Should I wait to get a D&C

[clski]

Last week I found out I was pregnant, and the u/s showed a 6 week fetal pole w/an 8 week yolk sac and no h/b.  We took a 2nd blood test to measure HCG levels, and found they dropped slightly in two days.  My doctor is having me do another u/s and blood test tomorrow for final confirmation that this is a non-viable pregnancy, and then wants to set up a D&C.  Needless to say, I have never been so devistated.

I have two questions - first, has anyone ever heard of a pregnancy becoming viable even after a slight drop in HCG levels?  I could've sworn I'd read something - somewhere - that said it was slightly possible.  I have a hard time believing that, but thought I'd see if anyone else had heard the same.

I'm already 39 years old, and since I went off birth control 4 years ago, my cycles have been extremely irregular - I'll go months without a period, then it'll come back for a few months, then disappear for a few months...  Because of this, I'd always assumed I'd have to visit a fertility clinic in order to conceive.  So this pregnancy was an amazing and welcome surprise that turned heartbreaking within a week of receiving my positive blood test results.

My husband and I want to try again, but once I hit 40 in June we'll stop trying.  Which brings me to my 2nd question - would I be better off waiting to miscarry naturally, or should I get the D&C done as soon as possible?  Unfortunately, because of my age, time is a critical factor.

I've had no time to discuss any of this with my doctor, and won't have a chance to see her until the end of the week.  If anyone has any suggestions, or has been in a similar situation and would be willing to share their experience, I'd truly be grateful.  I've been such an emotional wreck this past week that I just want to get the bad stuff behind me so I can start focusing on the good.

[ruffian50]

check out misdiagnosedmiscarriage.com it might be a site the you would be interested in.

[PetiteWonder]

ALso best of luck tomorrow! I hope everything is okay and you dont need to make this decision but in most cases, its not normal for the HCg lvls to drop.

[PetiteWonder]

The d&C is quick and painless but there are some risks involved in it.  A natural miscarriage could happen very fast or could take a couple weeks but the recovery is quicker. You are very fertile after a miscarriage and in most cases with a natural miscarriage, you can start trying to conceive right away...  There is a lady Cassandrajane on the pregnancy 18-34 forum who got pregnant the same week as her miscarriage and is now 30 weeks pregnant..  After a d&C, they recommend you wait 2-3 cycles before TTC again because your uterine lining is thin. But there are studies suggesting it does increase your risk of future miscarriage and studies that sya it doesnt. As well, after a d&c it can take several weeks for your period to return. Mine didnt return for 6 weeks, which means it took 4 weeks for me to drop my HCG to under 5 (it took a week and a half for this) and then a couple weeks to ovulate.  I have always had really regular cycles. They went back normal again, it jsut took a while for my hcg to drop.

You can ovulate as early as 2 weeks after a D&C but it can take as long as 8 or more so.

There is benefits to both ways..  There are also the pills that induce the natural miscarriage but alot of people dont seem to choose those. I didnt like the sound of them.

[water007]

Clski, I will suggest don't do anything yet but pray about everything.

[clski]

Thank you both for such quick responses!  If I decide to go the D&C route (and I'm thinking I will), maybe I'll request one final u/s just to be sure.

Tomorrow's going to be tough - I realize it's just a routine confirmation, but there's that one small part of me that keeps hoping for a h/b, anyway.  Even though I know going in that there won't be, I also know that I'm still going to be crushed.  

False hope'll kill ya...  

If I learn anything interesting tomorrow I'll be sure to post it.  Thanks again.

[tinkerbell1124]

It's possible IF you had a vanishing twin. BUT I think MOST of the time no. I'd say IF you want to keep trying get the D & C done. Sometimes it can take up to 2 weeks for it to be naturally. That and sometimes you'll still end up ahving to get one anyways.

[mjmom69]

I wouldn't rush into anything yet. The decision to have a D&C or not will have to be yours ultimately but don't rush it until you are sure the pregnancy is over. You don't want to always wonder. I know how hard it is to have to decide but once you know for sure, you might be more ready to decide whether you want to wait for natural or opt for a D&C. I chose the later because I could not stand waiting knowing it could happen any time. My little one passed at around 7 weeks and I had a D&C at 11weeks. Whatever you decide, it will have to be what you feel the most comfortable with. I truly hope things are ok and it turns out that everything is fine. Good luck and keep us posted.