Options for managing miscarriage
16 November, 2014
Question:I am in the early stages of a miscarriage. I have begun spotting and lightly bleeding for a week now. I had two sonograms and at both there was no heartbeat present. I am now supposed to be in my 9th week but embryo is only the size of 6 weeks with no development or heartbeat. My hormonal levels and hcg have gone down below normal pregnancy levels.
My midwife offered me the option of a pill that will speed up the miscarriage and cause me to pass the fetus within 24 hours. Or it could take up to 3 weeks naturally.
Is it better to take the pill so that I know exactly when the baby was passed and when to begin counting my 14 days, and shorten my time in niddah? Or is it better to just wait it out naturally and not be able to be with my husband throughout the period it takes my body to naturally pass the baby as well as the additional 14 days?
Thank you for your help with this decision.
Answer:We are sorry to hear about your miscarriage.
Speeding up the miscarriage with the pill might reduce the overall time you spend in niddah, but it might not. It is hard to know exactly how long you will bleed with either option, and it may well be over fourteen days after passing the tissue, regardless.
This is a personal decision for you and your husband to make. To help make the decision, please discuss in depth with your midwife and physician the name and expected side effects of the medication she is proposing.
We wish you a refuah sheleimah.
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