Missed miscarriage - medical management or MVA?

[Workingmama1]

Hi ladies

Unfortunately I've had a MMC with baby (or babies they think it may have been twins) stopping growing at 6 weeks and I'm now 9 weeks. I'm going back to the EPU next Wednesday if nothing happens between now and then, but given it's probably been three weeks and I've still got some of my pregnancy symptoms I'm thinking nothing is going to happen naturally.

I've been looking at what my options could be, I think I may have opted for surgical management but it sounds like due to covod-19 this is unlikely to be an option.

I wondered if anyone has had experience of medical management or MVA they could share?

I had a MMC in October last year so I understand, it's floors you. I was lucky enough to get an MVA on the same day by a a very sympathetic surgeon and his team and honestly, I would go thay route again without hesitation. The MVA was very quick, I was home same day to my kids and it allowed me to draw a line under the whole thing. The pain relief is local injected into your cervix (honestly, I know it sounds bad but you won't feel it at all) and the whole procedure is over in minutes.

I had a lovely nurse holding my hand and talking to me all the way through it as hubby couldn't stay due to it being school pick up time and us not being able to arrange childcare in time. I felt nothing paunful and was really looked after.
The doctors and nurses doing my MVA kept reassuring me that one miscarriage is just bad luck and doesn't mean it will happen again. If it helps I got pregnant again in January this year after a few months off TTC and baby is now 13 weeks and fine.

@Workingmama1 I was on the November thread with you. I’m so sorry about this. I’ve had 2 mmcs and I went for an MVA both times - it’s a really quick procedure (though not pleasant) but you get closure and there is minimal bleeding. By contrast medical management involves pain (contractions) over hours, and there is infection risk and risk that it’s incomplete. You have to go back to the hospital for a scan to check and may need to have a D&C/MVA anyway if it hasn’t all come away. Feel free to PM me if you have any questions.

@Workingmama1 I was so sorry to read your update on the November thread.

I've had 2 MMC, and opted for surgery both times, though mine was Evacuation of Retained Products of Conception (ERPC) under general anaesthesia rather than MVA. As Harriet says, there is minimal bleeding and it's over with.

The second time, I was given the tablet to soften my cervix, and then kept getting bumped down the list because of emergencies. I ended up miscarrying in the toilet at the hospital. I had contractions before passing the sac. It was extremely painful (especially as, because I was supposed to be having surgery, I hadn't eaten in about 24 hours, hadn't had a drink for over 12 hours, and they were so busy it took over an hour for them to get me painkillers, by which point I passed the sac before they'd had chance to kick in).

There was also so much 'stuff' that came out. Everyone is different, but I would have imagined miscarrying a pregnancy that didn't progress past 6 weeks as being a very heavy period, with maybe a few clots, and from what I've read on MN, for some women it is, but it wasn't like that at all for me.

I also hadn't passed everything, so then had to go back for surgery anyway. This dragged the whole thing out by a further 3 weeks.

I found it extremely traumatic, and would not recommend medical management at all.

I found out I had lost mine at my 12 week scan. It had stopped growing at 7 weeks. it was my 2nd miscarriage. I started bleeding a few days later. I had to be admitted overnight due to blood loss. But they said let nature do it's course. After 6 weeks of bleeding I was taken in as a day patient had a general anaesthetic and d&c. A few days later the bleeding stopped.

If it was me I would be getting them to do whatever will stop the bleeding. It takes time to heal, but it's easier if you're not reminded every time you go to the toilet. Take time to grieve.

It's been a few years now, but I'm now 8 weeks and have the love and support of my partner. If it's a girl I'm tempted by the name Hope as that's what keeps you going.

Sorry to hear Had MMC in May last year at 8-9 weeks. Did medical management at first but nothing was happening despite several doses given, just some light bleeding, no cramps or clots. They then ended up doing a D&C. Was home within a couple of hours and feeling physically fine. Take care x

Tuesday night I was cramping all around my stomach and Wednesday morning at 3am I had to rush to the bathroom where there was lots of blood so I rang the epu and she said I had to go to a+e where they checked my cervix which was slightly open and said I was probably miscarrying and that I would need to come bk for an early scan. Came back to the hospital in the afternoon on Wednesday where I had a scan and found out I had a missed miscarriage where my baby died just after 8 weeks and my body hadn't recognised it yet. Within 3 hours of me going home everything came out. Said it was likely that it would be quick because it happened 4 weeks ago and my period was due around the same day that everything came out it possibly helped clear my system.

Thank you so much for all of your replies. I'm so sorry that all of you have had to go through this

Your responses have been really helpful, I think if nothing happens between now and Wednesday I will ask if I can have a MVA, I'd rather get things over and done with

So I actually googled MVA as I wanted to know how other women found the pain. I just had my second one today and both time’s have found the pain incredibly difficult to cope with at the time but it’s over so quick and the pain stops almost immediately after the procedure (which takes around 15mins).
I found the injections in my cervix not too bad but the pain of the cervix being opened really painful then the suctions seriously painful.
Great outcomes both time not much blood and also my morning sickness has decreased already just after 6 hours which is amazing. I was 13weeks on my first MMC and 11weeks on my second. I think I will stop trying for a while and get some tests maybe as to why this is happening as I don’t want to go through another!
I would absolutely recommend this option to anyone trying to workout which option to take. Minimal risk and the pain. Though intense is really short lived.