Going through a miscarriage naturally (a question)

RhondaVanWyk · 12-19-2005, 06:15 PM

Hi friends,

I had a miscarriage a while ago and never really got an answer to this question. It's kind of gross, but I thought this is a perfect place to ask since we have all been there. When I had a miscarriage, they gave me two options: 1) to try to naturally have my body get rid of the fetus or 2) get a D & C. At that time, I did not want any other complications, so I decided to try it naturally. It took atleast one month and eventually I had to get a D & C anyway. My question is this: The nurses told me that I would not see anything that would upset me such as the baby's body parts, etc. BUT, after a couple of weeks of bleeding, I went to the bathroom and a huge clot fell out of me - like 3" long. This happened BEFORE I got a D&C. It scared me and smelled awful! I always wondered if that could have been my baby since it was so large and that was the only time it happend to be that size. I wish someone had prepared me for that as it was kinda traumatic, but I wondered if anyone else experienced this at all? Sorry it's kinda gross, but it's real and I need some answers to what this was. My doctors did not give me clear answers but I don't know if that was because they neglected to tell me before and did not want to look like they made a mistake.

Roxc

nikkisix · 12-19-2005, 06:29 PM

Oh boy, well.. if you had a D&C it isn't likely that it was they baby that came out, because they would have taken that out - presuming they did an ultrasound on you after the D&C.
I had a natural m/c and I had to pass a 6 wk gesational sac, and when I did
it was completly different from a blood clot, it was "whiteish" with a blood clot attached to it on one side.

The smell - well that's probably because it was inside you for quite some time - the lining was there building up before you became pregnant and then while you were pregnant and then miscarrying - it must have been a few months.

I'm sorry you had to go through all that, I hope you are feeling better these days.
Nicole

RhondaVanWyk · 12-19-2005, 10:06 PM

Just for clarity - this happened before the D & C, not after.

Rhonda

saluki_fan · 12-20-2005, 12:29 AM

Rhonda - all I passed before my D&C was blood with some big clots in it. I can't remember if the odor was bad or not - I don't remember it smelling like a "regular" AF, though. It was such a horrendous experience that I think I've blocked a lot, but I remember I felt like I couldn't leave the toilet at home and DH went to Walgreen's to purchase some Depends for me just in case (which I wound up not using and he took back - those puppies were expensive!)

I had my D&C scheduled for the next day, my doc and I decided to proceed with it since I hadn't passed any tissue. She told me afterwards that I had still "needed" the procedure done, so who knows how long it could have gone on.

I am so sorry for your loss.

Tia38 · 12-21-2005, 06:54 AM

Very sorry for your loss. It sounds like it could have been your gestational sac. Perhaps TMI follows.... but I hope it helps.

I passed what I thought was the sac (largish clots) on my first day of bleeding. The nurse told me I probably wouldn't recognize anything, whenever it passed. Well on day 8 I passed what I now think was the sac.

It was totally different from everything that came before (or after). It was more solid, had a definite oval shape, and seemed huge. I'm guessing it was not as big as it seemed to me. It looked about half a thumb's length, but I didn't have the heart to check it out in detail. Mostly I felt something odd (different from the whoosh and gush I had been experiencing) so I looked. (With earlier largish clots I felt more cramps.)

I didn't notice any odor, but it sounds like my m/c was going a bit faster than yours? I was totally weirded out. I was also very emotional when I realized what it most likely was... To say I was very distressed by it is an understatement.

What has helped me (is helping me, as I'm still bleeding, and may yet need a D&C) is to hear someone else say that for most of us, this is our first time through the process. For the DRs they've seen it all, and probably think we know what's going on. They don't realize it's all new, confusing, upsetting, etc. And on top of it each woman, and even each m/c is different.

I sure wish I had been better prepared/advized, but my RE does not like to do the "what might happen" he prefers to nod after the fact and say "yes, that's normal" or "yes, you're doing fine" -- sometimes I think no matter what happens he's going to say that!

I don't know how far along you were.... but I would guess what you saw was some sort of tissue -- sac (baby) or placenta. I've (since) read that often the sac will have a clot around it, making it hard to see.

I think the nurse (in my case and yours) was just wrong. I suspsect they don't want to weird us out in advance. I also suspect that with emotions and hormones raging we're not processing all the info anyway --- BUT THEY SHOULD STILL HAVE MORE INFO AVAILABLE!

Once I'm in a better place I want to put together some sort of "things I wish someone had told me about m/c" list, especially for the natural route -- my #1 would be that you may see more pass than you might want to, and #2 would be you may bleed for quite a while (DH thought it would be over in a day, I had thought more like a week, my clock is still running, but I've read some women who bleed (albeit lightly) for several weeks), with #3 the baby may pass early or later -- and some tissue may not clear on its own (requiring medical intervention). #4 (seems to be for m/c no matter which way it happens) is that emotionally you'll probably have highs and lows for a while. I think that's part of the normal grieving process. I had hoped once my hormones leveled out that my emotions would be more under control -- I was wrong.

But enough about me. I don't mean to corrupt your thread. I'm mostly lurking these days.... I hope you can find some peace with it all.

Big hug.
-Tia

levacy · 12-21-2005, 05:43 PM

i forgot about the smell until now. yes i definately had the same thing happen except that my "clot" was flesh colored. the smell was like something rotting. i guess i just blocked that out of my mind to keep from having to deal with it. doctors don't like to give definate answers to things they didn't witness. it sucks but that's just the way it is. i didn't even know i was pg when my DD died. it was one of the most traumatic things i had to go through. i wish i would have known so i could have gotten a D&C. it is better to get one anyway just to make sure nothing lingers and that everything is o.k. i'm sorry you had to go through that. i wouldn't wish it on anyone.

Rebecca's Mom · 12-22-2005, 01:33 AM

well the whole time i was pregnant i had lots of different size clots come out of me but my cituation was different and she ended up dying and 2 weeks later i went into labor and then had to be induced.........then after labor next day something came out of me that what gross then i havent bleed much cause i have bleed on and off for the last 3 and a half months

RhondaVanWyk · 12-23-2005, 12:02 AM

Thanks for all of your responses. It helps to hear other people's experiences. I was so not aware of what to expect so when I saw clots and then a big one, I was scared, but when I called, my doctor said that it was normal. Later, another doctor said it was not normal, so I never knew the truth. It is not a pleasant experience. I think it is good to have a book or something to give to people to know what to expect when this happens. I think it's better to know than not to know and then be confused and scared. Thanks for sharing your personal experiences - more are welcome!

Roxc.