Please help! I am so scared of the D&C!

[minime1]

I was diagnosed with a missed miscarriage/blighted ovum. I am 10wks today the sac measured 6wks 4days. I have no bleeding or cramping. My doc scheduled a D&C for Tuesday. They are going to do 1 more ultrasound before the procedure just to make sure there is definitely no baby. I feel so scared and alone. My DH is breaking his back to help, but I still feel so empty and depressed. I just pray that I go naturally before the D&C. I cannot wait any longer....I NEED THIS TO BE OVER. Can you tell me about your experience with the D&C? Hopefully it will ease my fears. I am scared to death that there will be a complication and I will not be able to get pregnant in the future.

 

[KateC]

Hi there.

I had a blighted ovum diagnosed ~9 weeks, and I wanted to avoid a D&C too. I waited more than 3 weeks before I totally broke down and called to request the procedure. ~12 weeks, I had it done.

The D&C was SO much easier than the waiting. Sure, I cramped. Sure, I had to miss a few days of work and I had to have my family come to help with my daughter for my recovery, but it was really no big deal, and it gave me the closure I needed to heal and move on emotionally.

So here's how it went for me:

I had an early appointment. My daughter spent the night at my parents' so that my husband could take me to the hospital 1st thing. They do the procedure in L&D, so be prepared for that, but the nurse rushed me into my own room so that I wouldn't have to see or hear any other women giving birth. The nurses were so kind to me. I filled out a whole bunch of paperwork, then the anesthesiologist came in to put me under.

I was really, really nervous, but they put me out, and when I woke up, I was chatting away happily giving the anesthesiologist lots of unsolicited advice on how to get her child to sleep through the night. The most physically painful part of the entire morning was just them placing the IV. No big thing at all.

For the rest of the day, I couldn't lift anything (like my daughter), and I just had to rest. I had something like a heavy period for a couple of weeks with cramping for several days. The meds they gave me helped a lot (tylenol with codine). I only had to take one pill. The rest of the time I just took ibpruofin. Crampy, yes, but not unbearable.

It took another month or so for my HCG to drop to zero, and when it did, I got my period. I'm now on my second period, and there's no reason to believe I won't be able to get pregnant again. We'll start trying soon.


I know it's scary. I felt the same way you did. I wanted to avoid a D&C at all costs, yet the waiting completely broke me. I was so depressed I could barely drag myself out of bed and I missed a lot of work. It was crippling. After the D&C, all that weight was lifted off of me. I was still sad, but I was SO relieved.

I know so many women who have had D&C, and even though there is a small risk of complications, all of the women I know who had it were able to get pregnant again no problem. This is a very common procedure, and it almost always goes well. I'm sure that it will for you!

You're so brave! I wish I could hold your hand through this, but if you need more words of support or if you have any other questions, I'm here.

Love and strength to you. It is going to be okay.

 

[FunToRun]

Sorry to hear about your loss.

I've had two d&c's, both due to late m/c and both to remove the placenta (gave birth to both babies)

For both of them i was put to sleep, apart from the circumstances the actual procedure wasn't too painful. Woke up from the first one feeling a bit sore but nothing painkillers wouldn't fix. The second i didn't need any painkillers not sure if its the numbness of it all second time round.

To be honest the worst part for me was getting put to sleep.

Hope this helps X

 

[greeneyes0279]

So Sorry. I had a d&c 3 weeks ago. It was painless for me. Slight cramping for few days after. I'm glad I had it done and not naturally. I was 11weeks (baby passed at 9wks). Wish you well.

 

[minime1]

Thanks so much for stopping by and sharing your experiences with me. I appreciate them sooooo much.

 

[Chocogirl]

I've had one too and I was scared witless about the general anaesthetic, but you really know nothing about it and you should only be out about 15 minutes. Be prepared to have to wait around before the surgery and take a book or something to take your mind off things. I was in a day surgery ward, so that wasn't too bad. Everyone knew how scared I was and all the nurses etc were all really lovely. I didn't really have any pain after and barely any bleeding to speak of after the first day. I would have been 7 weeks when I had it done.

xx

 

[Tweak0605]

First off, sorry for your loss

I had a D&E yesterday, same thing as a D&C but with a vacuum type thing to get everything out. I was terrified just like you. I was diagnosed at 10 weeks with a missed miscarriage. We lost the baby at 7w5d. And I had my D&E at 12 weeks.

I got to the hospital at 10, and they took my in, changed and started my IV and everything. The doctor ended up running behind, about FOUR HOURS behind. I laid there and waited, with my DH, until a little after 2 p.m.

Roughly 20 minutes before they took me back, they gave me 2 doses of a relaxing drug. They gave me 1 dose, then 10 minutes later gave me the second. I didn't really think it was doing anything, but now that I look back, I was kinda drowsy. Once in the OR, they gave me oxygen and they were talking to me. The anesthesiologist then said he was giving me the sleepy drug. I closed my eyes and next thing I know I was waking up in recovery. I told DH that the sedation is the freakiest thing because at one moment you're talking, next you're waking up.

It was seriously the best decision I made. The doctor told me my cervix was still tightly closed, and that whatever was in there wasn't coming out for awhile. I've had very very minor cramping, all I need is a heating pad. And very little bleeding. Like no bleeding at all today, and slight bleeding yesterday.

 

[hotmamax3]

I am so sorry for your loss. Hang in there. Best Wishes.

 

[daviess3]

I had my ssecond d and c on sat, first one july last year absolutely painfree physically obviously emotionally hard! The actual procedure was very quick an quick recovery time etc.
This time i am similiar to you i had a mmc at 11 weeks really gutted as my 3rd mc! I went in friday had 3 tablets inserted vaginally at my cervix to dilate it was uncomfortable but over in seconds that makes your cervix contract but is a very low dosage compared to ladies being induced apparently so just feels bit period crampy!! Cut long story short the hospital was under staffed an i got sent home an had to come back on the sat!! I was upset tired an had been nil by mouth so had headache an hungry! Went back next day straight down back in my private room by 10am, this time i feel bit bruised but nothing bad. Even after the whole horrid situation of being sent home etc an feeling a bit tender now its the thought of it thats the worsed thing hun!! Im the biggest woosey going i have to be put to sleep by mask i thinkits gas coz i hate needles so much!! I honestly have zero pain threshold, an if i can get through it an say its ok trust me you can!! I havent ever felt worse than a bit period crampy so dont worry hun. The thought of it an dealing with whats happened is by far the hardest part! But for me it was better than the waiting to see something in the toilet like my second mc i couldnt bare it!! But every1s different but d and c was right for me!!
Anyway good luck sweetie so sorry for your loss xx

 

[KateC]

Minime, you're going to do great!

I know how scary it is. I was just as scared. But it can be very healing to not have to wait anymore.

Love and strength to you!

 

[1liz9]

First, I'm very sorry for your loss.

I had the d&c done earlier this week. I too was terrified and spent many sleepless nights praying it would happen naturally. I had never had any surgery before so the thought of going under also scared me on top of all else.

For me it was the best decision. I do not remember a thing. There was no pain, no Craming after, etc. I have spotted a little, but really minimally. You have to do what is right for you but for me I am Soooo glad I finally got it done.

Moreover I found it brought closure to a horrible event. It really helped.

Hoping you find strength in this difficult time.

 

[deanma]

by now you have probably already had the procedure, but in case you haven't I just wanted to encourage you not to fear it. I felt the same way before I had the D&C. I was diagnosed with a blighted ovum at about 8 weeks way back in December, right before Christmas. As of mid-March the tissue STILL had not left my system. We did an ultrasound and there was tissue still there with a blood supply. For some reason my body did not want to let this tissue go. A rare situation, the doctor said. I REALLY did NOT want to have a D&C, and the doc was happy to let me wait it out. But after 3 months of waiting for the miscarriage to resolve itself naturally, it never did, and she recommended we immediately do the D&C. It was done under general anesthesia and I had no problems whatsoever. Afterwards I felt no pain at all and had very little bleeding. I was back to normal in no time. I did feel a bit down afterwards, owing to the anesthesia wearing off and the difficulty of this whole experience overall. However, one week later I am so happy that it's over and I am ready to move on. Good luck and don't worry!

 

[minime1]

Well, I didn't have the d&c afterall. I ended up going naturally 4 days before my scheduled appt. To be honest, I am thinking the d&c is the way to go. I have had the longest most painful natural miscarriage. I had no idea that it was going to feel like labor. I always thought a miscarriage was like a very heavy period. Wow, was I surprised! I am hoping that I am near the end of it. Although, I still have contractions on and off. My bp is very low from all the blood loss 93/51 and I feel very weak. I am on bed rest now. Will I ever feel normal again????? I'm sure that I will get stronger physically, but I feel emotionally damaged.