Is this normal after D&C?

[naughtoj]

I had my D&C last Friday. Fri and Sat thought it was a cakewalk, very little spotting. Sunday, woke up with huge headache, achey all over, some cramps, felt "under the weather". Temp slightly elevated at 99.3. But docs don't care unless 101. Anyhow, last couple of night I have been waking up in the night with sharp, intermittent cramps. Fast forward to this AM...sharp, intense cramps and passing many clots (or tissue, I have no idea--ugggh I HATE that feeling). Some are the size of a silver dollar. Then the cramps will go away for a while but then bam they come back and just about double me over. Temp is OK at 98.7 tho.

Blood loss is minimal still though, just seems increased related to the passing of clots. I know cramps are normal when you begin to pass tissue-that is how you pass it. I did not start the miscarriage process on my own before the D&C so I wonder if this is my body finally realizing and miscarrying what it can??? Or did this mean there was tissue that was missed? I don't know. I don't understand why you pass any chunks considering that is what the D&C is supposed to do...clean out your uterus.? I figure if it doesn't go away today or if the bleeding increases, I'll worry. For now I just took 3 Advil.

Just dissapointed, I guess. I thought that since I had very little bleeding day 1 and 2 that I was golden. So glad I decided not to return to work this week. How long will it be before I can return to work and not be nervous I'll pass a huge clot in my underwear?? I move around way too much at work.

What has been your experiences post D&C?, please share! Thank you!

 

[pippa]

I've had two 'natural' miscarriages and one D & C. I didn't want to post this last week after your post about your D & C because I didn't want to freak you out, but my experience was almost the same as your's is going now. I had my D&C on a Friday. Saturday and Sunday--nothing and I mean, nothing. I thought it was great. Monday morning I woke up with a little bleeding and then that progressed to a LOT of bleeding. I had HORRIBLE cramping. They had given me percocet and i was literally taking them every 4 hours and I am not a wuss when it comes to pain.

Anyway, I called my doctor and the nurse said that sometimes it takes your body a little while to realize what happened and that was probably why I didn't bleed until Monday. I bled for three and a half weeks. It was only heavy for about two days, but consistent after that. I saw my doctor for a follow-up at 2.5 weeks post D&C. She said that she doesn't like to scrape the uterus a lot because then you get tears and scar tissue which can cause problems with later pregnancies. She said she usually tries to just take the fetus/tissue and a let the rest come out on it's own. She also said that I could use tampons once I got to the three week post mark--which was a huge relief for me. It was no fun bleeding for that long but I guess, in the long run, I'm glad she did it the way she did.

I think that what you are experiencing is very normal. Hopefully, it will end for you soon. I know how you feel. (((HUGS)))

ETA: I actually bled more/had worse cramps with my D&C than with my 'natural' miscarriages and I have also had a D&E(2nd trimester fetal death) and I bled less/had less pain with that too which was a little mystery to my doc.

 

[naughtoj]

Makes sense Pippa, thank you. I think the worst part....other than the death of my baby (obviously) is not being able to use tampons! 3 weeks no tampons is soooo depressing!!

I appreciate the feedback. Gives me some peace of mind. The cramps are gone for now so maybe that was it? We shall see.

 

[pippa]

> I think the worst part....other
>than the death of my baby (obviously) is not being able to use
>tampons! 3 weeks no tampons is soooo depressing!!

I know what you mean. Not to in any way make light of a situation which I,personally, know isn't 'funny', but I told my doc that not being able to use tampons to me made a terrible situation even worse. I mean, you already have so many emotional and psychological things that you are trying to deal with. For me, having to deal with pads just makes it that much worse.

I'm glad your cramping has stopped. I think the bleeding/pain really is a factor of how far a long you were. With my D&C I was 8.5 weeks and, like you, I didn't bleed or spot prior to the procedure. I think, for me, that was probably part of why I bled more with my D&C than with my natural miscarriages.

You should try to take it easy and relax as much as you can. Don't rush back in to anything too quickly. For me, the bleeding and physical pain were really the 'easy' part.

 

[nkhansen1]

I was able to miscarry my first five on my own, but the last baby died at 11 weeks, and the preganancy was too large for me to safely pass without risk of bleeding to death. My doctor, like Pippa's, does not do too much scraping because of the damage it can cause. He used suction to remove the pregnancy. This method doesn't completely evacuate your uterus. I had moderate bleeding that started about three days later, and I had pretty severe cramping right after the procedure that continued until I stopped bleeding and passing clots about a week later. I still spotted for awhile after that.

Maybe ask your doctor about the methods that were used during your procedure, and definitely talk to him/her if you continue to bleed. However, I have to think that our bodies all handle things like this differently. For example, I had both of my children by c-section, and I didn't bleed at all after my first, and only for a few days after my second. So it didn't surprise me too much that I didn't bleed for weeks after the D&C. Once the remaining tissue was passed, it seemed to just be over. Have you been for your post-op appointment yet?

Natalie

 

[naughtoj]

So sorry about all your angel babies, Pippa and Natalie.;( How hard to go through this so many times!! Even twice seems like it would be unbearable. I am amazed to read the personal stories on the net and read of all the losses some women have and yet they just pick back up and keep trying! Truly amazing to me.

My doctor did use suction, but that is about all I know. I just had my D&C so I don't go for f/u until the 17th.

I am fine now after hearing from you guys and since the cramping stopped today. I think this is just part of the whole process. It would be nice for your OB to clue you in a bit better. Other than some mild bleeding, you don't have a clue what to expect!! Thank Goodness for the internet!;-)

Thanks again!

 

[Jennifit]

I had a lot of bleeding after about 3 days when I had my d&c for my m/c...I thought I was in the clear, too! I had bleeding total for about two weeks afterwards.

I am so sorry for your loss. I wish the very best and for a healthy pregnancy soon! It does happen after such a devastating experience.