waiting to miscarry a blighted ovum (updated)

iceandsnowflakes29

My apologies if these are questions are repetitive. I've lurked a lot of the older posts on this board but, I wanted to bounce this past anyone who has thoughts/advice/experience...

Ultrasound revealed an empty gestational sac measuring 6 weeks 6 days (on track with how far along I am) it grew from the last ultrasound a week ago where it measured 5 weeks 5 days. 

My doctor wants to repeat the ultrasound in 2 weeks just to be sure nothing "develops". 

Question : does that seem right? I mean, am I still not far  along enough to just "call it"? 

He did not advocate a d&c and said I should miscarry on my own. I am fine with this, ideally I was planning to avoid a d&c. However, I really wanted to try cytotec. He said cytotec usually doesn't work but, agreed to let me try it in 2 weeks if ultrasound still reveals an empty sac. 

I just feel like he is dragging this out. If it is empty at almost 7 weeks what on earth could make a positive change by 9+ weeks. 

Unfortunately, I am home now. Would it unreasonable to call and request the ultrasound to be repeated in 1 week vs 2  so, I can try the cytotec?  

I'm confused as to why he said "it usually doesn't work" I read through all the cytotec posts and found that women were at least able to pass half of the products of conception with it... or so it seemed.

I guess my concern is this: I don't want a d&c but, I don't want to carry this another month or more before my body gets the memo that it is not viable. 

How long did it take to miscarry naturally?

If cytotec fails and I still want to avoid a d&c, is there anything that could speed this along?  Is that even possible to do?   
Thanks in advance. 

zrain

I don't know as far as the gestational sac growing, but when I had my first ultrasound at 7w2d baby measured 6w1d and was very visible. That ultrasound was on Jan 28th and the radiologist who read it suggested follow up in 1 week even though it didn't look good (heart rate was 76 and yolk sac enlarged besides baby measuring small). A week later (Feb 4th) there was no heartbeat and baby measured a day smaller. I miscarried naturally on Feb 10th, but I did take huge doses of vitamin C and get a massage (of all the areas they avoid in pregnancy) to help things along. If it were me I think I'd request the ultrasound be moved up a week. I think I've read that that Cytotec can sometimes lead to an incomplete miscarriage (so you end up needing a D&C or waiting more anyway) and can be more painful, but it does have the benefit of not having to wait for it to happen. My natural miscarriage wasn't horribly painful and only lasted 8 hours. Acupuncture can also help speed things up, and there are herbs you can take (black/blue cohosh, dong quai/angelica), but you should only take them under the supervision of an herbalist as they are pretty potent.

I'm so sorry you're in this waiting/limbo state. It's so hard to not know what's going to happen and feel like you can't start moving forward until you have some answers and your body figures out what's going on. I hope you get some answers soon.

BrightenMySky

So, I think where you are comfortable "calling it" is really up to you.  6w6d does seem like there should be a heartbeat.  How sure are you of how far along you should be, putting the measurement aside (that is, are you pretty sure when you o'ed)?  I had a scare at 5w6d when we saw a gestational sack but no fetal pole.  The RE that did the scan really scared us, but we were able to run my betas and other info by a few other doctors, and they reassured us.  Obviously the pregnancy ended up not being viable, but we did get a fetal pole and hb.  I guess that is a long way of saying maybe you can talk to another doctor, if you want another opinion (or confirmation that it's time to "call it")--not that you have to, but if it would help you, it's an option.  

I think a downside with cytotec is it can be quite painful.  Obviously things are different for every woman.  My cytotec experience wasn't terrible, but I had a d&c first and was already having contractions when I took it.  Both doctors that offered me cytotec (OB that diagnosed the loss and GYN in the ER a week later) also gave me a prescription for heavy painkillers.  I did not end up needing them, but again, I think things were more mild for me.  

Agree with @zrain suggestion of acupuncture.  I recently went back to my acupuncturist, and she did some points to promote movement (I have retained material still) and also suggested vigorous exercise, spicy food, and even a few glasses of wine.  

iceandsnowflakes29

@zrain and  @BrightenMySky I am tentatively sure on my O date. I was using OPKs, tracking CM and CP. I charted half-assed a few days prior to O and a few days after and if you go by conception / possible O day, 6 weeks 6 days lines up. If you go by LMP, I would be 8 weeks. I lost ALL my symptoms 6 days ago. This pregnancy felt way stronger at 5 weeks than it does at nearly 7 so, I had a bad feeling from the start, and I was not shocked at today's ultrasound in the slightest (although still sad. I was hoping my intuition was wrong). 

How much vitamin C do you recommend?  I tried to google and it looks like people were popping vitamin C every hour, that seems like a lot?  But, I guess it needs to be more than a couple of glasses of orange juice...

I actually used acupuncture and herbs to get pregnant. I emailed my acupuncturist about herbs to speed things along and I'm waiting for her reply. 

Eta I'm not sure of my hcg level right now. They were low but, doubling in the beginning.  Last week's level was 3755 and it did not double from the previous level (2500). 

zrain

Yep, it's a ridiculous amount of vitamin C. My midwife said to take 10-12g total per day. She warned me that such high doses of vitamin C can cause diarrhea and to wean up to it to avoid that but I didn't and I had no problem. I took 1000mg every 2 hours during the day and 2000mg every 4 hours at night to get some sleep in. I did 12g total and I do think it helped in combination with the massage, since I started spotting 2 days after starting it. That being said, I'd double check with your acupuncturist to make sure it's ok to take vitamin C with any other herbs she recommends, and I'd also wait for a confirmation of your miscarriage just in case there's a chance that there was an error with the ultrasound or something.

AL_TwinCities

I used Vit C, Black Cohosh and Angelica herbs and acupuncture to help stimulate the miscarriage. It took a week and a half to start after I found out that the baby had died. You can read more about my experience, including dosage amounts of Vit C and the herbs and Vit C here: https://forums.thebump.com/discussion/12656633/natural-mc-how-long-to-pass-the-sac

iceandsnowflakes29

@AL_TwinCities  thank  you so much. I really appreciate it. I'm so sorry for your loss and that you had to go through this too. I bookmarked the link to the post. Where did you buy your herbs? Online?  

I'm sorry for the 20 questions I'm trying to prepare myself and figure all this out. I really want to miscarry in my own home. I want privacy and my own bed, etc. 

TMI question: I'm sorry this really is TMI but, as of last week, when my symptoms stopped, my stools have been getting looser. I went to the store last night and started to get intense back cramps and was hoping it was the start of things, but, they subsided. Did you have any indication or warning signs it was getting ready to happen? 

AL_TwinCities

@iceandsnowflakes29 I went to an herbal shop in town here to purchase them, but I know you can get variations online as well. 

Loose stool and having to go to the bathroom (for a BM) much more frequently was common throughout my miscarriage. At first it was accompanied by spotting and light cramping, but my cramping started to pick up. Back cramping could be a sign of miscarriage starting, as cramping can be felt in the back by some people. I knew things were really starting when I actually started spotting heavily enough for a pad, and my cramping started getting more intense. But since my story is a long one, it took a long time and cramping started and stopped. Hopefully things progress much quicker for you!

m6agua

I too had a blighted ovum that measured 6 weeks and a few days. I didn't find out until 10 weeks though.

TW- describing my natural MC (highlighted version).

I started spotting at 9+5. Had the ultrasound at 10 showing a gestational sac measure 6+3. The day of my ultrasound was the day my symptoms went away. That was my second sign that I would miscarry naturally in the near future, spotting was the first. At 10+4 I had cramps all day. I went about my usual day and then I felt like I peed. Went to the bathroom, it was a gush of blood and clots. This lasted for about 30 minutes. I felt fine and sort of normal after. I though that was it. The next day at 10+5 I had similar gushing sensations throughout the day. In the evening I started cramping which evolved into contractions. I had the contractions for about 4 hours. The last contraction was long and intense. After that I passed the sac in the toilet and no longer was in pain, I was sort of relieved. I ended up grabbing the sac just because I needed to make sure thats what it was. It was about the size and shape of a medium sweet potato and sort of a medium firm feeling, much bigger than I was expecting.

If you don't do the D&C or the drugs and decide to go naturally I am not sure how long it would take. It depends, has your body given you signs that the process has begun (i.e bleeding, loss of symptoms)? Once my body started giving me signs it took a full week until I passed the sac. I am thankful I was able to pass everything naturally and at home. Although mine was missed so I didn't have long to wait. If I would have found out sooner I don't know what I would have chosen.

This all happened in early November and I was a mess for a while but got through it.

If you want any more information don't hesitate to PM me. 

iceandsnowflakes29

@m6agua thank you for your reply. I lost all my symptoms a week ago. Now, I'm 7 weeks.  I'm cramping in my back but, no bleeding. The weird thing (maybe? Not sure if it is normal) my sac grew. It measured 5 weeks 5 days (on track with how far along I am ). Yesterday, it had grown to 6 weeks 6 days (again lined up perfectly ) but it is empty. Will it continue to grow??? (I guess I should have asked my Dr that) . 

Cramps are hitting my back as I type but, they come and go. 

m6agua

iceandsnowflakes29 said:

@m6agua thank you for your reply. I lost all my symptoms a week ago. Now, I'm 7 weeks.  I'm cramping in my back but, no bleeding. The weird thing (maybe? Not sure if it is normal) my sac grew. It measured 5 weeks 5 days (on track with how far along I am ). Yesterday, it had grown to 6 weeks 6 days (again lined up perfectly ) but it is empty. Will it continue to grow??? (I guess I should have asked my Dr that) . 

Cramps are hitting my back as I type but, they come and go. 

It sounds like your body is starting to recognize that the pregnancy is not viable. I hope it doesn't take long for you (but who knows bodies are weird). As for the sac growing that is not unusual. I remember asking if mine just stopped growing at 6 weeks. The OB said they didn't know because with just a sac, it can continue to grow at a normal pace and/or a slower pace until it just stops growing. For example mine may have continued to grow through 8 weeks but just grew at a slower pace and then stopped. Or it could have grown normally until 6 weeks and then stopped. Or a combination.

I'm no doctor but my guess since you are showing signs of mc that the sac wouldn't grow much more if it does at all.

I just remembered, if you choose natural ask your doc about a pain medicine. I took some OTC pain medicine when the contractions started. I think I took them too late and the were not strong enough. The pain sucked. I was back and forth from the bed to the toilet. I got through it and like to think that when I do get a take home baby I am better prepared for labor because of it.

Oh and also not sure what your work situation is but ask about bereavement. I asked my HR and said I didn't know when I would need it as I was planing on doing things naturally. They didn't have any policy in place for my situation but gave me 3 days. I mc on a Sunday so I took it M-W.

I'm so sorry you have to go through this. 

iceandsnowflakes29

@m6agua  thank you again  for your reply. I really appreciate it. I'm sorry for your loss but, I am relieved to talk to others that have gone through this. 





**TW**










I have two living children. I am a SAHM. But, I'm glad you mentioned work because my husband has been communicating with his boss about everything to date since he will be my support and child care when this goes down. I can't imagine I will be physically able to care for my boys while going through it. My mom knows (but nobody else) and she might split help and time off with my husband. 

babymama03252016

@iceandsnowflakes29
I am so sorry for your loss. I to have had a blighted ovum. I wanted to pass mine naturally, but from the intense pains and cramping and contractions I couldn't. I had actually had a horrible expierence with my doctor she was no help from the beginning the whole expierence was just horrible. I had to be rushed to the hospital because of how much blood I had lost. I lost about 5 clots the size of my palm. I'm sorry for tmi.. 
They told me if I lost 1 more ounce of blood I would need a blood transfusion. I fainted after loosing so much then I got rushed to the hospital, I spoke with the doctors and they had talked to me about taking the medication to help pass.. Because it wasn't a certain answer or how long it would take for me to pass naturally. It broke my heart to want to take anything at all. I felt so horrible but I knew it was the thing to do because i didn't know long it would take to pass. And the pain was horrible for me.. So the doctors gave me the medicine vaginally that day, that night after I got home is when I started passing more clots and got faint then I was rushed back to the ER. I ended up staying overnight. I never fully understood when I passed my sac, because I got told after my ultrasound after I passed all the clots that I still had my sac 9 weeks, in tact. And I ended up later that night after just going thru one pad that they had told me I passed it all.. I still do not understand that.. I am sad because I never got to see it only the clots which i thought was the sac I saved a couple of them and it took me so long to get rid of it.. I know some people have different opinions on blighted ovums. Like it was never a baby, and that upsets me because to me it was and I'm sure to everyone else who expierenced it, it was to them also. Every single bit of it was. I went thru this around October and I still have breakdowns.. And especially now because my due date is coming up on March 25. I am so dreading that day. I am so sorry for your loss and just know that your not alone and that we are all here for you. And that it was and is your baby. Don't let anyone try and say it wasn't. And if you have any questions feel free to message me. Hugs to you sweet girl. I hope you heal soon.

iceandsnowflakes29

@babymama03252016

Omg, I'm so sorry you went through that and I'm sorry for your loss. Be kind to yourself on your EDD  I dread mine...

Cramps are hitting my back and picking up. I feel nauseated and I know it is not morning sickness. I lost all symptoms over a week ago.  

I feel like it might be gearing up. 

BrightenMySky

@iceandsnowflakes29 thinking of you and please take care of yourself!  Heating pads, painkillers, toast, bathes, whatever feels good. 

AL_TwinCities

Good luck @iceandsnowflakes29. Let us know if you have any questions or need any advice while you are going through this. Hot baths helped with pain relief for me, as did squatting and doing a modified child's pose (butt in the air, propped up on my forearms, tip of head to the floor or bed, rocking back and forth). Thinking of you!

zrain

AL_TwinCities said:

Good luck @iceandsnowflakes29. Let us know if you have any questions or need any advice while you are going through this. Hot baths helped with pain relief for me, as did squatting and doing a modified child's pose (butt in the air, propped up on my forearms, tip of head to the floor or bed, rocking back and forth). Thinking of you!

@iceandsnowflakes29This. And also making a low moaning noise, kinda like the ohm in meditation. It's calming and helps relax your pelvic floor.

iceandsnowflakes29

Well, it did not happen. False alarm. Ugh. So, to anyone lurking this or going through this in the future: it truly is like labor. It's like I'm getting bouts of false labor. 

At 7 pm I was convinced it was it. I was doubled over in pain and my whole abdomen felt "heavy". I was nauseated and had diarrhea. I took some OTC pain meds, a bath, and put a pad on and laid down. 

By 8 pm my stomach was absolutely churning. I had chicken noodle soup for dinner and sipped on Gatorade, so it's not like I had a big greasy dinner. 

But no bleeding and the cramps died down and I went to sleep. 

iceandsnowflakes29

@AL_TwinCities 3 days  of strong cramps (bad enough to take pain relievers and wear a pad) and not a drop of blood or spotting. Sound normal? Did you cramp tons before the bleeding started?  

AL_TwinCities

I was only spotting for the first couple of days @iceandsnowflakes29. People on this board kept talking about heavy bleeding, gushing blood, etc. but that didn't happen for me until the last day. I wouldn't be surprised if your bleeding starts soon. Can you tell if your cervix is open? It is possible hat if your cervix is still closed, the bleeding won't have started yet. Might be worth getting some black cohosh to help soften your cervix (that is what it does - helps your cervix soften and dilate). 

I'm sorry this is taking a while to get started! That was the worst for me - once my cramps started I thought every day "I hope this is it!" Thinking of you!

iceandsnowflakes29

Sitting at the OB'S office as I type.i just got done with my ultrasound. 9 weeks along and my sac measures 7 w 1 d. The ultrasound tech said there is a large clot between it and my cervix.

Dr. rx'ed cytotec. 

BrightenMySky

I am sorry, @iceandsnowflakes29.  Are you going to go ahead and try the cytotec?  Did the dr prescribe painkillers for you to have if you need/want them?

iceandsnowflakes29

Yes. He gave me a rx for pain killers. I don't think I would agree to take it otherwise. 

Eta I'm going to take it tomorrow morning so I have the weekend. My husband goes out of town Tuesday but, at this point, he's just going to cancel if something crazy happens -  work be damned. 

moosette113

@iceandsnowflakes29I don't have any advice, I just wanted to say how sorry I am for your loss and that this has been such a prolonged process.

AL_TwinCities

Hugs @iceandsnowflakes29 I hope it works for you and isn't too painful. 

iceandsnowflakes29

Thank you everyone!  I really would not have gotten through these past few weeks with my sanity intact without the support from this board.  I will probably be MIA over the weekend but, will update when I can. I hope everyone else has a easy Friday and a pleasant weekend  despite the shit storms that surround loss.  ((hugs)) to everyone. 

I'm going to tidy my house and run some errands to prepare for tomorrow. 

BrightenMySky

@iceandsnowflakes29 I will be thinking of you this weekend.  Please do nice things for yourself as much as you can and check in whenever it would be helpful to you.  

One thing I posted here before is that when I used cytotec, I lit a candle in my bathroom that I could see from my bed.  That way I had something to focus on when I was lying in bed, and something calming in the bathroom when I was in there.  Just something that I found peaceful, so figured I'd mention it again in case it could help. 

Flamingo777

Massive hugs to you xxxxx

m6agua

*hugs*

i will be thinking of you. I hope everything goes quick and smoothly for you.

iceandsnowflakes29

I just put the pills in and now I'm terrified. 

Sorry. This is a dear diary moment. Maybe I shouldn't have read so much. I kind of wish I knew absolutely nothing about it. 

BrightenMySky

@iceandsnowflakes29 no need to apologize.  We are here for you.  Write away if it will help.  Do you think it might help to distract w/mindless TV or a movie?  

iceandsnowflakes29

**question** 

I took it at 10:30. I have strong cramps and ****TMI*****


my bleeding is minimal and watery.  No clots or tissue.  Does that mean it isn't working?  

babymama03252016

@iceandsnowflakes29
First thing is I am so sorry for your loss, I went thru the same thing I also had a blighted ovum. It was terrifying for me and such a sad sad time. And my baby's due date is coming up on the 25th I am dreading that day. 
When I took the medication it made my cramps very worse and I had about 5 big blood clots. They were horrible and I dreaded every time I passed one it. The pain was horrific to me. I don't think it's not working I think maybe give it a few hours to get all in your system it might take some time. But with me it took a few hours then I had passed a lot of clots, I ended up having to go to the ER the pain was so bad and I lost so much blood. Such a terrible time:(  I am so so sorry to you that your going thru this. I can relate to the pain your going thru. You will be on my mind and also in my prayers this weekend. Big hugs to you and please keep us updated. 

BrightenMySky

I believe I was told to expect it to take about 4 hrs to really get going, so I don't know that this means it's not working.  Did your doctor tell you to take another dose at a certain point if needed (I think I was told around 12 hrs, but cannot remember)?  If things haven't picked up in an hour or two, maybe call your dr before s/he heads out for the weekend to check in?  Sometimes even just having them repeat the same instructions can be helpful and telling them what you're experiencing can give you reassurance.  Will you be able to call an on-call dr over the weekend if you have questions?  

iceandsnowflakes29

@babymama03252016 and  @BrightenMySky  after I posted I realized through my drug haze that it is Friday and called the nurse. She said it takes awhile. And yes, my OB office is huge they have like 5 doctors and someone will be on call. 

I don't know what it's doing but it's doing something because the pain is coming in intervals like contractions. 

Anyway thanks. I appreciate it. Thanks for keeping me in your T&Ps

roxgibbons

@iceandsnowflakes29 hugs to you. I'm so sorry you are going through this and just know I will be thinking of you this weekend. We are all here for you.

SnobunnieMel

We are all thinking of you this weekend. This has been such a horrible drawn out process for you and I hope that things can start progressing for you soon. 

Flamingo777

Thinking of you @iceandsnowflakes29

iceandsnowflakes29

@Flamingo777 thank you. I *think* I fully miscarried with the cytotec on Friday. I'm calling  tomorrow to request an ultrasound to check to see if anything remains. Physically I feel almost 100% ( some mild cramping and still bleeding ). 


Thank you to everyone. It was comforting to know I was in everyone's hearts while going through that. 

And @AL_TwinCities the modified child's pose was more comfortable than just laying down. I never made it to the shower cause the thought of moving was agony. 

What I did not expect was the urge to push. That blew my mind and I had my husband call the on call dr because I felt like something was stuck ( Dr said it was normal). 

Anyway again, thank you. Everyone. 

AL_TwinCities

I'm so glad the worst appears to be over for you @iceandsnowflakes29!

Spartanrd4

Glad to see an update @iceandsnowflakes29 ....hope the ultrasound shows that the process is over and you can move forward with healing.