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Miscarriage/pregnancy loss

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how long will I have to wait for natural miscarriage

11 replies

hettie · 18/04/2009 16:48

this comes with a tmi warning so....
Have had a previous ectopic so I get early scans, foudn out on wed at 8 weeks that scan showed no heart beat (after previous scan at 6 weeks heart beat). Told by Dr that I can have erpc or wait for natural miscarriage. Inclined to wait for a week or so, but just wanted anyone experience of how long it took. I am now getting mild cramps and very brown spotting, Dr thinks bubs didn't get much past 6 weeks (if this is relevant). How long might it take from now for it to happen and what can I expect?

OP posts:
LovelyPear · 18/04/2009 19:06

hi hettie, so sorry to hear your news. the same happened to me - I was 8/9 weeks and the baby stopped growing around 5/6 weeks.

by the sounds of it I don't think it will be long before you mc naturally. just make sure you have loads of big sanitary towels, and decent painkillers with codeine in them (I got Feminax from Boots). when it starts you'll most likely get more cramping, and then red blood, and then it might all happen quite quickly. just make sure you have the number for your local epau to hand - if you're changing your pad in under an hour then you could be bleeding too much. they will also be able to help if you're painkillers aren't strong enough.

I had heavy blood loss for several days, which eventually slowed down and has now nearly stopped. they should scan you again after the bleeding has stopped to make sure you're ok and don't need further treatment.

I know it can be scary, so make sure you have someone with you if poss. I'm so sorry again, it's such a horrible thing to go through.

Onlyaphase · 18/04/2009 21:33

Hi Hettie, sorry you are going through this.

It does sound as though things are already happening to you in any event and I hope for your sake that you don't have to wait too long.

I had a natural miscarriage in March, and was dreading it TBH - I had visions of huge amounts of bleeding and not being able to cope. In actuality, it was pretty low key - scans showed that the baby had stopped growing at 5.5 weeks, and I miscarried at 10 weeks - and it wasn't nearly as bad as I thought. I'd stocked up on painkillers (not needed) and lots of sanitary towels, but the bleeding wasn't as heavy as a heavy period, and a few smallish clots. No -one offered me another scan afterwards either, so don't worry if one isn't forthcoming for you. In the event, I had a private scan not long after as part of the lead up to the next round of IVF anyway, but this wouldn't have been standard practice in my area.

I know in comparison to many women on here I had an easy time of it, but I just wanted to reassure you that it may not be as bad as you fear, physically anyway.

down2earthwithabump · 19/04/2009 01:53

Hettie
Am also so sad to read your thread, and you news. I am not trying to be discouraging and know many people like "Onlyaphase" for whom it was over and done with within a few days and was like a heavy period. However to be realistic and help any decision making, here is my experience.

I had a similar timing to you, found out at 8 weeks after spotting that baby probably stopped developing at 6 weeks, and to expect miscarriage. 2 weeks later it all started and I spent 12 hours stuck in the bathroom with a friend and my mother outside loo door. I lost so much blood I was dizzy so got admitted to hospital. Was discharged from hospital the following morning (just in over night) as iron count OK. I made the decision to manage it naturally and to cut a long story short, three months later the bleeding stopped.

I didn't originally opt for a D&C because I wanted to go through process naturally... I had no idea how drawn out and disabling it would become. In the end I had drugs to help the womb contract and eventually booked in for a D&C only to find out there wasn't enough left and that is when it finished a few days later. But there was no telling when it was going to end.

If it happens again to me, and I hope and pray it doesn't, I do not know what decisions I would make, and I have no judgement on how others deal with it. I was an unusual case... the medics were flumuxed so it is unlikely that you will experience this... but it may not be like a heavy period like leaflets say, and you need to just take it a day at a time and insist on advice and scans and checks from the medics if your gut feeling wants reassurance.

I have to say, the first main day, despite being a hot summers day stuck in the bathroom, was manageable, unpleasant and sad, but manageable. The following three months were disabling and I didn't feel I could grieve until it was all over... and then most people had forgotten about it so I felt unsupported.

And it is a bereavement, but different people deal with grief different ways, so make sure you have the type and level of support you want and need around you.

There was light at the end of the tunnel for me though as I now have a gorgeous DD.

I wish you all the best, and hope all goes well, as painless as possible physically and emotionally and that you get good support and care at this time.

hettie · 19/04/2009 13:14

thanks everyone- it's hard to predict really isn't it? I have the option to change my mind at any time and have (in my head) put a time limit of a week/10 days to wait. Today I have stronger cramps and some bleeding so I guess it might be starting.....
Am gutted beyond belief that we aren't any closer to a sibling for ds and part of me worries about the road ahead (lets just say I haven't had the best of luck.....)

OP posts:
iggypiggy · 20/04/2009 10:18

Hi Hettie,
So sorry about your loss - can completely understand as is all very recent for me.

I had an early scan at 7 weeks which showed v. slow heartbeat and bean size of 6 weeks. The Dr said there was only a small chance it would be ok - so come back a week later. The second scan showed no more growth and no heartbeat - so he said it would probably miscarry naturally within a week. But he also offered me some pills if I wanted to speed it up.

I decided to wait a week and my miscarriage started 5 days after that second scan. (Although I had had spotting for a week before). The actually main bit of the miscarriage was very very painful - with severe cramps and lots of blood loss - and i passed the sac and what I assume was the placenta/ womb lining. The next day I still was losing a fair amount of blood - and had occasional cramps - but it was ok.

Bleeding totally stopped exactly 1 week after the MC happened. (That was yesterday that the bleeding stopped).

I was very sore (would guess sore womb?! That's what it felt like) for the whole week - but this seems ok now.

It wasn't nice at all - but it was ok. Agree - stock up on pads and painkillers. xx

Stretch · 20/04/2009 10:29

Hi, I'm so sorry.

I have had 2 m/c. the first was natural and hurt like hell, sorry but it did. Was agony and had to be admitted anyway to have some 'help'. (MW removed the sac) Bleeding was very heavy and lasted for ages.

Second one, I opted for a D&C, was almost completely painless, and not much bleeding. In and out of hospital in 5 hours. BUT, I did feel weird for a while after, almost like I had missed out on some process emotionally, IYSWIM?? Like, there it's done, now move on? I suppose I'm not making much sense.

I did have a period 4 weeks later though, and conceived DS that month (was a complete surprise!)

Wish you the best whatever you decide

iggypiggy · 20/04/2009 10:30

Stretch - I must admit I was surprised at quite how much it hurt

Stretch · 20/04/2009 10:40

I agree iggypiggy. It felt like labour pains, and I was pushing too.

I suppose it can depend on whether the sac remains intact. If it does it sits on your cervix and causes pain and you have to dilate more (I think that's what the MW said) As soon as she had removed it, the pain decreased.

Sorry if TMI OP.

hettie · 20/04/2009 12:45

well it all seems to be happening for me today- lots of blood loss, bad pain (but ok with painkillers) and just passed a massive blob (assume it was the sack). Am hoping today is the worst, and will wait a week or so to see if it clears naturaly.....
tis crap

OP posts:
iggypiggy · 20/04/2009 12:55

v. much agree hettie - tis totally crap.

Lots of fab support from people on here tho. And at least you no longer waiting for something to happen.

I had one bad day - then was ok after that - and mine was same sort of stage as yours xx

Stretch · 20/04/2009 13:42

Oh I'm so sorry. Keep up with the painkillers, take them every 4 hours to keep up the pain relief. I think you can take ibuprofen 2 hours then paracetemol, then 2 hours ibupfofen etc....

Have you been advised to keep largish clots?

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