How long you'll have to wait for a natural miscarriage there is no way to predict. My early loss resulted in bleeding less than a week after discovery, about a week after growth stopped. In my case that was a bad thing because I WANTED a D&C for the purpose of testing and also because I couldn't bear the thought of accidentally flushing my angel (sorry to be so crude but that is the way I thought if it). Fortunately, my D&C was scheduled the very next morning so nothing of importance was lost before then.
I can tell you it's going to hurt either way, , or at least in my case that was they way it played out. When the bleeding started it came with awful cramps. and after my D&C I had awful cramps so pain may not be a factor in the decision you need to make. It really depends on what you can live with. For me I just couldn't live with the possibility of never knowing why and my doc was willing to test for a cause and as I said before I couldn't live with the possibility of unknowingly flushing my bean. Others may choose to let nature take its course and that is okay too because that is what they can live with, perhaps the risks of D&C outweigh the negatives of a natural loss for them, perhaps they don't even give it much thought in the midst of their grief, and perhaps they weren't given a choice, or any number of reasons. It really is up to what you can live with. If you feel a need to know and your doc is willing to test for a cause D&C is the way to go, but you will never see your bean in any way and you will have to wait a time to be able to TTC again more than likely. If you feel the need to give your bean a special burial, natural is the way to go and you just take measures to save your bean, but you will more than likely never know what happened outside of guessing and speculation.... but you can TTC again right away.
I hate that you are going through this :hug2: In the end only you and hubby can make this decision. Listen to your heart because it's a choice that you will have to be okay with in the end or you'll only make a tragic situation even more painful. I'm so sorry about your loss. Sending you prayers that you get your rainbow blessing quickly once you are ready. :hug2:

