Miscarriage treatment - procedure while awake |
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I went in for the procedure accompanied by my husband. While we waited for the operation, we had time to process and grieve together without being preoccupied with daily life. When rolled out to the surgical theater, I was never alone. I left my partner's side only to be escorted, supported, reassured by an amazing team of women working in the operating theatre. They respected all my choices, explained as much or as little of what was happening. They held my hand, distracted me, wiped my tears and hugged my shoulders through the whole procedure. They knew exactly how I was feeling and they instinctively knew what I needed. Their gentle approach was what I required in these difficult moments. I truly felt like I was surrounded by a sisterhood of women who understood not only my body but also the emotional support that I required to end this journey. The surgeon comforted me, answered all my questions and reassured me before I was discharged. Only a few hours later, I left the hospital to continue my healing at home. The next day, I was physically well and able to move forward in my emotional healing of this loss.
Peterborough City Hospital patient, March 2020
Before the procedure
You will be given a date and time to arrive in EPAU. You can eat and drink what you want beforehand. You may drive yourself to clinic (and can drive yourself home afterwards, if you'd like). You can have a support person with you, if you'd like.
You will be given a comfy recliner chair to sit in. You will have a cannula placed in your hand or arm before the treatment starts (this is for your safety if you bleed heavily and we need to give you medication or fluids). We will then give you tablets (misoprostol) which go into the vagina, to soften the cervix (neck of the womb). These will be left in for 2-3 hours before the procedure. You will also be given tablet pain relief, and antibiotics.
During this time, you might like to bring a book to read, something to eat, or bring a friend or family member to sit with you. During this time period, some women will start to bleed at little.
You will be given a comfy recliner chair to sit in. You will have a cannula placed in your hand or arm before the treatment starts (this is for your safety if you bleed heavily and we need to give you medication or fluids). We will then give you tablets (misoprostol) which go into the vagina, to soften the cervix (neck of the womb). These will be left in for 2-3 hours before the procedure. You will also be given tablet pain relief, and antibiotics.
During this time, you might like to bring a book to read, something to eat, or bring a friend or family member to sit with you. During this time period, some women will start to bleed at little.
during the procedure
You will be taken into the procedure room, unfortunately your support person must wait outside during the procedure. The team will introduce themselves, this is normally just the doctor performing the procedure and the nurse or healthcare assistant who is assisting. You may choose to have your own music playing if you wish.
The doctor will start my removing the tablets from the vagina, and performing a vaginal examination to find out which way your womb tilts. The doctor will then place a speculum into your vagina to visualise your cervix (neck of the womb).
The doctor will use numbing jelly on the cervix before numbing injections (local anaesthetic), to help reduce the discomfort for you. This process can be a little uncomfortable but is completed very quickly. The doctor will then use a tube with gentle suction to remove the pregnancy from the womb. This can give you crampy pains, but these will only last for 5-10 minutes. The cramps normally settle down quite quickly after the procedure has ended. The doctor will perform an ultrasound scan to ensure the procedure is completed, this is normally on your tummy, but sometimes is an internal ultrasound in the vagina.
If you have chosen to have a coil fitted as contraception, or an Implant this will be fitted for you in the procedure room.
The doctor will start my removing the tablets from the vagina, and performing a vaginal examination to find out which way your womb tilts. The doctor will then place a speculum into your vagina to visualise your cervix (neck of the womb).
The doctor will use numbing jelly on the cervix before numbing injections (local anaesthetic), to help reduce the discomfort for you. This process can be a little uncomfortable but is completed very quickly. The doctor will then use a tube with gentle suction to remove the pregnancy from the womb. This can give you crampy pains, but these will only last for 5-10 minutes. The cramps normally settle down quite quickly after the procedure has ended. The doctor will perform an ultrasound scan to ensure the procedure is completed, this is normally on your tummy, but sometimes is an internal ultrasound in the vagina.
If you have chosen to have a coil fitted as contraception, or an Implant this will be fitted for you in the procedure room.
AFter the procedure
Once you are feeling ok, we will take you back to the recliner chair and your support person (if you have one). We will measure your observations, give you more pain relief if you need it, and something to eat and drink.
We will monitor you for at least an hour afterwards, to ensure you are not bleeding heavily and that you are feeling ok. You will stay with us until you are feeling well enough to go home, the recovery time is therefore different for each woman, but most people will feel well enough to go home 1-2 hours later.
Before you go home, we will ensure you have your Anti-D injection (if you have a Rhesus negative blood group), contraception (if you would like it) and a letter explaining your procedure if you need it for your GP or if you go to ED.
We will monitor you for at least an hour afterwards, to ensure you are not bleeding heavily and that you are feeling ok. You will stay with us until you are feeling well enough to go home, the recovery time is therefore different for each woman, but most people will feel well enough to go home 1-2 hours later.
Before you go home, we will ensure you have your Anti-D injection (if you have a Rhesus negative blood group), contraception (if you would like it) and a letter explaining your procedure if you need it for your GP or if you go to ED.
Further information and consent form
Please read the information leaflets and consent form before your consultation.
| FPH319 MVA - treatment awake |
| surgical consent form |
