[CookieMonsterMommy]

I just made my 1st post here (6 weeks pregnant but haven't miscarried yet) ....I have another dilemma...

My doctor just called me (he's very respectful of my "alternative" health and lifestyle choices, although his beliefs are very medical and conservative) and told me that if I do not miscarry (for explanation-please see my other thread "My itty bitty baby bean") in a week, he;d like me to take a low dose of misoprostol (cytotec) in order to help prevent infection. I told him I'd rather not, and he told me he respects that, but if I don't want that, he said he'd recommend a round of doxycycline (an antibiotic) prophalactically--just in case. Again, I'd rather not....

How long did it take you ladies to miscarry (those of you who knew the baby died before you began to bleed)?? AND--did any of you use cytotec (misoprostol) to induce miscarriage-what were the results?? I'd rather not take the cytotec (I had it with my son--without knowing what it was) and had horrible contractions... Not to mention, I'd like this to be natural....

But on the other hand--I don't want an infection--I'm going to school 6 days a week and taking care of my 5 yo son--not to mention cooking, cleaning, managing bills--you mommas know the deal....I couldn't handle being sick or risking my reproductive health by getting an infection

What do you guys suggest? I value your input at this suckie time in my life...

Best Wishes, Kelly

BTW-My cramping seems to be getting a little worse, so I'm hoping that this will not even be an issue....I guess I'm just worrying. I'm especially looking for assurance from women who've been in a similar situation and let it happen naturally with no horrible health effects....

 

[Shakti]

Kelly, I am so sorry that you are going through this.

I was 7 weeks when I found out that it was not a viable embryo through U/S. I miscarried at 12 weeks - so it can take a while. Both my OB and my naturopath said that I could wait it out and not do any drugs, either to get the miscarriage started or to prevent infection. However, they both told me to watch very carefully for any sign of infection, and you probably know them - fever, tenderness, etc. I did not have any problems at all. My naturopath gave me some herbs to help the process along and to help with any cramping. She also gave me Ignatia, a homeopathic remedy for grief - and that was amazing. If you can, I highly recommend seeing a good herbalist.

My thoughts are with you.

 

[Mom2baldie]

Kelly,

My baby stopped developing at 9 weeks, and I didnt miscarry until 12.5 weeks. I didnt even have any spotting at all until 11 weeks (when I went in and found out she was not alive).

Anyways, the spotting was on and off for several days until the miscarriage actually happened and there was no physical discomfort until that night.

When I was waiting to miscarry I read just about everything on these boards that I could find and saw that many people had to wait weeks to miscarry without any negative outcomes (such as infection...). The hardest part, I think, is the waiting and wondering. In my case, I tried to cherish the last amount of time I had with that baby, so that helped with any emotional pain I was feeling.

I dont think the risk of infection is as high as some Drs would have people believe, but thats just my personal feeling. You could try to take extra Vit. C to help prevent infection, also eat lots of iron rich foods for when the miscarriage does occur.

I did lose a lot of blood and became pretty anemic - after I found out the baby wasnt alive, I basically tried to drown my sorrows with Dr. Pepper and didnt really eat much for about 2 weeks. Not a good idea.

Anyways, good luck with everything and please keep us updated.

 

[shannon0218]

My first miscarriage took about 10 days from when my hcg #'s started to drop, my second was a chemical pregnancy so that was very quick, but my 3rd, baby had stopped developing almost 3 weeks prior to when we found out and while I had a d&c, my OB told me I could wait it out for as long as I wanted. 1 week seems a little quick to start worrying about infection, 3-4 may make me worry, but I've never been given a time limit--more of a symptom limit--in other words, I was told, if you have intense pain, fever etc, we will have to do something.

 

[coleslaw]

My baby stopped developing around 9 weeks. We found out at 11 weeks when I saw my first symptom of spotting. I m/c 5 days later, so at 11.5 weeks. I had a D&C scheduled for 1pm the day it happened, but I didn't have to go through with it (which was a relief to me as I was hoping to just go naturally). I had no complications. My midwifes said there was no need to do anything, but, like others have said, just look out for signs of infection. Good advice that I got here is to stay hydrated, avoid dehydrated things, like alcohol. It definitely helped me.

 

[CookieMonsterMommy]

Thank you all very much. My baby left my body this morning. I did not expect it to happen so fast. My condolences for all you losses.

Thank you again for your kind words,
Kelly