A miscarriage, complete or otherwise, is an emotional circumstance. Your loved one may feel deep loss and sadness as well as anger and guilt. The best thing you can do is to listen to her. Allow her to open up to you if she feels comfortable. It is difficult to face the loss of a pregnancy alone, so make her know that you are there to support her.
Miscarriage
Roughly 15% of all recognized pregnancies end in miscarriage. Most miscarriages occur early into the pregnancy and are triggered by chromosomal abnormalities in the embryo. If you have had multiple miscarriages, blood-clotting issues, hormone imbalances, and immune responses could be factors in the terminations of embryos. Age also plays a large role. As you age, the risk factor of early miscarriage goes up as well.
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HealthyWomen answeredSee All 3 AnswersIf you have a miscarriage, it's important to know that it doesn't necessarily mean you won't be able to carry a baby to full term in the future. At least 85 percent of women who have miscarriages go on to have healthy pregnancies.
Early warning signs of a miscarriage include:
- vaginal spotting of blood
- pain in the lower back
- cramps in the lower abdomen
- heavy bleeding with clots
Most women who have bleeding or cramps during early pregnancy are not miscarrying, and the pregnancy usually progresses normally.
The loss of your baby through a miscarriage is emotionally traumatic. You should discuss your feelings with your partner and others; your healthcare professional can recommend a bereavement counselor if you want to consider this option for helping you overcome your grief and loss.
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HealthyWomen answeredSee All 2 Answers
Also known as a spontaneous abortion, a miscarriage is defined as the loss of your pregnancy before 20 weeks' gestation. It occurs in about 10 to 15% of all pregnancies. The most common cause of miscarriage is chromosomal abnormality in the embryo.
Miscarriage usually happens in the first trimester -- that is, during the first 12 weeks of pregnancy. After four months, it's much less likely to occur. However, the risk of miscarriage increases with age.
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An intrauterine fetal demise is when the fetus dies while in the uterus. Prior to the diagnosis, there may be the absence of fetal movement or the absence of a fetal heart beat during a prenatal visit. The diagnosis of an intrauterine fetal demise is usually confirmed by the inability to visualize a fetal heartbeat and fetal movement on an ultrasound evaluation.
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It is possible to get pregnant within the next menstrual cycle following a miscarriage. This may be too soon for women to fully recover from the effects of the miscarriage. Therefore, doctors often recommend waiting a little while (one month or so) before trying to get pregnant again.
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If you have had a miscarriage (even a complete miscarriage) or one is to be expected, you should know that your body may recover within hours or days. For at least two weeks, don't use tampons and avoid sex. Pelvic rest is important during this time of recovery. Also be aware of signs of complications: fever, chills, and excessive bleeding and pain. Seek medical attention if these symptoms are present. Finally, allow yourself to experience grief and other emotions associated with the loss of the pregnancy. Lean on friends and family at this time or join a support group to help you deal with the miscarriage.
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If your doctor believes a miscarriage is to be expected, then you have a few treatment options. You can allow the miscarriage to occur as it naturally would, though it may not happen for a few weeks, and it may mean that you experience bleeding while the process takes place. And since all the pregnancy related tissues leave the body, there shouldn't be any need for medical treatment to remove it.
If waiting is unsettling for you, you might decide to take medication to prompt labor and, thus, the miscarriage, or have a surgical procedure, such as a suction dilation and curettage, performed to remove the tissues from the uterus.
If you experience any signs of complication, excessive pain and bleeding, fever, chills, racing heart rate or low blood pressure consult your physician.
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Dr. Michael Roizen, MD , Internal Medicine, answeredSee All 2 AnswersWhile most pregnancies progress according to plan, it's not a 100-percent guarantee. Since many women begin to bond with their babies the moment they miss a period or find out they are pregnant, the loss of a little one, no matter what trimester of pregnancy, can lead to feelings of sorrow, guilt, anger, and even fear that they may never be able to have a baby again.
Just as we work through the stages of grief with any other loss in our lives, it's especially important to go through the grieving process to help with healing after a miscarriage. It helps many folks to seek professional help; all delivery units have resources to help you both move on and honor the memory of your little one.