A wait, of many, a different kind of wait, that I did not anticipate. The nurse said it could take anywhere from a few days to a few weeks for a natural miscarriage to occur after stopping progesterone. She said the empty sac could continue to grow. With that timeline many women choose to have a d&c. I understand the need to get things over with. The faster this happens the faster we can move on to FET.
Not knowing when the process of miscarriage will begin is also unnerving. I don't even know how to prepare for the onset if I am away from home for an extended period of time.
Even so, I am choosing to wait it out. I realize that, in the end, I may require a d&c. For now I am giving myself 2 weeks. I really don't want a d&c for many reasons. I don't want to travel 6 hours for a d&c and I don't have a local ob/gyn. I would rather pass the tissue myself than have a surgery. Psychologically, a natural miscarriage is more manageable for me. I don't want to worry about possible complications such as scarring, infection, missed tissue, etc from a d&c. I would trust the RE's that I have had, but not anyone else, which brings me back to the first reason listed.
So I am waiting. Today I am 7 weeks. Not sure how this countdown works.
If you have experiences with either natural miscarriage or d&c after a scan showed fetal demise and would like to share, please leave a comment. How did you decide on d&c vs. natural miscarriage, or vice versa? How long did it take you to miscarry after stopping progesterone? Thank you for sharing.
13 comments:
I'm sorry you're going through this. My miscarriage was earlier, but for me the bleeding started 4 days after I stopped all the meds. I hope it happens quickly for you. Thinking of you.
My bleeding started a few days after I stopped the meds. Make sure you have some pain relief. The cramps hurt. I know right now it sucks terribly but you will get there. Take time and grieve for your loss and know we are here for support x
First, I'm so sorry for your loss. The exact same thing happened to me after my first IVF. I choose to have the D&C partly because I wanted to have the genetic testing done, but it ended up not being completed anyways. Looking back I think I would have been better off having the miscarriage naturally, but my doctor pressured me into having the D&C. Sending hugs your way!
So sorry you have to do this, I wouldn't wish this on anyone. I waited three weeks for a natural (I had an empty sac too and had my ultrasound close to eight weeks) before scheduling the d&c. My RE really wanted to give it time and I was also scared of the surgery. When I did schedule it was only because I had family coming from out of town and didn't want to deal with it happening while they were visiting. The morning of the procedure while waiting at the hospital I finally started bleeding. I was so pissed about the timing. I went ahead with the d&c since we were all there and my RE said it was good I did because there was a lot of tissue and it would have been very painful. In the end the d&c wasn't bad and I was glad just to have the miscarriage finally over. I don't know if this helps hearing my experience but i am glad I waited as long as I could. I hope you get to move on soon. Xoxo.
Unfortnanetly at the time I had a empty sac also and wasnt given the choice from my doctor. I went in for a D&C. I do wish I knew then what I know now, the choice may have been different.
I wish you the best and am thinking about your during this difficult time.
I have no words to offer you for miscarrying. I do have a very heavy heart and am thinking about you.
XOXO
I wasn't on prog when I miscarried, so I am not sure of the timeline related to that. But, ultrasound showed that the embryo stopped growing around 7.5 weeks and the sac continued growing until around 10 weeks when I was scanned at 11.5 weeks due to red bleeding (a few days after I had spotted brown). My OB recommended waiting it out since it seemed like it had started to happen but I had decided to have a D&C (with my RE as I also only trusted them) about four days later because the uncertainty was tough for me. I ended up miscarrying naturally the night before the surgery -- so about three days after the initial red blood. As painful and scary as it was as there was a lot of tissue, it was closure for me and, in the end, I am glad it happened that way. My body gave me good warning that it was coming -- I started cramping very severely about an hour or two before the miscarriage happened so I was able to get somewhere safe. After very little for a few more daus the miscarriage completed about four days later and i felt much better. If I'd had to wait much longer, though, I would have been glad to do the D&C.
I am really so very sorry that you are having to go through this. Sending so much love your way.
Ours was a missed miscarriage found at 10wks, the baby measured 8wks. We were on no meds. My doctor gave me 3 options, wait it out, tablets, or D&C. She recommended the D&C, since it had already been 2 weeks and nothing seemed to be happening. She explained each scenario, and how any of the other 2 might require a D&C anyways, and at this point that was her recommendation.
I had the D&C 2 days later, it was physically the easiest to deal with, it was also the fastest way for me to end a very emotionally painful loss. It was the right choice for me.
I am so sorry you are having to go through this, sending you love and hugs.
I'm so, so very sorry. My sister actually had both - a natural miscarriage with her first and then a d&c for her twins. She was really torn over the d&c. In the end, it was best she did what she did each time. With her first, it started on its own and there were no issues. With her twins, she was not starting on her own and had she not had the d&c, there would have been issues. It sounds like you have a plan in place that you and your doctors are comfortable with - that's the most important thing. Do have some pain medication available to you, and definitely take care of yourself. Treat yourself and find comfort if you can. Thinking of you...
I'm new to your blog, and am so sorry it's under these circumstances. I just had my first (and hopefully only) miscarriage in October. I was 8 wks, but our baby stopped growing around 5.5 wks, so it took me approximately 2.5 wks to miscarry. I chose to do a natural miscarriage. It was hard and both physically and emotionally painful, but I am relieved I did not require a d&c in the end - I really wanted to avoid another invasive medical procedure... My thoughts are with you and I'm so sorry for your loss. Feel free to follow along on my journey - you're not alone!! Hugs
Good for you for waiting it out!
I learned the hard way that the less medical intervention the better. One D&C for me equaled 2 ectopics and now a diagnosis of an incompetent cervix.
I'm on the bad side of the stats here, but seeing as I've miscarried naturally as well, I can tell you that for me at least it was easier, and in some ways very freeing to know that my body was doing what it was supposed to. I don't know how long it will take, but I think giving it 2 weeks is definitely a good call. Hang in there!
i'm sorry that you have to wait for this... but i'm with you. i would choose to wait for a bit before going with the d&c... for the reasons you explain. thinking of you.
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