Baby stopped growing 5.5 weeks - what to do?

[Anonymous]

Dr gave me 3 options.
1) wait to miscarriage to happen naturally at home
2) pills to induce the miscarriage
3) d&c

She said it’s an individual choice as to which works best and there’s no best option as to what to do. Any advice as to what to opt for? Pros and cons of each? I want to minimize risks to future pregnancies and to ttc again very soon

[Anonymous]

Why didn't you ask your dr this? Well whatever - I'd go back and ask your dr the pros/cons and which is least risky for future pregnancies. I mean, I'm not a doctor. Don't take my advice. And even if I were, I'm not YOUR doctor.

[Anonymous]

I'm sorry, OP.

I often asks doctors, "what would you choose if you were in this position?" Or if they are male, what would you recommend to a family member?

It changes their demeanor and gets actionable advice, usually.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Why didn't you ask your dr this? Well whatever - I'd go back and ask your dr the pros/cons and which is least risky for future pregnancies. I mean, I'm not a doctor. Don't take my advice. And even if I were, I'm not YOUR doctor.

I obviously asked her about the pros and cons of each. But they didn’t guide me any particular way. She said it’s about the same for all. I am looking to get views here.

[Anonymous]

Personally I’d go with option 2. Pills seem easier/less invasive, and I think the uncertainty of waiting would be very unpleasant for me.

[Anonymous]

I am very sorry. This happened to me and I opted for a D&C. Relatively easy procedure, scheduled quickly and I was able to start to move on from the loss. Take care of yourself.

[Anonymous]

Not A. I would want to be done and move on and not be stuck waiting.

I’m sorry.

[Anonymous]

This happened to me last year, and yesterday I miscarried a 7 week old fetus. Both times I chose to miscarry naturally, because I work from home and was leery of the additional cramping the pill would bring about. I was forced to give birth to my son without pain meds but with an injection of pitocin, and I never want to replicate that hellish experience again. Granted, mifepristone and whatever else they give you might not be as bad as pitocin, but I didn't want to risk it. Please don't ever choose the D&C without twilight anesthesia - cervical opening can be extremely painful with just a topical numbing. Also D&C can cause uterine scarring. Many women who need to carry on working out of the home choose the pill so that at least they can schedule the miscarriage around their other obligations.

Miscarrying the 5 week old fetus was practically painless. I saw the gestational sac and it gave me closure. Yesterday I didn't see anything except large blobs of tissue, and the cramping was like a bad period. I was very glad I'd stayed close to home these last few days because things started really gushing and it got messy!

Prepare the largest maxi pads you can find. Tylenol. I wouldn't take any aspirin or ibuprofen, as it makes you bleed even worse. The best relief came from a hot water bottle.

I'm sorry you're going through this, OP. Best of luck. If you find yourself in extreme pain, or you keep bleeding excessively after passing tissue, something's not right and you need to call your hotline.

[Anonymous]

I am so sorry OP.

I would choose B. The pill. That is just me. The thought of waiting to miscarry no thanks. For me that would be harder.

If the doctor did not say a D&C was actually needed then for me the first two options, are less invasive.

I know this is hard. Please do some self care as well.

[Anonymous]

I’m very sorry. I had this happen to me with my first pregnancy that took years to conceive. My OB said that D&C can scar the uterus and I did not want to risk that so I waited for it to happen naturally. I didn’t until 10 weeks. I did have painkillers on hand for when it happened. I don’t think I was given the option of the pill, but it seems like a good middle of the road option. Again, I’m so sorry.

[Anonymous]

I had a D&C for a similar issue and it was a terrible experience. They did it in the hospital - in the MATERNITY WARD. Suffice to say it was very obvious that this was a place where other people were having babies at that moment. And I was not.
If I had to do it again I'd go with pills or natural at home.

[Anonymous]

My miscarriage was induced with misoprostol because waiting for it to happen naturally never happened. My body never got the message. Once MC was over OB advised us to wait one full cycle before TTC again, and we conceived DD1 on the first try after waiting one full cycle.

[Anonymous]

I had a D&C in a doctor's office and went home the same day. Slept, husband watched toddler, and the next day II was fine. I would do it and get it over with

[Anonymous]

I seem to remember a friend making this decision based on when she could start TTC again soonest--there was a difference as I recall. Not sure if that is something you are interested in right away or not, but I think there is a difference. But this was a friend, not me, so I could be wrong.

[Anonymous]

OP big hugs.

I had to have a D&E at 22 weeks due to PPROM. It was the hardest choice I didn't go into labor for a week and Dr insisted I don't wait any longer. I am sorry you have to make this choice.

I would choose option two, get it done and focus on your health.