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How to heal and avoid a D&C after a natural miscarriage tragically and unexpectedly occurs so that a hospital visit is not necessary.
I recently experienced a heartbreaking miscarriage. Instead of opting for a hospital visit and invasive D&C, I chose to have a natural miscarriage and let nature take its course at home.
D&C stands for ādilation and curettageā. It is a surgical technique where a doctor forcibly dilates the cervix and clears the uterine lining using an instrument called a curette.
A D&C is not a pleasant experience, to put it mildly! Avoiding it using natural methods is a highly desirable alternative.
Natural Miscarriage Story
I was almost 12 weeks along when I miscarried, so it was almost like a mini-birth. I was lucky that I have experienced a live, home birth when my daughter was born over two years ago. That, combined with past experiences with miscarriage, helped me to not be afraid of the process.
I was very thankful to do everything at home (as opposed to a birth centerĀ or hospital). The physical environment was an important part of my overall healing.
Unfortunately for me, after the worst had passed, I continued to bleed and have intermittent contractions. After two full weeks from the time that I passed the baby and placenta, I went back to my OB to get an ultrasound to see if I had retained some piece of the placenta.
I was also fighting a cold virus and showing symptoms of an internal infection in my uterus. My blood was beginning to have a foul odor to it.
The doctor confirmed that I had indeed retained some tissue. Later that day, at my family practice doctorās office, I had a vaginal exam and my blood drawn to be tested. My iron levels were great, but my white blood count was low indicating an infection was beginning to take root.
My family practice doctor is very natural minded and I respect him very much, so when he suggested I take antibiotics, I listened.
I hate taking antibiotics and try to avoid them as much as I can, but I felt like the antibiotics were the lesser of two evils when weighing the risks of a D&C. (1)
Looking back, if I had been in a better mindset (thinking right and not consumed with grief) I probably would have thought to pull out the natural remedies sooner to avoid having to take antibiotics. But only hindsight is 20/20, and hopefully, this post will help someone else in the same situation.
He gave me three days to pass the rest of the tissue on my own or I would have to go to the hospital.
I left his office thinking I may have āfailedā at this pregnancy, but I am sure not going to āfailā at having a natural miscarriage. I pulled out my type A, over-ambitious personality and got to work figuring out all the natural remedies that help complete a miscarriage.
Over a three-day period, I did many different remedies to help me expel the last of the tissue. And sure enough, it worked. I completed the miscarriage on my own and did not need a D&C.
Hallelujah!
Remedies and Therapies to Avoid D&C
Here are the remedies I tried to avoid a hospital D&C. The good news is, they worked!
They are listed below in no particular order.
- Tea with Dong Quai in it. I drank Traditional Medicine Womenās Moon Cycle tea. I also drank some plain organicĀ raspberry leaf teaĀ (I like this one)Ā which is a hugely beneficial herb for uterine health.
- Cinnamon. I couldnāt really find exactly the dosage to take, so I just sprinkled freshĀ cinnamon on everything I could. Note that whether it isĀ cassia or Ceylon cinnamon really doesnāt matter. The Womenās Moon Cycle tea also has some in it. It tastes great in a glass of raw milkĀ or on a piece of bread slathered with butter. If you want to be bad, sprinkle on some sugar and you are in for a treat. Itās also great with cumin on a roast in a slow cooker such as a clay pot.
- Acupuncture. My acupuncture doctor did an hour-long treatment to help me expel everything. You can do pressure points at home if you prefer. They are mostly all in your ankles and shins. There is one on your hand as well, the fleshy part in between your first finger and thumb. Basically, all those points that you stay away from when you are pregnant.Ā Stimulating them is good for expelling everything from the uterus as well as acupuncture for labor. I recommend just massaging the area and whenever you find a tender spot, rub the heck out of it, even if it hurts a bit.
- Cupping. She also did a technique called cupping. Cupping is known to release congestion and help things that are stuck, physically or energetically, unstick. (2)
- Energy healing. I had a session with an energy healer and I realized that part of the reason I was holding on to that last bit of tissue was an emotional reason. I emotionally was not ready to fully let go of the pregnancy and my body was reacting to my emotions by holding on to the last bit of tissue.
- Affirmations. After the energy healing session, I told my body over and over again to let go and release. I also repeated over and over again, āI am healed. I am healthy.ā
- Homeopathy. Both Sabina and Sepia are helpful for naturally completing a miscarriage. I did Sepia because not only does it help expel the tissue, it helps expel the grief. My homeopathic doctor warned me that it would make me want to curl up in a ball and cry, a lot, and not to be alarmed. I sort of brushed him off and then later that day, I went to a yoga class. Showing up late to said yoga class late, the only spot left was smack dab in the middle of the room, next to the instructor. Just my luck! And sure enough, it only took one sun salutation and there I was, the crazy person, silently sobbing in childās pose for the rest of the class. Super embarrassing. So if you take Sepia, stay home!
- Herbs. Black and Blue Cohosh. I had these on hand and was going to do this at the last moment. These herbs are so bad tasting that I really did not want to have to drink them. Luckily I didnāt have to. These are the same herbs you can help to induce a full-term pregnancy. They are like a natural version of the inducement drug Pitocin. Also, a friend told me that these herbs can be found homeopathically, and they are called Caulphyllum and Cimicifuga. Incidentally, herbs can be a great friend for natural birth control as well as enhancing fertility when you are ready to try again.
Itās been over a week now since my ādeadlineā and I stopped bleeding on that very day!
I have had no more pain or blood, which I am very, very happy about. With the physical process complete, I can finally start to move on emotionally.
I do hope that this helps anyone going through a miscarriage and looking for information about how to avoid a D&C. There is not very much online about it, and it is good to know that you can heal and complete it on your own without having to go to the hospital.
(1) D&C After a Miscarriage
(2) What is Cupping?
I’m so, so sorry for you loss and thank you for posting this! In November I, too, had a natural miscarriage just shy of 12 weeks. It was my first baby so I’ve never been through birth or labor before, but my husband thought I was dying because of the pain and the amount I was bleeding. FInally, into the 3rd day I went to a home midwife for verification of everything passing. She was so helpful! She recommended I get an ultra sound just to be sure, so I did. At that point I knew I couldn’t get any weaker or lose any more blood without being hospitalized. I had the US and everything was clear. That was a relief! My physical pain was completely gone within a week of the start of the whole process. The emotional pain takes a little longer though.
At the time I knew next to nothing about having a natural miscarriage & didn’t even realize it was a possibility. I’m from a ‘natural health’ family but no one really ever talked about miscarriage – they only talk about (and have) homebirths. My sister & sis-in-law called me part way through the process and sort of talked me through what was going on and what would help. Come to find out they had both miscarried naturally twice – and have had 4 and 6 babies (respectively) via homebirth. Their calm explanation and reassurance is what gave me the peace of mind to realize I COULD to it at home. But their recommendations to follow-up with the midwife were also helpful.
I really hope those who are interested in something rather than the standard hospital route find your post! Thanks again for sharing your story.
Thanks so much for reading and for sharing your story.
I also chose to naturally miscarry (baby died at 6 weeks, found out at 8 weeks, finished miscarriage at 12 weeks) despite an OB pushing for a D and C. Like you, I really wanted my body to at least do one thing right on it’s own.
It is hard to wait it out, but I felt it was the healthiest option for me and my reproductive future. I don’t regret it at all. It was my third miscarriage and the first to take so long and be so difficult.
I also have three beautiful living children, and I hope you go on to have as many children as you hope for!
Thanks so much Monica.
Hello,
I am currently going through the same process. Although I have an appointment to get the Pill, I would prefer to miscarry at home, my body is not strong enough to carry a baby. Can you tell me the process you went through at home to miscarry?
Thank you,
Natalie
We miscarried our seventh child, a daughter, at 20 weeks. I carried her for 22 days after knowing her heart was not beating. She was born naturally at home. It felt like the right way to do things, and the time was very healing emotionally. My woodworker husband had the time to make her a beautiful little casket, which was an act of love and healing for him as well. I rocked her for a long while wrapped in a blanket I had made just for her, and I still know just the spot where she lay on my chest. The other children were able to touch her little foot before we buried her. I went on to have six more children, but the memories of her are peaceful and pleasant. No regrets:)
What a beautiful story. I love that you waited 22 days instead of rushing to the hospital to be given pitocin to start labor. How brave and strong you are.
Red raspberry leaf is an overall uterine tonic. It strengthens and supports your uterus. So pretty much it helps your uterus do its job, whatever that job may be. Either to hold a baby in, or to contract and expel. Does that make sense?
@Melissa Berger… you are right. I wish I knew what the statistics for when intervention is really needed, for example about 2% of all births truly need a cesarean (based on Ina May’s research) but I have no idea what it is for miscarriage. But yes, sometimes you do really need an D&C. The best thing to do is listen to your gut and intuition and decide what is best for you, because only you can make that decision.
I thought that raspberry leaf was supposed to be a fertility herb. I have been taking it. I am confused now.
Red Raspberry leaf helps tone the uterus. It is a very helpful “herb” for all women before, during and after pregnancy.
Thank you, Stephanie, for posting your story and experience! It is a blessing for those who are going through the same situation and for those of us who haven’t but trying to support them. Thankfully I only experienced early spotting with my first pregnancy, possible vanishing twin. Did experience my mother who suffered from a miscarriage at 16 weeks. My mother was only given 2 days to try on her own before the D&C. Being able to bury our little sister was healing for our whole family.
I’m so sorry for your loss. I immediately thought of homeopathy and am glad that you had someone there who could help you. I wish I had known all of this information when my doctor ordered a D&C for me. Thank you for sharing your story so other women can learn from your experience! Hugs!
Thanks so much for reading, Bethany, and I am sorry for your loss too.
Thanks for ones marvelous posting! I actually enjoyed reading it, you’re a great author.I will make certain to bookmark your blog and may come back in the foreseeable future. I want to encourage that you continue your great work, have a nice morning!
Thanks so much Shawn.
My doctor let me wait four weeks after seeing no heartbeat, and the baby had probably died two weeks before that even (at 7 weeks), she said. It was a long wait, but it was worth it, because I got to see my baby. Sooo tiny! But we got to see him/her and do a little burial with just our immediate family.
I hope I will never again need it, but thank you for this great information!
I am also so grateful, I got to see and hold my baby. Thanks for sharing, lots of love to you.
I hope I never have to go through it again but being in pain for a week made the emotional side of it really hard. I would would have to weigh my emotional state for sure. It was strange how “laborish” it was in the end. Which made it that much worse.
Totally. As soon as the pain, contractions and bleeding stopped, I emotionally felt so much better. And just this week, when having my first, post miscarriage period, I got very emotional again with all the pain and blood.