QuestionHi there, just been reading answers in regards to non viable pregnancy,
missed miscarriage and infection. I went for my 12 week scan and they said it
looked about 8 weeks and had stopped developing. My doctor gave me a
referral for a D and C and offered no other options except wait one week only
for a miscarriage. I have not miscarried and it has been 2 weeks since then. I
would be at least 14 weeks or so now....but still no miscarriage. I do not want
to go to hospital.
Question:
1. Is it likely to reabsorb the this late stage?
2. What are the risks of infection and how do I tell?
3. How long is too long to wait and I am risking future pregnancies?
4, Can I still take a drug to bring on miscarriage at this late stage rather than
have a D and C?
thank you Emma
AnswerDear Emma,
A miscarriage can occur any time before 20 weeks. Among known pregnancies, the rate of miscarriage is approximately 10% and usually occurs between the 7th and 12th weeks of pregnancy. It is sometimes not always easy to tell whether a miscarriage is taking place and one woman's experience may be very different from another woman's. A miscarriage often does not occur as a single event but as a chain of events over several days. Symptoms will include:
- Vaginal bleeding that may be light or heavy, constant or irregular. Bleeding typically begins quite heavy and will gradually lessen over the course of 7-10 days. But bleeding with pain is a sign that miscarriage is most likely occurring in the 1st trimester.
- Pain/Cramping - You may have pelvic cramps, abdominal pain, or a persistent, dull ache in your lower back. Pain may start a few hours to several days after bleeding has begun.
- Blood clots or grayish (fetal) tissue passing from the vagina.
You should always see your doctor after you think you have experienced a miscarriage. They will need to make sure that the uterus has completely emptied to avoid a risk of infection from any retained tissue. Also, if there was any Rh blood incompatibility, you will need to be treated for that to protect future pregnancies.
You have every right to attempt to miscarry naturally. But the natural miscarriage process can take days to weeks. From what I understand, medical management (medication to induce miscarriage) can only be given for up to 49 days after the LMP date. And the "miscarriage" after the MTX (Methotrexate) injection occurs anywhere from 2-6 weeks later, when the uterus expels the fetus. Passing the tissue is unpredictable. It may occur any time, day or night, any place.
This is really a personal decision for you. If you want to give it a bit more time, you can. But know that the longer you wait, the more difficult it can be. If you begin to note any foul odor or unusual vaginal discharge, fever, or abdominal pain, I would report that to your doctor right away as those symptoms may be signs of potential infection. If you want to have this done and get your cycles back into a normal pattern as quickly as possible in order to start trying again - the D&C may be the better option for you.
I hope this has helped you and answered your questions. I wish you well.
Brenda
