Miscarriage at 9 weeks - waiting it out vs. D&C

[Anonymous]

OP, the same thing happened to me with my first pregnancy - went in for first checkup, no heartbeat.

I am glad I had a D&C. Get it over with, heal faster, try again sooner.

The only thing I was surprised about with the D&C was, they did it in the maternity area of the hospital. So my doctor was across the hall delivering a baby, the halls had a stork related theme.... it was depressing. Extra depressing.

I now have two healthy children BTW.

[Anonymous]

Another vote for D&C. I had three m/c - 2 D&Cs and one natural. Natural was definitely the worst - more painful and physically and emotionally traumatic. And, there's always the chance that you'll need a D&C anyway.

Take care, and good luck ttc'ing next time.

[Anonymous]

OP, had you seen the heartbeat before 9 weeks?

[Anonymous]

No, I had not seen the heartbeat before 9 weeks because I had not been in. I called the doc at about 6 weeks pregnant but could not get an appointment until 10 weeks along.

[Anonymous]

I'm 43, healthy, single & attempting to follow my dream of becoming a 1st time mom. Had 3 u/s done in 3 wks, each time results were the same, wait a week. 1st u/s, 7wks-too early to tell. 2nd u/s, found heartbeat with growth, optimistic, wait a week. 3rd u/s yesterday, 9wks with different sonographer at different location. A doc was called in & broke the news of no heartbeat, m/c to follow. My own doc was of little assistance through entire process. I had asked for hcg testing to accompany u/s, to paint a more definitive picture of my pregnancy. Doc didn't believe hcg tests were definitve, but neither were u/s's for 3 agonizing weeks of waiting. Now I wait alone to miscarry in total sadness, I'm devastated...

[Anonymous]

I am so sorry for your loss, PP. There are no words to ease the pain, but know that there are folks thinking of you.

[Anonymous]

Sorry for your loss, 14:46. Been there. Unfortunately, what doctors don't know about pregnancy is a lot and most of the time they are as helpless as anyone in figuring out what's going on as it's happening. It's still an early science. Maddening, though, when you are a high-risk pregnancy.

You don't simply have to wait to miscarry though. Call your OB. He/she should look at the results of the last u/s right away. Then they should schedule you for a D&C. Make sure you are clear with both the OB and the doctor who performs the D&C that you want the products of conception to be saved and tested for genetic abnormalities. That will be important for going forward if you decide to try again.

FYI - if they give you misoprostol before the D&C make sure they give you pain meds of some kind before you take the misoprostol pill. The cramps from that drug are miserable.

Hang in there. We know how hard this is. You're not entirely alone.

[Anonymous]

So, so sorry PP. I had two MC's. For one, we waited it out for about 3 weeks and then just couldn't bear it any longer. For the second, we waited four days (only because it took that long to get the doctor's appointment). I strongly, strongly recommend that you go ahead and do the D and C. Waiting is so hard -- you will find yourself second guessing everything, and the D and C also has the advantage of being "done" whereas the MC can be more protracted. As another poster said, you're not entirely alone. We are all here. Come back when you need us.

[Anonymous]

I am so sorry for your loss, OP. My first m/c was at 13weeks, but the baby died at about 10 weeks. When I went to the ER because of spotting, I was treated so horribly, I swore I would not go back to that awful place (military hospital). So I miscarried at home.

It was very difficult. It was like giving birth. I could not believe how much came out if me. Then, 3 weeks later, I started to hemorrhage. I had to go back to the hated ER. I was treated even worse. I can't talk about it, even to this day. I went in to bleed for three months. Those were dark days for me.

Even so, for me, I could not go for a D&C, not to that hospital. Maybe if it were a doctor I trusted, maybe now, but not then.

Take care, OP. Be gentle on yourself.

[Anonymous]

D&C causes scarring and can interfere with implantation next time.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:D&C causes scarring and can interfere with implantation next time.

There's some truth to that. After my D&C two years ago, I wasn't able to get pregnant, even with ART.

[Anonymous]

I think in the ideal situation they try to only use suction and no scraping - I think the scraping causes potential scarring - but I don't think a D&C always provides an ideal.

[Anonymous]

PP 19:44 here - and on the other hand, there is all kinds of research that implantation improves after disrupting the lining (i.e. endometrial biopsy and then IVF has a higher implantation rate!)

[Anonymous]

43, 14:46 here. After a long weekend of wondering, worrying and finally sharing my good then news with a few close friends, I'm feeling even more overwhelmed than before. It's been 4 days since I was told I will miscarry. I've never been this far, 9 weeks, and my thoughts are scattered. I took yesterday off of work to try to clear things in my head and my heavy heart. I'm left with the thought to try again once I miscarry. It's unfortunate enough I've waited this long to actually conceive. I tried the entire year of 2008, unsuccessful. Now, I feel like I'm running out of time and still waiting to miscarry.. I'm so sad...

[Anonymous]

Friend had MC at age 38, about 9 weeks no heartbeat, Drs. at well known practice group eager to offer D&C, but under close questioning couldn't offer any medical reason for why it would definitively be better than waiting. So she went natural, heavy period situation 3 weeks later with spotting first, and some moderate cramping leading in. She was very glad to go the natural route. Subsequently two successful pregnancies w/o IVF, probably briefly pregnant about 3 months after the natural resolution. Ask your dr. some careful questions....