Miscarrying? Why You May Want an Ultrasound Before Your D&C

I am not a medical professional. The information I share is meant to supplement the information given you by your doctor. If you feel your doctor is not doing enough for you or not willing to listen to your concerns, I strongly encourage you to take what you've learned here and get a second opinion.

I've written a number of pages on various miscarriage and misdiagnosed miscarriage-related topics. Why another page you ask? After all, I've written about bleeding during pregnancy, non-doubling hCG levels, blighted ova and even misdiagnosed miscarriages after IVF. I've discovered that despite the many misdiagnosed miscarriage stories now on the web, some very popular medically-related sites claim miscarriages are never misdiagnosed and encourage women to just accept the D&C when offered.

I believe every woman deserves to have no doubt before having her pregnancy ended.

My hope is that women will insist on that final ultrasound before their D&Cs.

Many women are a little uncertain about their D&Cs. What is it? Do I really need one? Are there risks involved? These are some of the questions I hear from women.

The D&C
A D&C is just the abbreviated name of a dilation and curettage. This surgical procedure opens up the cervix and scrapes away the contents of the uterus.

Do women need D&Cs if they are miscarrying?
According to the American Pregnancy Association, most women can miscarry safely on their own up to about 10 weeks or so. After 10 weeks, they may still choose or have a natural miscarriage but they do stand a better chance of needing a D&C to finish the job.

If you feel pressured to end your pregnancy too quickly, I urge you to get a second opinion

If you are interested in learning whether a D&C is the right option for you and the risks involved, you may want to read my page on your options when miscarrying.

My hope in sharing these stories is that women, no matter how certain they believe their doctor to be, ask for a final ultrasound immediately preceding the miscarriage. Yes, they may very well be correctly diagnosed but that final ultrasound may well save the pregnancies of some who have misdiagnosed.

Story A:
At seven weeks, Sher's doctor was certain she would miscarry and ordered the D&C. Sher wanted to be certain and canceled the surgery. She found her baby one week later on the ultrasound.
Read Sher's story,

Story B:
Minutes before her scheduled D&C at 7 1/2 weeks, Wendy asked for a last minute ultrasound to verify there was no baby.
Read Wendy's story,

Story C:
At the ER, physicians decided to do an emergency D&C due to bleeding, cramping and empty gestational sac. Two weeks after the D&C, a baby was found!
Read Amanda's story,

Story D:
Sunflower was given Cytotec to help expel everything after being diagnosed with a miscarriage due to bleeding and empty sac. A couple weeks after "miscarrying", Sunflower's baby was found
Read her story,

Story E:
After spotting and an empty gestational sac, Elinicty was given medication to help expel the sac. One week later, despite taking the miscarriage drug, her baby was found!
Read Elinicty's story,

Story F:
Linbran was told by the ER doctor and her own OB that she needed a D&C because her levels were so high and she was having pain. Her friend called and told her to ask for an ultrasound prior to the procedure. She did and now has her baby!
Read Linbran's story,

Story G:
Mama Loc felt pressured by her midwife's office to have a D&C. She refused despite the threat of being labeled "non-compliant." A week later, an ultrasound found her baby!
Read Mama Loc's story,

Many More Stories
These stories are just a sampling of women who found their babies when doctors were certain they were going to miscarry. Some of these women actually had steps taken to end their pregnancies and, yet, they remained pregnant. Other women refused the D&C or medication or insisted upon one final ultrasound. Thank goodness they did because they now have their babies!
Read Our Growing List of Misdiagnosed Miscarriage Stories,

During both my pregnancies, I was misdiagnosed with miscarriages. I turned down two D&Cs at both seven weeks and eight weeks due to a very large and empty gestational sac. At nearly nine weeks, we found our baby!

As a result of my stories and the many stories we are collecting at the Misdiagnosed Miscarriage, I am dedicated to making certain no woman unintentionally loses her baby to a poorly-made diagnosis.

I encourage you to take what you've learned and discuss this with your doctor. If you feel your doctor is not doing enough for your pregnancy, seek a second opinion.

My Own Misdiagnosed Blighted Ovum Story
- After turning down the D&C twice, we found my baby at nearly nine weeks!
My First Misdiagnosed Miscarriage
- During my first pregnancy, we believed I was miscarrying at 12 weeks

A collection of Misdiagnosed Miscarriage stories

Bleeding during the First Trimester

What your Doctor may not know about your pregnancy after IVF

Coping With A Miscarriage

Miscarriage News and Research

hCG levels and Pregnancy FAQ

When You've Been Diagnosed with a Miscarriage

Tilted Uterus and Early Pregnancy

16 Days Past Ovulation (DPO) and hCG levels

Blighted Ovum FAQ

Infant Survival Rates during Pregnancy

Progesterone and Miscarriage

Asherman's Syndrome: Why you may want to rethink your D&C

So You've Been Told You Have A Blighted Ovum

Non-Doubling hCG Levels in the First Trimester Do Not Mean Inevitable Miscarriage!

Can Stress Lead to Miscarriage?

The First Trimester: Enlarged Yolk Sac

Getting a Second Opinion about a Miscarriage Diagnosis

Why You May Want an Ultrasound Right Before Your D&C

Is This Really an Ectopic Pregnancy?