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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

Missed Miscarriage - Medical Management vs D&C

17 replies

Faithfeather · 01/10/2008 00:27

I am 8 weeks pregnant and went for a scan at the weekend because of two weeks of spotting and was told heart had stopped beating a few days before. Don't want to wait it out so given option of medical management vs D&C. What experiences have people had of medical management? It sounds like it would require a lot more time in the hospital and more emotional trauma.

OP posts:

BlueCowWonders · 01/10/2008 06:52

This isn't answering your question, I'm sorry, but I did wait it out after a missed mc. Didn't want your thread to go unanswered until someone else comes along.

It took only another week (I'd got to 11.5 weeks but I really wasn't up to more medication etc. Don't know if it's relevant but the real mc started only when I told a group of very good friends about it - seemed that my body could then let it go.
Thinking of you....

BTW pg 2 months later, all OK

sue10 · 01/10/2008 10:05

Am so sorry FF, this happened to me last year (i was 9weeks), i opted for a medical management as did not want a general and felt the need to pass baby/sac etc (sorry if TMI). It was traumatic and ended up staying over night in hospital but i know of some people who passed baby at home and never went to hospital so i think it depends on each individual. Hopefully others will beable to help with their experience of the d and c. So very sorry again, i know it's not of any comfort right now but time really is a healer. Takecare.
XXX.

sue10 · 01/10/2008 10:11

Sorry, forgot to say BCW, that's lovely to know that thngs went well for you next time, it's always nice to hear some positive stories when things seem to bad.

Also FF, forgot to say i went to hospital in the morning and took first tablet then by 7pm that evening things had began to happen, passed baby/sac which we took to hospital in container then i was put on drip as dehydrated, husband was allowed to stay over night with me (we had a very nice nurse on that had been through the same thing when younger) then next morning went home.
Takecare my lovelyXXX.

FifiOK · 01/10/2008 11:15

FF I had an ERPC (D&C) just over a week ago. It was a very straightforward procedure with little pain & barely any bleeding afterwards. I was admitted about 2.30, had procedure at 4.30, back in my room by 5.00 and then sent home after I'd had a cup of tea & a sandwich (& watched corrie at 8.30).The worst part was that my hormones were all over the place afterwards, with a big dip about 4 days later. I chose this as I did not want to wait any longer after over 2 weeks of scans and tests. From what I have seen on other posts the medical management does not act instantly, and then the bleeding can be harsh. But everyone is different - and I am sure other methods have suited other people. A big ((HUG)) to you, there are lots of people around on here with kind thoughts & advice, so do keep posting. XX

TheBlonde · 01/10/2008 11:24

I had an ERPC/D&C as my miscarriage was incomplete
The mc bit was grim, I was 10.5 weeks
The ERPC was fine, it's a day procedure

Only you know what suits you best

LullyMummaOfOne · 01/10/2008 12:34

I had an ERPC in July at 9 weeks after a MMC. It was the best way for me as i wasnt prepared emotionally to deal with the natural process. I was in hospital by 9am and out by 2pm, it was a very painless procdure and i have very little bleeding.

I dont think this is related to the ERPC but i have only had one period since and it was a period from HELL, very heavy and lasted about 8 days.

Im sorry to hear your bad news and wish you lots of luck

Springflower · 01/10/2008 12:41

Hi, Sorry to hear your bad news. I have had a D&C after miscarriage and also medical management and both were fine. I think it depends on your hospital policy whether you have to go into hospital - I was told the medication wasnt licensed for this use and so for insurance purposes they like you to stay in hospital. Also if it hadnt worked they give you further doses to try and get you to pass everything. When I had the medical management you took the tablets 2 days before going in and in my case that started the bleeding. I then went in to hospital from 9 am to 8pm but didnt pass anything although lots of bleeding and then i passed the sac a few days later at home. They suggested keeping it and taking it in but I didnt bother and buried it in the garden. I just didnt fancy the general anaesthetic and so would probably have the medical management again but I think its very individual. Good luck whatever you decide.

ruddynorah · 01/10/2008 12:44

i had erpc last thursday following a missed miscarriage.

i didn't want to just wait it out. felt dreadful having morning sickness but no baby as it were. also couldn't just wait about as i have dd age 2 to look after. plus i'd carried the missed miscarriage for 4 weeks already and it hadn't passed, not even a bit.

taking the tablets seemed much the same as above. would take too much time and i didn't want to 'see' it.

so i went for the surgical.

had general. was totally fine. no pain at all. bleeding afterwards is just like a normal period.

nurse did say to expect the next period to be very heavy.

mermaidspurse · 01/10/2008 13:28

Dear Faithfeather I am so sorry for your loss I have just lost mine at 8 weeks and send you a big hug. I opted for medical management last time because I thought I would be more in control. I did'nt feel in control at all of course. This time it all happened to fast for me to do anything but I think I would have opted for the surgery if I had had the choice. I did find the medical management a heart rending process. It is such a personal choice and we have all had different experiences. You will know what feels right for you.

ladyhelen2 · 01/10/2008 13:34

FF, Sorry you have to go through this. I had a MC in July at 11 weeks. I was already bleeding quite a lot and so they gave me a D&C so that the bleeding could be managed. It was straightforward and I'm glad they did. It speeded everything up and having had a MC also in Feb when I passed the sac and had to pick it up and hand it to hospital staff, I found the D&C so much less traumatic. Traumatic of course but much less so. My body got back to normal quickly and I was pg again after one AF. Everyone is different though and friends of mine have preferred the medically managed route.

Liney15 · 01/10/2008 21:06

Hi FF I'm really sorry your going through this - I went through it a month ago and I can imagine what your going through.

I had a medical management 4 weeks ago after a MMC at 9 weeks. To be honest I found it awful but none of the options are any better.

Our hospital said they weren't allowed to recommend any option. D&C seemed to have a slightly higher risk of infection and leaving nature to take its course I thought would be even more traumatic and of course it could have happened at any time.

I took the tablet two days before (after a scan to confirm) and then had stomach cramps till I went into hospital where you have a pessary every 2 hours - 4 tablets in total until your reassesed. I had to go in at 8am and it passed about 6pm - this was a lot worse than I expected.

I wish I'd spoken to the Miscarriage association 01924 200799 (Mon-Fri, 9am - 4pm) before going to the hospital as they are very good at listening and advising as I spoke to them afterwards.

Jomaja · 03/10/2008 14:21

Sorry to hear about your loss.

I just had the medical managed mc as I would not mc despite waiting.
Baby measured nearly ten weeks.

I was glad that I chose that option as I felt I needed to see what was happening to make it real. A d&c would have taken that away from me.

Tbh I was kind of relieved when I passed everything - strange thing to say I know but after having waited for three weeks after having found out that our baby had died maybe understandable.

I went in one morning to take the first tablet - which mademe incredibly nauseous and tired over the next two days. 48 hours later I went in again in the morning and more tablets were inserted "down below" as well as some pain killer in the bum (sorry not very good with the proper terms). Anyway, I did not feel a thing. I did not have any cramping or pain. Only now two days later I feel sore and my belly aches when I am doing a lot.

worrybum · 03/10/2008 18:24

Hi FF. Sorry for your loss.

i've has 4 miscarriages now. The first two times I let things take their course. The third time I had the medical management but it didn't work and a after continuing to bleed for several weeks afterwards I had to have the surgical evac. The fourth time I also opted for the medical management (they refused to let me have the surgical evac straight away) again this didn't work but i went on to have complete miscarriage later on at home.

Don't really want to say that there is a certain route that you should def opt for but just to bear in mind that the medical management doesn't always work so you need to think about how you would feel in that instance because i know how difficult things are as it is without it dragging out.

((hugs))

Jemima123 · 05/10/2008 18:39

I've just come out of hospital today after going in for medical mgmt of missed mc yesterday. Briefly, I had bleeding last Sat, scan on the Mon conf'd the mc. I was only measuring 5-6 wks and an "empty" sac or anembryonic preg rather than the 11 wks expected. I booked in for the medical mgmt but couldn't get space til Thurs for the 1st tablet (felt fine on it, a bit more bleeding when only had one occasion on the Sat) then day patient for an expected 6-8 hrs yesterday. Things got going after 2-3 hrs and I had a lot of pain, but got good medication (pessary worked best). Bled heavily and passed lots of clots but no sac. After examination by dr after 9-10 hrs, I was advised to stay overnight as the cervix was still open. Managed to sleep a bit and pain/ bleeding much better today. Still no sac though. I am now booked for a further scan on Fri, then possible surgery - which I am dreading. But I think I am more afraid of passing it at home, the whole process feels like it is dragging on and I feel drained in every way.
Not sure if this is a bit of a rant, but would be interested to hear more experiences. Thinking of you all and let's hope we heal well.

sue10 · 06/10/2008 08:28

Hi Jemima,
sorry for your mmc, i can understand how you are feeling as i had a mmc back in feb 07, it was devasting. I took the first tablet then went home, then several hours later i felt a little odd/dizzy and then the sac passed, again devasting but dh helped me then we took baby/sac to hospital and i had to stay in over night, then home the next day. I feel for you i really do, sending you a gentle hug my lovely.
XXX.

Jemima123 · 06/10/2008 13:35

Thanks Sue, it does help to hear I'm not alone (not that it's what you'd wish on anyone) and my hubs is great too. Time is passing and I think it is helping me, just want it to be over now, and it must be getting closer which is sthg.

Knax · 10/10/2008 20:57

So sorry for your losses, all of you. faithfeather I had mmc too, and had medical management, but would probably say go for D and C, as it was harder than i expected. If you do go for med management have someone with you.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxx

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