Miscarriage is a common type of pregnancy complication . Most miscarriages  occur in the  first 13 weeks of pregnancy. The main reason for  treating a miscarriage is to prevent hemorrhage and infection. The earlier you are in your pregnancy , the likely your body will expel  all the fetal tissue by itself and not require medical assistance . If the body does not expel all  the tissue, a common procedure known as D&C is performed to prevent infection and bleeding.

What is a D&C procedure ?

A D&C also known as dilation and curettage is a surgical procedure usually performed after a first trimester miscarriage. Dilation refers to opening of the cervix while curettage refers to moving the contents of the uterus. Curettage may be performed by scraping the uterus with a curettage instrument or by suction curettage also known as vacuum aspiration.

Is a D&C necessary after a miscarriage ?

About half of women who miscarry do not undergo a D&C procedure.  Women can safely miscarry on their own with few problems in pregnancies that end before 10 weeks.  After 10 weeks , miscarriage  is usually incomplete and require a D&C. Choosing to miscarry naturally or having a D&C is usually a personal choice which is best decided after talking to your doctor.

A D&C is usually recommended for women who miscarry later than 10-12 weeks, have had any complications or have a medical condition in which emergency care is needed.

A D&C procedure may be perfomed as an outpatient or inpatient procedure in a hospital or other type of surgical center. You are usually given a sedative to help you relax first. A general anesthesia is generally used however,  IV anesthesia or paracervical anesthesia may also be used. You should be prepared for someone to drive you home after the procedure.

What are the possible complications after a D&C ?

Some of the complications you may encounter include the following:

• hemorrhage
• risk associated with anesthesia such as breathing problems or adverse reaction to medication
• infection of the uterus or pelvic organ
• weakening or laceration of the cervix
• scarring of the uterus or cervix
• incomplete procedure  that require another procedure to be performed

Most women are discharged within a few hours of the procedure.  If there are complications and other medical conditions, you may need to stay longer. You are usually given antibiotics to prevent infection and some pain medication to help with initial cramping after the procedure.

You need to contact your health care provider if you experience the following symptoms :

• dizziness and fainting
• prolonged bleeding over 2 weeks
• prolonged cramping over 2 weeks
• bleeding heavier than a menstrual period or filling more than one pad per hour
• fever over 100.4  °F
• chills
• foul smelling discharge