It is natural to feel the doctor is wrong, or to
want to know what all they will do to prove to you your baby has been lost
before performing a D&C. This is especially important if you have had no
symptoms at all of a miscarriage, and can't believe the baby is not growing.
There are two ways to check the status of your
pregnancy: hCG blood levels and sonograms. Click a link below to learn about
them.
[ hCG levels ] [ sonograms
]
It is important to make sure your diagnosis is
clear before going into a D&C. While I feel absolutely confident that no
live baby is ever accidentally taken via D&C (there are web sites devoted to
this, but I've investigated this many
times by randomly calling doctors and asking their requirements), it is
important that YOU feel sure the baby is lost before undergoing a surgical
procedure.
The D&C Checklist
If you are not already bleeding and cramping or in a lot of
pain, I don't recommend a D&C unless you say yes to ALL FOUR things below:
- I have had at least two hCG pregnancy hormone blood tests,
and they are both too low or the numbers are going down.
- I have had at least two ultrasounds a week or more apart,
and both have shown no progress or change.
- I know for a fact that my dates of ovulation and cycle
start are correct, and my stage of pregnancy is what the doctors say it
should be.
- I am getting distressed about this lost baby and I am ready
to move on.
Once you have heavy bleeding and cramping, I think it okay to
go ahead and have the D&C if you need it. If you absolutely petrified of the
pain and the tissue, and you are absolutely confident (with at least two visits)
that the miscarriage is inevitable, then go ahead with the D&C.
Even after this checklist, some women want to be sure by
actually seeing their body push the baby out. Women vary with the amount of pain
and blood they will see in a natural miscarriage. For some it is nothing more
than a heavy period. For others it is almost like labor. Not knowing what will
happen makes it all even scarier. See also the section on treatment, which
debates your options for handling the miscarriage.
