D+C question

[tjtheminx]

I found out yesterday at my doctors visit that I have had a MMC at 15 weeks. (Ironically I was there to discuss a high risk triple test result and plan for and amnio) My lovely consultant had just completely reassured me that everything would turn out fine but then couldn't find a heartbeat on the doppler. An ultrasound showed that my baby died at 14+2 weeks.

I am scheduled for a D+C next Tuesday. Can anyone give me a rundown on what to expect? I have never had a general anaesthetic before.Do you bleed much/for long afterwards. How long should I take off work ( my boss wants me to come back Wednesday but I have told her so far am taking Tues and Wed off) Do you think I will need longer?

I had a MMC at 12 weeks 3 years ago so am dreading the depression I got last time afterwards.

Please let me know your experiences.

I am so devestated but maybe some practical advice will keep me focussed.

Thanks

[ClaudiaSchiffer]

tj I am so very sorry for your loss, how incredibly sad for you. I had a mmc last Oct and had a d & c. It was a very easy procedure (although obv emotionally pretty tough), I went into hospital, had a chat with the (lovely) anesthetist, I was then wheeled into theatre and knocked out. Apparently all was over very quickly (sob) and I woke up in the recovery unit. I probably bled for a week or so afterwards, can't really remember, but it wasn't heavy or painful. There it was, pregnancy over.

The actual physical process was painless and easy and I was very well cared for. Emotionally it was fairly difficult but I am very fortunate to have two young children who kept me going. My baby would be due next week if this hadn't happened.

In terms of taking time off work, I don't think you will need much - in terms of the physical procedure 3 or 4 days? But emotionally you may find it harder to go back so soon? How supportive is your work place? Sometimes it can be good to get back to work and be busy to avoid thinking too much, can work be flexable?

Good luck and my sincere commiserations. Poor you.

[EldonAve]

So sorry to hear of your loss

I have had 2 ERPC (similar to D&C). As Claudia says it was painless.
I hardly bled after the first but the second time I had some v mild blood loss.

Different people react to general anaesthetic differently. I would say you definitely need to rest & recover the following day and the hosp will want someone to pick you up and look after you for 24hrs
You aren't supposed to drive/sign contracts etc for I think 24hrs

I find I react badly to alcohol following GA so I avoid it for at least a week afterwards

[Mummyfor3]

So sorry for your loss .

Technically you are going to have an "evacuation" rather than "dilatation + curettage" which involves different instruments which are gentler on the hormone softened womb.

I have had 4 evacs, all before 10 weeks, but found them all physically no problem at all. You are likely to have a v short anaesthetic (15min or so) and wake up feeling quite "normal". I had some bleeding, not v heavy for @ 10 days. Also I always had a period again after about 6 weeks.

You may be offered a suppository of Voltarol/Diclofenac which is given while you are still asleep. I have always agreed to this and had no problems with pain at all.

Can you ask for a genetic analysis of the fetus if you feel getting an answer why this pregnancy did not continue would help you?

As others have said above, everybody reacts differently to GA and the whole experience, but I would agree physically easy, emotionally devastating.

I hope you have lots of support to get through this. V best of luck.

[Neeko]

Hi. really sorry to hear your news. I had an ERPC 7 weeks ago after a MMC at 12 weeks. I walked into the operating theatre and was put under through a drip in my hand. I was apparently only under for about 20 mins and drowsy for about half an hour after that. The bleeding only lasted for about 2 1/2 days and I had very mild cramping while I bled. I could have physically gone back to work 2 days after but was an emotional mess. I took a week and a half off and went back for a week before having 2 wks holiday (I'm a teacher) My period took 43 days to come and it wasn't really until then that I felt emotionally strong.
Please don't be pushed into going back to soon. Good luck for the procedure and be kind to yourself.

[elvislives]

Sorry for your loss.

I have had 2 mmc, both followed by ERPC. Like the others have said, physically it is very easy. They put you out and you wake up and it's all over. My second one I had a reaction to the GA and they kept me in overnight because I was feeling a bit dizzy, but there was little if any pain and minimal bleeding for about a week.

I took the rest of the week off work both times. I certainly wasn't going to rush back.

Mentally recovery takes a lot longer

[tjtheminx]

Thanks everyone,

Not looking forward to it at all. But thanks for the messages. I am dreading the GA - in case anyone has seen my posts before I am a doctor but not one who puts my patients under very often! Also, when it comes to medical issues with myself or one of my family I am always a complete mess and all my medical training goes out the window. You know what they say about a little knowledge.... knowing the worst case scenario I always think about all the potential disasters that could happen. ( and I mustn't have been in college the day they were doing D+Cs!)

M43 I am in the US now ( I had a MMC in Ireland 3 years ago) - I have asked the OB and will get a full karyotype and full investigations myself -apparently here they do it after 2 MCs. I don't even know if I could cope if something was wrong but I don't have a choice.

As for work they are "supportive" but it's only lip service. My section director has told me to take as much time as I want but my immediate boss basically implied I could be back at work that afternoon. Not at all impressed with her attitude, she is one of these people who turns everthing back on herself... I had just found out and obviously a complete emotional mess and she told me about her recent termination for "lifestyle reasons" (WTF??!!!) . Hardly appropriate.

Thanks again for all your kind words, I managed to get some sleep last night and feel much more able to face things now.

I am glad the procedure is relatively painless. But becuase I had a MMC before I know about the emotional fallout afterwards. It was awful the last time. Unless you have been through it I think it is very difficult for others to understand the feelings.Luckily I do have good support.

[amyboo]

I just had an ERPC for an MMC at 12 weeks. It was my first time under general anaesthetic as well. It was completely painless, but emotionally horrible. When I came round from the anaesthetic I just bawled my eyes out... I only had heavy bleeding for a couple of hours, and then spotting for a few days. It's pretty much finished now (4 days on).

I'm back in work today after having Friday (bank holiday here) off and then the weekend. I feel OK, but I guess it completely depends on how you react to things. Physically you should be fine to work, but emotionally you might not want to. I personally find that I prefer getting back to normal - it's helping me to try and move on...

Good luck. x