MISCARRIAGE/SPONTANEOUS ABORTION

A miscarriage is the loss of pregnancy before 20 weeks of pregnancy.

It may be difficult for health care providers to know what caused a miscarriage but some things that may make a miscarriage more likely is

• the embryo or fetus has a chromosome that causes it to develop abnormally
• a woman’s age
• severe chronic illness
• severe trauma or serious infection
• women who are underweight

The signs of a miscarriage

• vaginal bleeding or spotting
• severe abdominal pain
• severe cramping
• dull, lower-back ache, pressure or pain
• change in vaginal discharge

Different types of miscarriage

• Threatened Miscarriage - You bleed, with or without mild cramps but your cervix is closed
• Inevitable Miscarriage - You have increasing bleeding, and the cervix begins to open
• Incomplete Abortion - Some pregnancy tissue comes out of the uterus, but some stays inside
• Complete Miscarriage - All the pregnancy tissue comes out of the uterus
• Missed Abortion - The pregnancy has ended, but the tissue remains in the uterus

What to expect during and after a miscarriage

• they don’t all cause physical pain
• most women have cramping and bleeding for a short time
• you may experience a wide range of feelings: disappointment, shock, guilt, grief or relief
• give yourself time to heal from the loss