early miscarriage - what happens?

[SilverSixpence]

asking on behalf of my SIL, she had a positive pg test last weekend then ended up in hospital when she felt dizzy after a dentist appointment. she had a negative test there, but they did a blood test to check and rang to tell her it was positive. She started bleeding on tues and it hasnt stopped. Her GP didnt refer her for a scan or do another blood test, just told her to do a repeat pg test on friday?? is this normal, i would have thought it was likely to still be positive until the hormones are out of her system, and surely a scan would be needed anyway to confirm? please advise thanks. she thinks she was about six weeks, and it is her second mc so i really feel for her, especially as me and another SIL have just had babies

[littleboyblue]

I've had 3 and yes, they should def scan o make sure that it is a m/c and if so that all has passed.
You can get a positive result for about 2 weeks after until the hormone levels drop.
The hormone in the blood increases with each day, so they can work out roughly how pregnant she is/was.
I'd advise her to go back to gp. But now they get charged for referrals to hospital they must just be trying to cut corners.

[thisisyesterday]

poor her I had a miscarriage and wasn't scanned. but if she is concerned then she should ask for a referral to EPU for one

[peacelily]

I had mc 2 months ago, wasn't scanned (was 6 weeks) but had 2 blood tests to check hormone levels, if they go up then pg prob ok, if they drop prob mc if the stay about the same over 48hrs it's prob ectopic which requires more intervention.

Really feel for her the waiting is horrible. Can she afford to go private? if I get pg again I'm going to go down this route for scans and tests. NHS ante-natal care is shocking (and I work in the NHS!!).

[SilverSixpence]

me too peacelily i was an a&e doc for 4 months b4 having DS and saw a few ppl in same situation. always felt awful telling them they'd have to wait a week b4 scans.