For those trying to decide between options following an mmc

I’ve just experienced my third mmc and have now experienced most options provided for women in this situation. I spent hours searching the internet hoping to see experiences prior to making my decisions so promised myself I would post to help others. The only thing I haven’t experienced is a natural miscarriage, I waited 4 weeks with all three but never experienced any bleeding etc. So I had to have help. Hope this helps someone in a difficult time.

MVA (Manual Vacuum Aspiration)

My first miscarriage was discover at 12 weeks, the baby measured 6 with no heartbeat.

I opted for an MVA as I wanted it over and a D&C was not available on the Nhs and I couldn’t stand the thought of having medically managed in a bay of 6 women going through the same thing.

The procedure was quick, less than ten minutes but I was awake with few painkillers. It was probably my most painful experience, the procedure initially feels like a smear test but once the vacuum is on I experienced intense cramping, enough to make me cry out. Following the procedure I had minimal cramps and bleeding but ended up with retained products that I didn’t pass for another 6 weeks naturally.

D&C

The second time was similar in weeks. This time I had private health and opted for a D&C mainly because it is the least likely to leave you with retained product. It was under general, took slightly longer, probably 25 minutes. I had mild cramps and bleeding after and a sore feeling inside and my legs muscles were sore, probably because of the position. I was home the same day but took a couple of days to get over the general. I still ended up with retained product unfortunately and passed naturally during my next period.

Medical management

It took me two years and ivf to get pregnant a third time. Although all test came back fine, as I was able to get pregnant the first month of ttc the first two times I was convinced the surgical intervention of my mmcs was the cause of my infertility.

I got pregnant with my first ivf treatment but again no heartbeat at around 6 weeks. After waiting for a natural mc for 4 weeks I decided on medical management (my most feared option) to avoid surgical intervention.

I feared it because I’d heard so many horror stories of extreme pain, bleeding and diarrhoea. As you don’t get a private room in the nhs and private won’t do medical management I envisaged 6 women waiting for one toilet whilst in extreme pain and bleeding and shutting everywhere (sorry for tmi).

I took one tablet 48 hours before being admitted to the ward. This is to ‘turn off’ your progesterone and release the sac ready for the cervix to open.

On the day of treatment I was given 4 pessaries to open the cervix and told to lie down for an hour and then be on my feet as much as possible. I began bleeding around 2 hours after the pessaries (normal period bleeding with very little pain). As my body naturally doesn’t like to give up failed pregnancies I was given another dose three hours after the first orally.

After the second dose I experienced cramps almost immediately. They were strong enough to know they were there but not enough to take pain killers. I decided to decline all pain killers (they can slow the process) and stay on my feet (supposed to speed it up). An hour after the second dose I felt a blood clot fall out and went immediately to the toilet where I passed the full sac and large blood clots. It was pretty painless and the cramps almost immediately disappeared after the sac was passed.

The nurse checked and came to tell me everything had passed and I was able to go home two hours later with light period type bleeding.

It was yesterday so I’m not sure about retained product but am pretty confident that all has passed this time. Today I am experiencing light cramps but nothing too bad at all.

For those worried about seeing something, I did see the sac, it was grey in colour but nothing baby like to see, however this will be different for ladies further along.

Everything considered for me the medical management has been the easiest, least painful and best choice I have made. It is also the least invasive and holds the fewest risks for your continued fertility. I can’t believe i avoided it the first two times

Good luck to all ladies out there going through this. I’m thinking of you x