Miscarriage

Miscarriage

This article covers:
The Facts about Miscarriage

What Causes Miscarriage

Types of Miscarriage

What Happens if You Miscarry

Feelings After You Miscarry

What Happens Next

The Facts

• Miscarriage is defined as the loss of pregnancy before 20 weeks gestation.
• 75 – 80% of miscarriages occur in the first 12 weeks of pregnancy.
• It is estimated that one in four pregnancies end in miscarriage.
• Most miscarriages are unrecognised as they occur so early in pregnancy - they are viewed as a heavy period.
• The most common sign of a miscarriage is a vaginal bleed.
• Not all bleeding during pregnancy indicates miscarriage.
• Between 30 and 50% of all pregnancies that experience a significant bleed will progress to miscarriage.
• If you get any bleeding during pregnancy contact your midwife or doctor.

What Causes Miscarriage

• The embryo is not developing correctly.
• The fertilised egg does not attach to the lining of the womb properly.

Types of Miscarriage

• Vaginal Bleed – can start as light spotting and progress to heavy bleeding.
• Blighted Ovum – when a pregnancy sac is formed but no embryo has developed in the sac. Usually some bleeding will occur, this can be diagnosed by ultrasound.
• Ectopic Pregnancy – this is when the fertilised egg implants itself in the fallopian tube rather than the wall of the uterus. This will normally result in the woman becoming seriously unwell and be diagnosed with ultrasound.
• Missed Abortion – when a pregnancy fails but the body does not miscarry, the pregnancy can remain in the uterus for weeks. Signs are that the uterus stops growing or pregnancy signs stop. This can be diagnosed with ultrasound.

What Happens if You Miscarry

Contact your doctor

• You may need a D&C (scrape) to make sure that all pregnancy tissue is removed, if this is not removed you may develop an infection. This is carried out under a general anaesthetic.
• After you have had a D&C then a sample will be sent to pathology for tests.
• Following a D&C expect to bleed for 5 – 10 days. If you suffer prolonged bleeding, get flu like symptoms, blood clots or abdominal pains then contact your doctor as you may have an infection.

Feelings After You Miscarry

• Grief, make sure that you talk about how you feel with a loved one it is normal to grieve.
• Anger.
• Disbelief.
• Emptiness and sadness.
• If you know someone that has had a miscarriage talk to them as they will understand what you are going through.
• Ensure that someone listens to the father, this is a loss for you both.
• Remember that the next pregnancy will usually proceed to full term.

What Happens Next

• Your ovaries will produce an egg about two weeks after the miscarriage.
• You should get your first period within four – six weeks of miscarriage.
• Make sure that you have a check up with your doctor about six weeks after a miscarriage to make sure that your uterus has returned to normal and you are in good health.
• Try and leave getting pregnant until you have had one normal menstrual cycle.
• If you have three consecutive miscarriages your doctor will send you for further tests and may offer you counselling.
• Get yourself fit and ready for pregnancy see our tips on Planning Pregnancy.
• Make sure that you are mentally ready to try again, a miscarriage is a huge emotional strain.

 

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