What's a complete m/c?

iVillage Member
Registered: 05-08-2003
What's a complete m/c?
3
Sun, 09-07-2003 - 9:12pm
I just recently had a m/c. Some people who have responded to my posts have asked if it was a complete m/c. How do you know? I've never seen a doctor. I just had a beta HcG test that was low and another one 48 hours later that was decreasing. The nurse told me that since I had bleeding and my levels were decreasing that I had m/c. So, how do I know if it's complete or not? What's that mean? I started bleeding on Friday 8/29 and stopped bleeding Tuesday 9/2. First day was heavy but the other days were just very spotty. I have had no blood since Tuesday, but on Friday I stilled showed HcG levels and prog levels in my blood work. I've also still had some mild cramping but no blood. The nurse told me to get my blood tested again next week to be sure the levels are gone. So, does that mean I've had a complete m/c? If not, how will I know? Will the doctor eventually want to see me to make sure the m/c was complete?

Susan

Avatar for sarahdeanne
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Sun, 09-07-2003 - 9:33pm
A complete m/c is when you body has fully gotten rid of all the tissue. When I m/c'd at 7wks, they did an hcg count on Mon, the first day I started bleeding, which was still in the 1,000's. On Friday, they did another which was decreasing. The dr. also did an exam and an ultrasound and saw only a little bit more tissue which I shortly passed. I went back later the next week, and the hcg count was at like a 2. They follow up on your hcg count to make sure everything is out. And since you have stopped bleeding, when you do your next hcg count, it should be close to 0.

I'm sorry for your loss.

Sarah
iVillage Member
Registered: 05-08-2003
Sun, 09-07-2003 - 9:47pm
So does that mean if my levels are zero then everything is out? They don't need to do an exam or anything to make sure?

Susan

Avatar for anprdp
iVillage Member
Registered: 07-10-2003
Sun, 09-07-2003 - 11:53pm
I wouldn't worry if your m/c started early say before 6 weeks or even 8 for that matter...after that the tissue is more than most can pass by themselves so they do a d and c (dialation and cutterage) to extract the tissue...I m/c at almost 12 weeks and had this done...because they then term it a missed miscarriage because the baby never passed on its own...there is always a partial miscarriage too...but again if you were early enough...more than likely you will pass all tissue on your own...


Angelia


Edited 9/7/2003 11:54:48 PM ET by anprdp