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Miscarriage/pregnancy loss

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Original poster

Is this GP talking rubbish?

18 replies

naturelover · 04/02/2009 11:01

I just saw a GP (not my usual one) because last night I had a small bleed and some cramping (am 9.5 weeks pregnant). I went to GP to ask for referral to EPU. I now have 5 days to wait until appt at EPU (snow has caused backlog, apparently).

Anyway, he said I should rest as much as possible in the next few days, as this could "save" the pregnancy. Well I'll try (difficult with toddler and no family/help nearby though).

The thing is, I always thought that miscarriage was chromosomal or hormonal, and that if it was going to happen, it was going to happen. I had a mmc 3 years ago and I remember reading everywhere that there is nothing I could have done to prevent it, that I didn't do anything to cause it, and that I shouldn't blame myself for it happening. IMO this GP is insinuating that if I don't rest, and do go on to miscarry, that I could have somehow caused it to happen.

Am I being oversensitive?

Obviously I will try to rest (and not worry) for FIVE days even though that feels like an eternity to wait for scan. But I thought on MN there might be some people who know a lot about miscarriage who could give me correct info. Thanks in advance.

OP posts:
BlameItOnTheBogey · 04/02/2009 11:05

I'm by no means an expert on this but when I was going through something similar (at about 7 weeks) and was seen by the EPU, they told me that anything I did would make little difference to whether or not it was a viable pregnancy and to carry on exercising/ having sex etc. I did as instructed and DS is fine (born last year).

Best wishes to you. I know what a scary time this is and hope everything is ok.

TotalChaos · 04/02/2009 11:07

When I was in a similar situation, I was advised not to do anything overly strenuous -e.g. not to go to the gym - but was fine to do day to day activities, go to work etc. I really don't think rest would make any difference to a viable pg.

cmotdibbler · 04/02/2009 11:12

Theres apparently no evidence that resting will make any difference.

Not doing too much is possibly a good idea as if its just a bleed (rather than a miscarriage), it would help it stop. But that's not going to the gym/running, rather than lying in bed

Original poster
naturelover · 04/02/2009 11:20

Thanks for your replies.

Well I don't run or go to the gym anyway. He advised me not to even go shopping! I would have thought normal day-to-day activities with a toddler would be fine. Nothing more strenuous than pushing a pushchair through snow, eh?

OP posts:
hazeyjane · 04/02/2009 11:24

My doctor advised me to rest ( when I was in a similar situation), but purely because this would make me feel better if it did turn out to be a miscarriage. Would it be possible to get in touch with the epu directly to see if you could get scan sooner?

Original poster
naturelover · 04/02/2009 11:27

I've already rung the EPU, they were quite rude and pointed out that it's not a "drop-in" clinic. Five days does seem like a long time to wait. Last time I miscarried I was seen the next morning. I'm going to see how much it would cost to go for a private scan but I'm not sure where/how long the wait would be for that. Can anyone advise if this is a good route to take?

OP posts:
minxofmancunia · 04/02/2009 11:33

Can you go a bit further afield to a walk in one? Where's your nearest big city/teaching hospital they may well have a walk in epu, v sympathetic when i went to mine 3 weeks ago with pains and v helpful.

sifuentes · 04/02/2009 11:36

5 days sounds like a very long time to me. And I disagree - I think an EPU is like a drop in clinic - surely at least half of the people they see are those who are worried about MCing. Perhaps they have a backlog because of the snow. If you are desperate to know they could give you an internal. I declined when I was offered one in A&E and waited til the next day for a scan but that was partly because the doctor looked about 12 and a half and i just didn't fancy him sticking his adolescent hands up me. And I knew I could be scanned the next morning. Waiting a night was ok. Waiting 5 would have seen me sectioned I think.

Poor you. That is rubbish. I also second what the others say. I have seen nothing to suggest lying down stops it if that's what's happening.

Good luck xxx

cmotdibbler · 04/02/2009 11:39

I paid 75 quid for a reassurance scan with a consultant - which was money well spent I thought. Got scanned the same day.

HeadFairy · 04/02/2009 11:46

sorry to hear you're having to wait so long to see the EPU. Ours is run as a drop in clinic, you may have to wait an hour or so, but when you're worried you'll wait any amount of time (not 5 days though!)

I miscarried a couple of weeks ago for the second time in a row and the mw I spoke to at the EPU said that the outcome for the vast majority of pregnancies is determined at conception and that miscarriage is almost always unavoidable if it's going to happen. It's very rare a physical intervention or action causes a miscarriage. Remember poor old Abigail Witchells who was stabbed in the neck and nearly died when she was 8 weeks pregnant? She went on to deliver a healthy baby, so if a pregnancy is going to continue, it will, despite extreme circumstances, and if it's going to fail, it will.

I hope everything goes ok and you manage to get an earlier scan.

Sawyer64 · 04/02/2009 11:56

Agree with others,it won't help "sustain" a pregnancy,but if you are bleeding,from a practical view it would be easier on you to rest a bit more.

Definitely don't lift heavy things etc.such as Toddlers as can increase bleeding.Difficult to avoid I know,but I managed to make a game of it,getting my DD1 to climb on a step to get into her chair or cot,which saved me lifting after a C-section.

You notice if you do overdo it when you are bleeding post delivery that the bleeding gets heavier.So there is some sense in "resting".But unfortunately "what will be will be",you can't influence it much.

It is common to "bleed" at this time though,when the "placenta" takes over from the ovaries to sustain a pregnancy,so I was told.Hope it is all ok.

pinkmagic1 · 04/02/2009 11:58

At our local hospital the EPU is walk in, or always used to be anyway. I went when I had some really bad cramping pains and bleeding during my first pregnancy. I was a bit further along than you and the midwife monitored the heartbeat which was very reassuring.
5 days is a long time to wait. I would do what Minxofmancunia says and go to a larger hospital with a walk in clinic and I really don't thinking putting your feet up will make a difference, either the pregnancy is viable or it is not. A miscarriage happens because there is something wrong with the Embryo/fetus.
I hope everything goes OK for you.

teachertalk · 04/02/2009 18:58

Could you go to a & e? maybe they could scan you there?

pecanpie · 04/02/2009 20:06

I'm so sorry this has happened to you.

On the offchance you have private health insurance, it usually covers this sort of thing so you could get a quick scan (and follow up if necessary) this way.

Original poster
naturelover · 05/02/2009 11:43

I've just found out I can get a private scan via our private health insurance, so I am going this afternoon. I'm relieved I don't have to wait as long. Thanks everyone for your support. It's a worrying time isn't it?

OP posts:
Original poster
naturelover · 05/02/2009 16:17

Scan showed a heartbeat! I know things could still go wrong but it's reassuring for now.
Thanks everyone for all your messages.

OP posts:
Habbibu · 05/02/2009 16:19

Oh, that's good news - I had a week-long bleed with dd2 at about the same time, and she was just fine, so fingers crossed for you.

pecanpie · 05/02/2009 18:26

Excellent news - really pleased you didn't have to wait for days and worry. Hope everything continues to go well.

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