I just had a D and C done today. Two days ago I had an ultrasound at 10.5 weeks. I wasn't there for an ultrasound but the doctor said they thought they could fit me in if I wanted to see the heartbeat.

My heart was broken when the technician said, "Here is your gestational sac, there is no embryo and no fetus." I broke down in tears with my husband next to me.

Apparently the embryo never attached to my uterus because there was nothing to be found in the ultrasound. I did find it a relief that my baby didn't get as far as even having a heartbeat. That would have been more difficult for me to bear.

Still, I wept aloud various times for the next couple of days but today more than ever I have felt God hold me and comfort my grieving spirit. Be comforted, God is intimately acquainted with grief and He is our refuge. Blessings, MLB

It is great that I found this website. I just had a D&C performed last week. This was my first pregnancy and my fiance's second. I had already begun to show, my pants were fitting tight, I had a small baby bump going. We were so excited to go and see our baby for the first time. I was 10 weeks and two days on Monday when we went for our ultrasound.

Since everyone around us was telling us we were going to have twins, we were a little nervous. As soon as the baby appeared on the screen, I sensed there was something wrong. "Is that the baby?" "Yes, it is. The baby is measuring 10 weeks two days." After a few minutes of silence, the ultrasound lady says, "I'm sorry there is no heartbeat." She suddenly looked like she was 50 miles away and I had tunnel vision. Everything but her face was dark.

I could hear my fiance say, "Are you serious?" And I heard her say it a few more times. Then the tears came. I lost it, broke down in hysterics. They gave us a few minutes in the ultrasound room to be together.

The whole time I cried, just starring at my baby on the screen. Something just didn't look right.

Next were sitting in my doctor's office waiting, and waiting. Apparently he had been out on a call at the hospital, so we waited for nearly an hour.

He comes in with my chart. I can see the ultrasound of my baby. He tells us the baby stopped developing at around eight weeks. That it was nothing we had done wrong. That it was a chance occurrence that at conception some chromosomes didn't properly pass from sperm to egg or vice versa. This caused the baby to be able to develop up to the point that the missing information was needed.

I just sat there crying. It seems that even though my baby never passed the development of an embryo, my body continued to grow and nurture it? That must be a good sign, right? That my body can support a baby, but it was just bad luck?

He told us our options: wait it out or have a D&C performed the next day. I opted for the D&C because I couldn't stand the thought that my baby has been dead inside of me for the past two weeks. I was heartbroken.

The next day, we went to the hospital and it was over before I knew it. I woke up at five minutes to 1:00, holding my stomach and crying.

I want to be a mother more than anything. I waited so long for this baby, and now it's just gone. The thought that something like this could happen never crossed my mind. You never think that it would happen to you.

We planned for this baby. I feel so lost and empty, but having found this website, as much as I would never wish this upon anyone, I don't feel so alone. There are four other people I know who are pregnant right now, all having conceived right around the same time.

I know this summer will be a rough one, but I pray everyday for the strength to get through this. My baby was due August 21st, maybe by then I will be pregnant again?

How long until I start feeling better? It has only been three days since the procedure was done, and I am bleeding now like a light-normal period, but with cramps of an awful one. My stomach has already gone back to normal. But I just feel so sad. I am only 22 so I know I have plenty of time to try again. But it's just the fact that I wanted this baby so bad and now it's gone. Does anyone have any advice on how to get through this?

I appreciate all of your comments. We just went to the doctor on Friday to listen to our baby's heartbeat. At 7 1/2 weeks, the nurse practitioner determined that the baby had only grown to six weeks and two days -- and there was no heartbeat. I was automatically scheduled for D & C on this coming Monday, but after thinking about it, my husband and I decided to go for second ultrasound. We just want to make sure we gave our baby every opportunity.

I have not been able to stop crying after our diagnosis, but I know this is God's will for our baby's life and if in fact we don't get the outcome that we want with second ultrasound we will try again.

But I will never forget this experience, and how much in love I was with the life growing inside of me.

I was 15 weeks with my first miscarriage and I had a spontaneous miscarriage. I saw everything! It was my first pregnancy and I was so excited. I hadn't had any doctor's appointments, and when it happened, I saw that I had miscarried a set of twins.

I got pregnant again and I went to the ER at seven weeks. There was a heartbeat. I went back at 12 weeks because I was spotting, and saw just a sac, and went to the doctor and they didn't see a heartbeat. I had lost the baby at eight weeks, and didn't know for four weeks. I had D&Cs with both.

I am currently 10 weeks pregnant, and am scared to death. The pain of a miscarriage never goes away, but it does get easier. If you've had more than two miscarriages, talk to your doctor about blood tests, and see about blood clotting disorders. Because unfortunately, that's why I kept miscarrying.

Good luck to all the ladies out there. All of our angels are playing together in Heaven.

In response to: " i was devastated, and with this being our first pregnancy i am so scared to try again.

For anyone who has had this happen to you, they know what i mean. that thought that will always be in the back of your head. the worrying that never ends.

- anon57358"

I know exactly how you feel, as I was at 10 weeks and my baby was also 8.5 weeks. We were ecstatic as this was also our first pregnancy, and that day is engraved in my memory forever.

I am so scared not to be able to have a child now, yet so scared to go through the pain of losing one again. I finally miscarried three days later, at home, without meds or anything.

The worst feeling in the world is knowing you have lost a baby, and yet he is still there inside you and i always wished I could just tell him hold on, come back to me, but it's too late for that and I am now getting over it all I guess, not that I will ever completely recover.

a part of me is up in the heavens with my baby.

Never forgotten, always loved.

My husband and I went in around six weeks because I was having some spotting. My HCG levels were 45000 and everything seemed fine except my progesterone. I was started on progesterone that day. Doctor said there was never any guarantees but it looked good!

We went in for the eight weeks checkup and got to see a heart rate of 172, his limbs, head, and spinal cord. We were elated! Everything was perfect. Went in for our 10 week checkup with no idea that they would not be able to find a heart rate with the Doppler or transvaginal ultrasound. I knew as soon as I looked up on the screen. The baby was just there, lifeless, with no heartbeat. It looked bigger to us but I think that was just in our imaginations and wanting to hope, or it could've been swelling setting in?

I go in for a D and C on Friday. I never had any cramping (or what I thought was cramping- had a weird feeling that I just thought was my bowels) or any more bleeding. When I think back now and it is all coming together. Why were my HCG levels so high? I was worried because at the six week ultrasound the baby was not moving at all (is that normal?). And when I started my 10 weeks, my nausea, vomiting, and sore breasts just stopped all at once. It's devastating. I thought about the baby continuously when I was pregnant.

I still think about things and plans and I have to remind myself that the baby is no longer alive. Its really hard waiting on my D and C, knowing the baby is still inside of me.

Why do people say "It is for the best, something must have been wrong with the baby" or "you can try again soon" ?

Something inside me screams out loud as it was not just any baby, it was my baby.

I had a miss at 11 weeks. A routine scan showed no heartbeat and a baby lying there, lifeless. I have two children already and when I got pregnant for the third time, the word miscarriage was not in my vocabulary. the very idea of something like that happening after two normal pregnancies was absurd. A naive mistake. It can happen at anytime and to anyone.

The grief I feel is hard to describe. I felt that as a mother I should have been able to protect my baby. That no one had consulted me, that my baby's life had been snatched away so suddenly.

I cried for two weeks, especially at night, as that was when the enormity of what I had lost would set in.

I had hopes and dreams for my baby, I had even a short list of names. I yearn to be pregnant again every day yet I have a deep fear of something like this happening again. I don't think I could go through this again.

It has been six weeks now and I am slowly getting on with my life. Sometimes when I think of my loss or when I see another baby, something clutches my heart and twists it. I suppose the biggest cruelty of all is that I will never cuddle or hold my little son or daughter.

I will never forget you.

My boyfriend and I were very anxious and excited to hear our baby's heartbeat for the first time! At 12 and a half weeks we went to our appt. with video camera in hand.

I had an appointment two weeks prior to this one to see it at the time, but it was too soon to hear the baby's heartbeat then.

I have a tilted uterus, and when she explained to me then that condition could have had something to do with not being able to hear the heartbeat that early on. she went ahead and scheduled me for the following two weeks.

I didn't worry too much. I was only ten and a half weeks and my mom was not able to hear mine or my sister's till 12 and fourteen weeks.

So here we are in this little room, with complete silence: Me, brad and the midwife. the only sound you could hear was the whooshing of my veins as she slides the doppler across my belly.

a little discouraged she grabs a second doppler. still nothing. so then she went to the ultrasound. I felt I was lying there for hours as i watched her explore the screen in hopes of a little miracle. But when her face went blank i knew something was wrong.

She started off by telling us she located the baby but she didn't have good news. there was no heartbeat.

I turned towards brad. his facial expressions were unreadable. i went blank. moments later we were sent to another room to do an alternate ultrasound. the screen was facing away from us at first, and the moment she showed us the baby i started crying. i had miscarried two weeks prior to then.

the baby measured at 8 and a half weeks, with little arms and legs. i was devastated, and with this being our first pregnancy i am so scared to try again.

For anyone who has had this happen to you, they know what i mean. that thought that will always be in the back of your head. the worrying that never ends.

I am very sorry to hear about everyone's loss. I went in for my 12 week check up and ultrasound yesterday and found out my baby's heart had stopped and development had stopped around 10.5 weeks.

In my teens I had complications of the fallopian tubes and was told numerous things from trying to conceive would be difficult and I may run risk for ectopic pregnancies. In October, after being sick for two weeks, something told me to take a pregnancy test - which came out positive. Dream come true. I had an ultrasound the following day to find out I was five weeks pregnant and was scheduled to come back in at seven weeks. When I went in at seven weeks I could see the little flicker on the screen and things were really a reality then.

Then came on the 24/7 nausea, I was severely dehydrated at 10 weeks and in the hospital for 2 days, but in week 11 things started getting much better, with occasional morning sickness. When I went in yesterday, I never imagined being told my baby was no longer living. It is all such a blur and all I remember the doctor saying is something regarding a chromosome issue, and it not being my fault, and he measured something on the ultrasound behind the baby's neck - which I guess confirmed everything after not being able to see a heartbeat.

I have elected to have the D&C done because it has been almost two weeks since the baby passed and I have had no signs, and I feel it's the only way to move on and cherish the moments I did have being a mommy. My deepest sympathies are with everyone and the most important thing to remember is a lot of times it is nothing you did, it is your body's way of telling you something is wrong.

Stay strong and I wish everyone healthy future pregnancies. :)

i just found out my baby died at seven weeks and i carried it into my 11th week. I opted for medical treatment, I'm bleeding well and i feel it's helping me to grieve, feeling the pain makes it real. I'm still in shock and hoping it will expel without problems.

my heart is broken and i pray one day i will have a child. I'm 37 and this was my first pregnancy after trying for so many years. we had given up and thought i couldn't conceive, but i feel blessed it happened and i was pregnant for a short time. i never thought this could happen. I'm devastated. and i feel for everyone who's had to suffer too. i wish you all well and hope your dreams come true one day.

To post #52: Always get a second opinion. The same thing happened to me. I had been spotting. I was about 11 weeks along and the doctor told me I had an empty sac and that I needed to have a D&C. Over the weekend the spotting stopped.

I went to a different doctor on monday, she did a sonogram and the baby's heartbeat was strong and he was running in place and doing flips! Always get a second opinion!

Although I am sad for everyone and their pain, I am comforted by hearing others have gone through what I have just started to experience myself. Similar to many of the other postings, I found about my first pregnancy and saw my doctor several times before getting my first "real" ultrasound in late September when I thought I was just over 9 weeks. They tried the abdominal one, but then thought the baby looked to be only a little over 7 weeks and no heartbeat was visible. They then did a transvaginal ultrasound and determined that there was no heartbeat and that the baby must have stopped developing or died around 7 weeks. It is devastating to go through this, especially when you do not have a clue that things aren't right. Pregnancy tests were still coming out positive, you were doing all you were supposed to do - taking your vitamins, eating right, going to the doctor regularly, and then all of the sudden you find out this shocking news. My doctor strongly discouraged medication-induced miscarriage, and pending if I do not miscarry within the next few days, a tentative D&C has been scheduled for next week. I am very scared of the D&C and of course scared to try and get pregnant again in a few months after going through this. However, I really do want to thank the women on this site for posting their stories because it really has been a source of support for me.

I am going through the *same* thing as post 56 and 57. I went in this week for my first ultrasound at what I thought was 9 weeks. Midwife tells me all she can see is the embryonic sac of a 3-5 week pregnancy so either my dates were off or I have miscarried. I know my dates could possibly be off so I try to keep hopeful. In the meantime she sends me for HCG levels x2 48 hours apart. My levels did not double as she wanted them to but they did slightly increase from 7067 to 7431. She instructed me to get a D&C or take meds to cause contractions and get rid of the baby. I just can't see doing this without a positive sign that there is no baby. Why not wait a few more weeks as long as I'm not bleeding and check the ultrasound again? I have seen so many stories online of women who went through this and ended up with a healthy baby in a few months. I am not naive (I am an RN)and I know I likely have miscarried but who is to say the ultrasound machine or the labs weren't faulty? How am I supposed to trust this one midwife's "gut feeling" that I have had a miscarriage and just "get rid of everything"? Is it just me or does it seem like health care professionals everywhere are telling women to terminate pregnancies that aren't progressing like they want but maybe aren't an actual miscarriage? My gut feeling tells me to wait it out until I either A) start bleeding, B) running fevers, C) my HCG levels start decreasing, or D) I see a heartbeat. Anybody out there been through this? I would love to hear your outcomes.

Thank you, ladies, for posting your stories. They *are* comforting. It is so good to know other women have gone through this. My husband and I have been trying to conceive for a long time. We were so, so excited to find out we were pregnant with our first. We heard the heartbeat at seven weeks, four days and fell even more in love. We told *everybody* our news. Two days ago, I noticed a very small amount of brown blood. I called the doctor first thing Monday morning (the bleeding started on Saturday). I wasn't too worried, because I had heard a lot of women spot when pregnant. There was no heartbeat. The ultrasound revealed that the baby had died at eight weeks, four days-- even though I thought we were 11 1/2 weeks pregnant. The baby, though not alive, is still inside me. This is what bothers me the most, having my baby inside and knowing it is dead. It was evening yesteday when we got the news and now it's almost 6 a.m. the next morning. I just want to call the doctor and schedule another ultrasound so we can be 100 percent sure the baby is not living and then just get the baby out of me. It is sad enough to lose a baby, but it somehow feels worse to be carrying a non-living body inside my own body. I do have faith, however, that this, too, shall pass. We will have a healthy baby and at least we know we can conceive now.

I am going through the same thing as post no. 56. I just found out Friday and had another ultrasound done today. They tested my HCG levels and they came up a little bit but there is no heartbeat. I have to go back for another blood test on Wednesday and another ultrasound but it looks like a very high probability that I have miscarried. This was our first pregnancy and it really hurts. The worst part is at nine weeks it was finally seeming real to me and now it is done. Honestly I just want this to be over. The news is bad enough without being put through this waiting game.

i went in for my ultrasound at what i thought was my ninth week of pregnancy. nothing had changed, i still had the nausea in the morning that made me slow to get out of bed, i still had the crazy fatigue that made me feel as if i could just doze off out of the middle of nowhere, i still craved cinnamon toast crunch all day.

i had planned on going to my appointment alone (my fiance is still living and working in canada and this was mid-week) but luckily my mom decided she could take off from work 15 minutes early. i was so excited to see my first baby for the first time. all i have ever been sure about in my life is that i want to be a mother. my heart raced as i felt the cold, smooth instrument roll across my barely-swollen belly. i saw a small, black kidney bean shape at the top of my uterus, but no color to indicate blood flow, no flashes to indicate a heart beat. my baby had passed away at seven weeks.

i was shocked and didn't believe the moment was real at first. and then came the tears and i felt as if i had known all along.

i am taking one moment at a time, about to pick up the medecine to assist the remainder of my miscarriage in my own home. i am still not sure what i will do once the little one has passed from my body: how to give it a decent memorial, where to bury it if i do. one moment at a time.

at a rate of one in every four women miscarrying, i can only be thankful that out of three sisters, i am the one who has to cope with the burden and pain of this; and i will pray every day for all the women who carry this same load in their lifetime.

I just experienced missed miscarriage. Having had early miscarriages before after my pregnancy was confirmed I was high-risk and underwent 4 ultrasounds. The first established a 3-week old pregnancy. At five weeks a heartbeat was identified, and a week later the heartbeat was again identified and the pregnancy progressing, at eight weeks a strong heartbeat which we were able to listen to and excellent fetal growth. My next appointment was for 12 weeks, Monday, where no heartbeat was found. The pregnancy stopped progressing at just about ten weeks. A D and C was performed. My problem, which is incredibly upsetting, is I seem to wake up each night since having forgotten I am no longer pregnant. Logically I know the pregnancy is over. Yet my sleep is completely disrupted and I awaken to confusion, disorientation and a need to "remind" myself I'm no longer pregnant. This being the fourth night since the miscarriage, I am unable to consider sleeping for fear of "forgetting" again. Has anyone experienced anything similiar? It's not a matter of "wishful thinking." I truly wake up pregnant and need to remind and convince myself I'm not. I feel like if I stay awake it will offer some solution but realistically that is ridiculous and impossible. Any thoughts would be so greatly appreciated.

i had a missed miscarriage last year. i went for a routine scan at 13 weeks without my fiance. thank goodness i didn't go by myself like i was first going to! i took a friend. i knew the minute he put the scan machine on that something wasn't right. the baby had died at nine weeks and 1 day. i was sent to the hospital the next day where i was made to sit in acccident and emergency for 3 hours waiting for the specialist. when i finally got to see her she keep tellong me about my products of conception. i said to her don't you mean the baby? she said no it died. i couldn't believe it. i told her before i went in that i wanted my "product of conception" back when i woke so i could go home and bury my baby to have peace of mind. this did not happen. she told me it was really important for them to do tests to find out if there was anything wrong with it's genetics. i was outraged. i have a perfectly heathly child so why would there be anything genetically wrong with this one? i would not have a D and C at this hospital ever again. in fact, i wouldn't go there even if i was dying. i bled for six to nine weeks after my D and C which was very draining and i became ill. I am now nine weeks pregnant and hoping all is well. although i feel pregnant this time. last time i had no symptoms so i guess it was never going to go right. my heart goes out to all you women. greiving is a natural part of a miscarriage and a missed miscarriage where you have no sign of anything wrong.

I was 11 weeks pregnant (or at least I thought I was)when I found out that my embryo died at seven weeks, three days. I started spotting and my doctor couldn't find a heart beat. I had an ultrasound and they confirmed there was no heartbeat. The doctor said to let it just naturally come out. I thought it had gone but nine weeks after the missed abortion I started bleeding quite heavily. I was bleeding for 12 days. During that time a huge clot had come out. Two days after that I then noticed the embryo lying on my pad. I could see its eyes and was I so shocked. I didn't realise that I would ever see this tiny little baby (embryo)that could have turned into a little being. I was devestated about the whole thing. It took nine weeks to come out. I took a photo of it and the doctor was quite shocked to see it as well. I am hoping to have another baby next year. Hopefully everything will be ok.

I have a question if somebody out there can help me. I am 4-5 weeks pregnant or was. Yesterday I went to the hospital because I was spotting. I went right away because I have had to miscarriages before. After hours of waiting they gave me a sonogram. Finally the doctor came to see me and said that everything was in place and for me to go to see the doctor or clinic I am seeing for my prenatal care (I haven't been in any clinc so far because I just found out). He tells me they are going to discharge me and the nurse would be with me in a minute to give me my paperwork. When the nurse came in she tells me that the sonogram showed the sac but not a baby. I was shocked and didn't ask any questions and left. I cried all day and I expected everything that comes after you have a miscarriage. Like I said I had 2 before, but to my surprise I stopped bleeding and I had no pain at all, never did. So my question is, what should I do? I don't have any insurance now. I know I can qualify if I am pregnant but right now I don't even know if I am. Should I wait and how long is safe for me to wait? After reading all these stories I see that I am still too early in my pregnancy and maybe they just missed the baby. Who should I believe the doctor or the nurse?

Yesterday I went for my 11 week appointment and was devastated to learn there was no heartbeat. The baby died around week 8 with no progression. We are so sad and I feel extremely guilty. At the 7 week appointment, there was a heartbeat, at this time my Doctor advised me to stop breastfeeding my 16 month old, which I didn't. I know there are many reasons why missed miscarriages happen so I can only speculate and work through these emotions with my husband. I have no bleeding or spotting. I am scheduled for a D&C next week. Reading other peoples stories has helped me through this difficult time. Thank you.

I had a miscarriage in 2008. They said I was seven weeks, two days. No heartbeat was heard during the ultrasounds. I was supposed to go back in two weeks, thinking it still may have been too early to hear a heartbeat. At nine weeks I began to bleed lightly during the night. The next day it had all passed naturally. It all happened so fast. I am now pregnant again, at eight weeks, two days I heard the fast little heartbeat. It was amazing. I'm 10 weeks now and still hoping that everything's developing okay, but not a day goes by that I don't worry something bad will happen. I can only pray this pregnancy is a happy, healthy one.

I am 10 1/2 weeks pregnant with twins. At 6 1/2 weeks we had our first U/S and saw them both. We saw and heard their little heartbeats. Just 2 days ago we went to have another U/S at the hospital and were very unhappy with the tech. When she walked in she immediately announced that she would be taking the pictures for the doctor and not to ask her any questions because she was unable to answer them. (no hello, how are you?.. nothing) She did an external US and then said we could go wait in the reception area. She called us back and said the radiation doctor wanted to talk with us about the results. She told us there were no fetal heartbeats and our babies had died. We were obviously upset, but a little confused because they did not do the endovaginal u/s like last time. Why would they give us this tragic news without being thorough? We contacted our OB and he said we could come in the next day for an office endovag u/s for confirmation. There were no heartbeats or bloodflow to the babies. One had died 8 wks 5 days and the other 8 weeks 1 day. We were (and still are) crushed. This was all very shocking to us because I had no cramping or bleeding at all. I go for the D&C on Friday (4 days after the original diagnosis?)

hi i had a miss about a year ago. the hospital would not do a d&c on me. my period has been so bad since then. even worse then i had after my first son . about a 1 year later it feels like it again but i havent been with anyone to be pregnant. does anyone know what this might be i am is so much pain. its been over a year sice the miscarriage. Could there be some left in there. im the type not to really get cramps but this time it feels like labor

Hello I just thought I would share my story on here.

My husband and I found out we were expecting our third baby, by taking a hpt on 6-5. We were very excited as we had been trying for about five years. Later that day we had an appt. to confirm this pregnancy. That doctor scheduled us an U/S a week later for dating as I am irregular and he said "to find out if this was a good pregnancy" (I'm still unsure why he thought of that as well).

At that U/S on 6-12 we were terrified and shocked to find the fetus had no fetal heartbeat and no fetal movement and the baby had already grown to 8wks 5dys. They said there should be fetal heartbeat by around 6wks as well as fetal movement by then. They then said it is a miscarriage. We were told to see our Dr. immediately. Since the clinic and hospital are 20miles away I had grieved all the way there. Once we were there the Dr. said there is around a 2% chance for human error in what they were seeing, so he wanted to do blood work to check HCG levels two separate times. We did bloodwork that day and came back with 19015 level and about a week later on 6-18 the level had dropped to 5893 level. The Dr. then told us this was good indication of a missed miscarriage.

I was scared to pass the baby and yolk sac naturally as I had read about not passing everything and people getting infections and such. I also didn't want to see anything that I thought was recognizable to a fetus in my underwear or toilet(it just plain scared me). I opted for a D and C which still made me nervous, but I got lot of comfort from the nurses and Dr.s that it wouldn't be that bad.

We had D and C consultation with the Dr. the night before the procedure. The Dr. also gave me some misoprostol to help dilate the cervix and he said there is a chance I may pass the baby and other tissues at home. I took it before bed as he said to do.

When I went to the bathroom the next morning I saw a big blood clot about 2 inches in diameter in the bottom of the toilet. I assumed this was the baby and other tissues. It didn't upset me as much as I had thought it would. I believe after the last two-three weeks of ups and downs I was just relieved that the scary ride was coming to an end. We did go in that morning(6-25) to do the D and C anyway as the Dr. wanted to be sure everything came out.

This procedure went way better than I imagined. They did a general anestetic and all I remember is them hooking up the blood pressure cuff and oxygen monitor. I have no pain and light bleeding today. I do not expect any complications from this and hope to be able to conceive soon after they give the green light. Mostly I hope this is informative enough to help ease(if not only slightly)peoples anxiety with their similar situations. And let them know eventually the scary ride does come to an end and know it does get better.

I have felt a range of emotions as I went through and still going through the loss of our beautiful baby angel. All in all I believe all of those emotions are normal steps in grieving. Better luck to all, and god bless our families we do have and appreciate everyday.

I had an u/s at 6 weeks, no embryo but sac present; went back to have u/s at 7 weeks 5 days showed growth of embryo (7 1/2 weeks) but no fetal heartbeat. Talked into a d/c that day---now reaalllyy regretting it.

"should have had heartbeat at this time" vs it did grow and maybe they missed the heartbeat??

help if anyone knows!

I went to my first Dr. visit at 9 weeks. I was so excited to go and couldn't wait to see my little baby. They did a vaginal sonogram and couldn't find a heartbeat. They sent me down to the ultra sound department and it was the same result. He talked to me about the D&C and also that i could just wait it out and let it happen on its own. I'm having a very hard time and I just want it over with but i'm really scared to do the surgery. But I also don't think i can handle waiting emotionally. This is the hardest thing I have ever been through and i'm just heart broken.

Hi i am 11 weeks pregnant. During my first visit the doctor didn't ultrasound me just only pap smear. During my second visit that is 8 weeks the doctor did an ultrasound but he cannot find the heart beat. He ask me to do the blood test every 48 hours. My first test was high and the second test low. He ask me to undergo a vaginal ultrasound again but still he cannot find the heart. He said it is a miscarriage. But i cannot believe it because since i was pregnant i never experience at all any morning sickness or illness and until now that i am 11 weeks i didn't feel any sickness or blood clots. Please help me. I don't know what to do because the doctor told me to do the d and c. Thanks.

For the last 3 days I had spotted. Then I called my dr. He sent me to an ultrasound center and there I found our that the baby of my 9 weeks pregnancy had not any heart beat. It stopped growing on week 8. It is very very hard to deal with this, when you are alone in there. We planned everything for this baby. I cried almost for half a day and I even thought of suicide!! But after a deep sleeping, I am able to think now. Life is like this. It is challenging and we have to deal with problems. I extremely believe that something good will happen after this. So, I am trying to accept this in order to have a future successful pregnancy. Hope every body who has this problem can have a challenging personality.

I went with my aunt to the dr's today for her ultrasound, only to find out there was no heartbeat, she started crying and there I am with my 2 month old daughter, i felt so bad, I too went through this 2 years ago at 4 months, my baby had stopped growing at 10 weeks, but even though I knew how she felt I didn't know what to say to comfort her. Only that things happen for a reason and god has plans for everyone. I pray to god that he will bless her family with a child soon. For all you guys out there who have went through this, time will heal.

It was my appointment to my doctor yesterday and I was so excited that I would finally see my baby! It was so heartbroken and devastating for me to hear from my doctor and the lady that did the ultrasound that my baby had no heartbeat. I was so shocked. How could that be possible? I was supposed to be 12 weeks and 4 days pregnant.

My first visit to the doctor when I was 8 weeks pregnant, she didn't ultrasound me the first visit and did only the Pap Smear. She said so far everything about me and my pregnancy is okay. My second visit was yesterday, and I found out that my baby has no heartbeat?

I don't understand this. I still can't accept the fact that the doctor told me that my baby is dead inside me. I am so hurting right now. We were waiting for this baby for so long and this happened. I am still trying to accept it, but I cant just yet.

Sorry for all our losses. It's a very painful fact.

2 months ago I started to have some spotting. I was 10 weeks pregnant and I went to the ER after contacting my Dr. They ER determined that my baby didn't have a heart beat and had stopped developing at 8 weeks. I had the D&C done at my Dr's suggestion.

I am not only dealing with the loss of my baby, but I am also dealing with the insurance company because they refuse to pay for it because the Medical Term for a Missed Miscarriage is a Missed Abortion. I am starting the process of an appeal with the Insurance company.

To those of you who don't know how to cope with your loss, know that only time will heal your heartache and try to focus on the fact that it was two love's that created something so special and that you both can create another life just give it time.

I had a missed at 7weeks 3days and didn't find out until my 11 week ultrasound, so many thoughts go through your mind and you think how unfair, but it is us who will love are children more, because we have already lost something we loved so dear.

I was 15wks and had only seen my baby at the 8wk ultrasound/checkup & he was growing great! But sadly at 15 wks i started to spot.It was the weekend so we decided to go to the ER. They found no heartbeat and found that he stopped growing at 11wks. Our world fell apart.

I chose to miscarry at home, what i saw was a beautiful, intact, small baby boy that had every finger and toe. He was nothing as to what they told me to expect.

I did have to have a D&C to be cleaned out, some tissue was having a hard time coming out. It was *very* painful! Like another poster I'm *very* against abortion so I would not allow them to tear my child even after death as though he hadn't meant anything.

We got to bury him in his garden of remembrance, because we never want to forget. It brought out a lot of questions but also a lot of closure. This was our 1st missed miscarriage but our 2nd miscarriage.

We are very fortunate that we have 2 beautiful girls that we conceived between the miscarriages but we have never stopped missing our little angels. You never stop thinking about them and the pain never stops but you just learn to live with the pain.

My girlfriend and I were inseminated and after a 2nd try we got pregnant. At 6 wks we didn't see a heartbeat. We were told that it was still a little early, we returned at 7 weeks and there is was a joyful flicker on the screen. With the video camera in hand we went back for our last visit with the reproductive doctor at 9 weeks and to our horror there was no heartbeat our baby died a few days before this last sonogram. My girlfriend will be having a D&C in a few days for genetic testing. We are praying for a 2nd pregnancy.

I've had 3 missed miscarriages and 4 D&C's in the past year. It measured between 8-11 weeks. During my last pregnancy I had weekly blood tests showing my pregnancy hormone went up just perfectly but the baby died. So hcg is not always a good indicator of the progress of the pregnancy.

My heart goes out to all you women on here.I have a 1 year old healthy baby boy who after three years of trying we finally got pregnant so second time round we couldn't believe our luck when the first month of trying we got pregnant and we were so excited!! went for my routine 12wk scan to discover that our baby had died at 9weeks 1 day i was so shocked as i had no clue that anything was wrong. the thing that i find the hardest is that people just don't understand why you are so upset and just don't get it. I opted for a d&c as i felt i couldn't go another day knowing that my baby was in there and it had died i bleed afterward off and on for a month had numerous test to find out why but they didn't discover any reason so for every person it is different hope this helps.

I also did have 2 D&C with both miscarriages because my body wouldn't expel them. After my first D&C it took 2 years to get pregnant and I had a healthy pregnancy. Then after my second D&C I got pregnant exactly 7 days after my D&C. I also have the RH- factor and had gestational diabetes with both pregnancies but it was well controlled. I am tending to think with my pregnancy now that the doctors are just off on my conception date and should repeat my HCG level test before my next ultrasound.

I recently had another missed miscarriage. I went in for my first appointment at 9 weeks and an ultrasound was done to find the baby had stopped growing at 6 weeks. This had happened before with my first pregnancy. I was 11 weeks when I started to bleed a little. An ultrasound was done and showed that the baby had stopped developing at 7 weeks. Both times I had a suction D&C. Between these missed miscarriages I had a healthy boy. He is now 20 months old. I am posting to let people know that there is hope and it is very possible to have a child after a miscarriage. I am hopeful that my next pregnancy will result in a healthy baby sister or brother for my son. :)

To all the women here on this discussion, my heart goes out to each and every one of you. i have endured 6 miscarriages, all ending before 2 months. I understand the frustration and guilt and sadness that accompanies losing a child. And i won't lie to you and tell you it will get better. i won't try and pacify you by telling you to give it time. but i will say that you will learn to live with it. you will never forget, the pain will always be there, but eventually, you will learn to deal. i think im finally almost getting to that point after 7 years. im trying to make peace. Talk to God. He will definitely help you through.

i recently had a d&c due to a missed miscarriage. i was 10 weeks and the fetus died at 6 wks 1 day. right before the procedure the doc told my my hcg wasnt below 23000 like he thought and that they were around 50000. he said he was totally surprised but was sure that the fetus had died. and then proceeded to tell me that someone had said that there had been a heartbeat yet he was sure that i should have this procedure all the while wanting me to stop and wait 48 hours. so not wanting to go through anymore emotional turmoil i went ahead. i don't know if there is help, but i feel like i killed my baby or that the procedure was selfish and wronged my fetus. my heart goes out to everyone hear and good to you all in the future.

How do you begin to cope with something like this?

I have recently found a missed miscarriage. There was no heartbeat after an MRI was done. The baby measured up to that day and looked good on sonogram, but no heartbeat. So far, nothing has happened. At first I wanted to go under and have them get rid of it so I could move on and forget about it, but they said it wasn't an emergency bc there was no bleeding so they sent me home. I think they hoped maybe something would happen within the next couple of days. Also, I want to be able to have children in the future and from what they said, a D&C can be a risk for uterine injury, and then I'm also reading about the weakening of the cervix, which I don't want. My baby was 11 weeks and 1 day, and it's been a day and a half since it died. I'm really afraid of the pain. I think I can handle it emotionally now, but I'm more worried about the pain. I would have the D&C but I want to preserve my fertility so I'm trying to tough it out. Pray for me to have an easy time of this, and that it happens soon. I read about some women carrying the baby for almost a month or more after it's died and I can't do that, but I really am worried. It makes me sad bc I really loved and wanted this baby, and feel it was partly my fault for consenting to the MRI. I also am not married so it's not like I can ease the pain by trying again and I'm no longer with the father and am not just going to get knocked up with someone. I haven't been with anyone since the father. It was a miracle baby and happened at such a special moment--it's difficult to understand why this would happen at all. But I know there are others out there who have similar grief or, I think about women who maybe miscarried after their husbands died in 9-11 or something similarly tragic, and I know I can make it. I am older too, and it seems I'll never marry, so I was happy to have just this one, but it's not happening. At least this is one more thing I've suffered through, so I can relate to others and have sympathy for someone else if I find out it happened to them. I feel my pain is greater than the pain of some--already I compare my grief as being more inconsolable than that of a married woman's grief, but I guess we all have our crosses to bear. It just seems I've been carrying more than one cross lately, and for so long--this was one spot of happiness, and now it's taken from me too. I don't know if there are others who have just survived one thing after the other after the other, who wonder if it will never end? For me it's been about 10 years of misery and heartache. I hope this inspires someone else to share their thoughts.

On wednesday I went for a regular check up with my midwife, I was coming up for 19 weeks pregnant. She couldnt find a heartbeat for my daughter and was concerned when I told her I had felt absolutely no movement. I was quickly sent to hospital for an emergency scan to confirm the babys heartbeat, and they were unable to find one there either. I was heartbroken, at this stage in my pregnancy I had begun to make plans and preparations for the arrival of my first baby, I am only seventeen years old but knew right from the very beginning that I would love my baby more than anyone ever. The next day I was asked to come back to the hospital. I was offered a D/C but chose instead to give birth to my daughter so I was able to hold her afterwards, I felt like I needed to do this in order to feel something. We named her Lilly Grace Stokes and took her home with us to bury her by the Lily Pond in my garden along with the ashes of my grandfather. There was no reason for my baby to die, she was perfect, just very tiny. And I love her more than I have ever loved anyone.

I went for my 12/13 scan last week Wednesday to find out the baby has no heart beat and is only 6 weeks old, they told me I may well pass it in the next week, but I need to go back for a scan this week, but its now Tuesday and the baby still has not come away yet. I feel like a walking coffin. I dont know what to do or think, I know in my heart it Died and at the same time I'm hoping when i go back this wednesday they will see the heart beat and it was me who got my dates wrong.

If however it has really died I know I cant sit back to see when it will come away by itself. I dont know how to feel now, some days I'm fine and other days I'm not.

Odd it is, that everyone didn't have issues with bleeding when they started to bleed after a missed miscarriage...My story is somewhat weird I guess.

I was 12 weeks 3 days when I started having some brown discharge...I went to the ER since I had not yet been seen by a doctor cause of insurance reasons. I was given an ultrasound cause I threw a fit. As soon as they put the wand on my belly, I knew that it was over. There was nothing...not even a sac. They said that the baby didn't develop past the 4th or 5th week. The doctor apologized to me...offered me something to sleep (I declined), and sent me on my way to miscarry at home. Well I bled as if I was having a normal heavy period for exactly 7 days...then the normal period turned into a water fall...I was rushed to the hospital with towels all around me...they tried to stop the bleeding with injections of petocin to no avail...I was rushed in for an emergency D&C. My body was not wanting to expel anything naturally...when I woke up after the surgery, I was barely bleeding, I was very thankful that I didn't die. My blood count was so low that I was almost passing out. I was happy to have it over with. Exactly a year later, I gave birth to my 3rd child, my first son...exactly to the day Sept 17th since my D&C...I thank God now because if I would have carried that one, I wouldn't have had my darling lil boy. Who knows why things happen that way, but they do. We are never going to realize the power of Gods works.

I am 10 wks and had some spotting, went to ER. Dr didn't even believe me at first I was pregnant. I am one of those people who were so excited I took like 12 tests plus the prenatal visit @ dr. They took blood and did a pelvic. I then had to go do an ultrasound. I saw the sac I saw dots that could've been the heart but they didn't tell me anything. All they said was that they think I will miscarriage cause my baby seemed to only be at 5 to 6 weeks along. So I'm feeling like a walking coffin and not able to really relate to anyone right now. Any ideas of how to start to deal with any of this?

Hi, I went for my 12 week scan and the baby was found to not have a heartbeat. Like many in the comments I was continuing to have pregnancy symptoms including nausea and also tiredness. Only weird thing was that I had a dream three weeks before the scan that I would have the scan and there would be nothing there. The scan showed that the embryo was measuring just under 7 weeks which was heartbreaking for both my husband and I. I decided to go for a medical management option as I hadn't had any bleeding and there were no signs that a miscarriage was imminent. This meant that I could avoid having a D&C and the risks associated of both a general anesthetic and also the risk of uterine injury. Although distressing waiting in the hospital for things to happen, I would recommend this as an option as it gives a grieving process whilst also not being any more painful than a bad period (they also offer pain relief however I did not choose this). Only thing to bear in mind is that there is quite a lot of bleeding in this method and you do have to monitor whether the pregnancy tissue has completely come away which can be upsetting, but the nurses I had were absolutely amazing. Only other advice I would give is to ensure that you support your partner as much as you can. In some ways it is easier to deal with a baby's loss yourself as it is your body going through it, however your partner also has to cope with the fact that you are suffering for a baby you both loved along with having all of the anxiety about you. Wish everyone luck in future pregnancies. I am now looking forward to trying again having been given the all clear.

I had a missed miscarriage at 18 weeks. After being admitted to the hospital and labor induced, I delivered my baby. I am strongly against abortion, but I had held my baby and knew that just because a D&C is an abortion procedure didn't mean I was having an abortion I allowed my doctor to do a D&C to be sure that there was no remaining tissue. I have only bled lightly and that was two weeks ago. My doctor recommended that we wait about 5 months before trying to get pregnant since I was 5 months pregnant. He ran a bunch of tests, however nothing has shown why my baby died.

I have just returned home after having a D&C.I was 9 weeks pregnant, and my back started throbbing for a few days. No cramping, no bleeding... just back ache. I have a very bad back (previous back surgery), so I tried to convince myself that's all it was, but I got worried. My husband and I went in for a check up to find the baby was dead. I saw the heart beat around 6 weeks, but the baby died about a week later. I carried for 2 more weeks before I knew anything. We chose the D&C because my body wasn't expelling it and I just couldn't wait for it to decide to start. I wanted it done with so I could move forward.

Someone asked if family history of miscarriage plays any role. I asked my doctor b/c my mom miscarried once, too. The answer... none whatsoever. 1 in every 5 pregnancies ends in miscarriage. Frightening, huh?

Hang in there, Ladies. And remember that the God we praise when we see those two lines or the "pregnant" on the pee-stick is the same God who is still in control when we lose that precious baby. We don't always understand what happens, but he does have a purpose and reason.

Best wishes for happy, healthy babies.

I had a u/s at 11w 4 days, baby measured 7w 4days, and no heartbeat. I do not want to have to do a D & C. Doctor told me it was okay to wait it out for a while under her watch. I'm waiting now. I've started to cramp, but have never had any bleeding. Trying to stay distracted and busy as to not think about it. I would love to hear from others who waited it out and did not have a D & C or any other medical intervention. Doctor also said that she would do another u/s 5 days after miscarriage to confirm it's complete to rule out infection. Doctor is in full support of this option.

I am severely saddened by all of your stories, but it has helped me to read them. I thought that maybe i did something wrong. You know all the what ifs' go through your mind at a time like this. My husband and i found out we were expecting very early on (2 weeks) and 7 weeks into the pregnancy i started to spot. I went to the ER and they did an U/S to measure the baby at 6w3d with a normal heartbeat. Two weeks later i was still having the spotting so i demanded an appointment and my doctor did another U/S. At this point i should have been 8w, but the U/S showed the baby at 7w2d, again with a strong heartbeat. Last night the thick dark brown discharge came back so today, when i woke up i just felt like something was really wrong, although i had no pain. This time the U/S showed 8w5d with no heartbeat. The baby just stopped growing. Sometimes mother nature has other plans in store for us. All of you who have gone through this or worried, you are your own health advocate. Be persistent and go to the doctor when ever you feel the need. That is why they are there. Demand to be seen. This site has really helped me. Thank you for all the comments. I know i am not alone.

This was my 12th week of pregnancy and I had my monthly checkup the same week. During my checkup a pap smear was done to check for cancer. The following day I started to spot which by afternoon had become worse. The next day I went to the ER, and an ultrasound was done that determined my fetus was showing 8 wks and no heartbeat. It took a great toll on me. However my husband and I had thought we felt movement around week 10 and 11. What was that feeling?

why i am not pregnant again after three months missed miscarriage?

Hi, I had a missed m/c in sept.2007, I did a D&C in Oct. and I got pregnant right after, however after 19 wks. my cervix started to dilate as the D&C weakened my cervix....and I lost my healthy baby girl. Two months after i tried again and after 6 weeks I had another miscarriage. I hope this helps with your decisions.

I am (was?) pregnant with mine and my husband's first child. I am 11 weeks and 3 days along. After going to the doctor yesterday, very excited with the video camera and all, to hear the baby's heartbeat, we realized that there wasn't one and that the baby had stopped growing at about six weeks. No one in my family has ever had a miscarriage (or my husband's) so I don't think that influences your individual outcome.

I'm not sure at this point what will happen but I am leaning towards having a D&C as soon as I can, seeing as how my body hasn't expelled it for 5 weeks on its own. This way I can maybe start trying again sooner.

Well i had a missed incomplete miscarriage at 10 1/2 weeks.. i had to have a D&C . the operation was quick and painless afterwards. i didnt bleed for more than 1 day after. the miscarriage was extremely painful and emotional. it was my first child and time trying with my husband in our 1st marriage.

now exactly 2 months after the procedure i am pregnant again.. i know they tell you to wait 3 months and im not sure why.. i suppose its so everything is back to normal. but unexpectedly i became pregnant again. i had an ultrasound 5 days ago and i was measuring 6 weeks and 6 days.. and i saw the heartbeat! so exactly 2 weeks after the D&C i was pregnant again.

my doctor says its not bad... but im still sooo worried.. i dont think i can handle another miscarriage.. i really feel for those of you out there that have gone thru more than 1 and at so far along. im scared everyday, even tho i know its not good to worry. but i am a person like any woman that i think just was born to be a mother and take care of children. i love them .. i would love god to give me the opportunity to care and love and share my life with a miracle of mine. im hopeful that it will happen this time around. i dont know if any woman would know the answer to this question i have.. but i was wondering if you are more likely to miscarriage if someone in your family has miscarried before! cause i have no history of miscarriage in my family at all.. or my husbands??

I had a miscarriage at 11 weeks. I went for my normal checkup and we couldn't locate the heartbeat via doppler, so we had an ultrasound and there was no baby -- just a sac and tissue. This was a complete shock to me considering at 6 weeks I got to see the heart beating via ultrasound.

I had the D&C five days ago and I am feeling okay. The procedure went well and I am barely bleeding. I am having cramping, sometimes it gets intense, but I manage it with pain medication.

My doctor did offer me to let nature take its course, but I couldn't do it. I was told that my uterus had stopped growing at/around eight weeks, so the thought that I had already been carrying for three weeks after made my heart sink. I was having no signs of miscarriage and I felt it was best for me to get the D&C to be able to start my healing process. Everyone is different -- the best thing is to do what you feel is best.

My heart goes out to all of you.

i had a missed miscarriage at 7 weeks 5 days and didnt find out about it until 20 weeks 2 days. (today) Im having D&C performed tomorrow, and am REALLY stressed out about it.

I have just arrived home from the hospital after having a D&C. i had an ultrasound 2 days ago at 12 weeks and it showed the baby was only 8 weeks in size and had died. It was quite a shock since i had no bleeding or cramping except a slight brown discharge. they sent me straight to my GP who sent me straight to the hospital to perform a D&C. it was very traumatic but everything went very well with the procedure. i would recommend having one as i would hate to walk around with your baby just 'waiting for it to come out' and seeing it come out and everything. and it may not happen straight away, and quite often you are required to have a D&C anyway. best wishes to you all, and good luck.

I had my first ultrasound at 9w3d. There was no heartbeat present and I was told I was measuring about 6weeks, and that maybe I just calculated my ovulation wrong. My hormone levels were high. I went back one week later. There was no change in size, and still no heartbeat. I was told the yolk sac had pulled away and everything was breaking apart. If I had not had an early ultrasound I would not have known that I miscarried. (with my first child I did not have an ultrasound until 18weeks). I am going to have a D&C this week. I was told I could wait and expel it on my own but it would be better to have a D&C to make sure all particles are gone. This would eliminate a chance of another miscarriage or infection.

Hi. I had a missed Miscarriage back in 2003, I didn't have a D&C I think mainly because I felt like it was aborting my baby. I dealt with that emotional feeling of that. But I was not offered through the doctor when I went into the hospital.

It's been almost 5 years and I am fine without having the D&C sadly I have never gotten pregnant again. The coolest thing is my baby was due July 7th 2004 and my best friend is pregnant and her baby is due on the same day as mine.

My baby had passed at 6 weeks although I had carried it until 3 months before it passed. It's a very graphic thing to deal with. I passed it at home then went to the hospital after that. I had passed mostly every thing in my uterus. She said there was no need for a D&C but they again didn't offer.

It was painful while I was passing it. It was small contractions, just like bad period cramps. When I went the hospital I was dilated like 2 or 3 inches. But the whole time I was pregnant I had little sharp pains in my back that would kind of take my breath away I would have to sit for a second then it would go away.

You know it's sad but you live and know it happened for a reason and never question God's work please!!!

God bless you all!

ZVM

I am currently 8 weeks 3 days pregnant and my HCG continues to rise extremely slowly as it has since approximately 4 weeks. My 2nd ultrasound (at around 6 weeks) showed a beautiful heartbeat. My last ultrasound at 7 weeks 6 days showed no heart beat but my HCG is still rising very slowly. Obviously since we saw a heart beat it is not a molar pregnancy/blighted ovum. I do not know why my numbers continue to increase but they are. I will have another follow up ultrasound in just two days and will more than likely need assistance with a miscarriage (medication or D&C) because of the slowly rising HCG. My body is not recognizing the pregnancy as a loss yet.

if you've had a miscarriage, i don't think your hcg levels continue to rise. i'm not sure, but i think an exception of rising hcg levels in a non-viable pregnancy could be the result of a blighted ovum, or a molar pregnancy. good luck and best wishes.

Can your hgg (pregnancy hormone) levels go up while having a missed pregnancy?

sorry to hear you lost your baby at 17 weeks. it must be difficult to have to make the tough decision of how to proceed. i'm not a doctor, but i've heard that it can be dangerous to wait to let the miscarriage happen naturally. do you have a problem with a D&C because it feels like you're aborting your baby? or are you worried about potential complications? i would listen to the advice of your doctor, and do what he thinks is best. i know that if you have a miscarriage and your body retains some of the products of pregnancy, you can get an infection. best wishes!

I have had a missed miscarriage at 17 weeks and the baby has passed at approx 16 weeks+few days.

I only found out because my esterol levels were virtually non-existent when I completed my triple-screen blood tests. I have had zero symptoms of a m/c and would still not know if I had not been alerted by these results.

I will not have a D&C and want to know if anyone has waited for their body to labour on its own this far along.

Is it safe to wait? What happens to the baby?

Has anyone been given results of genetic testing afterwards to know what the cause was?

I had a missed miscarriage at 10 weeks 2 days. I started spotting at 10 weeks, 2 days later I went to the doctor who confirmed the miscarriage was inevitable. He sent me to the hospital for another ultrasound and they said the baby measured out 6 weeks. So does this mean the baby died at 6 weeks? This was my second pregnancy. I carried the first only 5 weeks before I miscarried. Now I am in my third pregnancy at 9 weeks 5 days and everything looks great. I am monitored very carefully. Does this mean since I have carried past 6 weeks everything will be ok??

A D&C is not always necessary. I had a missed miscarriage that was discovered at 13 weeks. An ultrasound showed a gestational sac measuring 10 weeks that was starting to break down. My OB allowed me to wait to miscarry. I spotted very lightly for 2 weeks. She did a HCG test at that point and my levels were at 448. We tested again 2 weeks after that and my levels were at 131. By the point where I would have been 20w4d, I finally got a negative pregnancy test. I now expect my period to return within the next few weeks. Your body is entirely capable of breaking everything down without an infection. Your doctor can simply monitor your hcg levels to confirm that the products of conception are breaking down on their own.

When you say "Women who have carried the pregnancy materials of a missed miscarriage for a long time, may need to be hospitalized to treat...infections", how much time is "a long time"?