How long until I have a miscarriage?

I had my last ultrasound a week ago, 9w2d pregnant(LMP). They said the fetus was too small for a 9 week pregnancy (it was only 6w1d) and they found no heartbeat. I was told I'm going to have a miscarriage. It's been a week and nothing happened and knowing my baby is dead and it might take a long time for me to have this miscarriage and get closure on it is driving me insane. I can't even sleep at night anymore. I was just wondering how long it's gonna be until I pass it. I feel no cramps and have no bleeding (although I had some some on my 6th. week, no cramping, just mild spotting. Any help would be highly appreciated. Thanks.

[cinnamonheart]

Sorry!!
Sometimes It can take weeks before anything happens
I know one poster said it was almost 6 weeks for her
I know its not what you wanted to hear

Now a days they try to let you miscarry naturally and dont do as many d&c.
My miscarriage was 12 years ago, I hope you will find strength in knowing others have been there and feel for you.

[waterskigirl]

I am so sorry for what you are going through.  My sister just went through the same thing, at 10 weeks something didn't feel right so she went to the OB.  The U/S showed the baby had stopped growing at 7 weeks.  She just finally miscarried naturally last weekend after 4 weeks since the baby passed. If you want closure, you might speak to your Dr. about alternatives. Again I am very sorry for what you are going through.  

[goliath35]

Sorry for this difficult time.  
2 weeks ago my husband and I went for our normal ultrasound and blood work.  And we were told there was no heartbeat.
Right away they gave us 2 options... sedation or no sedation.
And scheduled us to come in 2 days later.  
Nature took its course the next day and we did not have to keep our Monday appointment.

Your doctor should address your emotions.  Are you and your partner able to contact the doctor and discuss this more with him to have other possible options. Are the nurses in his office able to help at all? The not knowing is very hard and when something starts to happen it can be even harder if you are not aware of what is to come.

[blondie72]

I personally would not wait too long.  I would think the longer it is left in the more chance for infection but I could be wrong.  I chose to have the D&C the very next day of finding out we had no heartbeat (2 yrs ago)I am really glad I did.  I felt I got it over with and I could move on and try again.  Well I did get pg again in 3 months after and I now have a beautiful little one yr old boy.  Talk to you dr about your options and go from there but I would personally have the D&C done.  Good Luck and sorry for your loss.

[monbaby]

Hi again,

I just talked to my doctor, I told him I want another u/s in a week, just to make sure my baby is really dead, maybe I'm just trying to have a tiny little bit of hope, but I can't get a D&C without getting another scan. Having done that and the result is still the same, no heartbeat, then I will schedule a D&C,also because I'm terrified of going thru a natural miscarriage, the physical and emotional pain must be too much for me to take. My husband and I are really upset and worn out and we definitely need closure, after all this hasn't started here, this pregnancy was very difficult from week 1!
I've been reading a lot about D&C and natural miscarriage and I guess I made up my mind. Thanks for your help and support. Monica

[jaydens mom]

I waited for over 6 weeks. And I could not handle it anymore. I needed closure. Everyone is different. Sorry you are going through this. My thoughts and prayers are with you! Hang in there. I now have a healthy 8 1/2 month old to show for the possibility of concieving after a miscarriage!

[mmj33]

Well I have had two miscarriages, the first one sounds just like your story. I went to the doctor, had an us and no heartbeat.  I went back one week later...same story.  My doctor gave me the option to do either and I decided to have a D&C because I was scared of having a miscarriage at home.  My second miscarriage I had naturally at home and it was horrible.  It was a million times worse than the D&C. Neither way is good obviously but the miscarriage at home was emotionally and physically too much for me. I recovered much quicker after the D&C. Well I am praying for you.

[blondie72]

Hey nothing wrong with holding onto hope for awhile.  You know stranger things have happened.  You could have ovulated later maybe.  Hang in there and let us know how it goes.

[mnm8902]

Hi, I am so sorry to hear what you are going through.  I just had a D&C yesterday because I was 9w5d and the heartbeat had stopped and baby was measuring 6w.  I miscarried also in Feb. at 10 weeks.  I miscarried naturally and that took about 10 days from the time I started spotting.  I opted for the D&C this time and I preferred it because the waiting last time almost destroyed me and the actual miscarriage was quite painful - both physically and emotionally.  I wish you nothing but the best in the future, and pray for a healthy baby for you soon

[D's mom]

Hey! There is always still hope, when i went for my first check up, i was suppose to be 6 weesk LMP, but the doctor said i looked 5 weeks from ultra sound, he found a sac, no baby and no heart beat, he wanted me to come back in the next two weeks to make sure, sure enough there was my lil bugger ticking away, i was 7 weeks going my ultra sound and my baby was fine. now i have a very active two year old. If you have been having morning sickness, watch to see if it continues to rise or if u notice more signs of pregnancy or if everything seems to slowy go away. usually morning sicknees does not go away until 3 months and i had it up to my nine months. I wish u all the best!!!!

[Neshia]

well i am 5 weeks. i woke up yesterday, went to the bathroom and wiped and notice i was bleeding. it wasn't spotting it was me bleeding. so i went to the emergency room and the doc examined me. he did an u/s and said he didn't see nothing but at i'm just leaving my fourth week going into my fifth. he tested my level of hormones and it was ninety somthing he said it should be higher like in the 150. i don't feel the er doc should be seeing pregnant women. well today i went to my ob and he ran the same test and told me he wasn't sure yet if i had miscarried or not. he told me to come back wedn. to get the level checked again. my doc also said that the er doc should not have told me i miscarried because it isn't unknown yet. so i'm scared and worried. did i mention if i have a miscarry this will be the third. i lost my first at 16 wks. and the second at 18 wks. can someone please talk to me. give me hope. i'm really praying.

[monbaby]

5 weeks is too soon to tell anything. I know you don't want to hear that but you have to be patient, wait another 2 weeks and get another transvaginal u/s. By then the doctor should be able to see something.

[monbaby]

UPDATE

Baby still got no heartbeat at 11 weeks, so it's time to make a choice and I'm going for the D&C, I decided it will be easier to face. Thank you girls for your help and support. Monica.

[Neshia]

i am 5 weeks and i started bleeding suday i went to the emergency room to get checked out they drew blood and did a vaginal u/s. they said my levels were low which was 90. the doc then told me i was miscarring. Monday i went to the he did the same thing but he said it was too early to tell so he drew my blood again. today is wendesday i went back for my result he said the level was low which was 73. i am waiting for him to contact me tomorrow to let me know my result. i think i may ask him to do another exam. before he finalizes his desicion.

[beth88]

I just suffered a miscarriage this morning. I was at 5 months. It was a complete miscarriage, and everything passed so I didn't feel the need to go to the doctor. Amazingly, I felt normal within a few hours. It's quite difficult to deal with. It was my first pregnancy. I was simply wondering, what am I supposed to do with my baby now, exactly?

[mslkpage]

I thought that maybe you meant to say you were 5 WEEKS along, but then you referred to the baby. Were you really 5 MONTHS? You need to call your doctor, because you need to be examined as well as the fetus. The dr. might be able to tell you why you miscarried after he/she examines the baby. Then you can decide about what to do next.

[kris68]

It had to have been 5weeks...no way could you feel fine after a couple of hours at 5 months!! If you are asking what you should do with the remains, and they haven't been already flushed down a toilet, I suggest you bury them in your yard.

I'm going thru that agonizing waiting period right now of going to the hospital on Friday to deliver my 13 week baby. This is my third miscarriage in a row. And ladies, I have done it all. I've had a d&c, I've miscarried at home, and I've delivered at 17 weeks. My struggle right now is that I just want to stay home and let the baby pass. Yes it is scary and painful, but at least I have some modicum of control in my own home. I already bought a little wooden box to bury the remains. My doctor already scheduled me at the hospital for Friday Sept, 30 and my husband is very concerned about my physical health and the complications that could arise from miscarrying at home. I agree with what everyone is telling me, but I just can't shake the feeling of doing this on my own. Please pray for me that the baby will pass before Friday. I will keep you all in my prayers also.

[beth88]

I'm so sorry.. I know how painful it can be but to tell you the truth, the best comfort for me is knowing that my baby is safe in heaven with God and hopefully it won't be too long before we meet. It also helped to give him a name even though he wasn't born. I named my son Michael Gavin Green. Don't forget that we aren't failures. God won't ever put more on our shoulders than we can handle!

[mslkpage]

Gosh, after reading your post I think I need to stop feeling sorry for myself. In the past 8 mos, I've had a blighted ovum (@ 12 wks) and an ectopic (7-8 wks). But you have been through alot. I am so sorry for your losses- I know it's hard. With my blighted ovum, my dr. gave me the option of m/c'ing naturally, but he suggested the D&C for fear that I might hemorrage. I know you want this to happen at home, but it could be very dangerous for you, and your dh's concerns are justified. I will pray that God is with you when it happens, wherever it happens, and keeps you safe. Again, I am so sorry.

[tttoots]

Hi everyone I recently had a miscarriage and I dont know how to deal with everything. I was 5 mths pregnant with twin girls. I just feel like im going crazy. Can someone please reassure me that what Im feeling is normal.

[charlotte76]

I am sure that a lot of us (how ever far along) have had moments of not feeling that we can cope with it all. The feeling of loss at 5 months must be very difficult.

I am going for a d&c tomorrow and feeling nervous and lonely as I haven't spoken to anyone who has been through this. Finding these web pages have really helped me and it's the first time
I have been able to release some of the emotions of sadness I the build up over the last few weeks.

I am 9 weeks pregnant and started to bleed 2 weeks ago. A week ago the consultant confirmed that the baby had stopped growing. Since then I have been nervously waiting to miscarry. I am really hoping that tomorrow will allow me the closure I really need.

I send my very best wishes and my thoughts are with you all.

[cowboys mom]

5mos?? you passed them completely? have you gone to the dr. yet? i am sooo sorry for your loss. i think feeling crazy is normal, you have the right to feel a lot worse. i really hope you feel better soon, take it easy, being on these forums really helps too. At 5mos these babies would have been a pretty good size though, did you keep them? At this stage the dr. may be able to tell a lot & they are big enough to give them a burial.

[Brehmites]

I'm wondering this very same thing... when will I start bleeding?

I'll be 44 on Tuesday, which means I have "old eggs" (lovely term!)... I've had 7 healthy babies (now 18 down to 3)... all of them conceived easily (without 'trying'), full-term, large-sized, and strong-willed (ohhh, thank, You God!).  Then, I had two miscarriages... one at 4 months (full labor, bled naturally)... and the other one 6 months later... at 5 weeks.  I didn't even know I'd been pregnant... just had a "long period", after skipping a period "due to stress".  I found out afterwards (due to blood tests), that I'd miscarried.  THAT one was hard to grieve.

THEN, my marriage went through a wonderful "second honeymoon", and I morphed into "the woman who would not be denied"... especially at ovulation!  I chased my man without mercy!  After 1.5 years of this (fun-fun-fun - I LOVE being over 40!), we figured we were "done", as we nailed those ovulations, and had no conceptions (and no form of birth control).  After a stressful move, we were surprised with the news of a pregnancy... which took some adjustment (I was enjoying being "unoccupied" for the first time in 18 years!).  

Sadly, our "let's determine gestational age" ultrasound turned sour... with the yolk sac at 7.4 weeks, but the baby at 6.2 weeks... and the followup ultrasound, one week later, showed zero growth, during a time of normally phenomenal growth.  I was told to prepare for miscarrying... and if it didn't happen within 2 more weeks, I could opt for either the suppository, or a D&C (either office, or surgical).  

After two natural miscarriages, I'm hoping to start bleeding on my own... and soon.  I believe that the grieving is deeper, and more effective, if I can adjust, along with the physical loss of blood and tissue... it "cements" the reality more in my mind.  And, as a rather pro-life woman, it would be hard to reconcile the connotation in my mind of a D&C with abortions.  

I know I cannot submit to a D&C (or suppository) without yet another ultrasound to 100% confirm that there is NO life in my womb.  I could not face the even remote possibility that I'd taken the life of my child.

I'm not holding out false hope here... I'm fully prepared to miscarry. I've begun my grieving... even spent a day or so yelling "WHY?!?" at God.  (He's good about letting us vent like that).  I'm moving into acceptance.  BUT - I love a God who has brought other miracles into my life (genuine ones), and I'm leaving room for Him to show up and do so again... should He choose to.  I'm praying that I'll be prepred for whatever is to be... and I know He'll be faithful to carry me through yet another painful chapter of my life.  And good WILL come of this, whether or not I ever understand.

Just wanted to share... as I was searching on "when will I start to bleed"... and found this forum.

My heart goes out to all who are suffering loss, and I pray that you'll find the one who alone can bring peace out of pain... may you find comfort.

Shalom...

[jovism]

I have been bleeding for 3 days. I'm just waiting to m/c will I see anything actually come out? The baby stopped growing at 6w3d, there was no heartbeat. Everytime I go to the bathroom I'm wondering what it is I should be watching out for.  Can someone please inform me?

[marranie]

Miscarriage is traumatic, personally i cant bear the thought of going to hospital to get scraped out on the other hand i realise that waiting for it to happen naturally is pretty hellish and d&c is a good option for many.  Most m/c up to 12 weeks seem to be delayed, ie, embryo stopped growing 6-7 weeks, just takes a long time to pass.

I don't worry about 'old eggs' after reading this forum and other stuff on the internet, miscarriage is not fussy with who it passes it's dark shadow over, young or old, everyone is at risk, seems to be part and parcel of trying to have a baby, i don't know how i get over mine, but do always find i feel a lot better after my period visits and everything is working ok again.  For ladies that have lost their babies in later miscarriages, my heart goes out to you, i really don't know how i would cope.

[Toni717]

When I miscarried on my third pregnancy I started heavy bleeding and I passed everything whole.  3 days later I passed a piece of old peice of cord that I carried for almost 2 years that was left in me after the birth of my second son.  My next miscarrage (miscarriage) was 5 months later.  My body was not healed after all the trauma.  I bled out so bad and it happened on New Years Day.   My 3rd miscarrage (miscarriage) my baby stopped growing and I knew it.  I did have a D & C at that time.  Now, I am pregnant.  The ultra sound could not detect a heartbeat and I was told that it must of just happened.  Now, the mid-wife cancelled all my labs and wanted to schedule a D&C as soon as possible, I said NO, not yet.  The ultrasound was not conclusive at this point.  So, I went to an emergency room and had my quant figured out because the mid-wife refused me so I took measures into my own hands.  The hormone level on right on and I figured, well, now time to talk to a real Doctor.  He couldn't believe what had happened.  Now the Doctor is scheduling me for another ultra sound with a different Doctor and to do all my labs to make sure if the baby is alive and has passed on.  Now, what I am going through right now is a severe infection like you wouldn't believe.  So severe that my ears and sinus are bleeding.  I am in pain and can't take anything for it for pain.  I am on amoxicillin for the upper resp. infection.  This all happened within hours of the ultrasound to Wed. and now it is Fri. and I am in total agony.  God has blessed me with 2 beautiful children.  I still don't know why I get pregnant.  I am 42 yrs. old and also in shock.  Never give up hope.  There are reasons for things to happen the way they do.