Signs, Causes, and Treatment of Miscarriage

What does a miscarriage look like? According to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, the most pertinent signs of a miscarriage are bleeding, severe belly pain, and painful cramping. Consult your doctor if this is happening to you.

In many cases, symptoms of miscarriage are not obvious and you can’t know you have had a miscarriage until you have an ultrasound exam.

Symptoms of Miscarriage

For some pregnant women, miscarriage is not physically painful. Cramps might be light for some and strong for others. A common symptom is vaginal bleeding and the passage of large blood clots. Some women have bleeding and cramping for hours and others for a short time.

In addition to bleeding and painful cramping, there are other symptoms such as

• Back pain
• Diarrhea
• Nausea
• Pelvic cramping that feels like menstrual cramping
• Severe abdominal pain
• Fluid discharge from the vagina
• Unexplained weakness
• Tissue coming from the vagina
• The sudden disappearance of signs of pregnancy, such as breast soreness and morning sickness

What Is a Miscarriage?

A miscarriage is a pregnancy loss. Twenty-five percent of all clinically diagnosed pregnancies end in miscarriage. A miscarriage usually occurs in the first 13 weeks of pregnancy. Bleeding is the most common symptom of miscarriage.

Different body sizes determine the extent of the miscarriage.

Emotional Aftereffects of Miscarriage

Usually, miscarriages are emotionally painful, especially for women who are pregnant for the first time. They feel a series of emotions. If you have a miscarriage, permit yourself to grieve. You have lost a growing fetus, and it can be painful. Cry if you have to.

Try surrounding yourself with supportive loved ones who will be there for you emotionally. It is also a perfect time to bond more closely with your partner and share each other’s grief.

Talk about your loss with your partner. It helps in assuaging the pain you both feel and aids healing faster for both of you.

If you do not have a partner, there are support groups all over the country for women going through what you are going through and understand it. Talk to your doctor, who can help connect you to a counselor. Relax and breathe.

How a Doctor Confirms a Miscarriage

If you think you just had a miscarriage according to the symptoms, consult your doctor. He will perform an ultrasound exam to check if your baby is still in the womb and breathing. Your doctor may also test your levels of hCG and other hormones.

Your doctor may advise you to have a procedure to remove any retained fetal or placental tissue. Dilation and curettage remove any fetal tissues from the uterus. This allows your uterus to heal and prepare itself for another pregnancy.

Causes of Miscarriage

Some miscarriages are caused by chromosomal abnormalities in the fetus. The blastocyst does not divide and grow properly, and this results in fetal abnormalities. Other causes include

• Uncontrolled diabetes
• Uncontrolled hormone levels that are either too high or too low
• Infections
• Exposure during pregnancy to environmental hazards such as toxic chemicals or radiation
• Taking an illegal substance that can harm the baby
• Endometriosis
• A cervix that opens and thins before the baby develops

How to Recover After a Miscarriage

If your doctor confirms a miscarriage, avoiding infection is important. To do this you may need to avoid using tampons or engaging in sexual activities for a time.

If you have certain symptoms after a miscarriage, you should call your doctor immediately. They include chills, bleeding that soaks more than one pad hourly, high fever, and severe pain.

Your doctor will prescribe antibiotics to treat infection or conduct further tests.

How to Manage a Miscarriage at Home

• Use pads to manage the bleeding.
• If you can, save any pregnancy tissue that you pass. Your doctor may recommend it be tested to check to see if a miscarriage has indeed happened.
• Take paracetamol if you feel pain.
• Rest.
• Call your doctor.

What to Do if You Suspect a Miscarriage

If you suspect a miscarriage, call your doctor immediately. Your doctor may need the following information:

• The number of previous pregnancies you’ve had
• The symptoms you’ve had, such as fever, cramping, dizziness, or back pain
• The date of your last menstrual period
• If you experienced any bleeding
• If you have any medical conditions
• Previous miscarriages, if any

In conclusion, miscarriage will not be the end of your life. You can conceive again. Try to relax more often, as stress is a contributor to miscarriage. You and your partner should try again. Your next pregnancy might not end up in another miscarriage. You can go ahead and carry healthy pregnancies.

Talk to your doctor about your fears. You can be linked to a counselor who will help you and your partner through trying times and help you to want to try again.

Seek out support groups of women in circumstances such as yours. Hear their stories, and seek courage from them.