Knowing the signs of miscarriage is important, specifically for fragile pregnancies. Miscarriage is the unintentional termination of a pregnancy that typically happens with in the 1st-2nd trimester of gestation where in the embryo cannot survive by itself and this can happen to any pregnant woman. Pregnancy completes its cycle after which is more or less 9 months, which is broken down into three parts or trimesters. If the loss of an unborn baby happens when the embryo is less than 20 weeks, it’s called a miscarriage. If the loss of an unborn baby takes place after 20 weeks, it is known as a “still born”.
Miscarriage at times occurs while the woman is not conscious that she is expecting a child. Based on studies, miscarriage happens to 15% of known pregnancies. Before we continue with the signs of miscarriage, we need to first understand its possible causes.
Usual Causes of Miscarriage
. Being careless, or being accident or injury prone during pregnancy;
. Structural anomalies in the woman’s reproductive system that prohibits the fetus from developing properly;
. Structural abnormalities of chromosomes;
. Premature dilation of weak cervix;
. Infection of the uterus and fetal membranes that result in the premature rupture of membranes, making the pregnant woman labor a lot earlier than normal;
. Diagnosis of uterine fibroids or growths in the uterus that are non-cancerous;
. Hormonal imbalances brought on by psychological problems, some endocrine disorders, as well as obesity;
. Health-risky habits that causes damage to the body, including drug and alcohol abuse.
. Autoimmune diseases causing the woman’s body to mistakenly identify the fetus as threat, and consequently attack it;
Increased risk for:
– Women who had previous miscarriages (two or more);
– Women who excessively smoke
– Women with in their late 30’s (35 years old and above )
– women with health problems such as systemic lupus erythematosus, diabetes, thyroid problems and several autoimmune diseases
– several autoimmune diseases, thyroid problems, diabetes, and systemic lupus erythematosus
Symptoms of Miscarriage
If you know that you or someone you care about is pregnant, you need to be familiar with certain signs of miscarriage so that you can immediately seek assistance once it happens. Here are the signs you need to look out for.
. Vaginal bleeding, spotting and muscle cramps are one of the most early signs of miscarriage
. Light to moderate to severe spasms or contractions in the stomach area
. Fetal heartbeat is lost
. Movements of the fetus can no longer be felt
. Abrupt loss in weight
. Unusual vaginal discharge
. Gasping for breath and other problems with breathing
. Small chunks of tissue or blood clots while bleeding
. Pregnancy symptoms are no longer experienced, including nausea/vomiting, lightheadedness, breast tenderness, etc;
. Continuous discharge that is white or pink in color that happens for up to twenty minutes. Could be accommodated by painful contractions.
Abdominal pain is an usual characteristic of miscarriage, nonetheless it mustn’t be regarded as a foolproof sign of miscarriage. In some cases, women that are pregnant have abdominal pain but actually it is not on account of miscarriage but rather, to some other underlying condition. On the other hand, there are a few events when that a woman is already having miscarriage but yet doesn’t sense any discomfort or cramping
Testing for miscarriage is really important. Being medically evaluated will verify whatever problem you’re in. An abnormally low hCG levels as compared to the normal range that a pregnant woman must have could be one of the most definitive signs of miscarriage.
A septic miscarriage is quite likely if you have uterine infection that is characterized by weird-smelling discharge breaking out in fever, abdominal cramping for a long period of time and fever.
All pregnant women should be aware that a frequent or regular prenatal check-up is essential to avoid miscarriage. Healthy and balanced diet regime, avoidance to detrimental substances for example alcoholic drinks and illegal drugs, regular exercise and maintaining weight are keeping to the appropriate weight just a few of the effective ways to reduce the risk of miscarriage.
The signs of miscarriage as listed above should be considered as only as manifestations and not as sure fact. This list need to be used as a general guideline in order for the pregnant woman as well as the people around her to be more conscious of what is happening. However, make sure you visit a medical doctor immediately and seek help the moment you go through these signs of miscarriage.
Pay close attention: if you or anybody you are acquainted with has more severe signs of miscarriage that aren’t detailed in this article, it is best to get a diagnosis as soon as possible to find out what treatments are available.