D & C or natural M/C?

[Melo_P]

Hi All

If your on this thread or forum, I am sorry for the loss you have gone through

We lost the baby's heartbeat at a 9 week scan a week ago, and I have been in limbo (and very scared) waiting for an m/c to happen.

I don't know what to expect - the doctor wasn't overly helpful - just said a heavy period in the next week or so.

I have read some posts on here though where the advice has been that the pregnancy might not actually expel naturally - there was some one at over 12 weeks with a baby that had stopped at 8.5 weeks.

Have any of you been through this? I thought I didn't want a D&C, but the more I am waiting and the more I hear that natrually can be messy - I am not so sure.

If anyone has any advice or experience of either way, I'd be very grateful. I really just want to know honestly what to expect - if you want to share but its too graphic - please post me.

many thanks

Mel

[Lisa SC]

Hi Mel - I'm really sorry for your loss, and that you and your family have to go through this.

I'm not sure if I can help with advice as I haven't had any 'natural' m/c's but I have had two D&C's , one at 12 weeks and one at 7 weeks. The Dr's here in Singapore tend to offer them and you usually have one the day or two after the no heartbeat shock. On the physical side I have found the D&c's fine (nothing to be scared of), but mentally, I'm not sure if it is better to wait for your body to naturally m/c or not. For me, having the D&C did allow me to (try to) look forward altho of course it's never easy....

I think the issue of whether or not your body will m/c sooner or later depends on hormone levels - mine were still very high so hence the D&c's.

Not sure if that's any help..

Again, my thoughts are with you,
Lisa

PS - I'm a kiwi too so have had my fingers x'd for you since I saw your earlier posts.

[lolajones]

Hello Mel

I'm sorry this has happened, it really isn't fair.
I've had two missed miscarriages, one at 9 weeks and another at 12weeks.
For the 9 week one, I did try and wait to miscarry naturally but after waiting 10 days decided I didn't want to wait anymore as I felt I couldn't try and get over what had happened while things remained unresolved so I had a D&C. I'm glad I did as this time, again I didn't miscarry, they found no heart beat at 12 week scan but baby had died at maybe 8 weeks. Again, I had a D&C.

Everyone is different. Doing it naturally is less risky (D&C carries the risks of perforation of uterus, bladder, bowel, increased risk of infection, bleeding) but D&Cs are short procedures and the risks mentioned above are small.
I would do what you feel you can handle.

The one good thing about a D&C is you can ask for the placenta to be analyzed to see if there are any pointers to why the miscarriage occurred. Not all clinics will do this unless its your third m/c but you can always ask.

The miscarriage association (miscarriageassociation.org.uk) has excellent advice and info leaflets about what to expect when you miscarry.

Take care and I hope everything goes smoothly for you.

Lisa - I'm sorry to hear of your problems too, we have similar histories and are similar age (late thirties - halcyon days!) have you had any investigations into miscarriages? I've had some screening tests and am waiting to see chief honcho at recurrent miscarriage clinic but long wait. What advice have you been given about trying again? I hope you don't think I'm being too nosey - its just I don't know anyone who's in my boat at the moment and I'm wondering what to do next.


Best wishes, Lola
xx

[Lisa SC]

Hi Mel - I wanted to let you know that you are in my thoughts. I hope that you and DH are getting through this horrible time.

I think Lola answered your question much more succinctly than me. I did get testing after the 2nd D & C which advised us that the baby had a trisomy 22 chromosomal problem - they also tested DH and me for any problems.

Lola Hi - yes turning 39 this year was not so great for me - you do start to question where we are at with all this .. I don't want to butt into Mel's thread but just wanted to say briefly that I have actually just done a fresh cycle and am in my 2WW (beta thursday 29th). Have forgotten how hard the waiting is!!! - Also have only been coming here every few days as I find it all too stressful if I start reading all the questions.

DH has low no's of normal sperm (range b/w 1%-6% normal) so we have had ICSI. After last m/c we both had chromosomal reports, mine normal, husband has an inversion but apparently this is quite common and regarded as a normal variant.

So that was it for studies etc. I'm hanging my hat on the theory that about half the embies we produce are not going to grow to good pregnancy (as told to me by the RE) and putting our history down to bad luck (living in Singapore luck is a very big deal!). This time we produced better quality embies ( on day 3 we had 3 x 10 cell grade 1's, and 7x 8 cell grade 1's) so all I can do is hope. ( I spent the last year changing diet, AP etc)

If this fresh cycle doesn't work we still have a few FET's to try but I will be looking into tests before any FETS as we seem to produce good embies but so far no baby! I have no idea what other tests they can do.

Pse feel free to PM me if you have any thoughts
lots of love
lisa

[Melo_P]

Hi Lisa / Lola

I posted a reply - but I don't know where it went!

Thanks for the kind words and advice

Almost two weeks of waiting now – and it must be something to do with not wanting to really face this, its easier to imagine it just all didn't happen and I didn't get that close - so I haven't called the clinic back yet and the thought of all that effort and intention behind D & C is too daunting - though you did both make me realise it probably isn't as major and scary as I thought. I can't understand here why they have to put you under a general anaesthetic then? So just waiting it out for a little while longer

You ladies really seem to have been through an awful lot, its really positive and heartening to see all your determination. Really hoping that things are going to come through for you this time Lisa, and wish you all the best with next decisions Lola.

take care

Mel

[nidhi]

Hi all,

I just came to know that I have a missed abortion. I am week-8 PG from my IVF#2. I immediately agreed for a D&C (suction curettage) although we were too nervous and sad to decide it then. I did agree, because, I don't think I would be strong enough to wait for the bleeding to start. Besides, I learnt that in case of the natural bleeding if the tissues are not out completely, still there is a chance that I would need a D&C. That's why I decided to go for it. I am just trying to cut off my "waiting" time. I am really getting scared of "waiting" and then having a bad news!! And I am 39 already, not sure how much time I can waste!! Oh God, I feel so unlucky!

Lots of luck to all of you.

[bdantonio]

mel i have had both natural and d&C i will take a d&c over natural... Natural is 100x orse then a heavy period i felt like some1 was ripping my uterus out. w

[nidhi]

Hi everyone,

I have entered this board only yesterday. And so happy I did. I really needed to tell and hear whatever I found here. I feel much more comfortable with what I am going thru now. Thanks to all.
Love
Nidhi