A miscarriage occurs when a pregnancy ends within the first 20 weeks. It is a fairly common phenomenon, affecting up to 25% of recognized pregnancies. It can be difficult to know when a miscarriage occurs, since some symptoms are also found in healthy pregnancies. Always follow your doctor's advice if you think you have suffered a miscarriage.
Steps
Part 1 of 2: Causes and Symptoms
Step 1. Understand why miscarriages happen
They typically occur most often in the first few weeks of pregnancy. The most common cause is chromosomal abnormalities, and in most cases the mother cannot do anything to prevent this. The risk of miscarriage is drastically reduced after 13 weeks of gestation. By that time, most of the chromosomal abnormalities would have already terminated the pregnancy. The factors listed below increase the risk of a miscarriage:
- Older women have a higher risk. Between the ages of 35 and 45 they have a 20-30% chance of having a miscarriage, while over the age of 45 the odds are up to 50%.
- Women with severe chronic diseases, such as diabetes or lupus, have a higher risk of miscarriage.
- Abnormalities in the uterus, such as scar tissue, can lead to a miscarriage.
- Smoking, drug use and alcohol are other risk factors.
- Overweight or underweight women have higher risks.
- Women who have had more than one miscarriage in the past are also at greater risk.
Step 2. Look for vaginal bleeding
A fairly heavy bleeding is the most common sign that a miscarriage is taking place. It is often accompanied by cramps similar to those experienced during the menstrual cycle. Blood is generally brown or bright red in color.
- In healthy pregnancies, light spotting and even moderate bleeding may occur, but if it is a heavy bleeding with clots it can mean that there is an ongoing miscarriage. Tell your doctor anytime you notice any bleeding during pregnancy.
- According to recent studies, 50-75% of abortion cases are chemical pregnancies, i.e. abortions that occur shortly after the embryo is implanted. Often, the woman does not realize that she is pregnant and experiences bleeding during the normal period of her period. Bleeding may be more profuse than usual and the cramps more painful.
Step 3. Check the vaginal mucosa
Among the symptoms of miscarriage is the presence of pink-white vaginal mucus, which may contain the pregnancy tissue. If you see that the leaks look like coagulated tissue, or are quite solid, it may be a sign that you are in progress or have already had a miscarriage; in this case, visit the doctor.
- Most pregnant women notice an increase in clear or milky vaginal discharge called leukorrhea. If you are experiencing large amounts of this type of leak, you have no reason to be alarmed.
- You may also mistake urine stains for vaginal discharge. Again, you don't have to worry, as urinary incontinence is a fairly common occurrence in healthy pregnancies.
Step 4. Pay attention to the aches and pains you experience
Each pregnancy brings with it different aches and pains. In the case of a miscarriage, the pain usually occurs more in the lower back and can be mild but also severe. If you have back pain, talk to your doctor right away.
- Occasional pain or pangs in the abdomen, pelvic area and back are often due to changes in the body as it prepares to host the growing fetus. If the pain is severe, persistent or occurs in waves, it can be a sign of abortion, especially if it is accompanied by bleeding.
- You may also have "real contractions" if a miscarriage is occurring; in this case they occur every 15-20 minutes and are often very painful.
Step 5. Analyze pregnancy symptoms
During pregnancy it is normal to experience a number of different symptoms, all due to the increase in hormone levels in the body. If you notice a decrease in these symptoms, it could be a sign that there has been a miscarriage and the hormone levels are returning to their pre-pregnancy state.
- If you have had a miscarriage you may notice less nausea in the morning, less swelling of the breasts and even feel like you are no longer pregnant. In healthy pregnancies, these early symptoms often go away on their own at around 13 weeks, which is also when the risk of miscarriage is reduced.
- The frequency and severity of symptoms varies with each pregnancy, but a sudden change before 13 weeks is of concern and you should contact your doctor right away.
Step 6. See your doctor to be sure
Go to your clinic, the emergency room or the obstetrics and gynecology department of the hospital to know for sure if you have an abortion. Even if all of the symptoms described so far occur, there may still be a chance that the fetus will survive, depending on the type of miscarriage.
- Based on how far the pregnancy has progressed, the doctor may carry out blood tests, a pelvic exam or an ultrasound to check the status of the pregnancy.
- If you experience severe bleeding in early pregnancy, your doctor may decide that you don't need to go to her office unless you want to.
Part 2 of 2: Treatments
Step 1. Learn about the different types of miscarriage
In every woman it can manifest itself in a different way. In some cases all the pregnancy tissues leave the body quickly, while in other situations the process is longer and a little more complex. The different types of miscarriages and how they affect the body are described below:
- Threat of miscarriage: the cervix remains closed. In this case it is possible that the bleeding and other symptoms of abortion stop and the pregnancy proceeds normally.
- Unavoidable miscarriage: heavy bleeding occurs and the cervix begins to open. At this point there is no chance that the pregnancy will continue.
- Incomplete miscarriage: Some pregnancy tissues leave the body, but others remain there. Sometimes a scraping is needed to remove the remaining tissue.
- Complete miscarriage: All the pregnancy tissue leaves the body.
- Stuck miscarriage: Even if the pregnancy is over, the tissue remains in the body. Sometimes it can come out on its own, but in other cases, treatment is needed to remove it.
- Ectopic pregnancy: in this case it is technically not a miscarriage, but it is another type of pregnancy termination. Instead of implanting in the uterus, the egg remains in the fallopian tubes or ovary, where it is unable to grow.
Step 2. See your doctor if the bleeding stops on its own
If you experience heavy bleeding that eventually subsides and you are still in the early stage of pregnancy, you don't need to go to the hospital. Many women prefer not to undergo further hospital visits and choose to stay home to rest. This choice is usually fine, as long as the bleeding stops within ten days to two weeks.
- If you have severe cramps or other pain, your doctor may advise you on how to get better and experience less discomfort during the miscarriage.
- If you want to obtain confirmation that a miscarriage has occurred, you can schedule an ultrasound.
Step 3. Get therapy if the bleeding doesn't stop
If you experience severe blood loss, experience other miscarriage symptoms, and are unsure whether the miscarriage is complete or incomplete, your doctor may decide to use one of the following treatments:
- Wait-and-wait approach: You will have to wait to see if the remaining tissue eventually comes out and the bleeding stops on its own.
- Pharmacological approach: you will be given a drug to stimulate the expulsion of the remaining tissue from the body. This requires a short hospital stay and the bleeding that follows can last up to three weeks.
- Surgery: A dilation and curettage procedure (known as a uterine cavity revision or D&C) is performed to remove remaining tissue. In this case, the bleeding usually stops faster than it does with other medical treatments. Medication may also be given to slow the bleeding.
Step 4. Check for symptoms
If the bleeding continues beyond the period in which, according to the doctor's instructions, it should slow down and stop, you must immediately seek appropriate treatment. If you experience other symptoms, such as chills or fever, see your doctor or go to the hospital right away.
Step 5. Seek psychological support for the loss you have suffered
Having a miscarriage at any stage of pregnancy can be emotionally traumatic. It is important to be able to overcome the loss by working through the grief, and finding psychological support can be of great help. Ask your doctor if he can refer you to an experienced professional, or make an appointment with a therapist in your area.
- There is no certain period of time after which you should feel better - it changes for every woman. Give yourself all the time you need to overcome the loss.
- When you're ready to try a new pregnancy, talk to your doctor and make an appointment with someone who specializes in high-risk pregnancies. This is typically a necessary step only for women who have had two or more miscarriages.
