Dilation & Curettage for Missed Miscarriage: What to Expect

Choosing to have a dilation and curettage (D&C) is a difficult decision. Personally, I chose to have one for my missed miscarriage as it felt like the right choice for me and my family. Your heart is likely broken after learning about your missed miscarriage and then you have to choose how to proceed. Here I am sharing my experience as well as some sources to learn more about the clinical side of having a D&C. My hope is that by sharing my experience and this information, I will help others going through a similar journey

You can read more about my miscarriage in the post My Missed Miscarriage Story. Along with other posts, I hope this will help support your journey. If you need additional support or resources, please reach out to me. Being a member of your support team during this time is what I strive for, whether by providing information and experiences through my posts, or by personally conversing with you.

The Diagnosis

This is a short iteration of my story, you can find a longer and more detailed version in the post My Missed Miscarriage Story.

When I first found out I had a missed miscarriage, I was 11 weeks pregnant. I went in for a routine visit and the doctor couldn’t find a heartbeat with the Doppler. He wheeled the ultrasound machine in and took a deep sigh when he found the gestational sac.

He explained he could not see anything in the sac. At 11 weeks there should be a developing baby there and there was nothing. He sent me up for an urgent ultrasound.

Once in the radiology department the technician explained she couldn’t share any news with me. She did a regular ultrasound then a transvaginal ultrasound. This was uncomfortable but not painful. It seemed to take hours as I silently cried. When she was done, I got dressed and sauntered back to the OB office.

There I waited until finally my doctor returned. He explained the read on the ultrasound showed exactly what he was seeing. I had three options. I didn’t have to make a choice immediately. I already knew what I wanted: a D&C.

My other options were:

1. Wait it out (but I was already late in my first trimester so there was a risk of infection.) 2. A take pill every six hours until I begin bleeding.

For me, a D&C gave me the weekend to ponder it and that was enough waiting time for me. I was able to get schedule for a D&C first thing Monday morning the following week (the original OB appointment was on a Friday.)

The Dilation and Curettage (D&C)

By the day of the D&C I felt ready to undergo the procedure. I was fortunate enough to have an amazing doctor that explained things well without judgement. I arrived early at 7am. (my true arrival time was supposed to be 7:30am.) My mom drove me since my husband was watching our two year old because daycare was closed that week. My doctor informed me prior to the procedure that I would need a ride to and from the procedure and they’d have to stay for the entirety of it. Ask your doctor for their policy on this prior to scheduling.

I checked in, answered some medical questions and went to the surgery center. From there I was called back a prepped while my mom waited in the waiting room. Here, I answered the same questions again, got hooked up to all of the monitors, and changed into a hospital gown. Prior to my IV, the nurse had to put warming blankets on me because I was so cold she could find a place to put the IV. Then the nurse came in and placed my IV, asked the same questions, and went through some paperwork. My doctor and anesthesiologist stopped by to explain what would happen and to answer any questions.

If you’d like to know the anatomy side of what happens during a D&C, check out this article by the Mayo Clinic that explains the procedure itself in more depth.

Questions for My Doctor

I only had one question: when can we try again? The answer was I should get a period in 3-5 weeks and if it seems normal, we can try after that period. If it’s not normal, wait until a normal period returns.

Looking back, I wish I was more focused on the now. I wish I had asked questions about support after the procedure and what to expect. Most of this information was in the packet I was given by the hospital, but I still wish I would have asked.

In times like these I tend to put on a brave face to distract myself from actually feeling. I’d rather crack jokes than break down and cry again. If this is you, too, feel free to cry. It’s expected and definitely not an overreaction in any way. Let yourself feel the emotions.

Even though I didn’t ask my doctor any of the right questions, he did give me a repeated wise statement. The few times I saw him he told me the same thing: you did nothing to cause this.

If you are similar, I encourage you to make a list of questions either prior to your procedure or after your procedure to ask your doctor. You can also call and speak to the nurse line to help get questions answered. After your procedure, focus on your recovery both physically and mentally.

The Actual Procedure

Finally it was time to go back, all I remember was getting on to the operating bed and then getting an oxygen mask out on. After that I woke up in the room I was prepped in.

I felt a little groggy from the anesthesia and a little sore, but nothing severe. Of course, everyone’s pain thresholds are different, so the pain may vary by person. I was hesitant to get up because I could feel the blood pooling between my legs and knew I’d get the period rush if I stood up, which is exactly what happened. Luckily, there were plenty of supplies to get cleaned up with and the nursing staff were available to help with anything I needed.

After waking up, I had to wait another hour to make sure I was ok. Then I was able to get dressed, get a shot of rhogam due to my O negative blood, and be discharged.

The Recovery

When I got home, I ate half of a sub sandwich and drank some water. Then, I slept for a few hours. I woke up and did the same then began writing some blog posts while watching Princess Diaries.

I checked my pad and used the bathroom and a only had a little heavier than spotting the day of my procedure.

Prior to the procedure, I read the book Your Guide to Miscarriage and Pregnancy Loss by Kate White, MD (linked below.) This helped me make sense of it all and process everything. Talking it out with my husband and looking forward to trying again helped immensely.

Things that Helped After the D&C

• Reading the book Your Guide to Miscarriage and Pregnancy Loss by Kate White, MD
• These menstrual pads by Always
• Getting my favorites: chocolate and watching a favorite movie The Princess Diaries
• Getting plenty of rest. Whatever that means for you. For me it meant taking a nap and then just taking it easy the rest of the week
• Heating pad to help with cramps. The cramps were similar to period cramps for me
• Love and support from family, friends, and your medical team
• Pain relief medication as recommended by your doctor

Additional Thoughts

Facing a challenging time where your dreams for a new life feel out of reach can be overwhelming. It’s natural to feel sad and even scared, but you don’t have to go through this alone. If you’re feeling hopeless, consider reaching out to someone who can help. I’m here for you and would be honored to be part of your support system. Above, I’ve shared helpful tips and resources to cope and navigate through this difficult time. Let’s work together to find hope and healing.

Have you gone through similar or are you about to? We can get through this together.

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