Missed Abortion and Infertility

[Myah's Mom]

Hi everyone,
I started to MC in early July, and given the choice to let it progress naturally, I did. Didn't really start to bleed heavy until about a month later, which lasted about 2 weeks. An US Aug 14 showed a 6w1d sac (exactly the date at which I started to MC). My levels have been dropping, but still not at 0. After this US, the Dr assured me it was still ok to let things take their course naturally. I had an US today, and expected to see a nice empty uterus. Nope. Still the 6w sac. I am getting a little disturbed by this now, as we would like to move on and try again. I have a one year old, and desperately want our children close in age. However, now I am worried about just having more children! Are there risks to having a "missed abortion" (God I hate that term) go on this long? If there is so much risk, why would my Dr, whom I trust wholeheartedly assure me that it will progress on its own? Should I question her judgement?
I guess a little part of me hoped to see a new preg developing on that US today...It was the most heartbreaking thing, seeing all those pregnant women today going for their exciting 20 wk US. How I wanted to be in their shoes.
I know I'm fortunate to have one healthy child, and to those of you who have suffered multiple MC or other fertility problems, I commend you for your strength and my prayers are with you. I have a new appreciation for the miracle of pregnancy, let me tell you.
Why is this baby hanging on to me 2 months later? It's absolutely heartbreaking.... Would love some advice/words of wisdom/hope.
Sad in Newfoundland,
MM

[Christie2004]

Would you feel comfortable asking for another opinion?  A single consultation may be covered by insurance, and if not, is not terribly expensive and may help you decide what to do.

Eventually, your body will absorb the gestational sac.  But if you are trying to conceive this may certainly slow you down.  A lot of time has passed already.

This is very frustrating for you, and I am sorry it is happening.

[Myah's Mom]

Thanks for your reply Christie. Fortunately, in Canada, all medical consultations are paid for in our health care system, so I certainly could seek a second opinion. I have heard that the remaining sac can hurt my fertility, though. Is this true?
Thanks for your advice. There is actually a Dr starting a new practice closer to my home, and I was thinking about seeing her anyway. Now you have given me a good reason to do so.
I appreciate your help and kind thoughts.

[hopeful66]

I had a missed abortion (hate the term too) at the end of July. My doctor gave me the choice of a d&c or let it go naturally. I am a “get it over with” type of person, so I had the d&c. We are already trying again and I am currently waiting to see if AF shows up in 2 weeks. My opinion is that you should definitely go for another opinion. You are wasting time that you could be using to try again. With the d&c I bled for 5 days and then 4 weeks later AF came and then 2 weeks later I o’d. It helped me feel better to be able to move on quickly. You seem to be stuck in limbo and that is a horrible place to be. You won’t get pg again until your uterus is clean. Hope that helps.

[lovinmom]

I am sorry to hear about what is going on.  I would suggest waiting things out naturally just make sure there isn't a case of misdiagnosis.  I have a friend who was told at 9 weeks that her baby had no heartbeat and that she was miscarrying.  That baby is now a toddler.  It is also better on your body to miscarry naturally.  D&C cause infertility from scarring, incompetent cervix, and placenta previa in future pregnancies.  It is not always the case, but many cases.  Go to ashermans.org for more info.  Also check out these web-sites for cases of misdiagnosis:

http://home.earthlink.net/~misdiagnosed/

Also:

http://bbs.babycenter.com/board/pregnancy/prenatalhealth/1311584/thread/575970?i=0#go

For support on natural miscarriage:

http://www.rubber-ducky.org/carolynsboards/read.php?f=13&i=1097&t=1093

I'm sorry that you are having to go through this time.  My prayers are with you.  Let us know how it goes.

[snagglepuss1]

i'm sorry to ask another question on this string but i wasnt allowed to post a new thread, i'm 19 weeks pregnant today, i was hoovering this morning and kept getting kicks from the baby, when i stopped the hoover the kicking stopped, could the baby be able to hear already? i've read that it's 22 weeks or so when the baby can hear, could it just have been the vibrations maybe?

hope everyone is ok, mmg how r u? cmn? guinea???

[Myah's Mom]

Thanks everyone for your kind relies. Lovinmom-as much I would love to believe that this is a misdiagnosis-and I know there are many-my hcg levels have been dropping (they're less than 200 now from 90,000), and the US is still showing a 6w fetus(2 months later). I will check out the site on natural MC though-thank you.
I truly appreciate the support, and will keep you posted.

[chaisemom]

I had a m/c last Nov. and it naturally released itself within a week, before I had a chance to see my dr. He pulled the remains from what my cervix had released and took that it for testing unfortunately the fetus could not be found. I did not have to have a d&c but in your case I think  would be tempted to go ahead with the d&c so they can take the fetus and tell you what the problem was, in case it needed to be addressed for future pregnancies. Just a thought.

[Mommy-in-Waiting]

Hi Myah's Mom
My name is Kim and I am from Newfoundland too. I just had a M/C too.  I was 8 weeks & 4 days pregnant.

On Tuesday, September 7, 2004,  I had my first ultrasound. The US was scheduled before for I became pregnant, it was to check for infertility, because we had been trying to get pregnant for over a year and I am 37 years old. Anyway, I went just so that I could see my baby and be assured everything was ok. The radiologist said that the fetus was too small for me to be 8 weeks pregnant, that it was measuring at about 6 weeks. He did detect a slight flutter that he thought was the heartbeat, but he was not sure. He suggested that the fetus may not be viable or I may just not be as far along as we think. But I knew my dates were right and can be almost 95% sure of the date of conception. I had not had any bleeding, spotting or cramps or anything that would indicate a MC. They rescheduled me for another US in two weeks.

On Thursday, Sept. 9 I just didn't feel right, there was no bleeding, just slight pink in my urine and only minor back pain when I went to bed last night. At 4:15 Friday morning I woke up to go to the bathroom, when I did was bleeding and had passed what I believe to be the placenta. It was a blood clot about the size of an small tennis ball. I continued to bleed bright red. My husband was sleeping so I just stayed there and cried to myself. I didn't know how to tell him. After a few minutes I had to wake him to tell him what was happening. We lay in bed holding each other and crying for about an hour. I had a doctors appointment later that day but figured I should call the hospital for advice. They told me to come in right away so that they could see what was happening and make sure that I wasn't bleeding too much. I was examined by a couple of doctors and told that I was indeed having a M/C. My sister met us at the hospital, which was very nice to have her there.

The doctor gave me a prescription to help get rid of all the remaining tissue and blood. The medication is called Misoprostol. Most of the bleeding and large clots have gone now, I am still passing some blood like a period. I think that should go away in a couple of days.  I will have an US and blood work on Monday to see that eveything is going right. I will then speak to a OBGYN to find out how to proceed from here. My husband and I both want to start trying again as soon as possible.

I am so tired, sad and in shock, but I just can't sleep. I know there was nothing I could do to prevent it and that it is very common, I was told by the doctor that 1 in 5 pregnancies end in M/C. MY husband has been very supportive and keeps reassuring me that he loves me now matter what, and that I am more important to him than anything else in the world and he just wants to make sure I am ok. But I know he is hurting just as much as I am. I am so tired but can't stop thinking long enough to sleep. I have been resting but can't sleep. I can't stop thinking of everything I have lost.

I am so sorry for your loss. I know haw you feel about your loss but you have been going through it for too long. Maybe you should ask your doctor about Misoprostol. I don't know what part of the province you are in but I am in the St. John's area and I went to the Health Science center. They were great and very supportive.

Take Care and please email me to keep me updated, it helps to talk to others who are going through the same thing.

God Bless

Kim in St. John's, NL

[Myah's Mom]

Small world, Kim! I'm from St. John's, living in Paradise.
I'm also sorry to hear of your loss, and would love to chat by email if you like:  ***@****
I think I may have actually had a period today-not sure if that is even possible if still retaining the sac-is it?
Kim I too passed what I felt for certain was the placenta. Hope every day finds you a little better....
Lisa

[cmn]

I've been thinking about you, you haven't been on much these days. How are you doing? I'm now 19 weeks 4 days and loving every minute of it, I went for an U/S on Thursday and was so happy to see my little one. I can't believe how big he/she is from the first one that we had at 9 weeks, the baby is measuring at a perfect 19 weeks so they haven't had to change my due date. Have you gone for an U/S yet? Did you find out what your little peanut is? I find that the only time my baby kicks is when daddy has his hand on my tunny, other than that i don't really feel anything which i tend to get sad about. I do think to myself when this little bean kicks is i'm glad i feel something, DH is a little sad he can't feel anything yet but good things come in time. As i write this i can feel him kinda kicking me lightly, it feels wonderful to feel that and very neat to see baby moving in the U/S.

[snagglepuss1]

hi, glad to hear things are going well, i'm just behind you i'm 19 weeks 1 day today, i have loads of movement, mostly when i eat sugary foods!! i have had four scans so far and have another one in just over a week, due to my past the hospital are keeping a real close eye on me, which is reassuring for me.
we don't know the sex, doubt we will find out either as there is a message outside the scan rooms saying please do not ask the sonographer to tell you the sex, it is not their job, we don't mind though, i feel personally for me it's kinda like knowing whats in the christmas paper before you open it, i can understand it second time round etc so you know if you need to buy new clothes etc if the sex is different, but i have been buying neutral colours, apart from the odd dress!!!
we went and bought the buggy the other night, it includes car seat, foot muff & baby bag, total cost £129, don't know what that is in dollars im afraid!
i do look on here most days to see how everyone is doing, but just a quick look as we are having some building work done to our house soon, new conservatory, double glazing, work to front of house etc and we are rushing round getting quotes from people, i'm really excited as my parents come to us for christmas and im hoping it will be done by then (fingers crossed)

[lovinmom]

Myhas Mom,

I was just looking over these posts and realized I responded pretty quickly.  My toddler was crying on me and I didn't realize fully what I was writing.  First of all, I'm sorry that you are going through this time.  I know how difficult it is.  

I was wondering, is there any chance you could have had twins and m/c one of them.  I know 2 women who have had that happen. They had miscarriage symptoms, bleeding, ect..  Also, another friend of mine was bleeding like a period at 8 weeks.  On u/s there was no heartbeat.  The doctor told my friend that she was miscarrying.  My friend was begging for a D&C to get things over with.  The doctor wouldn't do a D&C and said to go home and miscarry naturally.  Thank God that didn't happen.  My friend ended up having a healthy baby which showed up at 9 1/2 weeks.  You said that you have hcg numbers going down.  That can sometimes happen anyhow with a healthy pregnancy in later weeks.  It is best that if you are miscarrying, you are doing it naturally.  There is better chances of fertility later on and a healthier pregnancy (ashermans.org).  I know that different doctor differ on that opinion.  I just know that in my case, I haven't been able to get pregnant after a my two D&C's until after many years.  My first it took 5 yrs. later to get pregnant.  This last one, it has been over 1 1/2 yrs.  If I had a chance to do it all over, I would have had a natural miscarriage.  I wish you the best.  Let us know how it goes.

[Myah's Mom]

Thanks again for your words of support. Wouldn't I LOVE to believe that I am still carrying a twin-but unfortunately, I have had more US that still show the 6w sac, and nothing else. I appreciate you being so optimistic, though.
Thanks also for your support re choosing the natural route.
I actually got my period this weekend (even though the sac was still there on day prior!), so I'm really uplifted by that.
Thanks again for your support, and I can appreciate the "can't think-toddler running around me" syndrome-I have a one year old:)

[guinea920]

Hey how have you been?  I am glad you are doing so well.  As for me, everything is great.  I have been feeling the baby a little more lately these past few days and can't wait till my u/s appointment next Tuesday.  Hopefully we will be able to tell what the baby is.  The doctor didn't even hint to you what the baby may be?
Quick question, we are all so very close in our dates (cmn, mmg9603, andij) when do you plan on starting your registry?  My SIL started her's the day she found out she was having a girl and that was at her 20 week appointment.  
I thought about going sometime in October but I am not sure.
Any thoughts?

guinea

[babygirl22]

Wow - I'm so sorry for your loss.  I had the same thing happen in April, and I wasn't even so worried about the physical stuff, but more my state of mind.  My DH wouldn't touch me with a ten foot pole because the thought of something dead inside of me made it too hard for him, and I was really suffering.  I'm in Ontario, and in my area they believe you should pass it naturally if at all possible too, but I hadn't bled at all - hadn't passed anything - had just found out on an ultrasound that the fetus had passed - and I was terrified that while I was out in my car (which I am a lot for work), that it would just start and I wouldn't know what to do.  So after I was being told they'd consider doing a d&c in a few weeks or so, I called an abortion clinic and went, and had it done there.  I got AF 5 and a half weeks later, and I am currently 10 weeks pregnant.  Good luck whatever you decide.  Keep me posted & take care of yourself.