I can't tell you how long it takes if you wait, as far as I know it can take weeks. If you are still measuring the same as last week it might take a while for your body to realise what's happened. This is what happened with me, my body thought everything was ok & was progressing just the baby had no heartbeat & wasn't progressing with everything else. I couldn't bring myself to wait so I had the D&C
For the D&C, it's day surgery, the actual surgery part takes around 60-90 minutes & you are under a general anesthetic. I'm not sure if it's normal procedure but for me because my body wasn't reacting as if it had a miscarriage I had to have the gels put on my cervix to start it dilating. I had to lay in the bed for an hour for it to start working before the D&C. Physically afterwards I was fine, minor cramping that evening (I had it done at 1pm) & bleeding for 10 days afterwards, not a lot, less than a normal period really.
Oh chook, I'm not 100% sure but mine started naturally last week, so a week after. I passed the sack on tuesday just gone.
My dr was concerned if I hadn't started to miscarry otherwise I would of had to go for a d&c. There is also some sort of tablets they put up to help you start naturally if you prefer to go that way.
em I am so sorry you are going through this.
I am with Sarah no one can tell how long it could take. If your already having some spotting or bleeding then I would say your body is starting to try and it shouldn't be more then another week or two (even this to me sounds like a long time when your waiting) the thing is you can wait and still need a D&C when you start to bleed as not always does all the products come away.
Me I am all in favour of waiting but you need to decide yourself what is best for you.
A D&C generally takes all of 5mins to do the actual procedure. The GA will last much longer so you will be asleep for longer then the actual procedure. Usually 30mins to just over an hour. As a theatre nurse I haven't seen a D&C take more then about 10-15minutes at longest. When you wake up in recovery I haven't had to administer any pain relief other then panadol or ponstan. Physical recovery is usually fairly quick.
Take your time when deciding. Usually you will speak to your Dr or midwife at an early pregnancy unit to discuss your options.
With my first angel, I didn't wait as he had major problems developmentally, so I don't know how long it will take. With the others I never had U/S's, just positive HPT's and blood tests.
When I had my d&c (this was just over 5 years ago), they gave me some tablets to take which started the process of dilating my cervix, and after a 2 hour wait they finally got me prepped to go into theatre.
The choice is up to you though, you can wait a couple of weeks, and then make the decision if you're still not bleeding or your doctor tells you that there isn't another option.
For me personally, I think those extra few weeks would be a godsend, a chance to say goodbye and celebrate that little bubba's life even though it was so short. I only had 1 week bewteen finding out what was wrong with my first angel and having the d&c, and I was still in shock and denial.
It could also be harder, having those few extra weeks of bonding with the bubba you know you won't be able to hold or see grow up.
I'm probably not making much sense, but I'm speaking from the heart, and I know, much like everyone else who has lost a precious baby, how gut-wrenching it is to see all your hopes and dreams come crashing down.
Take time to grieve and cherish that small life that you had growing inside you.
Sending lots of hugs and I'm always here if you ever need to talk.
Thanks everyone, it helps to know a bit more of what to expect. Not sure what my decision will be because i keep changing my mind. Because as much as I'd like to wait, I don't want to have to wait any longer- if it happened in the next few days then great. But If I had to wait any longer I think I want a D&C to get it over with to get back on track again. But then again I really don't want to go into hospital and have a anaesthetic.
Poor DH was shattered tonight- he really thought we'd get good news, and then bless him he asked me if i can still get pregnant again with the one inside me now (i'm not sure what he'd think would happen to that one). But was good to see some emotion from him.
Em, the choice is totally yours. If you decide to wait for bub to come in his/her own time it could take a couple of days it could take a couple of weeks. With things looking smaller may indicate that your uterus has began to contract and the process may not be that far away.
I had a d&c at 8 weeks. Nonreal advice, it's completely your desicion. I went in, same as Sarah. Dilated, and...yeah. Bled for about 10 days, same as a period, with cramps all the way through. Lots of xox
As to what to do next, when I was in a similar situation my obs said I could choose to wait till my body realised or do a D&C. Mine measured 6.5 weeks and should have been 10.5 weeks, so I made the decision for a D&C given I'd had no spotting or cramping at all (I'm telling you this so you know it can take some time). As Sarah also said, I found it easier to move on and know it was done - however going in for the D&C was a very difficult and upsetting thing to do as well. I didn't have to have a gel or anything, I just had the general anaesthetic (a very light one - I didn't have trouble with it which I have in the past) and then bled like a light period (it actually lasted about 2 weeks for me). I've heard some women get bad cramping but I did not.
GL making your decision & talking to your dr about next steps. I am so so sorry you are having to go through this
I'm only new to this forum but have been holding my breath waiting for your news while lurking ... I'm so sorry the news was not good.
I have been where you are three times myself, all before 8 weeks, and let nature take its course each time. I tend to miscarry 3 to 4 weeks after the embryo stops developing. The initial cramping can be painful, but I just breathe through it and haven't needed painkillers. A heat-pack helps. It's important to get lots of rest and give yourselves time to grieve.
The clotting can be pretty nasty, but after the worst clots pass, the bleeding in my case is always very light and lasts a total of about seven days. The cramping stops for me after the biggest clots pass. I have of course considered a D&C each time, but wanted a sense of closure where I felt nature was still in control. It's important to have a follow-up u/s to check that all "products of conception" have passed safely.
Thanks for that Michelle, will definitely think about that and see how I go. hmm but i'm still so indecisive. But have even stopped spotting now- so if it is going to happen on it's own it's taking forever!
I had a D&C at 10 weeks, baby was 6 weeks 4 days, missed miscarriage. It was christmas so I went with the D&C cos I just wanted it to be over. Surgery went well, spotting for 2 weeks afterwards, AF 4 weeks after that, back in normal cycle and trying again now. I was told it could take a while for anything to happen naturally, I'd had no spotting, and that a D&C might be needed anyway. My only advice would be if you do go with a D&C to get suction, not curettage, as it doesn't carry the same scarring risks. And dont do any exercise or heavy lifting after, cos you can start to bleed again.
Good luck for the days ahead, we're all thinking of you. xoxo
well i've been trying to get to talk to the Dr about my results all day- but for some reason they don't have my results yet. So the receptionist (probably got sick of me ringing up) said she will get him to ring me as soon as they come in! Thankgoodness cos I get nervous everytime I have to pick up that phone to ring. Anyways more waiting whats new!
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