Miscarriage
Miscarriage is the loss of a baby anytime during the first 20 weeks of pregnancy. A miscarriage is different than a stillbirth, in which a baby is lost anytime after the first 20 weeks of pregnancy. The body may end a pregnancy that did not start out well or is not viable. It is important to understand that a miscarriage can be very hard to accept and that the circumstances are out of one’s control. Miscarriages are common and occur in 1 out of every 6 women who know they are pregnant and can also occur without a woman being aware of the pregnancy.
A majority of miscarriages occur due to the abnormal development of the fertilized egg in the uterus. There are several common misconceptions about what causes a miscarriage, but it is not caused by stress, exercise, or sex. It is common for doctors to be uncertain about the cause of a particular miscarriage. There is no way to prevent or stop a miscarriage. It’s important to note the state of the mother, ensuring there is a limited amount of blood loss, no fever or weakness, or any indication of an infection. You may seek medical advice in order to prevent these health issues and to provide medication or other treatments. If you are not experiencing any of these complications, it is best to let the miscarriage follow-through, which can take several days. You may need to seek extra care within 72 hours if you have an Rh-negative blood type.
Symptoms can vary over the days a miscarriage occurs. You may bleed for 1-2 weeks. Some things you can do when experiencing a miscarriage are using a pad instead of a tampon, take pain medication for cramps, eat a diet high in iron and vitamin C (you may need to supplement with iron pills or multivitamins), talk with friends and family to work through the emotions you're experiencing, and discuss options with your doctor about any future pregnancy plans.
Having a miscarriage does not normally indicate that there will be an ongoing problem with the pregnancy. There is still a good chance you can have a successful pregnancy after a miscarriage. However, if you experience three or more miscarriages in a row, it is recommended you contact your doctor to help discover what underlying health issues may be leading to the miscarriages.
