Dilate and Curettage

I went to the doctor on Monday, being 8wks and 5 days pregnant, and was told that my baby did not have a heartbeat and that it had stopped growing 2 weeks before.  I was told that I had a missed miscarriage.  I was given 2 choices: to wait for the miscarriage or have a d&c.  At first I choose to wait, but the next day was miserable, never knowing what or when something was going to happen.  So I contacted my doctor and had a d&c performed today (Thursday).  Here's my question: I am out of surgery and everything went well (considering the situation).  But I was told that I would experience heavy bleeding and cramping.  I have not experienced either yet.  I was wondering if this was normal for some women.  I mean I bleed after the hospital and am only spotting now with minimal to no cramps.  Is this normal for some women???  Thanks for helping!

[AnnieBrooke]

I have had a D&C to remove uterine polyps and barely bled at all, and had a D&C years later to remove a very tiny amount of retained tissue after a natural miscarriage.  No bleeding there, just spotting.  Granted, neither was for removing the full 'products of conception' after a pregnancy faded, but it seems unsurprising to me that you would not have heavy bleeding.  If they did what they were trying to do, there would not be a lot left in the uterus.  I am sorry about your miscarriage, and wish you good luck in your next try.

[ita17]

First  of all I am really sorry ;(  I too had a missed mc @ 11 weeks, baby stopped about 1 week earlier.
I felt like I was really pushed to do a DnC, being that NOTHING was happening!  I even still had several pg symptoms going on.
So I had it 2 days later.  Mine went as "planned", I bled though quite a bit in recovery ( I had bad shakes for a bit & they had to give me a shot of demerol, which REALLY helped, my body was in a bit of shock)
Went home & I las then only lightly bleeding, & NO cramping.  The next day I had almost no bleeding, but I was a little crampy but not at all bad.
BUT the day AFTER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  woeeee, My cramps were not horrible, but were all day, lightly bleeding, & HORMONES gone WILD!  I was SOOOOO depressed, it was so horrible.  I've mc's twice before this on my ow, & it was nothing like this.

Luckily I locked myself up in my room, watched movies & BALLEDDDDD & BALLLLEEEDDDDD all day n night.  The next day I was feeling much better.  But it took me about 2-3 days to feel "normalISH" again.
So don't worry if you feel a little unlike yourself for a few days.  
Your body has been through a lot of changes the past 2 months, & you need a few days - weeks & sometimes MONTHS to heal ;)

[Diane1003]

I had a d & c at about the same time as you- it was for sure the hardest thing I have ever been through - so I'm so sorry for your loss!  I didn't bleed much at all - in the hospital, the day after or at all... I spotted for maybe 5 days or so but never really 'bled' or filled a pad.  I didn't cramp at all either... I was just grateful thinking that meant the dr did a good job cleaning me out!  Now I've been told to wait two cycles before TTC.  Now the hardest part is not knowing when I'm going to ovulate and when my period is coming!

[gidget76]

So so sorry for your loss. I had a D&C 4 days ago (tues) and am still quite sore. Cramps were at worst yesterday, (may have overdone it the day before) other than that it has been physically ok. Slight bleeding day one, and now minimal (darker) spotting, but hardly any at all. Initially when I came out of recovery in hospital there was quite a lot of blood, and that was it really. I was nearly 13 weeks pregnant, but the sac had only grown to 10 weeks which I found out on Monday at my scan. Was an awful shock. The embryo was not there at all, just feels so surreal as I have been so so sick for most of the time with morning sickness.

Still feel very fragile emotionally, spontaneously crying a lot, a little better today though. Think it will take time. Trying not to feel terrified that it will happen again once we start TTC in a few months.

[familylady]

I'm sorry!  I know how you feel!  It is hard and very surreal (which is the perfect word to discribe it).  I want to thank everyone who responded!  These situations just suck (for the lack of a better word)!  I still have not had any bleeding at all.  Just on the first day and thats it; the cramps come and go.  It's good to know that the "not bleeding much"  is normal.  I was only told it was going to be heavy.  Thanks to those who responded!

[butterfly021]

I am in a similar situation.  I found out I was pregnant in the beginning of July, felt horrible the whole month, so I assumed everything was good.  Then one night I went to the bathroom before bed and had some pink spotting when I wiped, followed by a tiny red spot.  I freaked out, but tried to wait it out.  For the next 2 weeks I had brown spotting.  Didn't feel as bad or bloated, which worried me.  I figured since I wasn't bleeding heavily, the doctors wouldn't be concerned, so I waited it out until my next scheduled appointment.  The dr. said everything looked fine and wasn't too concerned, but sent me for an ultrasound to "ease my mind."  I was convinced things were not going well, but then the dr. made me feel better.  As soon as I went in for the ultrasound, I knew it was bad - I could barely see anything and should have been almost 10 weeks.  It was confirmed that they baby had stopped growing at around 7 weeks - which is exactly when I noticed the first spotting.  Now that I think back, I did have some cramping - but they told me to expect more pulling and stretching since this was my 2nd pregnancy.  Anyway, they sort of pushed me into a d&c, which I did NOT want, but I am a teacher and was going back to work in a week, so I figured I needed to get it over with.  Things went as fine as can be expected, but that whole expereince of the d&c was traumatic for me.  Really, how many times is it necessary to ask someone what they are having done when they just lost a pregnancy???  That ticked me off!!

Anyway, my d & c was Aug. 19th.  I barely bled that day and the next 2 days.  Then 3 days later, I had some decent cramping and bleeding like a bad period.  It calmed down the next day and gradually has lessened.  Emotionally, I cried and felt awful for the first 3 days, then by the 4th I didn't cry and was feeling better.  Now it's been 10 days and I am STILL spotting.  I still don't feel like myself either.  The past 2 days, I have almost made it all day without any spotting, then it appears and I get all disappointed.  I just want this to be over with.  I have a friend who had a d & c and they didn't get it all and she had to get another one.  I am so scared of that - I wonder when I should be concerned about still bleeding.  The dr. said it would be up to 2 weeks, so I feel like if I call they aren't going to say anything.  I still feel a little tiny bit nauseous every now and again and a little said here and there.  I started back to work and feel like there are all these pregnant women around!!  Then people make comments, unknowingly - like are you ready for #2? and do you want more?  And my neighbor, who I leant all my maternity clothes to, just said she is done with them and they are ready for me.  Ouch.  She doesn't know what happened, and I was only a little upset about it.  So I guess I am getting better.

Today I do not feel well at all, and I'm wondering if I am getting sick unrelated to the d & c or if there might be a problem. I feel tired, achey (achy), naeseous, but no fever or anything.  What do you think I should do?

To those of you who had d & c's recently, how are you feeling?  I'm just wondering if I am "normal."  The only person I know that had one, didn't have a normal experience due to them not getting all the tissue.  Thanks and I'm really sorry you are having to go through this also.  It really really *****.