What should I expect?

Vern · 10-04-2008, 04:27 PM

Yesterday, at my 8wk ultrasound there was a baby measuring 6w3 days, no heartbeat. I wasn't surprised, at my 7 wk ultrasound it only measured 5w6d, my progesterone had fallen to 7, and I was spotting. But there was a heartbeat then so I had hope. Alas, this wasn't meant to be.

I'd like to know what to expect, physically. Other than spotting once a day (tan cm), every other day (since week 5), nothing has changed yet. I have a d&c scheduled for Friday if I don't start bleeding by then. Does a natural miscarriage all of a sudden "come on"? Or is it a gradual experience? I'm very concerned only because I have a business trip on Tuesday which involves me driving 10 hours alone. I think you know where I'm going with that. Could be fine or could be disasterous.

I'm at peace about the miscarriage and just now realized that I'm at peace with the loss, but the actual miscarriage hasn't even happened and I have no idea what to expect.

gothgrrl81 · 10-04-2008, 10:30 PM

Honey, I am so, so sorry. ((hugs))
Pretty much the exact thing happened to me this last week. The first time I was in the ER, my doc told me that she didn't think it would happen by itself and I would most likely need a D&C or meds to induce. The next day I started having horrible cramps and was passing a lot of clots. I ended up getting severely dizzy and was throwing up, so I had to go back in that day and have the D&C.
I have no idea if my experience is "typical" or not, but I personally would not want to go on that trip. Is there any way you could postpone it? Maybe call your doc and see what they say?
I'm glad you're feeling at peace, but we're always here to listen if you want to cry or ***** or anything else.

Policewife · 10-05-2008, 12:49 PM

I'm sorry for your loss!

As far as the business trip on the Tuesday following the D & C if you have it, personally I wouldn't cancel just cause I don't think there would be a need. The day of my D & C I was already out to dinner that night and the following day I felt like I didn't even have the procedure. I never took pain meds and just mildly bled but never cramped or felt anything at all. That could just be a personal experience but it was a very minor surgery and total from prep to leaving I was only there an hour and 20 mins maybe.

Vern · 10-05-2008, 03:45 PM

Tara - The trip is THIS Tuesday, D&C is scheduled 3 days later, on a Friday. You can see my concern....

Carrie - I'm so sorry we're in similar situations. PM me if you'd like to chat about it.

Kweber · 10-05-2008, 04:23 PM

I just wanted to say sorry for your loss...

*~SugarPlums~* · 10-05-2008, 04:48 PM

My first mc was a missed miscarriage. Passed at 8 weeks but I didn't find out until 13 weeks. I had a d & c a couple days after finding out and it was horrible. Lots of cramping, pain, bleeding, passing of grape fruit size clots/tissue. Not to mention all the emotions that came after (from the drop of hormones) the procedure. That miscarriage took me a couple weeks to physically recover from.

It's hard to tell you what to expect because each miscarriage is different for each person (I am not talking about the emotional part, I am talking physical).

I have had 5 mc's, they all were different, some I had less discomfort that a period and some were extremely painful.

I would pose this question to your Dr and see what they recommend. He may say you will be fine bye the time of your trip or he may suggest postponing it for when you return.

tys0803 · 10-05-2008, 05:29 PM

Let me start by saying I am sooo sorry for your loss, I had 2 miscarriages in 2001. In my experience it just depends. My first miscarriage I went through actual labor pains and had to be put in the hospital, but the doctor said my body was taking care of everything on its own and so a D&C was not necessary. My second miscarriage was just a lot of heavy bleeding, felt like horrible aunt flo cycle. The crazy thing is that both of these terminated themselves in my 10th week, but the experiences were so different. To be on the safe side I would see if you can't find someone to go with you on your trip. Especially if you don't know where hospitals are or anything like that......Smooches and if you need to talk about it I am here...Tys0803

babes4me · 10-06-2008, 12:45 AM

Vern, so sorry to hear about your loss. You and I were due about the same day. I lost mine Sept 20th, and we knew it was going to happen a few days prior. I am "okay" with the loss as well. For me, I was fine with the spotting. It was the actual mc that hurt. I'm used to af cramps, but this was nothing like that - way more intense. It was me and the hot water bottle and lots of Motrin laying on the couch all day. The next day hurt, but not as bad.

I hope that your experience is an easy and painless one. I consider mine easy compared to most. *hugs*

Vern · 10-06-2008, 02:44 PM

Thanks ladies. I have a D&C tomorrow and am looking forward to moving on. I'm still pretty much doing ok emotionally, of course I have my moments....

Its interesting, I told nobody but DH about the pregnancy, but now I find myself telling a few folks about the m/c and the communication has been therapeutic.

justagirlgirlgirl · 10-06-2008, 03:02 PM

Hugs- glad you're getting the D&C done tomorrow.

I was the same way after my m/c. Only a handful of people knew we were pregnant, but for me the m/c was so traumatic (physically and emotionally) that we felt the need to share the news with more people for support. In some ways it was hard because we had people who hurt our feelings, but in other ways it was amazing to find the support we needed from other friends and family (and to also realize how many other couples had quietly experienced the same thing).

gothgrrl81 · 10-07-2008, 08:25 PM

Vern-hope the D&C went well and you're doing ok.

Vern · 10-08-2008, 10:36 AM

Hi ladies,
The D&C was quick and without pain. Definately the right route for me. I woke up this morning very glad the ordeal is behind me. Thanks again for your support and I'm sorry we all had to meet on the pg loss board - you all seem like a great bunch of gals who shouldn't have to be dealing with this. What I'm hoping is that there are lessons to be learned from our experiences which will reveal themselves in time.