Take the pill or do the D&C?

I think it’s a very personal decision. I had a medically managed miscarriage (medication via vaginal pessaries in my case) at 12 weeks after a missed miscarriage (picked up at an early scan at 10 weeks). It was my first loss, and I wanted to go through the process. I didn’t want to be put out to have an operation. I’d carried my babies that far and I wanted to see it through. It was quite distressing, and like a mini labour, but I am glad I went through it. I felt proud of myself, and I think it helped me to process the loss of the pregnancy and the future I’d planned.

I had a friend who had a similar situation a few months prior, and she had a D&C which was the right choice for her.

If you’ve been bleeding already, hopefully your body will fully miscarry on its own before your scan. I had the medication administered in the hospital and stayed all day, before going home in the late afternoon to allow it to finish. I was prescribed codeine as pain relief, and signed off work for 10 days, which was needed and I was grateful for.

Miscarriage is a horrible thing to have to experience, I’m sorry you’re having to go through it 😔 Try to give yourself grace to feel however you’re feeling, because it’s a terrible grief to be mourning a life, and a new life you were going to have too. Plus you’ve got so many hormones flying about to make things more intense! Absolutely no need to apologise for the words you use to describe your experience, it’s your experience ❤️

I was desperate to avoid either but in my third miscarriage I bled for a whole month and had to accept there must be retained tissue. I took the misoprostol after 6 weeks of bleeding and it didn’t seem to do much for me but I did finally stop bleeding after (about one more week of the bleeding finally tapering off) not totally sure whether the misoprostol helped or if my body just finally managed the last little bit on its own. I really wanted to avoid a d&c because I find surgery very stressful and there’s a slight risk of infection or scar tissue forming that can further increase your chances of future miscarriages. I’ve told myself I will take the misoprostol again next time if I’m still bleeding after 3 weeks (7 was physically and emotionally excessive)

Oh wow, I didn't know the DNC could increase the chances of future miscarriages. Was it painful taking the misoprostol?