I had a natural miscarriage at 12 weeks last year, and a D&C just last week.

The natural miscarriage was a horrible, awful, terrible experience that I wouldn't wish on my worst enemy. The pain was severe, and came in waves of contractions - my cervix was trying to open up just as it does during a live birth. I had to go to the ER in the middle of the night for heavy-duty drugs because naproxen didn't come close to helping. The psychological trauma of passing my gestational sac intact and seeing it was devastating. I bled heavily for two weeks afterward, and I had to go for hcg blood checks once a week for a month. My period came about 6-7 weeks after (4 weeks after the bleeding stopped), and the dr said we could try again after that first period.

By contrast, the D&C was physically a breeze. (The sadness and grief are the same, though - no such thing as a free pass on that.) I had a missed miscarriage at 8 weeks which was diagnosed during a routine scan, and had the D&C the next day. Nothing to eat or drink after midnight the night before, checked in at the surgery center in the morning, hooked up to an IV, given anti-anxiety drugs almost right away, and put under a general anesthetic for the procedure (which lasted less than 20 minutes). I was kept at the surgery center for an hour or two afterward to make sure I was safely 'awake' from the anesthesia, and was given a bit to eat and drink. My husband was able to be with me every moment except during the actual procedure. We were home about 4 hours after checking in and I slept most of the rest of the day. I took vicodin for the first day, ibuprofen for a few days after that, but overall the pain was absolutely minimal - comparable to menstrual cramps. I have had minimal spotting. I have a follow-up with the dr next week, but it is my understanding that trying again is the same as it would be after a natural miscarriage (some docs say after 1 period, some say after 3 - just depends on the doc and your individual circumstances). It is also my understanding that your period returns sooner than after a natural miscarriage, because your body is rid of the pregnancy material sooner than after a natural. Yes, there is a risk of complications with a D&C, but the risk is statistically very low, and a natural miscarriage has a risk of complications all its own.

Having been through both in less than a year, I would encourage any woman to go easy on herself and have the D&C. The emotional pain of losing your baby is hard enough to deal with - you shouldn't have to go through the physical pain and trauma as well.

Best wishes to you all.

I had a natural miscarriage mid December - I was 7-8 weeks.

For me I was aware I was going to mc so it wasn't a shock which I think helped and I was able to cope at home with "neurofen with codeine", hot water bottles and baths and a lot of support from my oh. I already booked off that week as it was my birthday - I wouldn't have tried to go in to work at all. I had 4 days off the following week and went in on the Friday just to dip my toe back in the water.

I waited for my first cycle to complete before ttcing again - my 1st af was 35 days after my first day of bleeding in my mc.

I feel that if I was unlucky enough to mc again I would choose to go the natural route again - obviously medical management or d&c if I did not have a complete mc.

hx

I had a MMC as well the 15th of feb, i did the meds to finish "the process" at home and the pain meds (800 mg ibuprofen) did not really help and it was painful and horrible. The idea of going to the restroom and seeing everything was not pleasant but it gave me the chance to deal with everything. The one med made it like i was in labor and i thought at one point i just wanted it done and over with. But being at home gave both myself and hubby so much more comfort because my hubby helped me though it and he felt like he had a chance to "say goodbye" as well. I am not a fan of needles so didn't really want a D&C. My doc put me on bcp a week later after checking to make sure all was good. This way i could cycle at least one time to give my body a chance "refresh" and be ready to ttc in May. I have been on it for 22 days and i started to spot this morning. She did tell me not to take the pills (sugar bills i think) that you normally take during your cycle but rather skip those and take the bcp all the way so that when i go into my appt in April i will have cycled and she can check to make sure all went well. I have PCOS and she thought this was my best bet. and i did not want to set myself back with all the treatments i have had so far.

I have to say, everyone is different!

My experience with a natural miscarriage was different and I'm sure everyone has different experiences too.

I had a natural miscarriage. It took 4 weeks, but it was more like a 4 week menstrual period (with some odd clotting)and I didnt have any major cramping. It was manageable .

I'd recommend anyone with the choice to weigh up the common pros and cons and do what they feel is right for them.

If it happened to me again, I would do what I feel was right for me, in my position and gestation.

I have had three natural miscarriages, and a D&C...I would much rather have a natural one...so long as there were no complications such as retained products. x x