What happens if you dont miscarry naturally

This is called 'expectant management'. If nothing is done, sooner or later the pregnancy tissue will pass naturally. If it is an incomplete miscarriage where some but not all pregnancy tissue has passed it will often happen within days, but for a missed miscarriage where the fetus or embryo has stopped growing but no tissue has passed it might take as long as three to four weeks.

While you are waiting you may have some spotting or bleeding, much like a period. When the pregnancy tissue passes, you are likely to have heavier bleeding with crampy, period-like pains. You can use sanitary pads and take pain relieving tablets, such as paracetamol. But if there is heavy bleeding or signs of infection you will need treatment. You and the doctor can discuss and decide the preferred option for you.

Medicine is available that can speed up the process of passing the pregnancy tissue. For an incomplete miscarriage, the medicine will usually encourage the pregnancy tissue to pass within a few hours. At most it will happen within a day or two. For a missed miscarriage, it may happen quickly, but it can take up to two weeks and, occasionally, longer.

The full name is dilatation and curettage. It is done in an operating theatre, usually under general anaesthetic. There is no cutting involved because the surgery happens through the vagina. The cervix neck of the uterus is gently opened and the remaining pregnancy tissue is removed so that the uterus is empty. Usually the doctor is not able to see a recognisable embryo. The actual procedure usually only takes five to ten minutes, but you will usually need to be in the hospital for around four to five hours.

Most of this time will be spent waiting and recovering. You may have to wait a day or two to have a curette and sometimes, while you are waiting, the pregnancy tissue will pass on its own. If this happens and all of the tissue is passed you may not need to have a curette.

If you have heavy bleeding with clots and crampy pain, it is likely that you are passing the pregnancy tissue. If you decide not to treat your miscarriage, see your doctor. He or she will watch you closely during the time you wait for the miscarriage to complete. If you have heavy bleeding or infection during a miscarriage, you will likely need surgery to empty your uterus.

Medicine makes the uterus squeeze and empty. Medicine takes longer than a procedure to empty your uterus, and it can cause pain and side effects. Surgery has risks, including infection and a possible hole puncture or scarring in the uterus. Using medicine or waiting for the uterus to empty on its own doesn't always work. If medicine, waiting, or both don't empty the uterus after several weeks, you may need surgery. What is a miscarriage?

For some, the loss of a pregnancy can be very hard. You may wonder why it happened. Common signs of a miscarriage can include: Vaginal bleeding. Pain in the belly, lower back, or pelvis.

Passing fetal tissue from the vagina. What should you do if you are or might be miscarrying? Your doctor or midwife will check to see if you: Might be losing too much blood or getting an infection.

Could have an ectopic pregnancy , which can be deadly. You may need emergency surgery to remove the embryo or fetus. Are at risk for Rh sensitization , which may be dangerous to a fetus in your next pregnancy. If your blood type is Rh-negative, you will probably need treatment. How is a miscarriage treated? Depending on your condition, you may be able to choose: Watchful waiting known as expectant management , which means that your doctor watches you closely during the time you wait for the miscarriage to complete on its own.

Medicine to complete the miscarriage, known as medical management. Surgical procedure , such as dilation and evacuation, to complete the miscarriage. Compare your options. Compare Option 1 Take medicine Have surgery Have no treatment. Compare Option 2 Take medicine Have surgery Have no treatment. Take medicine Take medicine You take pills that empty your uterus.

You can be at home. After several hours, you will have bleeding and cramps as the medicine starts to work. The miscarriage may take days or weeks to end. It completes a miscarriage more quickly than waiting. You don't have the risks from surgery or anesthesia.

It causes cramping and bleeding. You may have more cramping than if the miscarriage ended on its own. It doesn't work as well for second-trimester miscarriages.

It can cause side effects such as: Pain. You still may need surgery if the medicine doesn't complete the miscarriage. Have surgery Have surgery You have general or local anesthesia. The doctor opens the cervix and removes tissue from the uterus. It's the quickest way to complete a miscarriage. You could have less bleeding than with medicine or no treatment. You may have pain but for a shorter time than with medicine. Possible risks include: A reaction to the anesthesia. An infection. Some women describe the process as similar to the contractions of labour and it can be a long and exhausting process.

It can help to have pain-killers such as ibuprofen to hand, as well as a supply of extra-absorbent pads. You may also find it helpful to read personal accounts of natural management from Keri and Pavla.

Some women experience severe abdominal cramps as well as heavy bleeding with this option, but they may prefer this to an operation. If your baby has died after about 14 or 15 weeks, you are most likely to be managed medically. As with natural management, some women say that the process is similar to the contractions of labour and it can be a long and exhausting process. It can help to have pain-killers such as paracetemol or co-codamol to hand, as well as a supply of extra-absorbent pads.

Hospitals sometimes differ in the way they give the treatment — for example, whether treatment is carried out in hospital or at home. In all cases, though, they should give you clear information about what to expect. You may also find it helpful to read personal accounts of medical management, such as these from Amy and Michelle. This is an operation to remove the remains of your pregnancy.

It is usually done under general anaesthetic but in some hospitals it can be done under local anaesthetic, when you stay awake. See MVA below. For many years, surgical management of miscarriage was called ERPC, an abbreviation for Evacuation of Retained Products of Conception, which means the removal of the remains of the pregnancy and surrounding tissue.

Many people find this term upsetting, which is why it should not be used any more, but you might still hear it or see it written.

Some hospitals offer surgical management with local rather than general anaesthetic. Your doctor will know more about your unique situation and why one option may be preferable to another. There could also be emotional risks of unnecessarily prolonging the pregnancy.

This is another question that should be considered with your doctor. Your situation my have special circumstances making one option preferable to another. Miscarriage can be traumatizing. It is important to think through any emotional impact that your decision might have.

It is also important to recognize that when making the decisions in the moment, emotions are likely already high. And up to a few days after, you may experience mild cramping. Spotting or bleeding can last up to 2 weeks. You will have to wait at least days to resume normal activity and will also want to wait avoid infection by not using a tampon, avoiding sexual activity and not soaking in water ie, a bathtub, hot tub or pool 4.

With a natural miscarriage, the timing can be unpredictable.