*Sensitive* MMC - how long does it take?

[Millbanks]

For those who have sadly experienced mmc or mc - from when you stopped taking the meds, how long roughly was it until you started to bleed?

Thank you xx

[Gerbear22]

I'm so sorry you are going through this.I went through my second in April at nearly 10 weeks.I started miscarrying 2 days after I stopped progesterone for this one.Sending you lots of love during this difficult time x

[Millbanks in reply to Gerbear22]

Oh love, that's so rough - I'm so sorry - to go through 2 is just hell.

Thank you for replying - it's been a week and nothing yet so wondering if I might need intervention which I really don't want.

Big hug to you xx

[SCHNOW]

I have stopped progesterone medication since last Friday and still waiting for miscarriage - no blooding so far. I am interested to know as well.

[CarlottaD27]

I’m so sorry. The wait is one of the worst parts. After a blighted ovum diagnosis, I stopped progesterone suppositories at about 8 weeks.

It then took four or five days to miscarry. Fortunately it wasn’t too painful - a bad cramp for a day and then a week of bleeding. I think at the 10 day or two week mark I would have been offered medication. I hope this is over as soon as possible for you x

[Millbanks in reply to CarlottaD27]

Thanks lovely - I'm so sorry you went through this.

Hopefully it'll start soon xx

[Eternalwarrior]

Hello, my lovely

I am so sorry you are going through this. Sending you all my love xxx

As you know, I had 4 miscarriages in the first trimester and a late loss and they were all different, I am afraid. Also, I think it depends if it is a natural or medicated FET. Sometimes I started bleeding, but one of my miscarriages, I had a missed miscarriage or 'blighted ovum' and sadly my body still thought I was pregnant (it was a 'natural' cycle but I was on high dose of progesterone), despite stopping all the meds, so I needed intervention and that went on for quite a few weeks and wasn't nice. In my experience, the longer the pregnancy had progressed the more difficult it was, but maybe it is just coincidence.

I really hope it is over for you as soon as possible. I am so sorry for your loss. Lots of love and healing hugs xxx

[Millbanks in reply to Eternalwarrior]

Thank you my love - You've been through so much - I don't know how you're still standing 💔❤️

That's really helpful - I will monitor it and see how I go.... I hope so too xxx

[Eternalwarrior in reply to Millbanks]

Thinking of you and sending you all my love, sweetheart xx

[MrsOrangejuice]

For two earlier losses it was within a couple of days but on those the HCG never really got that high and I guess there hadn't been much development. On a later loss my HCG was much higher and my body didn't let go on its own - I stopped the meds but the HCG kept rising. That needed surgery in the end. Are they checking your HCG? If you don't bleed soon it would be worth asking them to do that so they can plan.

[Millbanks in reply to MrsOrangejuice]

Thanks MrsOrangejuice I'm sorry for your losses too.

I've not heard anything from my clinic since they confirmed the miscarriage so they aren't checking anything. Maybe I'll do another HPT and see what's going on. xx

[Skittles11 in reply to Millbanks]

You could see if you can refer to the Early Pregnancy Unit? That's what I did when I had problems with pregnancy in February this year (peculiar trends in HCG values) x

[Millbanks in reply to Skittles11]

yes I might just do that xx

[lulubelly1983]

my HCG were quite high on my last one as there were two embryos that implanted aged but never developed and I was on high levels or progesterone and estrogen so I weaned off gradually as I had a hematoma too and didn’t want a sudden huge loss so took quite a few weeks and when I stopped all the meds fully i started bleeding after a few days later but time before I started bleeding on my meds so different both times, first time cleared fina on my one and they monitored my HCG levels and if they come down quick enough they’re happy your body as cleared on its own, although I did discharge myself second time as the EPU weren’t very helpful or kind and it was on the maternity ward which I was finding really upsetting my periods are still not quite right even now a few months on so I do worry that not everything is clear

[Millbanks in reply to lulubelly1983]

Sorry you experienced this - so sad.

That actually sounds like a good way to do it - it's full on just stopping all the meds. I think maybe I give it a few more days and then get in touch with the EPU.

Thanks for your reply xx

[VeeVee_bb]

Hi Millbanks - I'm so sorry you are going through this. If there's anything worse than a miscarriage, it's the waiting for the process to complete..

I know you said you don't want intervention; I personally think/feel that depends on how far along you are.

I have had 1 MMC at 9 weeks and 2 early miscarriages; I would prefer to have had a D&C done in my MMC.. I was not offered that. I was offered medication but also told if I chose the medicated route then it would be classified as a termination (not a miscarriage) - which I am still angry about to this day. So in the end I had to let the MMC pass naturally. Not a nice experience both emotionally and physically.

I'm not from the UK and a D&C would be offered if more than 5 weeks (where I'm from). This is to ensure everything is out to avoid future complications.

For my last early MC, I started bleeding 4 days after stopping meds (withdrawal bleed) and period came 31 days later.

On a lighter note, try eating lots of vitamin C (I read pineapples..) and hope that works. Hope you are ok.

[Millbanks in reply to VeeVee_bb]

I'm so sorry lovely, I saw your posts too - so rubbish isn't it.

Thank you for the information - I am open to other options, was just hoping it would pass on it's own. I will keep an eye on it over the next few days and see what happens.

xxx

[MrsOrangejuice in reply to VeeVee_bb]

Sorry to jump on this but that's also what mine was described as, a termination. Even though it was a PUL/suspected ectopic and there was nothing there to terminate if you see what I mean. I even overheard the doctors talking about the legal implications and they checked they had my consent repeatedly (was I sure, I could change my mind at any point...) to the point I was getting really upset. I was already very unwell and experiencing complications and had been booked for aurgery as urgent. When I came round from theatre one of the nurses was quite off with me and talking about my termination and how I must not have wanted another child etc and only became vaguely kind and sympathetic when I clarified what had actually happened. That's not OK if it had been a straight termination for whatever reason because it's my choice but just at that point it really added to the pain. I never thought about how many women that must affect if they use that label for all medical management.

[VeeVee_bb in reply to MrsOrangejuice]

That sounds harsh and insensitive really, sorry you had to endure that. I do feel that some of the staff may need more training on such matters.

[MrsOrangejuice in reply to VeeVee_bb]

Yep, and also classifying these sorts of miscarriages and treatment as terminations just seems wrong. I hadn't really thought about it until now as I just accepted it at the time.

[Millbanks in reply to MrsOrangejuice]

Gosh I missed that VeeVee_bb - I’m so sorry both. How awful for you 💔

[MrsOrangejuice in reply to Millbanks]

Sorry to be a distraction on this thread - just hit me and wanted to comment. The actual surgery (D&C) was very straightforward and I had very little bleeding and no complications. I had become pretty unwell by that stage and although it sounds awful, I felt immediately physically better. Hopefully yours will go naturally but if not it's just to reassure you it can be ok as I read a lot online about the surgery that scared me.

[Millbanks in reply to MrsOrangejuice]

Thank you! And you're not a distraction at all. I’m sorry you experienced that x

[Hopewhite]

Hi lovely, again i'm really sorry that you're going through this, i hope you have good support around you xx

I had a MMC last year, my experience took longer, but hopefully things will go as smoothly as they can for you. I waited 11 days after stopping the meds and nothing happened, so I then asked for medical management, please know you can change your mind and can ring EPU again at any point. My experience with the tablets was not straight forward either as it didn't complete in 1 go, so I went through the process twice (2 weeks apart). Luckily this was bearable with paracetamol and hot bottle of water. Again if you feel something is not quite right you can ring EPU to check you, the same if after the pregnancy test you're still getting a positive you might have residual tissue and they can scan you to see if you need further help.

sending you loads of love and strength, please look after yourself and listen to your body, everything else can wait right now xx

[Millbanks in reply to Hopewhite]

Thank you my sweet. It hurts my heart that so many of you wonderful ladies have been through this too - its so unfair isn't it.

I think I will see how it goes in the next few days then I will call the EPU. My clinic have been rubbish and basically left me to it.

Much love to you xx

[Hopewhite in reply to Millbanks]

Hi lovely yes unfortunately it is more common than we think , just not that openly spoken. I hope you’re coping well , try to do nice things to take your mind off it xx

When you feel ready, if nothing happens, definitely ring the EPU for help , just to avoid any risk of infection. I hope it happens soon and it all goes smoothly

[fdafda]

I'm so sorry that you are going through this. For my missed miscarriage last August two weeks after I stopped the progesterone I still hadn't started bleeding so went for surgical management 16 days later.

In case it's helpful, I actually found the surgical management very straightforward (the nurses, etc at the hospital were so lovely) and the physical recovery was very quick - mental recovery not so much! x

[Millbanks in reply to fdafda]

Thank you so much - I'm so sorry you had to go through this too. I do wonder if it's just because I was on so much progesterone, it's taking a while for my levels to drop.

That's actually really good to hear - I may end up going down that route. xx

[fdafda in reply to Millbanks]

Yes, could be. I was also on a pretty heavy progesterone dose - so might have been the reason it took so long for me too. I think with the surgery too you’re less likely to have retained products compared with the medical management. I really hope it all goes ok though. I know how horrible it is just waiting for something to happen. Xx

[Memacha]

so sorry for what you’re going through. I had a MMC/suspected ectopic and just had expectant management with the EPAU. Similar to other comments, clinic did nothing. I can’t remember exactly how long it took but could’ve been 6 weeks. It took what felt like a really long time for my hcg levels to return to normal. I guess each situation can be different. Doctors didn’t seem concerned about the time it was taking, more worried if I had any ectopic symptoms.

[Millbanks in reply to Memacha]

Thank you lovely - it's so weird that at this point the clinic just seems to wash it's hands of you. There's be no follow up, no one checking how I'm doing or even what I'm doing....

xx

[joanne2024]

I stopped medication on Monday and passed my baby Wednesday. I felt it happened so fast and was in shock as I'd seen so many people say it took much longer for them. X

[Millbanks in reply to joanne2024]

Oh love, that is so quick - I'm not surprised it was a shock. I'm still waiting..... xx

[Guru1111]

I'm sorry for what you're going through...

I had a late abortion (week 12) and they advised me on D&C... everything was quick and "easy". I stopped the meds at week 12, after diagnosis, but I had no bleeding before the D&C, which was about 48h later.

Xx

[Millbanks in reply to Guru1111]

Sorry you experienced that - thanks for the info xx

[Twiglet2]

aww lovely I remember this wait being so hard as you know it’s coming and just want it over with 😢 it has varied for me between a few days and over a week and has usually depended on how far along I was it took a wee bit longer but not always. Thinking of you 💜 xx

[Millbanks in reply to Twiglet2]

Thanks lovely, yes exactly that - I was hoping because it was only 7 - 8 weeks it wouldn't take too long - but I'm still getting quite strong pregnancy symptoms too so I am assuming my HCG is still high. Think I'll have to go to the EPU xxx

[Twiglet2 in reply to Millbanks]

😢😢 thinking of you

[NewYorkLover]

I am sorry you are going through this... I think I can understand how you feel. Hope everything goes well for you from now on. I had a mmc last August (natural conception) , found out when I thought I was 8 weeks but things have stopped developed since week 6 of that makes sense. I waited another 2 weeks and then went ahead with medical management.

It wasn't too painful or too much bleeding but we felt so lonely and I hated every bit of that process.

Then I had 2 chemical pregnancies (confirmed with blood tests) while on progesterone. Bleeding started 48hrs after I stopped medication.

3 weeks ago I found out again that I had a mmc at 10 weeks (ivf). Stopped medication but we decided that we wanted a D&C this time which took place about a week after we found out about mmc. Until then, there was no sign of bleeding.

Personally, if I was to choose again (hope not 🤞🤞🤞) , I would go for D&C. Really straightforward, recovery was quick, nurses and doctors were amazing and I didn't feel as lonely as with the first mmc.

Emotional recovery takes longer either way though.

Sending you a virtual hug

Xx

[Millbanks in reply to NewYorkLover]

Oh my love, you've been through so much - my heart breaks for you. I hope you're doing ok now.

It's so goddamn cruel. I'm still waiting for a bleed here so maybe D&C is going to be my best option. xxx

[Nenad in reply to Millbanks]

Hello dear, I’m so sorry you’re still waiting. The one advantage from the D&C is that they can send it directly for testing so you’ll know if there was an abnormality, if that’s something you’d like to do.

In my case it happened naturally, interestingly teaching my daughter to ride a bicycle, which involved holding her waist and pushing her around the garden, did the trick. It was an abdominal workout for me that got things going. Hope you’re as ok as can be xxx

[Minniemouse88]

So sorry for your loss. I really hope you are doing okay and have lots of support around you. Have you been given information on your options and pros and cons? I was referred to the local Early Pregnancy Unit for information after my missed miscarriage. Another thing that helped me was getting in touch with the miscarriage association. A lovely nurse spoke to me and helped explain everything.

In terms of how long it took, I was on a natural cycle when my missed miscarriage occurred so no medication and I suppose each person will be different. At the nine week scan there had been no growth since 7 weeks. I wanted to wait and let it pass but after another week without anything happening I found it much too upsetting so opted for medical management in hospital.

Although I subsequently had retained products (which passed naturally), I do think being in hospital helped me.

However you go ahead, I am sending you love and thinking of you. Take good care and one day at a time xxxx

[Millbanks in reply to Minniemouse88]

Thanks lovely, I'm sorry you've been through this too - it's just awful isn't it.

Thank you for the info - I think I will get in touch with the EPU as my clinic is being rubbish xxx