Bad news at 8 wk scan- going to miscarry-advise?

[jocesar]

Hello

My doctor sent me for an early scan as I'd passed a miniscule amount of brown discharge. I thought everything was fine but turns out that foetus is far too small and unlikely to be viable.

So it looks like I just have to sit here and wait for a miscarriage which seems bizarre. Could anyone else in this situation share their experience. I have no idea what to expect or how I will feel.

If I don't just miscarry naturally, when will they intervene?

Probably tmi but if I miscarry will the blood suddenly gush out of me and will I need to go to hospital or is it more likely to be managed at home. Should I take a spare pair of knickers and sanitary pads around with me? And when am I likely to actually miscarry- will it be sooner rather than later?

Thanks

First of all, I'm so sorry to hear your news. I had a missed miscarriage in March and know how devastating it is. Please allow yourself time and space to grieve and deal with this.
I had an ERPC with mine as the baby had died three weeks earlier so I can't really advise you on the bleeding. I would recommend an ERPC if they make that an option for you but that's probably because I don't have experience of anything else.
From speaking to others, I think you'd have some pain and lighter bleeding before a lot of blood, but it wouldn't hurt to carry extra stuff with you. Paracetemol/ibuprofen and a hot water bag will help somewhat with the pain. It is apparently not ususual to bleed enough to soak through a pad every hour, but if there's much more than that I'd seek help.

Sorry I can't be more help, but I'm sure someone more useful will be along in a minute. There will be help in the miscarriage/pregnancy loss threads too.

Once again, sorry for your loss. Be kind to yourself.

I am so sorry. Have they scheduled you for a follow up scan? 8 weeks is quite early to be saying it is definately non viable without a follow up scan. so much can depend on your ovulation date that a second scan to measure growth is really important for a diagnosis.

In terms of your questions about how a miscarriage will happen, i have had 3. The first was spontaneous and happened a week after the HPT turned negative. I was 6 weeks along. It was just like my period starting only slightly more painful cramps. THe flow was largely the same.

The second was at 9 weeks and was medically managed. I had a ERPC after my second scan revealed an empty gestational sac. They probably could have let it go naturally but i wasn't in a good place mentally so i think they took pity on me. I had a bit of bleeding prior to the diagnosis and none after the ERPC. My cycle reset itself well enough though it took me about 6 weeks to get my period the next cycle.

My third was at 10.5 weeks. I had had red bleeding and some gushing prior to the diagnosis. I ended up having a ERPc as my beta (HCG and progesterone) numbers were not falling as fast as they would have liked. After the ERPC i had a week of spotting and my cycle reset again. it took 6 weeks again to get my period.

How you experience miscarriage seems to depend alot on how far along you are when it happens. at 6 weeks my miscarriage was like a heavy period. at 10 weeks it was much much heavier and i flooded through my clothes and the pads i was using.

If the diagnosis is correct and you havent started to miscarry in about 2 week i would expect you will be offered either pills to starts the process or a ERPC. Which one you choose is up to you. Both have risks and benefits. Personally i found the ERPC much better as it was quick and over with. The agony is not prolonged IYKWIM.

Hi Jocesar,
I'm really to sorry to hear this. It also sounds as if you've not really had a completely conclusive answer, only that it is likely to be a miscarriage? Personally I find the waiting with this one of the most difficult things.

I've had a natural miscarriage in 2005 and in October this year. I believed that I was 10 weeks pregnant. However it was confirmed that a scan that the pregnancy size was about 5-6 weeks. By this point I was having light brown discharge pretty much constantly. I was offered tablets to cause a miscarriage and also an operation but I opted to wait a few days as I was already bleeding.

In total I had about 3-4 days of light bleeding which got heavier and included clots. During this time I was having period type pains. After about 4 days the bleeding got a lot heavier and I had regular pains/cramps which lasted about 2-3 hours. I felt like blood was pouring out during this time. After 2-3 hours the pregnancy all came out in a lump which was about 5-6 centimetres across. After that the bleeding slowed a lot and cramps stopped. It was like a very mini labour for me. I didn't need any pain killers, but I did want to be at home either in bed or in the bath.

There are different experiences of natural miscarriages on mumsnet which you should be able to find. There is also information on the website for the The Miscarriage Association.

It really sounds like you've been given very little information. Have you had any appointment set to return in a few weeks or anything? or have you been given a number of a Early Pregnancy Clinic to ring if you have any questions?

Sorry again to hear about this.

Thanks for your replies. Since I posted this I have discovered the miscarriage topic section ad I have spent 20mins reading that. I am now furious with the lack of info given to me at the hospital. I cannot believe then send you home without any warning that you are likely to be in pain, bleed alot and actually pass a recognisable foetus into the toilet. Thank goodness for mumsnet- at least I am now sl more preprared for what may happen.

I have a scan in 2 weeks, I think if things still look bad then I will push for a d and c. Some of the miscarriage stories sound horrendous. I'm so glad people have shared their experiences- it definately has helped me.

I also had a missed miscarriage in Nov last year and experinece a mini labour - 11 wks (stopped growing at 6-8). I was very angry about the lack of info I was given and was only told to expect a heavy period! I complained to the hospital but they said they cannot say any more to people as it doesn't always happen that way and would scare women who would not show such strong symptoms.

jocesar, this happened to me,but at 11.5 weeks. The m/c happened only after I'd told a group of close friends what had happened (the mind is so powerful) so my body was able to 'let go' of the baby.

The m/c itelsf just came along like a period for me, and was heavier than a normal one but not gushing or anything like that. I couldn't help myself keep looking to see if I could see anything that looked like it could have been a potential baby.

I went for a follow-up appt but it had all happened by then. Fortunately for me the staff were lovely.

and I got pregnant again after one normal period, and she's now 3!