Embryo Transfer, Miscarriage, D&C Procedure - Need Advice

I've had numerous D&C's unfortunately. My first miscarriage was very early into the pregnancy (6 weeks) and I was advised to have a D&C. I questioned if it was really necessary at such an early stage and the doctor said not necessarily, but I did have to go in for weekly blood tests for a few weeks (this was about 18 years ago). I have had other miscarriages that were farther into the pregnancy, which required D&C’s. It is not a painful procedure, but you do have to be completely knocked out like any other surgery. Basically all they do is go in and clean (scrape) out your uterus. It doesn’t require an overnight stay and you go home with someone who can drive you. You may have some slight cramping afterwards, but nothing major. The worst part for me each time was the terrible reaction I have when coming out of the anesthesia. I would get horrible muscle contractions (uncontrollable shaking like I was freezing), but now they have a shot that helps within minutes. I know because I just went through another D&C last December (but now I’m getting them due to problems as I approach my not-so-wonderful menopausal years). I hope this has helped and I wish you the best.

I have never had a d&c, but never will unless absolutely necessary. They can cause premature dilation of the cervix in future pregnancies causing mid-to-late term miscarriage or premature labor. I would avoid it especially since your first was 3 weeks early ( my first was, too). The scarring can also cause placenta abrubtion (sp?) and other problems in future pregnancies, where the placenta does not embed itself correctly in the uterus and causes a blood pocket to build or the placenta separates from the uterus. I agree that you are going through a lot, let your body take care of itself. It might take longer and you might bleed more, but it is one less invasion on your body. The risk of infection is not very great, and actually the only reason that the risk of infection would be less with a d&c is if they gave you antibiotics, because it is an invasive procedure, unless the fetus is not completely expelled by your body, which is rare. Good luck and best of health!

Hi P.,
I'm so sorry to learn of your loss, especially because of the special efforts and "boundary violations" you have endured to get to this point.

I lost my first pregnancy at 9 weeks and had the D & C. There was cramping afterward, but nothing the pain meds and visualization and breathing couldn't help me with. It was actually very simple and I was out hiking a day or two afterward (a light hike, mind you) with my husband. The worse part of it was the grieving for the pregnancy loss, but we took comfort in thinking about trying again, and knowing that if my body rejected this embryo, there was probably a very good reason. My OB was very reassuring--told me that they handle more miscarriages than live births every year, often in first pregnancies, and he predicted I'd be back in a year getting ready to have a healthy child--and I was! And now I'm expecting my 2nd any day. So I hope whatever you decide to do with the procedure, you'll let yourself grieve good & hard and then be ready to re-engage with joy and expectation again--it's your right.

BTW, just something else to think about--after the miscarriage I learned that a few women in my family had trouble holding on to pregnancies early on due to a progesterone deficiency. For my 2nd pregnancy, as soon as I had a positive pregnancy test, we started me on progesterone suppositories, which I continued to use through the 12th week, after which your body "takes over" and you don't need them. I don't know if they are responsible for holding on to my second (and third) pregnancies, but I had a healthy baby and expect another any day now. Ask your OB about the possibility of progesterone supplementation--there are no risks and many possible benefits. But then again, if you've had implantation, you've been to more endocrinologists and specialists than I hope to ever see, so you may already know if you have progesterone issues--I know you probably get a lot of unwanted advice but I hope you take mine in the spirit in which it's intended--helping you achieve your dream!

Best of luck to you!
K.

Hi, My name is I. and the same thing happened to me in Sept 2005. I too went through IVF became pregnant and at 7/8 weeks no heartbeat. We were devestated and our doc. recommended a D&C. I did wait a week to see if it would happen on its own. I did have the d&c and think it was better emotionally than if it happened at home. My dr. was wonderful, the procedure as sad as it was, went smoothly and there was no bleeding. I almost thought nothing happened. The sedative was mild and I expereinced no pain afterward. We tried a frozen cycle about eight weekd later which didn't take however we did a fresh cycle that following January and now we have 15 month twins. My son is named Joey and my daughter is named Jordyn. Good luck and I know how hard this is but once it is over give yourself some time for your body to rest after all of the IVF medicines/shots and then you will be ready both emotionally and physically. Take care! I'll be thinking of you on Monday!

I lost at 12 weeks due to no heart beat (IVF), had a heartbeat at 11 weeks. I chose a D&C. I was so distraught I did not notice anything negative about the procedure, went very smooth, campared to all the procedures I have endured....almost too easy (I was knocked out). I feel the D&C prepared me physically for a miracle natural conception, kind of a new, fresh start. I now have a healthy 4 mos old. I did experience a huge hormonal shift and a major emotional surge with in the first 24 hours following the D&C (lots of tears). My husband held me tight and it did pass. I am glad I chose the D&C.

K. W
First time mom, 4 mos.

P.,

In October I found out I was pregnant. Sitting in work in November one week before my next doctors visit, I starting bleeding heavy, called the doctor and they confirmed I had a miscarriage and we needed to do the D & C. The D & C is very basic - no pains no fears. You go in same day surgery. They take blood put in IV very basic stuff and they give you a light Muscle relaxer. Then you go in holding room and the anisteshioligist comes in and gives there condolances and explain what they are doing, maybe 20-30 minutes that you are knocked out for. Then the doctor comes in and goes threw same thing basically. Then your wheeled in, and next thing I knew I was waking up in recovery. You have to eat crackers and drink ginger ale before you go. You will be bleeding for about a week, but its like having your period. You are not able to try again for another for 2 months. You have to let the uterus build up enough so there is enough there to hold the baby next time and tissue to attch to. We were able to start trying again New Years Eve, and we are having fun trying. Anymore questions let me know I will answer them for you best I can
D.

Hi P.. I had the same problem. I had lost my pregnancy at 5/6 weeks. The procedure is very simple and to tell you the truth it felt as if I had a really bad period. It does not hurt that much afterwards and you bleed for about a week maybe a week in a half. You will probably get some "stuff" coming out when you bleed which is perfectly normal. I hope that I gave you some advice.

Sorry for your loss. Keep positive and upbeat.

I'm sorry for your loss. If I were you I would let my body miscarry naturally. Especially after you have been through so much already. A D&C does things to the body that are completely unnatural. I have experienced 2 miscarriages. The first was around 5 weeks, and it was no more painful then a regular period. I would say at 6/7 weeks it wouldn't be much more then that either. The second was at 13 weeks, and that was also at home. It was excruciating, like labor. But both times I was pregnant again right away. The only thing you have to wait for before getting pregnant again is your HCG levels to go back to zero. That should not take more then a week or two after the miscarriage. The only reason I ever went to the hospital after them is because I am Rh neg, and had to get that shot. Good luck with the next IVF. And incase you didn't know, there is a grant to help with the IVF expense in NY state. You can only use it once, so if you haven't already used it, maybe you can the next time around.

P.:
I am so sorry for your loss. I lost a baby at 9 weeks, I was scheduled to go in for a D&C the day after finding out about loosing the baby. That night I started to miscarry, it was very painful similiar to labor pains, I was rushed to the hospital and an emergency D&C was performed. They put you under light sedation all I remember was the nurse giving me a shot and then waking up in the recovery room. The actual D&C was painless afterward, just like having a normal period. Our doctor recommended waiting until you have your first normal period before trying to start again. I waited a little longer and was blessed with very healthy twins. Good luck.
L.

i had to have a d&c done when i was a little further along. i was about 11 weeks, but they said that there was no heartbeat, and the baby was only about 8 weeks old and i guess my body was just realizing it at that point. but my body just didn't seem to want to pass it, so they had to do the d&c. i was in so much pain before they decided that...i wish they had just done it when they 1st told me that i was miscarrying. there was definitely some discomfort, and bleeding (i had nearly as much as after i had my daughter for the next pregnancy)...but i would say it really wasn't much worse the the absolute worst period (which at that point, was normally pretty bad). don't worry, it's not all that bad physically. it's the emotional part that is the worst to deal with. my condolences for your loss, and i pray that next time you get your little bundle of joy. it's good that you're trying to go through this with a positive outlook...it sounds like you're doing ok, just a little fed up...hang in there and best wishes!

Dc-

its a fairly easy procedure,

natural miscarriage is HARD

I miscarried with twins, and trust me, its painfull,

Best bet do the procedure, it only takes a few hours,

your husband needs to take a day off to watch your son

but you should be fine by the next day physically

NO lifting tho

Good luck and feel better

M

Hi P.,
I had a miscarriage at 10 weeks, but the embryo stopped growing at 6 weeks. I am afraid of procedures so I opted to have a natural miscarriage. I had no pain or cramping, but excessive bleeding. Since you work from home, you may be able to wait and see. Once you start to bleed, you need to give yourself at least 2 days of being home (I was in NYC when it all began, what a mess). Keep your feet up as much as possible (to avoid becoming light headed) and be prepared to supplement with lots of foods rich in iron. Have a family member stay with you since your son should not see what is going on. You'll also need a lots of protection, regular pads don't work. Your obgyn will have to check your hormone levels and do an ultrasound to make sure that everything passed. Afterwards ask for antibiotics so no infection occurs. This happened in Sept. and I am 6 weeks pregnant in Jan. so the wait time shouldn't be any different if you choose to go natural. God bless and good luck!

I miscarried several times,
Some were just premature birth and one a spontaneous abortion of a deceased fetus.

Here are some facts

Having a d&c vs a normal miscarry....

D&C
1 - Quick proceedure, less pain (cramps instead of contractions.
2 - Uterine lining shed completely sooner, you can repeat the IVF sooner.
2 - Risk damage to the cervix with forced dilation (cervical incompetency).
3 - Risk damage to the uterus...hey its a proceedure, they all come with risks up to and including death. So does a tonsillectomy.

Normal miscarry (or they may refer to it as 'spontaneous abortion') of the bad fetus...
1 - It's natural, and you will eventually miscarry this fetus.
2 - You'll have the pain of contractions lasting hours like a normal delivery.
3 - You have risks of infection by having a deceased fetus inside of you for an extended perios of time.
4 - You may still need a D&C if you do not expell all of the tissue or routinely for excessive bleeding / clots afterwards.

I'd go with the D&C.

P. M., I'm so sorry. Yes, I can unfortunately sympathize greatly with the decision you have to make. I underwent surgery for polyp removal, 2 1/2 rounds of IVF, surgery for kidney stones at 7 mo. pregant, and finally the birth of our two beautiful daughters after 4 years of trying.
A D&C was offered to me when the same thing occurred during our first IVF round. I opted to go natural. A nurse told me, they always encourage things natural if you can do it. The doctor continued to offer me the procedure a week later when I still didn't miscarry. So, you can always change your mind and have the procedure done. Yes, I did miscarry. It was a day of stomach aches and emotional saddness. But, I personally couldn't come to terms with havinga procedure to end something I wanted to badly. To a doctor, it's not an emotional decision. As long as your health does hang in the balance, make a decision that best works for you.
Good luck to you and your family!!

i wanted to let you know i understand your frusteration.
my first pregnancy ended with a d&c for an empty sack at 9/10 weeks-they waited that long in the hope (mostly for me i think i was 20 at the time) that something would happen.

i think you should weigh the facts-when i had mine done it was *elective*. meaning i got a $2000 bill from the hospital $400 from my dr and $200 for drugs to put me to sleep.

with the cost of ivf (im not nocking the whole thing my cousin has 3 beautiful little boys from it.) can you afford to have the d&c and in 6-8 weeks do another round?

i can tell you from my heart it doesnt hurt any less-you still feel like you did something wrong that maybe you could have hoped or prayed more....i am not trying to discourage you from the procedure im just trying to let you know that it wont make you feel better....in the end i picked that so i didnt feel pregnant any more. i had 3 days of light bleeding after-a trip to the ER because i was contracting. but after that it was just depression, i lost my job because i couldnt deal with being alone for 8 hours a day, didnt get out of bed for a month, there is nothing wrong with any of it. what im trying to say is feel what you need to feel just know that i got a baby boy in my next pregnancy and you will have another baby too.

im very very sorry,
i hope my rambelings helped-if you need to talk you can email me.
and if you want to be mad-DO IT!!! feel free to yell at people who say stupid things. i didnt and i wish now that i had.
K.

Hi there,
I had 2 D&C Procedures before having my first full term child-all went well. Both were around that 6/7 week time period, I guess it's just one of those stages in the pregnancy. The procedures were successful and there was a little discomfort the first day and some spotting. It's an out patient procedure, but it was nice to have my husband there with me.
I took it easy the next day (friday) and went to work monday.

But after my first D&C (research found it was Down's Syndrome) I was on a plane to Spain 7 days later. Believe me I asked my doctor whether it was safe to fly, he said no problem. Three and a half months later, I got pregnant again, but around that 6/7 week-no heart beat (the fetus had Trisomy 21) It just so happened I was going home to Hawaii for xmas (on a plane 5 days later), once again, it was fine.

Good luck to you.