What’s the truth about MMC

[Prettylittlelady]

I have my 12 week scan on Monday and I’m absolutely terrified (and a little bit excited). I have to attend alone (understandably) but I’m so scared of a MMC, I was under the impression that they were quiet rare but from what I see on Mumsnet they’re really not that uncommon at all? And it terrifies me. I’ve had to tell colleagues far earlier than I would have wanted to due to the current situation and I’m just so scared.
I’ve seen a heartbeat at 7 and 9 weeks and I know this is a good sign but it doesn’t stop me from worrying and worrying and worrying.
I suppose I’m just looking for some reassurance.

@prettylittlelady if you have had positive scans already, please try and relax. MMCs are more common than you think. I didn't really think they were common before I had one. It's because people don't really like to talk about it, so you never know it's happened because they usually occur before 12 weeks.
It's only when you've been through it and start talking, you realise how common it is. The sonographer told me it happens to 1 in 3/4 women.
Saying that, there's nothing you can do or medicine can do to change it. So try not to overthink. If you are calm, then the baby will be calm and you've had 2 scans and heard a heartbeat. Until your body tells you otherwise, try not to worry. :)
Wishing you well in your journey to motherhood x

Hi OP, it is rare. I was incredibly anxious in my first pregnancy so I completely understand what you are feeling. I endlessly googled miscarriage statistics. From what I researched and from my discussions with healthcare professionals, having a heartbeat detected on a scan is an incredibly positive sign - especially at 8 weeks+ - and the chances of miscarriage fall every week thereafter. MMC obviously can happen even after a heartbeat has been detected, but not often. What you see on Internet forums is a hugely distorted picture because often people will only post on Internet forums for support if they have experienced a problem, usually because it's hard to talk about in real life. There are many pregnancies that proceed without issue, but those mothers wouldn't generally feel need to post on Mumsnet about it. Try to keep reminding yourself that you have no reason to think anything is wrong. Good luck and best wishes for the scan. Hope all goes well xx

@Prettylittlelady Seeing a heartbeat is a fantastic sign. Congratulations! @soontohavetwoundertwo is right - people post because they need support and that's absolutely fine but it creates a distorted view of reality (like the opposite of the perfect lives everyone seems to have on Instagram!)

MC is common - especially now people find out so early (that's where the 1 in 3/4 start comes in). MC after seeing a heartbeat does happen but is really rare. I had a MMC in my first PG but there was never a heartbeat (found out at a 8 week scan - foetus stopped growing at 5 weeks).

You have a healthy baby in there. Stay calm and enjoy it!

I saw a consultant after my mmc last year and was told that it is as common as 1 in 3/4 pregnancies, like a previous poster said. I had no idea what they were until I had one and I've discussed it with friends since who had no idea what they were. I had a scan and had seen a heartbeat only to still have a mmc which I found out at 9 weeks. With mmc, I still had pregnancy symptoms - very tender breasts and awful nausea. This is because the placenta still gives off pregnancy hormones. I had my surgical management at 12 weeks and in all that time my symptoms never went away and I did not miscarry naturally.

That being said, I understand your nerves. I'm now petrified of scans and I'm not sure I'll ever lose that fear. Most pregnancies are healthy and the odds are in your favour. I think I read somewhere that I only had a 2% chance of miscarrying after seeing a heartbeat at 8 weeks. 98% of pregnancies at that time would have been healthy, I was just someone very unlucky to be in that 2%.

I've had 4 pregnancies, one was a mmc and call it instinct but I just knew something wasn't right. I didn't get any pregnancy symptoms at all and I was always saying to people something wasn't right. Eventually at what should have been 11w pregnant I started bleeding some brown blood, went to hospital and found out the baby hadn't made it past 5w. I was totally devastated. My next pregnancy I had the morning sickness and probably other symptoms, I felt different, even though I was scared it could happen again I also felt like I knew it would be OK. Weird to explain. And my silver lining is if I hadn't lost that baby with the mmc then I'd never had had my dd and I can't imagine life without her.

The miscarriage statistics are around 1/4 but that’s still 3/4 who don’t miscarry. X

My experience echos what the previous posters have said. It’s rare after seeing a heartbeat, but very very sadly, it does happen. I saw a heartbeat at 6, 7 and 9+4 weeks. I then went for a harmony test at 11 weeks and the baby had died a couple of days before. My sonographer told me that seeing a heartbeat and then MMC is rare, around 2%. I had surgical management and testing on the baby and found out she had Edwards Syndrome. I’m now pregnant again, almost 11 weeks and terrified. I’m just trying to take each day and week as it comes. As a PP said, with my last pregnancy I did have an intuition that something wasn’t quite right, despite no bleeding and usual symptoms.

The chances are strongly in your favour that your baby will be absolutely fine. Worrying will not change anything - do try to relax as much as you can

Thank you ladies for your reassurance and realistic responses, I’m trying really hard to stay calm and stop over analysing every little twinge but like everyone all I want is for the baby to be ok.

@Hoping11 really sorry to hear about your loss, I’ve too had one, not a MMC but even though it was an early loss it’s put such fear into me.
Sending you lots of good vibes for your current pregnancy.

Hey OP, I have the same fears as you. I’ve had a MC bit a MMC is so much scarier for some reason. I agree with other posters though, people are more likely to post for support here if somethings wrong than if it’s all fine, which makes it seem much more common than it is, which I think is about 2% chance.

Hey OP, I am like you, I worry a lot . I had a perfect gender scan at 16 weeks and have my 20 week scan next Thursday and I’m a nervous wreck !!
Please let us know how you get on and I’ll be thinking of you 💕

MMC has a rate of 3% (source www.google.com/amp/s/www.todaysparent.com/pregnancy/pregnancy-health/what-is-a-missed-miscarriage/amp/ )

The higher statistics being quoted by some are for MC overall.

Just an update and to say thank you for your reassurance, I had my scan this morning and baby was fine, Sonographer said she was happy with every thing that she saw, measuring one day ahead of what I thought. NT - 1.4mm
Thanks again.

Cute lil baby! Thanks for the update , glad all was well x

I’ve had two mmc. I had my baby girl between them. Had them pretty early on around 7 weeks. Both times the sac was empty . I try to be positive and think things could always be worse. Of course I just recently found out I’m expecting and the fear is real. I’m not due my period yet but have symptoms so I’m trying to stay positive and not freak myself out

Great news x

Congratulations OP great news. Try to relax and enjoy your pregnancy as best you can 😘

Just perfect!