Am I Going to Have a Miscarriage??

If you are having a miscarriage, it could take 3 weeks for it to start if they are predicting it early enough. I didn't miss any work when I had mine, it was early enough so it was just like a period. Only restrictions were no tampons. I would recommend asking for some pain reliever, or ask what the prescription dosage of common pain relievers because I experienced some pain with mine.

I'll be thinking of you.

I was told two different times that I was going to have a miscarriage. The miscarriages are now 3 and 2 years old! I had bleeding with both pregnancies. I would just wait and see what happens,and try not to worry to much. I know it's hard. Usually with miscarriages there is cramping. If you aren't having any then maybe you aren't as far along as you thought.

S.,

I am so sorry that you are going through this - how aweful for you. I had a miscarriage and then got pregnant again right away. When I went in for my 7 week ultrasound - the tech spent over an hour and didn't say one word to me or my husband. We knew something was wrong. I called my doctor the next day and she said that there was a sac - but no baby. She said she thought that I had miscarried. I told her that I didn't think that I had - I still felt pregnant. We waited one week and did another ultrasound. That was probably the worst week - with all the waiting. I had already been through one miscarriage - I didn't know if I could handle another one right away again. When I went in for the second ultra sound - the tech said "there's the heartbeat". The most beautiful words. My son is now 2 1/2. Try to stay positive and keep yourself busy. Until you know for sure either way. I know that is easier said than done. I will be praying for you - please contact me if you need someone to talk to.

i went through something VERY similar to this, and im very sorry for your terribly sad loss. :( i know how you feel.

i was supposedly around 7 weeks along, and my doc was having a hard time with the ultrasounds. she had the hospitol do a better one - and the techs didnt tell me anything then - they told me to wait for my doctor to talk to me about them after she reviewed them - basically, it didnt work out - it was going to be a miscarriage. this was on the 18th of december 2005.

she told me i could either wait for the miscarriage to start on its own, which could take anywhere from hours to a week or so; or i could schedule a d&c - where they get the tissue out - it ensures that all the pieces get out, and reduces the amount and time that i would bleed since they remove most of the tissue themselves. i guess they also would examine the tissue to make sure that there wasnt any concerns there, and the hospitol has a spot in the cemetary that they later bury the tissue. they give us a packet after the d&c and they have memorial services once a year for the miscarriage and lost baby moms and dads, and they also tell you where the spot at the cemetary is so we could visit it.

we chose the d&c because it was dec 18, and i didnt want a miscarriage to start on Christmas, i would rather my doc just take care of it so i could move on, instead of waiting and wondering when it was going to start - also, living an hour from the nearest reliable hospitol/clinic i was afraid that if i were home alone and something went wrong, things could be dangerous. my d&c was performed on dec 22.

i really do suggest you and your husband have a discussion with your doctor. my doctor was really kind, and cried with us as we tried to make it through this time. a doctor of any other response, or one that is unwilling to make YOU the priority would then give you a good reason to find another doctor who will deal with this with the sensitivity that he/she should.

im VERY sorry for this horrible loss. dont let anyone minimize your feelings, this is no different than losing a baby - even if it was just the hope of a baby. i know what you are going through. people say all those things, you know, 'you will get pregnant again' 'things work out for the best' 'it just wasnt time' all of that - mostly because they dont know what else to say, so try not to be hurt by their seeming dismissal of your struggle. its just what people say you know? talk to your doctor about a program like i described, a memorial service for miscarriage/stillbirth/infant death, that kind of thing. however you decide to deal with this miscarriage, have peace that you will never forget this, but you will move on.

if you feel comfortable with it - i highly recommend the d&c. it wasnt uncomfortable (except the being numb and put out part - i have some flashes of things but im not sure i was ever with it and the fact that my husband couldnt be there for me that day... :( ) and it gave me the peace of mind that it was over, i could start over, and i didnt have to worry about hemmoraging or anything being we are so far from town. its really up to you.

the best part about all this is that almost exactly 3 months later we did get pregnant again, and by the anniversary of our miscarriage d&c, we had welcomed our little boy into the world. a miscarriage, though painful, is proof that you can get pregnant, its almost like your body takes some practice. you already know this i spose because you have a son already, but maybe your body just wasnt ready yet - or even still, maybe the baby would never have been healthy. again, this is just things people will say to you because they dont know what to say, but for some reason it helped me to think of it this way: all babies start out as on cell. that cell splits to 2, then 4... and if any one of those 4 cells arent perfect, the pregnancy will end. everyone whos trying to get pregnant will say that they would love a child no matter the disability, but sometimes i feel that its better when the pregnancy ends.
i dont know if you are a religious person. if you are, remember that God is taking care of us, and i believe, for some reason, that even miscarriages could be real, true babies, and if so, they will be in heaven. i dont know if that helps you at all, but it helped me.

good luck. im really sorry for this loss, let yourself mourn, dont be surprised how intense of emotions you can have. take some time off if you feel you need it, and dont exactly try to get pregnant for about 3 months to just let your body recover completely... all that. if you just need to talk, you can send me a note, im willing to listen. ive been there, i know how it can make a person feel.

anyway.
i dont know what else to say. everything will be ok. you will be sad, thats MORE than ok. do what you can, be easy on yourself.

I really hope that all works out for you and that your baby is fine but if it doesnt and you do lose the baby you are early enough that most of the problems will be emotional, i have been through this i know how hard it can be, but you can't worry yourself about it until it actually happens as of right now you still have a baby so just try and relax take it easy and let nature take its course. lots of people have spotting and go on to have a beautiful baby.

My husband and I had a blighted ovum with our first pregnancy, which is what you just described. We didn't know about it until I started to spot at 12 weeks. My dr. wanted things to happen naturally with a one month limit from when I started spotting. Every few days I would spot until the month was up. At that one month mark my dr. had me get a D&C done because if we waited there would have been a greater risk for infection.

I have not dealt with your specific situation, but I can completely relate to your fears. I am also a teacher, and had a very physically difficult miscarriage the week before school started. I got pregnant again in December, and was terrified it would happen in class.

That said...with my miscarriage, there was nothing from a doctor saying it might happen, but I wouldn't have made a sudden mess in a classroom. I had weird mucous that day (like a mucous plug) and worried about it. About 1 am, I woke up and felt a "pop" very similar to when my water broke with my first. I got up and went to the bathroom, and found slightly bloody water--not a lot. I put on a pad and went to call my doctor. I was POSITIVE at that time I was miscarrying. She suggested going to bed and waiting to see, thinking it was implant bleeding. I KNEW it wasn't. About 45 minutes later, I started bleeding heavily. A pad would not have helped; I needed to be in bed, heading to the bathroom routinely. But, like I said, I had a physically difficult miscarriage. So...my advice would be to continue teaching, perhaps alerting one or two other teachers to your situation. Should you start to miscarry, you may want to head home, but my guess is you have some time. My best friend miscarried with a blighted ovum, and her doctor found it via ultrasound. It took her 2 1/2 weeks to miscarry, and she did it all sitting on the toilet in a matter of an hour or two. Her miscarriage was painful, both physically and emotionally. Mine was not at all painful (it was difficult because I lost a LOT of blood and it took me over a week to not be almost physically ill because of dehydration) either physically or emotionally (I think I knew it was coming, subconsciously). I was almost 12 weeks, though, so perhaps that factored in to the blood loss.

I'm so sorry for your loss. I hope my post wasn't scary; it really wasn't scary for either my friend or I--painful, confusing, sad, yes, but not scary. But, I know I struggled with logistics too--how would I care for my child when I was bedridden? How long does Husband stay home to take care of me? And I tried to answer some of those. Keep in mind mine is a worst case scenario; many people miscarry and continue on with their daily lives.

It sounds from what you describe as if you may have what is called a "bighted ovum". These are very common and I had one with my first pregnancy. The embryo doesn't develop normally past the very early stages. The other possibility is that the pregnancy is earlier than you think (not likely since you know when you last had a period). If the embryo is not viable, your body will eventually expell it, but there is no reason to stay home from work. It will most likely be like having a fairly normal period, with some added clots. The amount of bleeding varies between women. If your body does not expell (I waited over two months, with on and off bleeding) you may need to have a D&C (which I eventually did have). My second early miscarriage (where we had seen a heartbeat, but the size was too small for the number of weeks) expelled on its own within days. (I now have a wonderful 7 year-old!).

More women than you realize have had one or more miscarriages, most of my neighbors and friends shared their stories after I had mine.

Please do some research (Google) on a blighted ovum. There is usually no rush to take any action, and you will most likely want to wait to see how this progresses. You can check in with your doctor periodically, but there is nothing a doctor, or you, can do to change what nature intends for this pregnancy. Take care of yourself in the meantime!

I had two thoughts on this, one good and one bad:

#1- It IS possible that you are earlier than you think, even knowing the date of your last period. With my last pregnancy, it turns out I ovulated 4 weeks later than what is normal, throwing the dates completely off. I had just happened to take the test about as early as the pregnancy could have possibly shown up. I just gave birth to my 3rd healthy baby 12 days ago.

#2- I, too, had a blighted ovum in between my first and second babies. We found out at 9 weeks and nothing had happened by 12 weeks, so I had a D&C.
I can't remember if I had any spotting or bleeding, but I remember the waiting...
If you are concerned about sudden bleeding, I suggest you wear a pad, just in case. If nothing happens naturally soon, a D&C may be easier on you mentally and emotionally than waiting for something to happen on it's own.

I'm so sorry for what you are going through. Make sure you take the time to meet your needs mentally, physically, and emotionally. Good luck, whatever the outcome may be.

I would go back to work and just wait it out. I've had 3 miscarriages so far and when they first start, it's not like you need an emergency run to the bathroom. Just wear a maxi pad until you know for sure whether or not you're going to miscarry.

With our first, I found out at about 9 weeks that the baby had died at about 7. We waited it out till 12 weeks for the miscarriage to come naturally. The doc wanted me to consdier a d&c but I refused as there was no medical reason. This was a very painful miscarriage. I had contractions and everything. I assume it was because I was as far along as I was.

With our 2nd and 3rd, I was 6 and 7 weeks along when I started bleeding like I was having a period. They were not physically painful and acted like periods with more clots than normal.....

I feel for you. Miscarriage is a very painful and lonely thing to go through. Because the bleeding stopped, you may be spared from this painful experience. I will pray for you.

First of all, I am sorry that you have to ride this horrible rollercoaster of emotions. I went through the same thing. I almost felt like I was re-living it again as I was reading your post. I can't remember if I took sick time or what but I was off for about a total of 5 days from work plus the weekend. The emotional part of it I think was much more hard then the actual miscarriage itself. I would try to talk to your principal at school and maybe fill him/her in on the situation. After I found out I was going to miscarry it took a couple of days before it actually happen.

Take Care,
E.

I am so sorry that you're having to worry about this. I can't tell you too much, but I can tell you what I know.

I have been pregnant 4 times and have three wonderful children. Every time I have been pregnant, I have bled, so I have learned that it isn't necessarily a danger sign. However, my one miscarriage did in fact start with bleeding; it just got heavier and never went away. In that case, my body did not take care of it on its own and I had to have a D&C when the miscarriage was confirmed.

Physically, I wouldn't worry about having to leave the room if you start to miscarry while you're at school; I was close to where you are when I lost my pregnancy, and though there was bleeding, it wasn't sudden or extreme (either before or after the D&C). It was more like a heavy period than anything else. Emotionally, however, you may want to consider whether you want to take another day or two to yourself. I haven't read your previous posts, but it looks like this pregnancy is something you worked especially hard for, and you might want to consider whether you need some time, if you should lose this pregnancy. Though you may not physically need to go home if you start to bleed while at school, I don't think emotionally that you would want to stay.

Do you have another appt scheduled? What are they doing to take care of you? My doctor's office handled my miscarriage terribly; I later switched and had great experiences with the new place. But they told me very little, just kept sending me in for blood work, and when it looked like it was for sure, the lab tech said, "Then this must be for you," and handed me a pamphlet entitled "So You're Having a Miscarriage" (or some such nonsense). I was horrified and upset and confused. So be proactive. Insist that things be explained to you, that your questions (about what's happening, how they know, what they're going to do, and why it's happening--if they can tell) be answered. If you are miscarrying, you need to be seen through that competently and compassionately. If you're not, then at the least, you need another ultrasound to properly date your pregnancy.

I really hope that this is nothing; if it is something, I hope that you get excellent care. Take care, and let me know if I can do anything!

Back in 2001 I had a ultrasound very eary sac was there everything was fine. I went back for another one I don't remember like a week or two later maybe and the sac was GONE and there was NO baby they even sent me to their other office location where they had a better doctor on or something. I was told I did miscarry and I would start to bleed or whatnot soon. I never bled, nothing happened. About 2 weeks later freaked out that I had a "dead" fetus inside me I went to a new obgyn clinic, and all and I explained myself. They thought I was nuts. They did blood work, and a ultrasound. The tech asked me several times why I was there, I said cause I had a miscarriage she looked at me puzzled and says there's the baby and there's the heartbeat. I NEVER MISCARRIED! Ultrasounds can be wrong becareful. I have a beautiful 7year.old little girl that is proof. I have no idea what really happened it is bizzare.

Maybe that's what is happening with you. I'll keep my fingers crossed for you.

hi Sara
I went through a miscarriage a little over a year now. I went through so far what you did explain but I had a continous flow of spotting or bleeding. I can remember having the ultrasound and they told me it wasnt attached. I was already in the process. I can say that it is not fun. It hurts, cramping and back pain. I was told by other that sometimes if you relax and take things easy that things may be ok. I hope this is the case for you. I was about 7weeks when I miscarriage. and it was like a very strong period.

I just want to say dont give up hope and to think of the blessing that you know you are able to get pregnant and if this does end sadly you know you can try again. I say this because I took it very hard and others worried about me getting depressed. I also had a friend who was pregnant not to long after and I felt so hurt and wondered why. This will get you no where, as I know. I am a counselor and still didnt know how to handle things at that time. It was helpful to talk with others.

It was three months before we could try again and we did and I started having the same spotting in the beginning and decided to take a test and it was positive and all I could think about was the spotting. But everything did turn out just fine and we now have a healthy baby boy. I dont know if you are a religious person or not but my faith did help me and I felt that it maybe wasnt ment to be when we lost our first but we were blessed. And you do have an 18 month old son that you are blessed with and if it helps just spend time with him.

Just stay strong and no that there is hope and miracles do happen. I hope this was/is helpful

Give yourself some time. Slight spotting within the first month of pregnancy is pretty common, and you may only be 3-4 weeks pregnant instead of the 7 that you think you are. Try to take it easy and stay off of your feet as much as possible. I have experienced many miscarriages, and HCG levels don't necessarily indicate anything other than that you are pregnant. This last pregnancy, my HCG levels sky rocketed in a short time...I had a positive pregnancy test at 2 weeks along. My doctor told me that I was most likely going to miscarry again due to the rapid increase in my levels, as that would indicate that something was wrong. Turns out my doctor was wrong, as I now have 10 week old identical twins! Again, try to keep your stress level down as much as possible....and if your nurse told you to take off of work b/c she thought you were going to have a miscarriage on a certain day, I think it's time you request a different nurse. It is impossible to predict when (or if) a miscarriage will happen, and it was wrong of her to tell you that. I certainly hope that your doctor is more compassionate than the nurse was!

Hi S., I have a friend who was just told she would be having a miscarriage because of her numbers going down and it took her a week to have it,she was told it would be in the next couple days but it happened later than that.I hope everything turns out ok for you I also suffered a miscarriage at 7 wks but now have 4 children so I feel for you it is not easy to go through. i really have no answers for you just wanted to let you know I was thinking about you and hoping things turn out for you, Take care!! Jen

I was about 5 or 6 weeks pregnant when I miscarried and there is a two week lag time so the baby was really 3-4 weeks along.

I had cramping and had blood like the beginning of a period but then had many string and streaks of blood and clumping. Too much information I'm sure but if you are to miscarry you will see fragments fo what I just talked about. You can wear a pad to school and you'll feel leaking of blood should it happen. I don't know why they asked you to stay home.

If you numbers are doubling that's a good thing but to not have a fetal poll if they think you are 7 weeks is troubling.

I had an ultrasound at 6 weeks and at 9 weeks with my first child and at both you can see the blob of a baby. At 9 weeks it looked like two circles with limbs starting. I'm so sorry you have to go through this. It's very difficult and I'm sure your thinking about it all the time. I hope the doctors are wrong and that things are just fine. Keep us posted.

I just read about the women who said she miscarried and the clinic thought she was nuts because she was actually pregnant and I tought I'd add that don't have them talk you into a D&C unless they are sure. Maybe seek two opinions first. It would be horrible if they do a D&C when there is a live baby in there.

After years of trying, numerous procedures and drugs I found myself pregnant and I did miscarry at 10 weeks. I got pregnant again 2 months later. My numbers were not doubling and when I went for the ultrasound there was a blob in my uterus, but was told it didn't look like a viable sac. I was completely devastated. My hubby and my doctor weren't convinced it was over and my doctor told me to do nothing for a week, just go about my life as normally as I could. We went back for another ultrasound and I couldn't even watch. When the tech told me to go to the bathroom and she was going to have to do the ultrasound internally, I went into the bathroom and just cried. I came back out to finish the exam, eyes closed trying not to cry in front of here, just kinda checked out. My husband continued to watch intently. Then I hear her say something and heard my husband get very animated asking where? where? So I 'checked' back into reality to hear her repeat herself...there's the heartbeat...the most beautiful words I have ever heard. My non doubling numbers and non viable sac just turned 8 and needs to be picked up from school in a few minutes.

Please wait and if nothing happens, please ask for another ultrasound just to be sure.

God Bless, this is the worst thing to live through, IMHO.

I have had a miscarriage. Sometimes it can take quite a while to miscarry. A friend of mine said it took two weeks for her to miscarry. I had a D & C. Just so you know that this is very common. I was very upset about it, but my doctor told me that many many things have to work to make a baby and that it really is amazing that people have such a success rate as it is. He also said about 80% of people miscarry and do not even know it. The best of luck to you.

Hi S.,

I've had 2 miscarriages. I know exactly what you're going through and I'm so sorry for you! It's the "hurry up and wait" game.

It sounds to me that you might be too early to really know anything at this point. The doctor is going by what he knows and he doesn't want to get your hopes up. He wants to prepare you. It is possible that everything will turn out all right. Unfortuneatly you will just have to wait and see. It may take another week or two before you'll know anything. I don't think it's possible to see a heartbeat until about 7 weeks.

My last miscarriage happened while I was skiing in Breckenridge. My doctor told me a few days before I left that a miscarriage was a possibility. So, I was sort of prepared, but unfortuneatly you don't know how it will happen or how you'll react when it happens.

Even if you're spotting it doesn't mean you're miscarrying. Until your doctor confirms a miscarriage through ultrasound or blood test, you can't know for sure what is happening.

I had one pregnancy that my doctor was 100% convinced that I was going to miscarry. My HCG levels were dropping. I remember going in to see him and get more blood test done. He asked me how I was feeling. I told him that I felt fine and I still felt pregnant and that I wasn't losing this baby. He said "well, I'm sure your HCG is now below 5". Lets just say that that "supposed miscarriage" turned 11 two days ago. The doctor doesn't always know what he's talking about.

My prayers are certainly with you. My heart is with you. What you're going through is torture! Go with what you do know - at this point you are still pregnant. Try to focus on the positive - it may turn out just fine!