Spontaneous abortion is a very difficult loss for a woman. If you’ve had a miscarriage, you’ve probably been going through states from initial shock to feelings of sadness and guilt for something you think you didn’t or should have done. These feelings are often intense and difficult. Give yourself time to recover, both physically and emotionally.
What is a miscarriage?
Abortion, ie spontaneous abortion, is an unwanted loss of the fetus before the 24th week of pregnancy.
As many as 1 in 5 pregnancies end in miscarriage. Abortion most often occurs in early pregnancy, so many women are not even aware that they have had it. They mostly think that their period is late and that they simply have heavier bleeding than usual.
There are a number of medical causes that can be the cause of abortion, and a large number, unfortunately, cannot be controlled. In many cases, doctors do not have a clear answer as to why it occurred.
However, it is important to know that exercise, sexual intercourse, stress, and travel do not cause abortion.
Abortion symptoms
The symptoms of a miscarriage vary depending on the period of pregnancy in which it occurs.
In early decay
Symptoms that may indicate a miscarriage in early pregnancy are:
Spotting
Heavier menstrual bleeding than usual, ejection of clots
Stronger abdominal pain than usual, back pain, and small pelvis. The pain usually follows after the onset of bleeding.
Feeling weak
In some cases, the symptoms of abortion may be completely absent, and abortion can be detected only at the next ultrasound examination.
Sometimes abortion happens even before the woman finds out she is pregnant. Symptoms of miscarriage then are bleeding and pain, as with menstruation.
What can help distinguish abortion from menstruation?
Symptom intensity: severe back or pelvic pain, as well as fluid leakage and larger clots, may be an indication of miscarriage.
Time of onset of symptoms: miscarriage in very early pregnancy (5th - 6th week) can be interpreted as menstruation. However, if the symptoms appear after the 8th week, it is difficult to make a mistake.
Duration of symptoms: Abortion symptoms typically worsen and last longer than menstruation.
In later pregnancy
With a miscarriage in later pregnancy, the following symptoms are possible:
Glowing pain in the back and/or abdomen
Swelling of fluid from the vagina
Vaginal bleeding, clot loss
Absence of baby movements
How to recognize spontaneous in early pregnancy?
More than 80% of abortions occur in the first trimester of pregnancy. The early weeks of pregnancy are the time when the risk of miscarriage is highest. When the pregnancy reaches the 6th week, this risk is already significantly reduced.
With such an early abortion, the woman may be completely unaware that she was pregnant. It may look like menstruation that is a little late.
When the pregnancy lasts until the 6th week, and the heartbeat of the fetus is detected, the risk of miscarriage is reduced to 10%. After the 12th week, the risk is reduced to 5% in a normal pregnancy.
If you have recently learned that you are pregnant and you notice slight bleeding, this may be normal for a healthy pregnancy. Sometimes heavy bleeding in early pregnancy does not have to be a consequence of abortion. In a large number of cases, it is a hematoma, a blood clot that sometimes occurs in the uterus when pregnancy occurs, and the pregnancy can continue successfully. However, any bleeding, regardless of the intensity, must be reported to a doctor immediately.
When pregnancy is not real ...
A positive pregnancy test is definitely a great sign when you want a baby. He shows you what you wanted to see - that the pregnancy happened. However, this test does not show whether the pregnancy is vital and healthy.
In some cases, regardless of the positive test, it may turn out that it is:
Biochemical (chemical) pregnancy
In this type of pregnancy, miscarriage occurs very early, before the 5th week of pregnancy, or soon after implantation. That is why this kind of abortion is often interpreted as menstruation.
Anembryonic pregnancy (Blighted ovum)
This is a pregnancy in which the development of the amniotic sac and placenta occurs, but not the fetus or embryo. Since a fertilized egg produces a certain amount of the hormone hCG, it is possible to get a positive result by testing. However, abortion is inevitable in this case, and it usually happens between the 7th and 12th week of pregnancy. The diagnosis is made by ultrasound examination.
Ectopic pregnancy
This is a complication of pregnancy in which the embryo is implanted outside the uterus. In this case, the pregnancy cannot continue, and urgent medical treatment is necessary. The diagnosis is made by a gynecological examination.
Molar pregnancy (cluster mole)
With this complication, the fetus does not form (complete cluster mole) or the fetus forms (partial cluster mole) but the chances of the fetus surviving are very small and there are other risks if the pregnancy continues.
Abortion in later pregnancy (after 14 weeks)
From the 13th to the 24th week of pregnancy, the risk of miscarriage continues to decrease. However, in high-risk pregnancies, the risk of miscarriage does not change significantly, because complications can occur at any time.
Causes of miscarriage
Women's age plays a big role when it comes to the risk of miscarriage:
In women under 35, the risk is about 15%
Between 35 and 45 years, the risk is 20 to 35%
Over 45 years, the risk is about 50%
Although there are certain factors that increase the risk, abortion has nothing to do with something the woman did or did not do. If the miscarriage recurs, the doctor can check for some known causes.
There are several factors that can increase the risk of miscarriage:
Poor nutrition, malnutrition
Drug and alcohol use
Older pregnant women
Untreated thyroid problems, endocrine system disorders
Untreated diabetes,
Hypertension (high blood pressure),
Autoimmune diseases
Preeclampsia
Genetic factors
Infections
Physical trauma (injury)
Types of abortions
Abortion can be grouped into several types, depending on the period of pregnancy and symptoms.
Complete abortion - bleeding accompanied by pain is present. All tissue, the remnants of pregnancy, are removed from the body. Often no further intervention by a doctor is required.
Incomplete abortion - there is pain and bleeding, but parts of the tissue remain in the uterus. Sometimes the doctor gives some time for the tissue to be completely removed, and sometimes therapy or curettage is needed.
Missed abortion - a cardiac arrest has stopped, but the cervix is closed and there is no bleeding. Usually, spontaneous bleeding occurs for a while and all the tissue is expelled, but sometimes therapy or curettage is needed.
Threatened abortion - there is bleeding, sometimes mild pain, but the throat remains closed. In most cases, the bleeding stops, and the pregnancy continues to proceed normally. According to statistics, abortion is inevitable in 1 out of 7 pregnant women.
Abortion in progress - pain, and bleeding become stronger, and the throat expands. It is impossible to maintain a pregnancy.
Complications of abortion
Excessive bleeding
Although bleeding is normal during an abortion, excessive bleeding, on the other hand, can be dangerous.
Symptoms of significant blood loss:
Pale, moist skin
Dizziness, malaise
Quick heart rate
With these symptoms, urgent medical care is mandatory.
Infections
In rare cases, symptoms of infection may occur during or after an abortion, such as:
Prolonged bleeding and pain (longer than 2 weeks)
Temperature (over 38 degrees C)
Fever fits of anger
Unpleasant vaginal odor
Although post-abortion infections can be dangerous, they are usually simply treated with antibiotics.
Adhesions
Sometimes, after curettage, adhesions (synechiae) form in the uterus, which can cause fertility problems and recurrent miscarriages (Asherman's syndrome). However, such situations are rare today.
Recurrent miscarriages
According to statistics, 1% of women will experience recurrent miscarriages. If a woman has two or more recurrent miscarriages, it is necessary to consult a doctor to determine the cause. Sometimes doctors just don't find out the real reason.
How to overcome an abortion?
A pregnancy that ended in an abortion is a traumatic experience for many women. Unfortunately, this experience is experienced by many women. Shock, sadness, irrational guilt, and fear of future pregnancies are perfectly normal.
Emotional recovery after an abortion takes time, often much longer than the physical recovery itself.
If you have recently gone through this experience, know that you are not alone. Know that all feelings are normal. Allowing yourself to grieve will help you eventually come to terms with the loss.
Not everyone needs the same time to get over a loss. Also, for some, this kind of loss is harder than for others.
If your feelings begin to interfere with your daily functioning and if your sadness or worry does not subside after a few months, talk to a psychologist or therapist. Conversations like this can bring you relief and restore optimism.
How to prevent abortion?
Abortions usually cannot be prevented. However, taking these steps can help you keep your pregnancy healthy and reduce your risk:
Do not skip prenatal checkups. Many complications can be noticed and prevented by a timely response.
Avoid alcohol, narcotics, and smoking during pregnancy.
You try to maintain a healthy weight before and during pregnancy.
You try to protect yourself from infection. Wash your hands well and stay away from people who are potentially contagious.
Limit your coffee intake to 200mg per day.
Eat healthy and balanced, with lots of fruits and vegetables.
Take prenatal vitamins to meet the body's growing need for nutrients.
Abortion does not mean that you will not be able to get pregnant again. Most women who have experienced an abortion later have healthy pregnancies.
When will I be able to get pregnant again?
After an abortion, give yourself and your partner some time to recover physically and emotionally before trying again. Talk to your doctor about when the time is right.
Physical recovery depends on the stage of pregnancy in which the abortion occurred. Although pregnancy hormones may be present in the body for several months after the abortion, the menstrual cycle should be re-established after 4 to 6 weeks. Avoid sexual intercourse, as well as tampons, for at least 2 weeks after the abortion.
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