Scheduled a D&C - please share experiences

[snoangel144]

Hi, I have been waiting for 3 weeks for my miscarriage to happen and I have decided to face my worst fear and schedule the D&C. I want to know exactly what happens during this procedure. I was only 5 1/2 weeks along, so how long will I be under? Is it painless? Please share your stories with me to calm my nerves. Did anyone experience complications with their D&C's?? Any complications with the anesthetic?

Also, he told me there are 3 ways to do this...

1. going under completely
2. epidural or spinal
3. Valium and then numb your cervix etc with a local.

I really don't know what way to go. Stories (good and bad) would be great. I really need to calm down here...

Sorry you have to go through this.

I had this done when I mis-carried before ds was conceived 8 years ago. the procedure itself was quite quick and painfree, not sure exactly what they do/did, I didn't want details, just wanted my body 'put right' - I had been bleeding over 10 weeks constantly. 2 months later I was pregnant with ds

Personally I was glad I had a general anethestic, I was distressed enough as it was with a miscarriage and couldn't cope with being awake while they did anything, IMHO that must add more trauma to the situation.

I had a dc at 15wks but baby had died at 9wks. I had a general anesthetic which was pobably the best option as I was completely unaware of what they were doing and woke up feeling like I had the longest deepest sleep ever. I was only out for about 20mins. It wasnt too horrendous and I think I only bled on and off for 2/3 days after. I had concieved dd1 within 2 months aswell which was a definete perk

Sorry to hear about your miscarriage. I think that scheduling the d&c is the best thing for you now, so that you can put it behind you.

I have had 3 d&cs after missed m/c, all under GA. The procedure itself is painless, I would definitely go for a GA. There is no need for oyu to be awake through this, it would just upset you.

Ask if you can have a pill to help you relax (I think that I got Valium, but I am not sure) so that you are not upset when you get to theater. I did not have that the first time and was so upset that they had to give me a lot more GA than would have normally been necessary.

I only bled for a couple of days, just like a normal, light period. I had no pain.

The only thing that is positive about the D&C is that some people find it easier to get pregnant again afterwards. This was definitely the case with me.

You write that your worst fear is the D&C, for me the D&C was the way of getting it done and moving on to the emotional side of things. Get the medicinal part out of the way and you can concentrate on your feelings.

Do you have anyone that you can talk?

No complications here
Bleeding afterwards was light

Grim bits were having to insert 2 pessaries & a tampon(to dilate my cervix)
Day surgery recovery was mixed so I woke up opposite some random bloke

I had a D&C 4 years ago, went in at 9am and signed forms etc, went down to surgery at 10 and was out for about 20 mins, was sat up by 11 and DH picked me up at 2pm. I bled for about 5 days, no pain though. Periods came back 4 weeks later and then i concieved DD!
Whilst its not a painful proceedure i do remember being very emotional and crying as they put me under and i remember waking up still crying, just be prepared to feel very emotional.

I've had two ERPCs, both under GA. No complications, and the bleeding was fine. I think the GA time is about 15 minutes, and I've been glad that I was out.

I came back to the gynae ward both times, but had to wait on day surgery the first time.

So sorry, Snoangel.

I had a missed miscarriage last year and a D&C at 13 weeks.

I'd definitely go for the GA on the grounds that it'd be less upsetting, imo, and you are under for a very short time.

You'll be given a pre-med to calm you and a vaginal pessary to soften the cervix. You'll be taken to theatre and will meet the anaesthetic team in a little ante room. I'm pretty sure they put me under there, but can't remember.

It's a very quick proceedure and I woke up in the recovery room, with a lovely theatre nurse holding my hand. She told me the same thing had happened to her and that she now has 5 DCs

You'll be in the recovery bit for a short while (40 mins or so?) then back to your original ward. You'll be fine to go home a couple of hours later.

I don't remember any pain, light bleeding for a few days afterwards.

i had mine under general.

no pain, no complications. bled on and off for 2 weeks after. period a month later.

my before and after care was on the early pregnancy assessment unit. so totally specialist care which was fab.

Hi Snoangel. I'm so sorry to hear about your loss.

I've had two d&c's in the last seven months, and both were under GA as I wasn't given an option.

As Shooflypie described I was given a pessary, and then a pre-med. I fell asleep after this the first time which was good.

Went down to theatre and was put to sleep. The first time when I woke up I wasn't in any pain at all, but the second time I had a bit of cramping, just like period pain. I was further along with this one (12 weeks) so maybe there had been more to do.

When it came to the crunch I was so devastated emotionally that they could've done anything to me and I wouldn't have cared. Saying that, it was a basically pain free, very straightforward procedure both times. I bled for about ten days afterwards, and then had AF about 5 weeks after.

Do stay calm about it - there is no reason why anything should go wrong. As Bonkerz said be prepared for the emotions. When I came round from the first one I already had tears rolling down my face and I couldn't stop crying for hours. The next one was a little easier.

When are you having it done? I will be thinking of you.
Stay strong, and make sure you take lots of tissues .

Sorry to hear about your MC snoangel. It's so awful isn't it? I hope you've discovered some of the other MC threads on here for support too. I found MN such a lifeline when I had a MMC at 12 weeks in June

I think complications are rare. The most likely with any op is the risk of infection but that can be fixed quite easily with antibiots. Don't be afraid to ask the consultant / surgeon and the anaesthetist about any of your concerns. I'm sure they will put your mind at rest.

I had my D&C privately as we have bupa thru DHs work. I thought the level of care would be better but I couldn't be more wrong! The procedure itself went well, was only under 5-10 mins GA and then dozing in recovery room and home within a few hours - quite spaced like I'd been clubbing for a week! I didn't have a pre-med or a pessary for some reason? My only issue was that the staff showed me know kindness or empathy and I was scared as it was my first anaesthetic. If I was in that situation again I would tell them how I was feeling.

THinking of you at this horrid time xx

Sorry to hear your news snoangel.

I had an ERPC at 11 weeks a couple of years ago, under GA as wasn't given any other option. But tbh I was glad it was done that way, it was all very simple really. In mid-morning, did the paperwork/medical stuff, then down to theatre. No pessary, not sure why some do and others don't. Can't remember how long I was in theatre for, but I slept for a couple of hours afterwards, and they let me go home after I'd had something to eat. The hospital were lovely, I was on the gynae ward so no chance of seeing blokes/pregnant women etc and the staff were all great.

The thing that surprised me (and seems to be different to others) was how much I bled afterwards, and how painful it was (like pretty bad period pain). I actually went to the doctors after about 5 days because I was concerned, but they said that it can happen sometimes, the only thing to watch out for is unpleasant bleeding (smells, colours etc) and high temperatures as they could indicate an infection. None of those happened though, so I guess I was just slightly unusual. I don't want to worry you, but just warn you that it might happen - sorry.

Anyway, it all stopped after about a week,then I had my period after 3 weeks.

Wishing you all the best, for the procedure and your recovery.