Content

• Steps
• Part 1 of 2: Causes and Symptoms of Miscarriages
• Part 2 of 2: Treating a Miscarriage
• Tips
• Warnings

A miscarriage, also known as a spontaneous abortion, occurs when the pregnancy does not develop until the 20th week. Miscarriages are fairly common and occur in about 25% of pregnancies. To determine if you've had a miscarriage, you must evaluate risk factors and look for symptoms such as severe vaginal bleeding and pain. It can sometimes be difficult to determine if there has been a miscarriage, as some symptoms can occur in healthy pregnancies, so if you have the slightest suspicion, you should see your doctor. Always see your doctor if you suspect you have a miscarriage.

Steps

Part 1 of 2: Causes and Symptoms of Miscarriages

1. 1 Why miscarriages occur. Miscarriages often occur early in pregnancy. Chromosomal abnormalities are considered the most common cause of miscarriages, and in such cases, a woman cannot do anything to prevent the situation. The risk of miscarriage decreases after the thirteenth week of pregnancy. By this time, usually all pregnancies with chromosomal abnormalities are terminated. The risk of miscarriage is higher in the following cases:
   • Age. The risk of miscarriage in women aged 35-45 is about 20-30%, and in women over 45, the risk of miscarriage increases to 50%.
   • Severe chronic diseases such as diabetes and lupus increase the risk of miscarriage.
   • Uterine abnormalities, including scarring, increase the risk of miscarriage.
   • Smoking, drug and alcohol use can also lead to miscarriage.
   • Women who are overweight or underweight are more likely to miscarry.
   • Women who have already had a miscarriage have a higher risk of recurring miscarriage.
2. 2 Check for vaginal bleeding. Heavy vaginal bleeding is the most common symptom of a miscarriage. They are often accompanied by severe pain similar to those experienced during menstruation. The blood with such bleeding is usually brown or bright red.
   • Light spotting and even mild bleeding can occur during a healthy pregnancy. Heavy bleeding accompanied by blood clotting may indicate a miscarriage. See your doctor immediately if you experience bleeding during pregnancy.
   • Studies show that between 50% and 75% of miscarriages are chemical pregnancies, that is, pregnancies that occur shortly after implantation. Often a woman does not even know that she was pregnant and thinks that this is a normal period. However, the bleeding may be more profuse than usual, and the pain in the lower abdomen may be more severe.
3. 3 Pay attention to vaginal discharge. Symptoms of a miscarriage may include pink-white vaginal discharge, which may contain tissue particles. If your discharge looks like tissue particles, it could be a symptom of a miscarriage. In this case, you are advised to see a doctor as soon as possible.
   • Most pregnant women have an increase in clear or whitish vaginal discharge - this is called leukorrhea. If you have an increase in the number of such secretions, then you have nothing to worry about.
   • You may mistake small urine spots for vaginal discharge. Urinary incontinence is common even in healthy pregnancies.
4. 4 Pay attention to pain. Any pregnancy can be accompanied by various pains. During a miscarriage, as a rule, lower back pain occurs, they can vary in intensity, from mild to very severe. If you have lower back pain, see your doctor as soon as possible.
   • Rare bouts of pain and cramping in the abdomen, pelvis, and back are most often caused by the body changing to accommodate the growing fetus. If the pain is severe, persistent, or occurs in waves, then there is a high probability of miscarriage, especially if they are accompanied by bleeding.
   • In addition, women often experience "real contractions" during miscarriage. These contractions are repeated every 15 to 20 minutes and are often very painful.
5. 5 Pay attention to pregnancy symptoms. Often pregnancy is accompanied by many symptoms, and they are all associated with hormonal changes in the body. If pregnancy symptoms have subsided, it could be a sign of a miscarriage and that hormone levels are returning to their normal "pre-pregnancy" levels.
   • If you have had a miscarriage, then you will probably notice that you do not feel sick in the morning, your limbs do not swell, and your breasts have become less painful. With a normal pregnancy, all of these symptoms disappear after 13 weeks, along with which the risk of miscarriage is reduced.
   • Symptoms and their severity vary from one pregnancy to another. If you notice any dramatic change in your condition, then see your doctor.
6. 6 See your doctor to confirm or deny that you have had a miscarriage. See a GP, gynecologist, or emergency room to confirm or deny that you had a miscarriage. Even if you experience all of the above symptoms, chances are that the fetus survived - it all depends on the type of miscarriage.
   • Depending on the length of your pregnancy, your doctor may need to do a blood test, do a pelvic exam, or an ultrasound scan to help determine the viability of the fetus.
   • If you have heavy bleeding in early pregnancy, your doctor may ask you not to come to your appointment, unless you want to.

Part 2 of 2: Treating a Miscarriage

1. 1 Different types of miscarriage. Miscarriage occurs differently in different women. In some cases, the tissues leave the body very quickly, in other cases the process takes a long time and is accompanied by various difficulties. There are several types of miscarriages:
   • Risk of miscarriage. The cervix remains closed. The chance remains that the bleeding and other symptoms of miscarriage will go away and the pregnancy will proceed normally.
   • Inevitable miscarriage. Heavy bleeding occurs and the cervix begins to open. In such cases, there is no chance of continuing the pregnancy.
   • Incomplete miscarriage. Some tissues leave the body, but some remain inside, which may require medical attention.
   • Complete miscarriage. All fetal tissues leave the body on their own.
   • Missed abortion. Even though the pregnancy ends, the tissues remain in the body. Sometimes they go out on their own, and sometimes they require medical attention.
   • Ectopic pregnancy. It doesn't technically count as a miscarriage, but in a way it is also a pregnancy loss. In an ectopic pregnancy, the egg, instead of being implanted in the uterus, ends up in the fallopian tube or ovary, where it cannot develop.
2. 2 Tell your doctor if bleeding has stopped spontaneously. If you have had heavy bleeding that has gradually gone away on its own, and you are in early pregnancy, then you probably do not need to go to the hospital. Many women prefer not to go to the hospital or clinic again, but to relax at home. Usually there is nothing to worry about if the bleeding has stopped within 10-14 days.
   • If the bleeding is accompanied by pain, ask your doctor how to get rid of these pains during miscarriage.
   • If you want to make sure you have had a miscarriage, you can have an ultrasound scan.
3. 3 See your doctor if bleeding does not stop. If you have heavy bleeding or other symptoms of a miscarriage, and you are not sure if the miscarriage was complete or incomplete, your doctor may recommend the following:
   • Wait-and-see tactics.Your doctor may recommend that you wait and wait for any remaining tissue to come out and the bleeding stops on its own.
   • Medication. Your doctor may recommend certain medications to help flush the remaining tissue out of your body more quickly. Typically, this treatment requires a short-term hospitalization, and thereafter the bleeding can last up to three weeks.
   • Surgical intervention. To remove the remaining tissue, a procedure called dilatation and curettage is performed. After such operations, bleeding stops faster than after drug treatment. Also, the doctor may recommend any medications to stop the bleeding more quickly.
4. 4 Watch for symptoms. If the bleeding continues for longer than the doctor told you, you need to seek help. If you experience any other symptoms, such as chills or fever, call your doctor or go to the hospital as soon as possible.
5. 5 Get psychological help. A miscarriage early in pregnancy can be emotionally traumatic. It is very important to accept the loss and seek psychological help if needed. Ask your doctor to recommend a specialist to help you manage your grief.
   • There is no definite period when you will feel better - it is individual for all women. Give yourself time to mourn the loss and grieve.
   • When you are ready for a new pregnancy, be sure to talk to your doctor, make an appointment with a doctor who specializes in high-risk pregnancies. This is usually necessary for women who have had two or more miscarriages.

Tips

• In most cases, an imminent miscarriage cannot be prevented and has nothing to do with the health or lifestyle of the mother. Pregnant women should take vitamins and avoid drugs, tobacco and alcohol, but even women who work diligently to maintain healthy pregnancies are not immune to these kinds of miscarriages.

Warnings

• If you are more than 20 weeks pregnant and you have heavy bleeding, go to the hospital immediately. Pregnancies terminating after this period are called stillbirth.