Wait for a miscarriage to pass or D & C?

I just found out that my baby has no hb at 9 weeks. Should I wait for it to pass or have a D & C?

Message edited 7/6/2010 1:03:20 PM.

Re: Wait for a miscarriage to pass or D & C?

It's a tough descision, it's really a personal choice. I can only share my stories.

My 1st m/c I chose to take the misprotrol and have the m.c at home. It was very painful and took several days for the medicine to actually works. I bled very heavy for a few days and then regular spotting for a good week after that.

About a week after taking the medicine I must of passed everything, it did not work for me right away.


The 2nd m./c I didn' expect, so it happened naturally. If you were to wait for it to happen naturally, u just dont know when and where you will be. You could be at work, mall, car, etc. Also, it could take days or weeks to naturally happen.

Most girls on this board have D&C. It is quick and very minimal pain. If I had to pick all over again, I would chose D&C. This way they can test to see if it was a chromosonal issue.

Hope that helps!!!

I am sorry you have to go through this.

Re: Wait for a miscarriage to pass or D & C?

I'm so sorry you are going through this, nobody should ever have to experience it.

as far as waiting or having a d&c, it really is your choice.

When I miscarried at 9 weeks due to an empty sac, my dr. recommended that I pass it on my own but only because I was already beginning to spot. I won't lie, it was excruciating, the pain was unbearable at times. I spent 5 hours with the most intense/severe cramps and my baby only measured 5w3d. I would go with what your dr. suggests. Maybe a D&C might be better.

Sending you lots of hugs and keeping you in my prayers

Re: Wait for a miscarriage to pass or D & C?

I had 2 losses before Abby and they happened on their own. I too at about the same time saw no heartbeat before I got PG with Zippy. I preferred to pass it on my own and I knew what to expect, but it didnt happen. Then I just wanted closure so I scheduled a D and C and honestly, I am glad i did.

From the D and C there wass pathology done and I found out exactly WHY I miscarried. It was a Trisomy 16 - the baby never would have made it past the first trimester. There was nothing i did wrong. There was nothing wrong with me or my DH and at that point I knew, as i always felt, that i had crap luck. I had one healthy baby, I could have another and I am.

Im not saying that knowing WHY is always best, but for me it was.

If you have any questions, please feel free to FM me.

Re: Wait for a miscarriage to pass or D & C?

it's really a personal choice.

It's hard to tell how long it will take for your body to recognize that the pregnancy is no longer viable and begin to miscarry.

I had no hb at 10 week and the baby was measuring 6 weeks. I waited another 2 weeks, still no heartbeat, scheduled a D&C. My HCG levels only started dropping the morning of my D&C, so I probably would have started to m/c in the next couple days.


I found it REALLY hard walking around knowing there was a baby inside but that it was not living. D&C was the best way for me, get it over and done with and move on. Plus, they were able to do testing like a PP said.

Re: Wait for a miscarriage to pass or D & C?

It's really a personal choice. I personally was not mentally able to handle waitinig for it to pass naturally. my doc said that it coudl take up to 2 months for it to happen and I couldn't handle the if's and whens...so I chose to take the meds...

Here's my story about my m/c I blogged about all of it, so if you want to read you can start at the post at the bottom of the page

my story

From what I've learned if I had to do it again I think I would have a D&C. I was terrified of the procedure and that's why I didn't do it. but the girls that did seemed to be able to move on much quicker...

Re: Wait for a miscarriage to pass or D & C?

I am sorry this happened. The doctor didnt see a HB at my first sono but thought my days could have been off. Then a few weeks later I had very very slight spotting and went back to dr. I also had to choose between natural and D & C. I work in the city so for me not knowing when it would happen and being so far away from home without my car was the deciding factor for me. The D & C wasnt bad at all. I am afraid of needles and taking blood so I am a big baby at the doctor. I was so nervous the day of the procedure and was shaking with fear as I was waiting in the prep room but after it was over it really wasnt that bad and if I ever have to make the choice again I would have a D & C without the major fear factor. Everyone is different but I had almost no pain after and minimal bleeding (less than an normal AF). Good luck with your decision and again I am sorry for your loss.

Re: Wait for a miscarriage to pass or D & C?

I had this choice as well.

I had a missed miscarriage at what should have been approx 11 weeks. I NEVER spotted or anything... so for me waiting for it to happen naturally was a real gamble because there was no telling when it could happen (even with inducing that drug). That's why it was an option I didn't go with.

Instead I chose the DNC. One reason I chose the DNC was to have the genetic testing done. It was important for me to at least try to find out why this happened. I don't know if it was an attempt to rule of blaming myself or just a need to know. Whatever it was... the DNC was the road I took.
I won't lie, it was scary before hand. Then you are knocked out. They told me there wouldn't be any cramping after about 2 days.. which SO turned out NOT to be the case at all. I had some severe cramping for about 10 or 11 days and bled for over 2 weeks. All cases are different though. I feel the cramping was nothing compared to the emotional pain though.

In the end, I think I chose the correct option for me. You need to chose what's best for you. No one can really tell you which is best to go with... just what we chose and why it was best for us. Ultimately it's your decision. Good luck... and I'm sooo sorry you have to experience this as well.

Re: Wait for a miscarriage to pass or D & C?

I am so sorry for you. I just miscarried at 9 weeks as well. MY RE felt it was best to do the meds as opposed to the D & C. The first round didn't work so I had to take a second round and it worked. It was painful for a few hours and then once the bleeding really took off, I just wanted it over.
Hang in there and be strong.
YOu will get through it!

Re: Wait for a miscarriage to pass or D & C?

I had a D&C...I'm glad I did. Everything was over and done with in a few minutes. My cousin recently had a MC, but the doctor had her take the medicine and it didn't work fully the first time, so she took a second dose. A few weeks later they found out she had an infection because everything didn't come out so she had to go in for a D&C anyway.

Either way - it's up to you. What do you feel more comfortable with.

Re: Wait for a miscarriage to pass or D & C?

Like everyone says, it definitely is a personal choice. I went to the doctor and there was no heartbeat at around 7 weeks. The next night, I was in horrible pain-cramping, puking and bleeding. My DH finally brought me to the ER and they said I passed most of it so I was given drugs to finish the process. Two weeks ago I went in for my routine check and again, there was no heartbeat. This time I begged the Dr to get me in the next day for a D&C. At least for me, it was so much "easier". Although it was surgery, it was quick and I had minimal cramping and bleeding. The emotional was the hardest part. The first time I sat tortured, feeling it and watching it happen for a week. This time, within a few days, I was able to put it aside and move forward. I wish you luck in whatever you decide. Stay strong.

Re: Wait for a miscarriage to pass or D & C?

With our first pregnancy, we lost the baby at 9wks and went to our OB. He told me to wait 1 week to see it will pass. If not, then we have to get a D & C and I ended up getting a D & C.

Re: Wait for a miscarriage to pass or D & C?

Samething happened to me at 10 wks but i didnt find out until 13 wks. My biody never naturally passed it. 3 weeks & i didnt have a clue. No bleeding no cramping & no back aches. in fact they couldnt believe that after 3 wks the fetus was still fully attached. So i went for a D&C & while i was scared & so was DH it was better. It made it easier to get on with life & move past this. If i waited i didnt no how long it would take & the Dr. said its not very healthy to keep it in there longer then need be. HTH & good luck to you.

Re: Wait for a miscarriage to pass or D & C?

I was just looking through all the forums and since I used to be a part of this one I stopped...First let me say that I am so sorry you are going through this right now..I don't think anyone can truly understand what you are feeling unless you've been through it...my first pg ended in a miscarriage at 8 weeks..there was no heartbeat..I was devastated but the thought of waiting for it to happen naturally was unbearable to me...if I didn't have a living fetus inside then I no longer wanted to be pg...I decided to do the d&c...it was the best decision for me..it helped me to be able to deal with what was happening..the surgery itself went ok and recovery was fine...I went back to work 2 days later with some bleeding....You have to decide what is best for you...you will make the right choice...my thoughts and prayers are with you...and although it is hard to see or understand now...everything does happen for a reason...good luck and stay well...