D&C - What to expect?

[Anonymous]

Found out today that I've miscarried and I'm going in for a D&C early next week. In addition to being heartbroken, I'm a bit nervous about the procedure. What should I expect? Is it painful? What is the recovery like?

[Anonymous]

I'm so very sorry for your loss. I miscarried in 2008 and had a D&C. It was an outpatient procedure. Injection of a muscle relaxant and then the anesthesia also intravenously. Woke up in the recovery room and my husband took me home that afternoon/evening.

They advise that you not be alone and definitely not drive for at least 24hrs due to any lingering effects from the anesthesia. My D&C was on a Tuesday afternoon, so I worked that morning, took the afternoon off as well as Wednesday, and was back at work on Thursday.

Some women apparently experience some residual discomfort and possibly some bleeding for a few days (nothing heavier than a normal period, is my understanding). I actually experienced neither.

Do you know what caused the miscarriage (i.e. was this a high risk pregnancy)? My doctor sent the "tissue" to be tested for any genetic anomalies to see if the cause was something that might stop us from trying to conceive again. In our case, there was nothing chromosomally wrong with our child, so we don't know why I miscarred, but it did allow us to try again.

One other thing, apparently the medical and insurance term for a miscarriage is a "missed abortion". I want you to know that, because I didn't know it until I got a call from my insurance company about my abortion....and I flipped out. So, if you see it written down on a form somewhere or hear it spoken out loud, know that it's not very sensitive of them, but that is the technical term for a miscarriage - it is not a mistake and presumption that you have chosen an abortion.

You're in my prayers, OP.

[Anonymous]

Sorry that you are having to go through this - big hugs to you.

I agree with PP in regards to the procedure. It is fairly quick (20-30 mins) and they put you under what they call twilight anesthesia.

A couple of thoughts I will add... I did not want to experience any physical pain. I have been known to have some pretty intense cramping after IVF egg retrievals, so I proactively asked if I could use vicoden which I had been prescribed previously. A heavy dose of Tylenol would likely have the same effect. I took the vicoden the day and evening of the procedure only and had no residual pain problems.

Unlike the PP, I bled for a few days after the procedure. It was medium flow - no more than a regular period. I was told to take it easy on the physical acitivity for a couple of days and not to do any intense physical activity until the bleeding stopped completely. I did go running after the bleeding had stopped, but it must have been too soon as I started bleeding again. I just took it easy for a few more days and it stopped.

I, too, had the testing done and the results were chromosomally normal girl, which means the results are inconclusive since it could have been my tissue that was tested. The likelihood of having a second pregnancy with a chromosomal abnormality is low and some of them are very rare.
Regardless of how the results turned out, my DH and I were planning to continue ttc.

I just had a saline sonogram done this past week (D&C was in December) to check to make sure there was no scarring from the procedure. All checked out ok, so I will begin cycling again after I get my next period.

One other thought...let yourself grieve this loss. There are some great articles online about dealing with miscarriage. I found them to be very helpful. If you have been ttc for a long time, then the loss is likely to hit you harder and there are tools in these articles to help you get through it more easily. My thoughts are with you...

[Anonymous]

PP's covered it well... they will put you "out," do the quick procedure and you will wake up shortly. I was nervous because I've never been under anesthesia, but it was not bad.

I didn't have any bleeding or cramping, but it is possible. You will probably need to take a day off afterward; I was definitely "stupider than I thought I was" from the anesthesia for a day or so.

My OB told me to wait 2 cycles before trying again.

Good Luck.

[Anonymous]

I found it no worse than bad period. Although I was pretty foggy-headed after the procedure. Had cramping and bleeding for about 2-4 days.

[Anonymous]

OP here --
Thanks all. That definitely makes me feel better. They don't know why I miscarried and are planning to send the tissue out for testing. It's also good to know the medical terminology. When the hospital called to confirm my appointment I talked with an insurance councilor there who already walked me through how much my insurance will cover, what my copays are, etc.. and then gave me the final total so there are no surprises and I know the exact cost going into it. I thought that was really nice too.

Thanks for your thoughts and wishes as well. Looking on these boards it's surprising (and somewhat comforting) to see how many women have gone through the same thing.

[Anonymous]

OP: I am very sorry for your loss. I had a miscarriage and a D&C last May and I know how heartbreaking it is. PPs are correct about how the D&C goes. I am another person who had no pain/cramping afterwards, just some bleeding for about a day. The D&C was no big deal. For me the emotional was a lot harder.

On the bright side, I am pregnant again and crossing my fingers that all goes well this time.

Hugs and comforting thoughts to you.

[Anonymous]

Good luck to you 14:16!!! I will keep my thoughts with you too and hope to be in your shoes again one day soon.

[Anonymous]

Just wanted to lend support. I have been in your position and wanted to echo the pp who mentioned that the emotional part was harder than the D&C procedure. It was a very sad time for me. Take care of yourself afterward, let yourself grieve, and try again... here's hoping that you have a healthy new baby with you this time next year!

[Anonymous]

OP here --
Thanks again for all of the support (especially PP -- I hope I do have a healthy new baby this time next year!). I had the procedure early this week and I'm glad it's over (although I had some complications later in the week and had to go back in for an exam a couple of days ago). Everything seems to be OK and now I'm just waiting for the bleeding to stop so I can at least put the physical part behind me. It still feels so surreal and I'm pretty emotional still.

The road ahead also feels so long. I'm older and it took us a pretty long time to get pregnant this time (didn't have that problem with #1 a couple of years ago) and I was so relieved that our TTC was finally over. I still can't believe that we have to start all over again. Part of me feels like it will never happen for us, but I'm trying to be hopeful and just take one day at a time.

[Anonymous]

OH man, so very sorry for you. I had a d &c in June. The procedure is quick and pain free, since you'll be asleep anyway. I had it at Shady Grove and they were all so kind to me. About an hour after the procedure we headed home. In terms of recovery, you'll bleed for about 10 days, wich was disconcerting to me, but normal. There will be some cramping, but with the meds they give you and the over the counter stuff, it will be okay. I found that I was completely exhausted, and worn out for a few days after mine. Could have been mostly emotional though. I was beyond devestated. I hope everything goes okay for you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here --
Thanks again for all of the support (especially PP -- I hope I do have a healthy new baby this time next year!). I had the procedure early this week and I'm glad it's over (although I had some complications later in the week and had to go back in for an exam a couple of days ago). Everything seems to be OK and now I'm just waiting for the bleeding to stop so I can at least put the physical part behind me. It still feels so surreal and I'm pretty emotional still.

The road ahead also feels so long. I'm older and it took us a pretty long time to get pregnant this time (didn't have that problem with #1 a couple of years ago) and I was so relieved that our TTC was finally over. I still can't believe that we have to start all over again. Part of me feels like it will never happen for us, but I'm trying to be hopeful and just take one day at a time.

I'm the PP and just FYI, I had the d & C in June, and was pregnant with TWINS, at the begining of October. Good luck!