Miscarriage: at what point to they do a D&C?

[Pea-n-Me]

A friend suffered a miscarriage at 10 weeks last week.

She went into the ER for bleeding over the weekend, it sounds like a hemorrhage - she bled profusely, passed out on the floor, and there was talk of blood transfusions but those ended up not being necessary. No D&C.

I'm just told she went in again today for the same thing, and still no D&C - she's being told she'll be bleeding/cramping for "a couple of weeks". Additionally, she's grieving the loss and missing work, etc.

Is this the norm? I've looked it up online and I only find talk of generalities. What are people's real life experiences? (Sorry, also, to anyone who's had to go through it.)

 

[staley7580]

Wow. Im so sorry for your friend. I have had 2 miscarriages.. One at 8 weeks, and one at 13.. Both times I had a D&C that night. I cant imagine them just letting her bleed like that.

 

[nuke]

My doctor gave me a choice the first time. He said I could let nature do it's thing or get a D&C and it would be over with in a few days. I chose the D&C. My 2nd miscarriage I wasn't as far along and I just let things happen naturally.
I think it depends on the doctors.

 

[JessicaR]

I found this.

About 50% of women who miscarry do not undergo a D&C procedure. Women can safely miscarry on their own, with few problems in pregnancies that end before 10 weeks. After 10 weeks, the miscarriage is more likely to be incomplete, requiring a D&C procedure to be performed. Choosing whether to miscarry naturally (called expectant management) or to have a D&C procedure is often a personal choice, best decided after talking with your health care provider.
http://www.americanpregnancy.org/pregnancycomplications/dandc.html

It sure sounds like she needs one! I can't imagine sending her away the first time!

My sister had a miscarriage at 8 weeks and they did a d&c.

 

[luvmyfam444]

She needs to call her ob/gyn & ask about the D&C. When I m/c they went straight in & did one - though I didn't have any bleeding before the procedure - I didn't even know I"d had a m/c - just the u.s showed it.

BUT yes - afterwards there was cramping & bleeding for a good week - maybe longer (its been a few years for me).

As long as theydid an ultrasoung on her & feel that she passed everything a D&c wouldn't be necessary I don't think.

A FABULOUS site for her to get support is www.babycenter.com. YOu can ask the question over there on those boards as well - there is a board full of women who've been thru it to talk to. And of course TONS on there that conceived again afterwards that are good to talk to when its time.

 

[TeresaNJ]

I'm thinking they should have done the D&C this time around. There are other risks from an incomplete spontaneous abortion, such as infection.

 

[clgwli]

Depends on the person. I had one but I was at 12 weeks and my doctor worried about hemorrhaging that far along. I was given the option, but my doc was pushing for that. You can also do it "naturally" or with the help of a pill.

 

[MomofKatie]

JessicaR posted some good information- generally, the further along in the pregnancy, the more need for a D&C. I miscarried very early- 6 weeks- and didn't need one at all. My OB/GYN did an internal ultrasound and there was nothing left. But, your friend should go and have them see if she needs one, or at least give her the choice.

 

[Nancy]

My doctor gave me a choice the first time. He said I could let nature do it's thing or get a D&C and it would be over with in a few days. I chose the D&C. My 2nd miscarriage I wasn't as far along and I just let things happen naturally.
I think it depends on the doctors.

That's what mine did.I was at 12 weeks, he gave me the choice.I choice the D & C. At that point I just wanted it over since it was over and I didn't want to be reminded all the time until it happened naturally, especially when they really have no idea when it will happy naturally...days,weeks? I didn't want to wait.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

Thanks, all.

She is under the care of her OB/GYN, they've been the ones sending her to the ER. And from what I can tell, everyone's telling her she can do it naturally. My interpretation from what I've read is that naturally is fine, but if there's hemorrhaging, then it might be time to move to D&C.

They did do an ultrasound Saturday and said everything was out. Having hemorrhaged myself before (post partum), I was concerned it would happen again if there were any fragments left in there. And sure enough, it happened again today. I'm worried it will happen again, and concerned how hard it is to keep going through it like this.

 

[JoyG]

I m/c at 10 weeks.

It was incredibly painful (I actually passed out) but in the end I didn't need a D&C.

 

[tonilea]

I miscarried this past year. The first twin (at six weeks) was a natural miscarry and had already taken place, the second twin was 12 weeks. My doctor said I could micarry naturally or have a D&C. It had been a very difficult period between the first loss and the second, so, for the sake of my mental health, I chose to have the D&C and would do the same again.

In her situation, I believe I would demand a D&C.

My doctor seemed very suprised when I came to her office the morning after the ER visit (ultrasound with no heartbeat) and told her what I wanted to happen:

Second ultrasound to confirm results
D&C
and some type of sleeping pills

She was very agreeable to provide me with everything I requested.

I had bleeding - which tapered down to spotting for about 45 days.

 

[c4a]

It depends on what type of miscarriage (tubal or not) and how far along she is. My experience is that when it was done...they did it that night. My ob/gyn came in and said "This is what we need to do..." I have had 2.
My other 3 miscarriages... I was only a couple months along and one wasn't done.

 

[DebD4T]

I miscarried my first pregnancy at 11 weeks. I started bleeding, that is how I knew something was wrong. I had many ultrasounds and it was decided that I was passing the tissue so a d&c was not necessary. I actually did not want one because I was afraid that if my uterus was scraped, I might have difficulty getting pregnant again at a later date. The down side to no d&c was that for some reason I kept bleeding...for 3 months...heavy at times...my ob/gyn kept checking and the ultrasound showed no tissue left, but I kept bleeding.

My second miscarriage was between my 2 DD's, also at 11 weeks. I went in for a regular appointment and the dr. couldn't find a heartbeat. He immediatly scheduled me for a d&c. The physical recuperation time was much shorter, but emotionally...no difference.

 

[Liberty Belle]

Wow. When I had a miscarriage, I bled at home for a week, went to doctor and he checked me and said I'd lost way too much blood and he wanted me to go to the hospital immediately and get a D & C. I delayed it until the next morning because I had to pick up my son from school, but even then he told me that if I bled too much before morning (he was specific as to the amount), to go to the ER right away.

 

[HelenePA]

WOW I think its time to look for a new doctor. Sure she can wait but bleeding like that is NOT good. The day after I found out I lost my pregnancy I had a D&C I could have waited to do it "naturally" but what was the point? it could have taken weeks/months even. I didn't bleed after my D&C at all which was one of the reasons I had it done. I also hemmoraged post partum with my last delivery.

 

[Cantw8]

I miscarried at 8 weeks....everything came out naturally but the placenta. There was a risk of severe infection so the D&C was necessary

 

[ZachnElli]

Sounds like your friend should have had a d&c. I've had 3 d&c's, 1 d&e, plus 3 natural miscarriages. My doctors never let me bleed like that. The only time I started hemorraging, I just happened to have a doctor's appointment that day and my doctor wasn't going to let me leave. She did, but only to go home and get ready for the d&c a few hours later. I'm so sorry for your friend. I've found that I couldn't start healing emotionally until the bleeding stopped completely.

 

[Bec3b1g]

I miscarried at 13 weeks. I'm not sure if miscarried is the right word since it was a partial molar pregnancy. D&C same day as ultrasound.

Your poor friend. I can't imagine losing the pregnancy and then having to worry about the risk of hemorrhage. I would be demanding a D&C.

 

[Lynne G]

Hugs to your friend. After been there done that, I too would want a D&C.