Symptoms of Miscarriage: What to Do if You Have Them?

What do you understand by Miscarriage?

When you are pregnant, things can happen that are not normal. A miscarriage is the loss of a baby in the first 20th week of pregnancy. It is also called spontaneous abortion. In this article, we will tell you some of the signs of a miscarriage and what you should do if they occur. Light bleeding (spotting) may be normal at this time in your pregnancy. The more severe symptoms listed below can be a sign of a problem, especially if they do not go away or get worse. Call your doctor and explain your symptoms as soon as possible.

Miscarriage is the loss of a pregnancy in the first 20 weeks. About 10%-25% of known pregnancies end in miscarriage, and more than 80% of miscarriages occur in the first trimester. Though it can be sad and stressful, it is not your fault. Most miscarriages are caused when a fetus does not develop normally. A miscarriage may also be called a “spontaneous abortion.”

Miscarriage Symptoms

Symptoms of a miscarriage include:

• Bleeding that goes from light to heavy
• Severe cramps and belly pain
• You may also experience weakness, worsening or severe back pain
• Fever with any of these symptoms, weight loss, white-pink mucus, and contractions
• Tissue that looks like blood clots passing from your vagina

If you notice fewer signs of pregnancy, contact your doctor right away.

What are the Risk Factors and Miscarriage Causes?

Most miscarriages happen when the unborn baby has fatal genetic problems, but sometimes miscarriages can be caused by maternal health problems that could have been managed. Read on to learn more about miscarriage causes and risk factors.

Other problems that can increase the risk of miscarriage include infection, having certain medical conditions or hormone problems, or abnormalities in your uterus. Smoking, drinking alcohol, using street drugs, and exposure to radiation or toxic substances can also increase the risk of miscarriage.

A miscarriage is the loss of a pregnancy (pregnancy loss occurs within the first 20 weeks of pregnancy) and is also referred to as a spontaneous abortion. Factors that frequently affect whether or not a woman will experience a miscarriage include Women who are over age 35 and have certain diseases, such as diabetes or thyroid problems. They have had three or more miscarriages.

Cervical insufficiency-

• A miscarriage sometimes happens when the mother has a weakness of the cervix. Doctors call this a cervical insufficiency. It means the cervix cannot hold the pregnancy.
• This type of miscarriage usually happens in the second trimester. There are usually few symptoms before a miscarriage caused by cervical insufficiency.

Miscarriage Types

Different kinds of miscarriages-

Threatened miscarriage- During a threatened miscarriage, you are experiencing vaginal bleeding and there is a threat of miscarriage. You may also feel pressure on your abdomen or cramping with some bleeding. The bleeding may stop immediately, or you may bleed more that day or the next few days. If the bleeding does not stop and there are no signs of miscarriage, you will likely continue your pregnancy without any problems.

Missed miscarriage- A missed abortion is a miscarriage in which your fetus did not form or has died, but the placenta and embryonic tissues are still in your uterus. It is known more commonly as a missed miscarriage.

Recurrent miscarriage (RM) – Recurrent miscarriages, occurs when you lose three or more pregnancies in a row during the first trimester.

Inevitable miscarriage- With an inevitable miscarriage, your cervix is dilated, your body is prepared to expel the tissue, and you may be having cramps and bleeding. At this point, a miscarriage is likely.

Complete miscarriage- A complete miscarriage is when all the pregnancy tissue leaves your body. It usually happens before the 12th week of pregnancy.

Incomplete miscarriage- Incomplete miscarriage is when some tissue from the baby or placenta remains in your uterus after a miscarriage.

What is Miscarriage Diagnosis?

• Work with your doctor to determine if you have had a miscarriage. They will perform a pelvic exam, which will help them establish whether or not your cervix has begun to dilate. They may also order an ultrasound test that uses sound waves to try and detect a baby’s heartbeat. If they are unsure, they may recommend another test in a week.
• Blood tests can also look for pregnancy hormones in your blood. This can help figure out if the pregnancy is still going. Sometimes the doctor will use your levels from the past to see how the numbers have changed.
• If you had signs of miscarriage, your health care provider may send tissue that was left in your uterus to a lab. This can help confirm whether you really had a miscarriage and make sure there was not another cause for what you felt.
• Your doctor might recommend chromosome tests if you have had two or more miscarriages. This can help determine if a gene disorder or other genetic abnormality is the cause.

What are the Treatments for Miscarriage?

If your miscarriage was complete and your body has emptied your uterus, you should be able to have intercourse again when you feel ready. This is typically 1-2 weeks after a complete miscarriage. However, you should talk with your doctor if you have any concerns.

If your bleeding is heavy or does not stop after a few days, there may be tissue left in your uterus. Your doctor may do a dilation and curettage (D&C) procedure to remove it. If you are not comfortable with the idea of surgery, medications like misoprostol can help you pass the remaining tissue on your own.

Miscarriage is when a fetus is no longer growing in the uterus and the blood supply carrying necessary oxygen and nutrients stop. Signs that this may be happening include bleeding, pain, or passing clots. If you are further along in your pregnancy, you may feel contractions. If you think you may be miscarrying, call your doctor immediately to discuss your options. There are ways to properly end the pregnancy without harming your own health.

Your doctor may recommend a blood product called Rh immune globulin if you are Rh-negative. This could help prevent you from getting antibodies that could harm your baby or future pregnancies. If you have had more than two miscarriages in a row, your doctor may suggest blood tests, genetic tests, or medication. Tests for recurrent miscarriage include:

Pelvic ultrasound is often the first step in diagnosing a miscarriage. A transducer glides over your belly and sends out ultrasound waves, which bounce off the baby’s body and back to the transducer. The transducer detects these echoes and uses them to create an image of your baby on a monitor. Use birth control until you are ready to try again and talk to your doctor about more tests if you have had two miscarriages in a row.

Symptoms follow Miscarriage

Many women feel a range of emotions after a miscarriage, including sadness, guilt, or grief. This is normal. It is important to let yourself grieve. If you have heavy bleeding with fever, chills, or pain, contact your doctor right away. These may be signs of an infection.

If you are feeling sad and want to talk, remember that you do not have to go through this alone. You can call or email your doctor or midwife if you have any concerns. You can also talk to a professional mental health counselor who specializes in pregnancy loss or join a support group. Ask your doctor for more information about these resources.

Pregnancy Miscarriage

You can get pregnant again. Most women who have miscarriages go on to have healthy pregnancies and babies. But if you have had two miscarriages in a row, your doctor may want to do some testing to figure out what is happening.

If you have a miscarriage, there is no need to worry about having another. Most women go on to have normal pregnancies. Only about 1-2% of women will have repeated miscarriages. It is usually treated with medicine or surgery, depending on exactly what needs to be corrected.

When is the best time to Conceive After a Miscarriage?

If you want to try to get pregnant again, discuss this with your doctor. There is no evidence that waiting a certain amount of time (from one menstrual cycle to 3 months) before trying to conceive will prevent another miscarriage. To help boost the chances that an embryo will implant in your uterus, your doctor may prescribe progesterone, a female hormone that plays a role not only in menstruation and pregnancy but also in infertility.

Many women who want to become pregnant again after a miscarriage wonder when they can try to conceive. It varies from woman to woman, but most doctors recommend waiting for at least one menstrual cycle before trying to get pregnant again, so you may be the most fertile the very next cycle after your miscarriage.

How to Prevent Miscarriage?

Most miscarriages happen because the fetus is not developing normally. Also, a woman’s body may reject a pregnancy that is not developing normally. If your doctor suspects a problem with your pregnancy, they may do testing to confirm it. Options for treatment are limited so you should be sure to talk to your doctor about the best option for you.

If you are planning to have a baby, first get as healthy as you can. Do not smoke, drink alcohol, or take illegal drugs. Cut back on caffeine. Eat a well-balanced diet and maintain a healthy weight. Get regular exercise to build your strength for pregnancy and delivery. If you are ill or have had certain diseases, getting treatment before you try to conceive can help prevent miscarriage and other problems.