A miscarriage at 11 weeks.

[Motherdragon]

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On October 27, 2008, at 12:00pm: I had my second prenatal appointment. This is when I had hoped I would be able to hear the heartbeat for the first time. My 1^st appointment had been with a the Ob, so this was the first time I got to meet Kelli Johnson, CPM, LM face to face. Kelli Johnson is wonderful home birthing midwife that had preformed multiple HBAC deliveries.

Unlike any prenatal appointment I had ever experienced, the midwife and myself were able to have an indebt conversation about our views on childbirth and alternative care. After about 2 hours of conversation she had me lay down, on a lavish day bed, so we could see about hearing that heartbeat. She then placed the gel on my stomach and slid the Doppler around looking for that precious baby beat. “Well, there’s the placenta,” she said, as we listened to more and more of it across the front of my uterus. After about 20 minutes of searching we eventually came to the conclusion that the baby was probably hiding low in the pelvis or behind the placenta. Which was making it difficult to hear the heartbeat. Something that is not very uncommon during early pregnancy. She put the Doppler away until the next visit. We then continued our conversations for another 15 or 20 minutes, before I left for home.

During a stop on the way home I felt some wetness down below. Once I got home I went to the restroom to see what was the cause. It was what appeared to be my mucus plug. It was a thick, light brown, mousy discharge. It contained one very small blood clot. I wasn’t to worried because I knew that at this point there was several possible explanations for such discharge. Since I wasn’t experiencing any pelvis pressure or cramps, miscarriage was still somewhat low on the list. None the less, I called Kelli to see what she thought. She agreed, and instructed me to call her back if I experienced any additional discharge or cramping. About an hour latter I felt some more wetness. There wasn’t as much this time but the contents were equal parts blood and mucus. I called back the midwife. This time we were both somewhat more concerned. But still, no cramping. We decided that it would be a good idea to schedule an ultrasound for the following morning try and diagnose the issue.

About 10:00pm, I began to fell some pelvic pressure. This was very similar, if not identical to the pressure I felt in the last week or two of pregnancy, before delivering my daughter. Just before midnight, the pressure began to be accompanied by minor cramps. I called the midwife once more. “At this point, it is starting to look like a miscarriage”, she told me. Though I had thought about the possibility, it wasn’t until she said those words that the water works began. She did the typical speech for mother’s experiencing an early miscarriage. “Sometimes it is just a bad egg, your bound to have a few of them in the bunch.” “There was nothing that could have been done.“ “The baby most likely had passed away a long time ago” “This does not mean that there is anything wrong with you, or your ability to carry a child.” “If you fell the need for any grief counseling, I’ll be here.” She assured me that there was no need for me to go to the hospital just yet. Most likely my body would clear everything out without complication. If the cramping became unbearable or I showed signs of hemorrhage (fever, extra heavy and continual flow, light headedness, chills, etc.) then go to the ER. She informed me that she would call for an appointment for an ultrasound for the next morning just to make sure that everything cleared out the way it was suppose to.

Within a few hours after I got off the phone, the miscarriage confirmed itself. Cramping became regular and the spotting became bleeding. Still nothing out of the ordinary, for a miscarriage. The blood was equal to a heavy flow period and combined with huge blood clots. The average clot size 2 inches long with a 1 inch diameter. I preformed a detailed examination of everything that came out of me. Throughout the entire night there was no evidence of the fetus of the placenta to be found. And no colors of textures out of the ordinary.  Colors or textures to be concerened with my include: Green, yellow, white, bubbly, hard,ect...

October 28, 2008, 9:35am: Kelli calls me to see how I was. She also informed me that she had been making calls throughout the morning but there were no appointments available for ultrasounds today. I was then instructed to go to an ER sometime within the next two days to see if a D&C was needed.

At approximately 1:00pm I went to the Winnie Palmer Triage Clinic. There I was given an internal ultrasound that confirmed the miscarriage and showed that everything had cleared out as it should have. The only thing that had yet to come loose was the placenta. A speculum was used to help clear out and examine what little bit of tissues were left. And three vials of blood was taken for examination. The vaginal exams seemed to have stimulated my muscles to began contracting again, because the cramps began to come back. But, at the time everything appeared to be taking care of itself as it was suppose to. So I was given 3 Motrin to help with the cramping and discharged with orders to return in one week for repeat blood work to insure the hormones of pregnancy had regulated. I was also given orders to return If the cramping worsted or the I showed signs of hemorrhage (fever, extra heavy and continual flow, light headedness, chills, etc.)

Before leaving the hospital we stopped at the cafeteria. The cramping was getting stronger and stronger. It was at least 3 times more painful than what I had gone through the night before. And the bleeding intensified. While my husband grabbed us a sandwich, I went to the restroom and saw that I had just saturated the pad I had put on just before leaving triage. Immediately upon leaving the restroom I returned to triage as I continued to feel more wetness building up below.

Because I was discharged I had to fill out all the paper work all over again. The cramping was making it a nearly impossible task. Unlike the first time I did not have to wait long. I guess the white tent to my face signified that it could be some urgency. I returned to the same room I had just left and was immediately instructed to prepare for another examination.

Upon undressing I noticed that I had passed another large “clot”. But, this one did not appear like the last. It was firmer and contained white tissues. It appeared to me to be one of two things, either the placenta or the fetus with tissues wrapped around it. It was about an hour before they allowed me to examine it closely myself. At which time I was able to conclude that it was defiantly the placenta. At just 1.5 inches tall and 1 inch wide. Thankfully, as soon as the placenta was passed the cramping had stopped.

During the vaginal exam the doctor concluded that I had dilated between 1 and 2 centimeters and I had started some light bleeding. He asked that I stay for observation for the next two hours to make sure that the bleeding stop. I was given an IV for fluids and instructed not to eat or drink for the next 2 hours just incase a D&C was needed. I also had to take 3 magnesium tablets. They were dissolvable, but they tasted like chalk…..eeeuck, disgusting! 2 hours later, just after 11:00pm we were discharged again.

October 30, 2008, 1:00pm: Cramps are completely gone but the bleeding remains. The flow is light to medium. I expect the bleeding to continue for another few days.

Tags: compication, demise, loss, miscarriage, pregnancy

Add A Comment

[amileegirl]

Oct. 30, 2008 at 1:40 PM

I have no words for you but I did read it all and feel for you.

[Avetay]

Oct. 30, 2008 at 5:05 PM

I am so sorry...I wish I knew what to say to make things better but I am here if you need to talk...Reaing this brought tears to my eyes.

[MammaMia72]

Oct. 30, 2008 at 7:45 PM

I am sorry for your loss. I also appreciate the details of your event as many of us may not understand what is happening during this time. Maybe it will educate another woman so she may be better prepared for what lies ahead. Again, I am so sorry. It sounds like you handled everything with dignity.

[bellanena1983]

Oct. 30, 2008 at 8:58 PM

 Wow Girl, Thst sounds really bad. I wished you didn't have to experience that but you did and for that i am sooorrry for your loss. I don't know what it feels like to have a miscarrage but by the way you describe it, i am glad i never had to go through that horrible emotional rollercoaster of pain.

[MalhotraFamily]

Oct. 30, 2008 at 9:55 PM

Tina, I am so sorry for your loss.  Please know that I am here if you need to talk. 

[kimberleee382]

Oct. 31, 2008 at 1:01 PM

what an unbearable experience.  I'm so sorry for your loss.

this is the number one reason I'm not so thrilled to have another baby.  I'm terrified of the possibility of miscarriage.  I don't think I'm strong enough to go through that.