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PearlJamChick
No one sings like you anymore.
Member since 7/10 9264 total posts
Name:
Petticoated Swashbuckler
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asking on behalf of someone I know who may miscarry...
Is it proper for a doctor to refer to a D&C as an 'abortion' if the baby is not showing any signs of life? (At this point, her hormone levels are being checked yet again and she will know today if she is miscarrying, I believe..)
The person going through this is very close to me, has never gone through this, and I apologize if I'm just uneducated in the world of reproduction...but she told me this and it just doesn't sit well with me, as it caused her to go through an entire other realm of emotions.
TIA for any advice. If it's normal to use that term, then so be it. But if it's not, then I'd like to tell her to seek out another doctor.
You ladies (and then men in your lives) are so strong. 
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Posted 6/1/11 9:40 AM  |
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AngnShaun
Sisters
Member since 1/10 21015 total posts
Name:
Ang
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Re: asking on behalf of someone I know who may miscarry...
Some Drs probably refer to it that way... a Dr with absolutely no bedside manner...
Drs even refer to natural m/c's as spontaneous abortions...
 youre a good friend Kris!
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| Posted 6/1/11 9:49 AM |
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Pomegranate5
LIF Adult
Member since 2/11 4798 total posts
Name:
Pomegranate5
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Re: asking on behalf of someone I know who may miscarry...
Unfortunately, technically speaking that is sometimes what it's referred to. For a doctor to use that term when talking to your friend who may be miscarrying it's incredibly hurtful though and very inconsiderate. My heart goes out to her and her SO. 
Hoping for a good outcome. 
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| Posted 6/1/11 9:52 AM |
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StaceyWill
It's a girl!!!
Member since 6/10 21536 total posts
Name:
Stacey
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Re: asking on behalf of someone I know who may miscarry...
I’m pretty sure my discharge papers from the hospital said: spontaneous abortion. It’s not the most pleasant term in the world.
I’ll be praying for your friend!!
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| Posted 6/1/11 10:05 AM |
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jax1
Love my baby girl!!!
Member since 3/09 3405 total posts
Name:
Jackie
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Re: asking on behalf of someone I know who may miscarry...
Posted by AngnShaun
Some Drs probably refer to it that way... a Dr with absolutely no bedside manner...
Drs even refer to natural m/c's as spontaneous abortions...
youre a good friend Kris!
UGH, yes I hated that my dr used that term... :(
Unfortunately, it's a term that is used. Horrible IMO
Im so sorry for your friend. :(
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| Posted 6/1/11 10:47 AM |
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LemonHead
Sour Girl
Member since 3/08 5271 total posts
Name:
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Re: asking on behalf of someone I know who may miscarry...
Unfortunately that is what they call it. to your friend
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| Posted 6/1/11 10:52 AM |
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headoverheels
s'il vous plaît
Member since 6/07 42079 total posts
Name:
LB
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Re: asking on behalf of someone I know who may miscarry...
If I am reading this correctly, her doc is NOT referring to a miscarriage as a spontaneous abortion - he's talking about a MISSED miscarriage, where her body did not pass the baby, and she has to have a D&C which he is calling an "abortion."
That, IMO, is entirely inappropriate whether it's the correct medical term or not. I am fairly sure that abortion means to abort a fetus - not a baby that is no longer growing and alive.
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| Posted 6/1/11 10:58 AM |
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PearlJamChick
No one sings like you anymore.
Member since 7/10 9264 total posts
Name:
Petticoated Swashbuckler
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Re: asking on behalf of someone I know who may miscarry...
Thanks, everyone, for your responses.
I think you explained it better than I did, LB -
Posted by headoverheels
If I am reading this correctly, her doc is NOT referring to a miscarriage as a spontaneous abortion - he's talking about a MISSED miscarriage, where her body did not pass the baby, and she has to have a D&C which he is calling an "abortion."
That, IMO, is entirely inappropriate whether it's the correct medical term or not. I am fairly sure that abortion means to abort a fetus - not a baby that is no longer growing and alive.
...and I think I need to tell my friend to seek out another doctor.
The term 'abortion' was used verbally - not just on paperwork that she received...I think that's what upsets her more, because even if medically it's considered that - there really isn't a need in a time of such distress to use such a term in conversation with a patient...especially given that he didn't really EXPLAIN it to her after she asked a few 'why/how/what the heck???' questions. It was delivered in a 'well, it is what it is' tone. I feel so sad for her.
Thank you all so much for your responses!
Message edited 6/1/2011 12:19:56 PM.
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| Posted 6/1/11 12:18 PM |
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BigSmooch
LIF Adolescent
Member since 12/10 747 total posts
Name:
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Re: asking on behalf of someone I know who may miscarry...
I think medically the term used for an ended pregnancy is abortion. Usually there is another word placed in front of it like spontaneous or missed when referring to a miscarriage. All of my paperwork said missed abortion (which is a missed miscarriage) on it but when speaking to me my doctor always addressed it as a miscarriage. Some doctors have no bedside manner at all.
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| Posted 6/1/11 12:19 PM |
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bettybcafe
Big brother in the making
Member since 7/07 8611 total posts
Name:
M
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Re: asking on behalf of someone I know who may miscarry...
My Dr. called it a "Threatened Miscarriage" and the ER Dr. called it a "Spontaneous miscarriage" My goodness, if they would have called it an abortion I would of broke down in even more tears. I think technically saying its an "spontaneous abortion" is correct but I think Dr should know better than to refer to it as that since that is a very strong word to use. So sorry for your friend but so glad she has you by her side!
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| Posted 6/1/11 5:29 PM |
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headoverheels
s'il vous plaît
Member since 6/07 42079 total posts
Name:
LB
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Re: asking on behalf of someone I know who may miscarry...
Posted by PearlJamChick
Thanks, everyone, for your responses.
I think you explained it better than I did, LB -
Posted by headoverheels
If I am reading this correctly, her doc is NOT referring to a miscarriage as a spontaneous abortion - he's talking about a MISSED miscarriage, where her body did not pass the baby, and she has to have a D&C which he is calling an "abortion."
That, IMO, is entirely inappropriate whether it's the correct medical term or not. I am fairly sure that abortion means to abort a fetus - not a baby that is no longer growing and alive.
...and I think I need to tell my friend to seek out another doctor.
The term 'abortion' was used verbally - not just on paperwork that she received...I think that's what upsets her more, because even if medically it's considered that - there really isn't a need in a time of such distress to use such a term in conversation with a patient...especially given that he didn't really EXPLAIN it to her after she asked a few 'why/how/what the heck???' questions. It was delivered in a 'well, it is what it is' tone. I feel so sad for her.
Thank you all so much for your responses!
I am so sorry for your friend I wish her lots of luck finding a new, caring doctor!
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| Posted 6/1/11 7:25 PM |
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MrsKS
Thank You St. Gerard.....
Member since 12/09 8306 total posts
Name:
Kerri
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Re: asking on behalf of someone I know who may miscarry...
From the technical aspect a D&C is an abortion procedure. So the paperwork would all state such.
I had a missed miscarriage and a D&C.... my paperwork all said "missed abortion" and "abortion" for the procedure part.
BUT a dr shouldn't be speaking like that to the patient... they should call it a D&C. Sounds like an A HOLE dr to me.
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| Posted 6/2/11 5:08 PM |
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Dolphinsbaby
My 3 little guys!
Member since 12/10 2943 total posts
Name:
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Re: asking on behalf of someone I know who may miscarry...
Posted by BigSmooch
I think medically the term used for an ended pregnancy is abortion. Usually there is another word placed in front of it like spontaneous or missed when referring to a miscarriage. All of my paperwork said missed abortion (which is a missed miscarriage) on it but when speaking to me my doctor always addressed it as a miscarriage. Some doctors have no bedside manner at all.
This for me too. I was shocked when I saw my papers and it said missed abortion. The doctor said that it is how the insurance companies code it and he agreed it was vile as well.
I am so sorry for your friend.
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| Posted 6/2/11 5:16 PM |
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MrsCampos10-01-10
Jovani Edward is HERE!!!
Member since 10/10 2500 total posts
Name:
Jenna
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Re: asking on behalf of someone I know who may miscarry...
In medicine nonviable pregnancies are broken down like this:
Spontaneous Abortion
Missed Abortion
Threatened Abortion
Incomplete Abortion
Septic Abortion
The general population says misscarriage, however, same meaning, but AB is more specific as to which occured.
The general population also uses the term abortion when someone terminates a pregnancy, whether medically necessary or elective.
Hope this helps. Sorry for ur friend.
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| Posted 6/2/11 5:28 PM |
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MrsCampos10-01-10
Jovani Edward is HERE!!!
Member since 10/10 2500 total posts
Name:
Jenna
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Re: asking on behalf of someone I know who may miscarry...
I also want to add..
The word miscarriage is not a medical term.
Most of us in the field, including myself say "miscarriage" when couseling the patient and I also tell my patients the technical term so that they are not thrown offguard if they hear/see it somewhere.
And I also say "termination" when talking to a patient who has "had an abortion".
Both "miscarriage" and "termination" sound better/nicer to the patients.
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| Posted 6/2/11 5:38 PM |
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seasaw
LIF Adolescent
Member since 9/09 648 total posts
Name:
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Re: asking on behalf of someone I know who may miscarry...
Doctors pretty freely throw around the word "abortion", unfortunately. As others said, miscarriage is not a medical term but it would be nice if doctors would be a bit more gentle with their words and phrases. You are an awesome friend, by the way.
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| Posted 6/6/11 3:56 AM |
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