D&C after 7 mos of CS procedure

[Julyleo]

1. Is D&C a painful prodedure? and for how long it is? Is this the best being on your 13th weeks of pregnancy?
2. Will it create more risks when you just gave birth 7 months back with a CS procedure?
3. Will you be able to go back to your normal routine after couple of days?
4. What would be the worst thing to happen to your scars? Infectons?

[Elaine Brown, MD]

Hi!
Some D&Cs are done under general anesthesia, in which case they are not at all painful.  Others, such as pregnancy terminations are done with IV sedation, and naturally these are a bit more painful.  Usually the worst part is the dilation of the cervix, followed by a crampy sensation as the suction is applied.
Your CSection scar should be relatively well healed, but I would suspect that you are at a bit higher risk for a perforation or a puncture in the uterine wall at the site of your scar.  Most of the time the procedures are uncomplicated and women are able to be back to normal the following day.  The worst thing that I have seen happen, it a perforation of the uterine wall through a major blood vessel that required a hysterectomy.  This is very very UNCOMMON,
I hope this answers all of your questions!
Good luck!
Dr B

[Julyleo]

Hi Dr. B, thanks for the reply. Just a follow-up question, which procedure is best to terminate the pregnancy when you're already in your 16th week of pregnancy? The stitches are fine but I know inside it's still not healed. Is hysterectomy a very long procedure? (In case) I wanted to know because of work demands. I just hope that everything will be fine and that you can suggest me what to do in case of anything that might come up. Thanks much.