Scared about having a D&C

janlye

Hi everyone,

 I am so scared right now.  I found out on Tuesday at my 12 week u/s that I had a missed miscariage.  The baby measured at 8 wks and 4 days.  My ob said it can take up to two weeks to expel the baby and that it can happen at any time.  I would wait but just wouldn't want it to happen at work or on my way to work.  My last miscarriage happened at work and it was horrible.  I've read that there are complications with D&C's and it can also lead to scarring and even infertility.  I was hoping that someone who have gone through this and have had a succesful pregnancy after or no complications could maybe give me some advice or encouragement.  It is so difficult having to heal emotionally and now having to worry about this too.

Thanks!

Skk1977

I was in a very similar position to you earlier this year. Missed mc with NO symptoms at all. My OBGYN scheduled a d&C the next day. I was under general anesthesia, which I appreciated, as I was completely out of it an unaware of the procedure. It was a very easy recovery. I went to the mall the next day.

However, for a few days after the next day, I passed a lot of blood clots and had heavy cramping. I did the d&c on a Friday, had the weekend to recover and had my OBGYN send a fax directly to work saying I needed to be off work for the following week. 

This allowed me to recover physically and to prepare mentally to face everyone at work who knew. 

After the d&c the pregnancy symptoms went away very quickly. I had my period 6 weeks after the procedure with bad really moody and depressing PMS the week before the period. 

I have been feeling back to normal for awhile now and I'm in my third cycle in which we are going to try again. My OBGYN said the scarring is rare <1% and is usually restricted to people who have had 4 plus d&cs. 

You might like the sense of control a d&c offers; I did.

 Hugs. I'm sorry. Best wishes. 

janlye

I am so sorry for your loss. I am very happy to hear that you are now on your way to trying again.  I wish you all the best and lots of baby dust.

Thank you so much for explaining your experience.  I hate the internet sometimes.  I was ok at first with having the D&C but I went on to You Tube and watched a lady describe a miscarriage and she mentioned that she absolutely would not have a D&C because it can lead to infertility and of course I started freaking out. It helped hearing about your recovery and I am glad to know that it went smoothly.  I look forward to getting past this process.

Hugs and good luck to you!

ilovemygirls

I am sorry for your loss.  I personally chose D&C (loss between 8-9wks) because emotionally I just needed to be "done"- I just couldn't wait for the loss to occur.  Plus I had an 18mo old at the time & I couldn't risk being alone w/her & not being able to care for her or something if I was in pain & such.  It was the easiest procedure ever, and honestly, I felt a huge weight from my shoulders once it was done.  I went onto have another healthy child, and everyone I've ever known that had a D&C experienced the same.  You have to make the decision that is right for you, but for me a D&C was very easy with no negative effects.  Best of luck.

pkaren

I'm so sorry for your loss. I also had a blighted ovum, found at my 12 w u/s. Mine had stopped growing at a little over 7 weeks. I was about 14 weeks ish when I had the D&C. My OB offered a medication to help get the miscarriage started naturally, since it didn't look like it was going to happen on it's own. I opted for the D&C becuase I just wanted it over with, even though surgery scares the poop out of me. I was put completely under, so it was painless. I had some bleeding and light cramps after, but it didn't last very long.

That being said, I'm one of those statistics of "something gone wrong". As you can see from my chart ticker, i have not had AF since my D&C and it looks like I have a blockage or adhesions due to the D&C. I have surgery in a couple weeks and I'm really hoping the OB can fix it. What happened to me is super super rare, so don't let it scare you. You have to make the best desicion for you!

The thought of miscarrying at home on my toilet....I just couldn't face that. To be hoenst with you, I don't even know what I would do if I ever have to make this choice again.

 

M&D91011

I'm sorry for your loss. I just had a D&C Monday. I was very scared because I had never had any type of surgery before and I have always been scared about anesthesia. I had heard that if you are anxious, they can give you a drug that makes you feel more relaxed (well, I was scared about that too). I can honestly say that it wasn't bad at all. I had no complications and very little pain after. Hope everything goes well for you. Keep us posted. 

heatherlknox

I too had a missed miscarriage.  I was 11 weeks but only measured 8 weeks.

The thought of a d&c is scary but I opted for the procedure because I couldn't bear the thought of just waiting for it to happen and it lasting for days.  When I had mine in January, I was put out in the operating room and woke up 30 minutes later in the recovery room with my DH.  I really had very little discomfort and the recovery was really easy.  I was back at work 2 days later!  I personally would not have made a different choice and would do it again if necessary.

 Five months later and I am now 6 weeks pregnant with another baby.  I couldn't be more excited or nervous at the same time! I am still nervous about something happening but am trying to stay positive

Best wishes to you! 

MWoodside

D&C vs natural m/c was a hard decision for me, too.  I ended up deciding to get a D&C.  I was terrified, but it ended up being a very physically easy procedure.  Literally under 15 min from start to finish.  I was in pre-op about 2 hours, and post-op about 45 min.

In terms of scarring most D&Cs now are suction D&Cs so the chance of scarring is very low.  My Dr said around 1%.

I am sorry for your loss & I hope your D&C goes smoothly.

lvnbraves

I had a D&C on Sunday morning.

In this day and age, complications can always happen but are very unlikely.  I went to the hospital at 8 on Sunday morning, procedure was scheduled for 9 and I was home at 11:30.  

I didn't have any significant cramping and am still bleeding (various from heavy to light).

I was very apprehensive too, but I miscarried several weeks ago and nothing was happening, so not getting things taken care of at this point could have led to more complications than getting it done.

The one thing I'll give a heads up on, it will likely say "medical abortion" on your paperwork.  I knew it was coming, but it's still jarring to sign a paper authorizing an abortion - even though the baby was no more.

saraherri

I'm so sorry for your loss.

 

I had a D&C last Thursday. The week prior my doctor gave me a dose of the medication. I did bleed, but unfortunately I didn't pass anything. I was terrified for the D&C as well, now that I think back, the pills were much worse! I was completely out for the surgery and don't remember a thing! When I woke up I did have a lot of painful cramping and was bleeding quite a bit. They gave me pain medication through the IV and it worked almost instantaneously. I had to stay a little longer at the hospital because I fainted a few times, but was finally discharged  5 hours after the procedure. The next few days were pretty painful, I slept a lot and relaxed on the couch and took ibuprofen for the pain. I had a lot of bleeding and clotting for the first week and at times the cramps were unbearable, to the point of me throwing up! Today is the first day that I haven't bled. I have an ultrasound next week just to make sure that everything is out. Unfortunately I do feel even more emotional than before the procedure. I think it has a lot to do with the fact that I know that it's over L.

 

Good luck to you and again, I am so sorry that you have to go through this!

 

mandi1385

I am very sorry for your loss. I just went through the same thing. I began to miscarry last Tuesday. I went to the ER and the following Thursday I went to the doctor, which was suppose to be my first appointment. I was about 8 weeks. The doctor told me I had 3 options. I could wait and see if the remaining tissue would come out on its own, take cytotec, or get the D&C. I opted for the cytotec because I was really scared about having a D&C as well. I went back to the doctor on Monday to see if the medicine worked and it did not. So I had to get the D&C anyway. He did a different type of D&C, called a "rocket." Basically he shot a bunch of air in my uterus to losen up the tissue and then sucked the rest of it out with the same instrument. He also had to open up my cervix to do this, which was very uncomfortable. While he was getting the rest of the tissue out, it felt like really really bad cramping.

 I would imagine if you are getting a regular D&C you would be put under anastheisa which would probably be the best route. Because what I went through was not a good experience at all. But even going through any of it isn't a good experience. I hope that I don't have to go through it again.

My doctor also said that just because you have had a miscarriage does not mean that you are at higher risk for another one. In fact you are very fertile after going through a full cyle after a miscarriage. Which gives my husband and I high hopes. I have a few friends that have also had miscarriages and have gone on to have healthy babies after.

Skk1977

Thank you. I think your reply was to my post, right ? I hope you are doing well. I am trying to avoid the internet as I keep getting thrilled when I read that my risk for a second m/c is not elevated then I find another study that says it is. I'm hoping to just let nature take its course and avoid googling every symptom and possibility. Easier said than done

  

janlye

So, I guess I am not so scared anymore.  Today the day before the D&C procedure I ended up passing the fetus and tissues in the toilet at the ER. 

It all started yesterday when I started cramping and spotting.  This morning I was scheduled to get prepped for surgery tomorrow and as soon as I told them about my excruciating cramping and bleeding they took me to the ER.  I was by myself and scared out of my mind because I didn't want to have the D&C which was what my doctor told them to do.  Anyway my husband immediatley left work and met me there.  Once they called me to take some information I felt the gush, I ran to bathroom squatted over the toilet and that's when I saw everything.  This was devastating.  They've managed to save some tissue and will do tests.  They did an u/s and saw that everything expelled so i didn't have to have the D&C.  One less stress.  I am still cramping slightly.  They said if I get sick or develop a fever be sure to come back.  I really hope that does not happen.

My emotions are all over the place and I am scared that my husband and I will never be successful in having a baby.  The thing is we had tests done and everything came back normal for the both of us.  So WHY?