighted ovum with my first pg. I started to bleed a little (pinkish brown) over a weekend, was scanned on a Monday morning and told it was just an empty sac, booked in for ERPC on the Thurs. but miscarried naturally overnight Mon/Tues. I had lots of quite strong cramps (like labour pains) and then passed the sac. I didn't look at it closely so can't describe it. I was bleeding quite heavily by this time (red blood). Once I'd passed the sac the cramps stopped and I continued to bleed heavily for a few days and in total for 2 weeks or so. Didn't have the ERPC because the m/c was complete. That was my experience but from reading on here I gather people's experiences differ quite a lot. Not sure if there is anything you can do to speed things up though (although I was mopping the kitchen floor when my cramps started so I suppose that was fairly active!).

I am Rh- and did have anti-D because I was 11 weeks and the hospital policy was to give it if the m/c occurred after 10 weeks. I would ask them whether or not they recommend you have it.

HTH.

Original poster
NarkySparkly · 11/09/2008 19:11

Jellycat, Sorry I didn't reply sooner. DD came home and I was distracting myself with her. Since being up on my feet, the pains have started getting stronger so I've taken some co-codamol. Just passed quite a lot of old blood too but haven't seen any fresh blood yet. I also have pains in the top of my thighs - did anyone else have this?

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fedupandisolated · 11/09/2008 19:24

Sorry to hear this narky - I had a blighted ovum which was picked up 7 years ago today - 11/09/01 to be precise.
I can remember coming home absolutely shattered and then turning on the TV to see all the 9/11 stuff. This was so appalling I actually felt guilty for feeling so sad about my lost baby. Comments from my DH like "well it's not a true miscarriage as there's no baby there" did not help.
I read a description several years later which described a blighted ovum as "an empty nursery" - the sac, placenta etc are all there but the baby has died at a much earlier stage and for some reason everything has stayed in place.

In my case I had a tablet and then 24 hours later a pessary to allow me to miscarry.
The pains in the top of your thighs are probably contraction pains - I got them after the pessary. I think your body is going to do the job for you.

Look after yourself and make sure you get lots of support.

Original poster
NarkySparkly · 11/09/2008 19:36

Fedupandisolated - what a lovely way to think of it...my mother described it as a phantom pregnancy which upset me slightly. I do feel relieved that the baby hasn't died at 9 weeks after having a heartbeat - I feel like I might have looked to blame myself if this had happened i.e. what was I doing when the baby died etc.
The pains are really kicking in now. Still very strong after the pain killers. Don't know how strong they have to get before I contact emergency gynae...

OP posts:
cocolepew · 11/09/2008 19:40

I had very sore cramps, like extreme period cramps. If you feel they are getting too bad don't hold off phoning, that's what they're there for.

Original poster
NarkySparkly · 11/09/2008 19:45

GP next door has given me some diclofenac which I think I can take at the same time...I need to double check. Think I'll phone her now.
Am sending DP out for some sushi

OP posts:
cocolepew · 11/09/2008 19:47

Hope you can get some rest tonight.