Other Women That Went Through a D&C

Updated on November 17, 2009
J.G. asks from Omaha, NE
16 answers

Hi,

I recently went to my first pre-natal appointment and the baby did not have a heartbeat. My doctor gave me a couple of options but felt since the baby was measuring at 10 weeks it would be best to do a D&C esp. since i was going out of town the following day. My question is how long did it take you to concieve again and did you have any complications? I do have an 11 month old so I've had a successful pregnancy before. Just wondering if it may take awhile to concieve again.

Thanks so much!
J.

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So What Happened?

Thanks so much for sharing your stories. I know it can be tough to share, but it gives me comfort that so many have gone through this and gone on to have sucessful pregnancies. It was a truly heartbreaking experience for me, but from your responses I have great hope I will be pregnant again soon even though I'm sure I'll be a nervous wreck worrying about things:)

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A.K.

answers from Milwaukee on

I had a d&c almost 1 year ago. Its sad but physically not bad at all. I had really no pain. I had started bleeding at just over 8 weeks and decided to have d&c cause it was either that or go to the ER and wait it out cause I was loosing a lot of blood. I am now holding my 8 week old! Had 1 cycle then preggo so it was maybe 7 weeks after. Perfect pregnancy, but I was def more worried at the beginning then with my son and m/c.

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T.M.

answers from Minneapolis on

After a D&C I concieved 2 weeks later. We were not trying but it was the first "time" after I had the D&C and my now 15 year old is a result :o)

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J.C.

answers from Des Moines on

Hi J.,
First of all, I'm sorry for your loss.
We also had a miscarriage earlier this year. Our doctor gave us our options. We wanted nature to take its course, however after 2 weeks my body was just not recognizing the miscarriage. We had the D&C and planned on waiting the recommended 3 months before trying again. Well, low and behold, we conceived about 1 1/2 months later - due in February. Everything has gone quite well. I had a rough month of morning (all day) sickness in July. And I don't believe I was in the best shape b/c of the earlier pregnancy and surgery (D&C). However now things are going great.
We have an almost 2 year old, so like you had a successful pregnancy. We do feel we were very blessed to be able to conceive again, as I know some women do have some trouble. And also b/c I'm not that young anymore. :)
I would recommend waiting the few months to let your body recoup from the pregnancy/miscarriage/D&C. Also, emotionally, make sure you are ready. For as awful as a miscarriage is, we felt at peace with how nature ran its course.
Good luck with all your decisions and any future pregnancies.

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S.K.

answers from Minneapolis on

J.,

So sorry for your loss. When I had my D&C with my third pregnancy, I felt pretty good afterwards and had no complications. I conceived again after 2 months, although I was told to wait 3 by a doctor. Women are actually very fertile right after a miscarriage. The next baby I had was perfectly healthy, as was the one after that. I didn't realize how common miscarriages were until I had one and everyone I knew gave me their miscarriage stories - it was good to know I wasn't alone. I read 1 in 5 pregnancies ends in miscarriage (although sometimes women don't know they're pregnant and it just ends up like a horrible, late period.) So it's almost a matter of "when" a miscarriage happens more than "if" when you choose to have a larger family.

Best wishes,

S.

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E.I.

answers from Duluth on

i had a d&c and i was satisfied with it. in a miscarriage you can run the risk of not everything getting out, and having to have a d&c anyway.
our doctor told us to wait 3 months to try again i think.. and we did and we got pregnant right away. it was like a trial run, practice, and i think it helped us get pregnant faster than when we had started in the first place.

one thing not to forget; dont forget not to ignore yourself and your feelings about your miscarriage. a lot of hospitols when doing a d&c bury the tissue in a location in their local cemetary made for lsot pregnancies and babies. they also usually have a yearly memorial "service" for people who have had miscarriage or stillbirths. i think it really helped, and i was about 7 months along when we went to ours almost a year later :P we had the d&c in december, got pregnant in the end of march, and had our little boy the end of november (the memorial service was in october)

anyway, dont neglect yourself.
http://www.tatepublishing.com/bookstore/book.php?w=978-1-...
this is a good book about miscarriage and the odd feelings you have sometimes.
anyway.
take care of yourself, and good luck on your journey! :)

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J.R.

answers from Davenport on

I had a natural miscarriag, no D&C, and we concieved 8 months later, the fist month we tried. I hope it is just a s simple for you. You have my sympathy on your loss, it took those 8 months to be ready to try again for us, and we were very worried until we had had a few good ultrasounds, especially because i had alot of bleeding/spotting in the beginning of the pregnancy after the miscarriage....but it all turned out well, and my little boy is 9 months old this week!

Jessie

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M.W.

answers from St. Cloud on

I've had 4 miscarriages but have chosen to let my body do it so I've not have a d&c.

After the first one, it took 6 months to get pregnant.

After the second one, I was pregnant the next month (which I also miscarried.....)

After the third one, we WAITED for 6 months while building our bodies up naturally and getting healthy. Got pregnant the first month trying.

Our last miscarriage was May 2009. We are still not pregnant yet.....

We have 2 great children through all this. And hopefully will add more here on earth soon. GOOD LUCK!

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K.S.

answers from Minneapolis on

So sorry for your loss. Had a similar situation but maybe a couple weeks earlier. Got pregnant on my next cycle and had our youngest about 3 months after the due date of our miscarriage.

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E.B.

answers from Duluth on

I had a D & C a few years ago on August 23 (I was about 12 weeks along) and we conceived over Christmas. The reason, though, that I had a D&C was because I was bleeding horribly and it wasn't stopping; the blood loss affected me quite substantially for a week (needed a glass of water an hour around the clock to stay on my feet) and mildly for almost a month (couldn't lift heavy things, got winded easily). My two cycles after the D&C were quite long--31 days (I'm normally 23)--and my surgeon gave me permission to start trying after my cycles returned to normal. I recently miscarried again, naturally, at about 5 weeks, and we will probably start TTC this month. I'm glad we waited last time around; the pregnancy was difficult and I believe that it was due to the fact that the miscarriage took a toll on my body. After this most recent miscarriage, I had a very obvious ovulation; I have heard you are quite fertile after you miscarry--but, in my opinion, I would seriously think about whether you are ready both physically and emotionally before TTC again. Good luck, and I'm sorry for your loss!

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J.F.

answers from Madison on

I had a miscarriage at 18 weeks with my 2nd pregnancy. I had a D&C. We didn't get pregnant again for 8 months. We tried but it took 8 months. Good luck and don't get discouraged, you will get pregnant when your body is ready.

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S.P.

answers from Minneapolis on

Hi J.,

I also had a non-viable pregnancy determined at about 8 weeks. My doctor also felt a D&C made the most sense, and I agree. There's was no waiting at home wondering when it was going to happen and almost no discomfort at all. At the suggestion of our OB we started trying again after the bleeding stopped and I was pregnant again 6 weeks after my D&C. I delivered a healthy, beautiful, although very dynamic, little boy. I will caution you that with the failed pregnancy, the D&C, and the successful pregnancy it felt like I was pregnant for 13 months. It took me almost a year to recover from it all. In hindsight I would have been better off waiting 3 months for my hormones to get back to normal before getting pregnant again.

Whatever decision you make I'm sure it will be the right one for you. Good luck!

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H.G.

answers from New York on

I conceived again about 3 months after my D&C at the age of 37. From what I was told, your fertility returns immediately.

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S.L.

answers from Minneapolis on

My 3rd pregnancy ended similar to yours. We were due mid July 2005. I had a DNC several days later. We became pregnant again and Izzy was born July 2006. She was born on the due day of the baby we miscarried.

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D.S.

answers from Milwaukee on

When I had my D&C, the baby measured at 9 weeks. I was told to wait 3 months before trying to conceive again. After that, it took 2 months and then we were pregnant. I did not have any complications, but I was very nervous each time I went in for the ultrasound or checkups. I wish you well with your recovery and success for future pregnancies.

D., mother to 3 amazing children, 2 boys ( 6 and 3 1/2) and a girl (21 months). Married to a great man for 10 yrs.

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K.R.

answers from Minneapolis on

I was scheduled for a D&C when my baby didn't have a heartbeat at 11 weeks, but the night before my appointment I started miscarrying naturally. (It was rather painful, actually. I had some serious contractions.)

I was very depressed for five months, and then became pregnant again.

Please respond to me personally if you'd like to discuss the depression and what it feels like to have a miscarriage. I know from experience how devastating it can be.

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S.W.

answers from Minneapolis on

Sorry to hear about the loss of your baby. I had a D&C at 12 weeks and was pregnant a month and a half later. Although it was a complete surprise to me. My doctor said you can get pregnant right away unless there is a medical reason for the miscarriage. I did then carry a healthy little boy to term who keeps me buisy. The best advice I can give is to take time to morn the loss of your baby before trying again. I was a nervous wreck worrying about my pregnancy and suffered major depression while pregnant cause I never took the time to morn. Good Luck

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