Baby stopped growing 5.5 weeks - what to do?

[Anonymous]

I don’t remember if I was offered pills when I had a missed miscarriage. I opted to miscarry naturally. It happened within the week. The reason I got checked was because of bleeding, so it was already starting anyway.

I think it is really your comfort level. I had been through a surgical termination years before, and didn’t want to do that again. Not that it was horrible or painful, I just didn’t want to have to do the surgical thing again unless it was necessary

[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.

Go back to bed you’re in a horrible mood.

[Anonymous]

I think I’d do the pills. Though honestly, at 5.5 weeks, that’s so early I might also give it a week or two to happen on its own. At that stage it will just be a heavy period.

[Anonymous]

A lot of doctors underestimate the risk of Asherman’s Syndrome from a D&C. Pills are the safest for your future fertility. Ask me how I know.

Pro (sigh) tip: request Zofran and pain medication. Doctors should routinely offer them, but they don’t.

[Anonymous]

I had a D&C for my 9.5 week miscarriage. I was able to schedule it and not have the unpredictability of waiting (fetal growth stopped around 8.5 or 9 weeks). I was working with an RE and was hoping for some genetic confirmation of the miscarriage, but by the time I had the procedure, there was not much product of conception left to test. But, I was still happy that I did not have to worry about anything being retained. If possible, I would try to schedule under twilight.

I also had a 6 week miscarriage that started on its own. I was totally caught unaware.

My personal experience would say either pill or D&C so that you can know, take time off, lay in bed, and grieve. It is terrible to experience no matter the route, but they all have reasons to choose or not. Be gentle to yourself and allow support and comfort.

[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.

What a truly miserable person you must be. Seriously, what’s wrong with you?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:A lot of doctors underestimate the risk of Asherman’s Syndrome from a D&C. Pills are the safest for your future fertility. Ask me how I know.

Pro (sigh) tip: request Zofran and pain medication. Doctors should routinely offer them, but they don’t.

I honestly hadn’t heard of this before. So sorry you went through this. Thank you for sharing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A lot of doctors underestimate the risk of Asherman’s Syndrome from a D&C. Pills are the safest for your future fertility. Ask me how I know.

Pro (sigh) tip: request Zofran and pain medication. Doctors should routinely offer them, but they don’t.

I honestly hadn’t heard of this before. So sorry you went through this. Thank you for sharing.

+1

[Anonymous]

Option 2. Waiting for a miscarriage could take weeks. Bleeding could happen at any time. It's better that you can take the pills at a time convenient for you and mourn (or not) by yourself.

[Anonymous]

This happened to me. I opted for D&C. It was fairly painless and easy. I did not try to conceive thereafter so can’t speak to scarring

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: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.

+1 I had a MMC a few weeks further along and picked that option as well. RE made the pill option sound more unpleasant and less predictable. I struggled a lot emotionally with the loss but physically the D&C was fast and I had no pain afterward. Under anesthesia for the procedure and no discomfort. Got pregnant after waiting 1 cycle.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: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.

+1 I had a MMC a few weeks further along and picked that option as well. RE made the pill option sound more unpleasant and less predictable. I struggled a lot emotionally with the loss but physically the D&C was fast and I had no pain afterward. Under anesthesia for the procedure and no discomfort. Got pregnant after waiting 1 cycle.

I'm the PP and wanted to add after reading some of the other replies
- mine was at an outpatient surgery center (not L&D - that sounds horrific under the circumstances)
- they did genetic testing and did find a trisomy. May be more relevant if you've had multiple MC or infertility issues.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: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.

OP, I'm sorry for your loss. I had a loss as a fertility patient, and my fertility doctor quickly told me there were three modes of management, then chose option #1 for me. I am glad your doctor gave you the choice and discussed pros and cons. I can tell you that the waiting period was one of the darkest periods of my life (undoubtedly made worse because my choice was taken away). It broke me in a way that I didn't know I could break. For some, waiting is the right way. For me, I wanted the pills, though you do have to acknowledge that waiting or taking the pills may not result in complete passage of the products of conception. With a later loss, I had the option of an in-office "d&c", the actual name of which is manual vacuum aspiration. I was awake but got to take ativan and several pain drugs. It was over quickly.

[Anonymous]

When you get through this if you would like to try again, ask your doctor to check your thyroid. It can be due to subclinical hypothyroid which can be corrected with meds and you can go on to have a healthy pregnancy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: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.

OP, I'm sorry for your loss. I had a loss as a fertility patient, and my fertility doctor quickly told me there were three modes of management, then chose option #1 for me. I am glad your doctor gave you the choice and discussed pros and cons. I can tell you that the waiting period was one of the darkest periods of my life (undoubtedly made worse because my choice was taken away). It broke me in a way that I didn't know I could break. For some, waiting is the right way. For me, I wanted the pills, though you do have to acknowledge that waiting or taking the pills may not result in complete passage of the products of conception. With a later loss, I had the option of an in-office "d&c", the actual name of which is manual vacuum aspiration. I was awake but got to take ativan and several pain drugs. It was over quickly.

I'm a D&C PP and this thread was eye-opening. I was knocked out completely and that was a blessing in light of how hard it all was already. Seems like for both this and other options, make.aure you ask your OB the specifics - where, how, what painkillers, etc.