Told Blighted Ovum at 8 Wks, Still no M/C at 11 weeks, what to do?

[fertilitychallenged]

My doctor is pressuring me into a D&C, but emotionally I can't handle that.  If it were a health danger, I would do it.  Right now, my body still feels pregnant.  I do not have a fever (except for the normal .4 degree rise from being pregnant) non cramping, no pain, and no bleeding or spotting.

I am still taking my vitamins and eating right just in case.  I did see the ultrasound and there wasn't anything visible except for a sac in 2 different vaginal ultrasound scans.

I do have a tilted uterus, but believe that we should have seen or heard the heartbeat or something.

This has been so hard.  Emotionally and mentally I can't do the D&C and want to wait it out.  Has anyone else had to wait so long for their body to figure it out?  From what I read it should be okay to wait.  Is there any danger in waiting for nature to take it's course?

Will my body figure it out eventually when the placenta takes over or could my hormones be so screwed up it won't figure it out ever?

Any insight would be helpful.  Most women I read about miscarry within a week or 2 after finding an empty sac.

[Stacie30]

the only risk I know of from waiting for nature to take its course is the increased risk of infection.  I can offer a little advice from soneone who has been there (baby died at 8 1/2 weeks- missed miscarriage diagnosed at 12 weeks)... when your body does start to miscarry it hurts like crazy. It's like actual labor. I, for one, can't see putting yourself through the physical pain when a D&C is avaiable, however- I do understand your need to wait it out. I just wanted to tell you what to expect... nobody told me. I was determined to let nature take its course- until the contractions started.

I am very very sorry for your loss.

[patientlywaiting4the1]

I had my first ultrasound at my 8 week appointment and was told it was a blighted ovum. Blood tests came back with high levels of progesterone 15.6 and 59000 HCG.  I have another ultrasound this Thursday but I feel like my pregnancy symptoms are fading. I'm not sure how long it could take to miscarry naturally and I am still hopeful that somehow the ultrasound missed something the first time, although I'm sad and disheartened at the thought of losing a baby we have tried to conceive for a year.  

[MommyHB5]

I'm sorry to hear this; this happened to me too.  I saw the ultra sound at about 7 weeks and it appeared to be a blighted ovum.  My doctor said I do not need  D&C, but offered me 4 progesterone pills to speed up the delivery of the products of conception.  I did not take the pills.  I just waited.  I did not want to take the pills.  It took ten days before I felt labor pains and the products of conception all started falling out, a little at a time.  It took ten days before I stopped bleeding altogether.  It did not hurt that much, but was different from a regular period.  It was a sharp pain in the beginning but that only lasted a moment. Then I had cramping pain and a dull ache.   I was able to get up and walk to the bathroom.  I could continue to sleep and eat fine.  I took some Motrin, that's all.  I walked around and rested when I could.  My HCGT pregnancy hormone levels stayed up for a month still.  I still tested positive on a pregnancy test after the miscarriage, too.  When I went to the OB/GYN later he said everything was fine as far as my pregnancy ending, there was nothing else that needed to be done.  6 weeks later I am healthy, and I expect to get my period within a month or two.  I will try again.  This was a disappointment, because my sadness is about losing something I hoped for and looked forward to.  Hope is a living thing.  Hope grows, and in this sense, you can sustain hope even in the face of sad news.  You can also continue to hope and try again for a healthy pregnancy!
So what happened to me was the fetus seams to have "disappeared"by my second ultrasound and only the placenta and amniotic sac remained. (the first ultrasound had showed the embryo)- but after the miscarriage an ultrasound showed nothing there anymore.  I had several cysts on my ovaries and they needed to be surgically removed.  I am grateful for that one help- that a positive pregnancy test brought me to the doctor- the ultrasound showed the cysts too, and they could not do surgery while I was pregnant. When I wasn't pregnant anymore, I had the surgery and am recovered now.  Grateful to have a fresh start.  Hoping for the best.  I wish you all the best, too. Keep a good friend near by for support and distraction from pain, and rest.

[slightlycrabby]

i am now 9 weeks along and was diagnosed with a blighted ovum at 8 weeks after my first altersound...i also have refused a DNC and remain hopeful...went in friday to check my HCG levels and go back in in 3 weeks for another altersound ...i know exactly what you have been going through its not easy... good luck  

[Clarter]

Normally, your body has a way of discarding things that are not meant to be.  It does not always do that, though.  I think it is fine for you to wait, but would have one if you are still seeing the same thing in a few weeks.  AFter a miscarriage, most doctors will recommend a d and c to rid and prevent any infection that could happen anyway.  I had a miscarriage and it was one of the hardest things I had to deal with, even though I was only 6 weeks.  My prayers are with you.

[carolyn55806]

Hello- I am so sorry for what you must be going through right now. First of all, don't let a doctor pressure you into a D and C. It's much more invasive and should only be done when necessary. Secondly, my sister was diagnosed with a blighted ovum at 8 weeks and 2 weeks later had another ultrasound and there was the baby! Healthy! She is now a year old. Have you had a second ultrasound? Please keep us updated.

[Kimmyblueiis]

I'm right with you.  I'm at 7 or 8 weeks now(8wk past LMP but long cycles so late ovulation)and have been told it is a blighted ovum.  I decided against a D&C and am waiting it out for now.  My prayers are with you.

[carolyn55806]

I forgot to mention that my sister has a tilted uterus, also. There is a site called the misdiagnosed miscarriage. You should check it out, just in case.

[cinnamonheart]

One thing is I do think is that all women who have had a miscarriage DO think its a big deal!!
It is emotionally  hard and devastating ... but time does heal.....it has to or you can let it ruin your life.
Its a loss and like any loss everyone deals with it their own way and in their own time

best wishes

[kittymommy]

I am so very sorry that you are going through this.  I have been exactly where you are.  At 7 weeks I was told at the ultrasound that it was a blighted ovum.  Like you, I never had any bleeding or cramping at all, and I had all the pregnancy symptoms.  My hcg levels were over 15,000 at that time.  I was physically not able to accept the diagnosis.  Over the new few weeks I had 2 more ultrasounds, all of which showed the same thing, but I was just not able to accept it because I never bled or cramped. At 11 weeks my hcg was up to 70,000 and my doctor strongly advised a D&C.  She felt that at this point it was becoming dangerous to my health to leave it in there.  She said that I was risking infection if it began to deteriorate while stuck in there.  Still, I could not make myself accept it.  Finally at 12 weeks I still had not started bleeding or cramping, so I agreed to have the D&C.  It was a terryfing and horrific experience for me, and I would not choose that option again.  There are women on this board who have not felt that it was that bad, and it is a very personal decision.  For me, it was extremely traumatic and I would not choose to do it again.  The only good things are that the physical recovery is relatively quick, I got my period again exactly 30 days later.  The emotional recovery is another story.  And, we chose to have the tissue analyzed and we were able to find out what had caused the miscarriage.  IF you are older or have repeated losses, you may want to consider the D&C just for that reason alone.  That was my second miscarriage and I'm 35, so that was the deciding factor for me to have the D&C...I really wanted the tissue analzyed and that's the only way they can do it. I'm sorry that I don't have a more positive response for you, but I know that when I was going through this all I wanted was some real life experience from someone who had been there so that is what I'm responding to.  Good luck in whatever you choose to do.

[Jenn33]

My blighted ovum went on for 6 weeks and I even bled through the whole thing. I was determined to wait it out and the sac never did break loose. I went ahead and got it out of the way so we could try to get pregnant again. It can take a looooooooooong time and still not break loose. I would give it another week, get another ultrasound, and then do the D&C.

[cinnamonheart]

First off  its your body so you can decide what to do and not to do.
It can take several weeks for the miscarriage to take place, I know it is hard physically and emotionally. Ive been there.
Only you can decide but if nothing is showing, an empty sac, no progress, no heartbeat You are only delaying the pain.
You can get another doctor's opinion if needed BUT you cant hang on to something if its not there.
Time does heal ..my first was a miscarriage
But now I have three beautiful healthy children