I am so very sorry for the loss of your babies You should have been better prepared for the options you were given and their physical outcomes. Although nothing ever prepares you for the loss of a pregnancy or child

For clarification - the options usually given are natural miscarriage or D&C. I have no experience with the medication induction. D&C is the surgical option - minimal bleeding, generally complete after the surgery but an operation with risks including perforation of the uterus. The *natural* option is allowing the body to manage the loss of the baby without medical assistance.

Unfortunately this requires the expulsion of the pregnancy with bleeding and pain - the intensity and volume vary between women. The usual advice is pain relief and monitor the bleeding. Some women have heavy bleeding like the first days of a menstrual cycle (again, depending on your *normal*) and strong period pain. Other women bleed volumes and have significant pain and they should return to the local hospital for management. If you can't get off the toilet to check the blood loss, that is a good sign you should go back. I needed large doses of morphine to manage the pain of my miscarriage due to a very irritable uterus. I would not have managed at home and labour was nothing compared to that pain.

The time it takes for a natural miscarriage to occur is the reason why it cannot occur in a hospital. It can take up to a week or two for the hormone levels (BHCG) to drop significantly enough for the body to take over and the physical loss of the pregnancy to occur. A repeat ultrasound is usually required to ensure the body has effectively cleared the uterus. Infection can occur if the miscarriage isn't *complete* but antibiotics are not usually given unless there are signs of infection like fever or odourous / coloured (green) discharge.

If you are in NSW the new miscarriage guidelines means most larger hospitals have support services available to you such as a social worker.

Unfortunately many of us have experienced miscarriage and loss in various forms. We are here to support you if and when you need it