Have you lost hope too? Shall we talk about a miscarriage?

Only those who have experienced the pain of having their hopes suddenly dashed know how sad it is. Sometimes, things like this can happen in the early weeks of pregnancy when you least expect it. Today, we're going to talk about a topic that many people are hesitant to talk about, but it's very important. That is what a miscarriage is.

What exactly is a miscarriage?

Simply put, a miscarriage , some people also call it a 'spontaneous abortion ' , is the unexpected loss of a pregnancy within the first 20 weeks of pregnancy, which is about 5 months. Even though it's called a ' miscarriage ', it's important to remember that this is not something you did wrong . Most of the time, these things are things that we can't control, and they happen because the baby in the womb stops growing .

What types of abortion are there?

Now you may be wondering if these miscarriages happen all the same way. Yes, your doctor can tell you about these types of miscarriages:

Missed Miscarriage

What happens in this case is that you don't even know you've had a miscarriage. That means there are no symptoms that usually occur during a miscarriage. But it's only when you do an ultrasound that you find out that there's no heartbeat in the baby. Imagine how sad it must be to find out something like that.

Complete Miscarriage

In this case, the pregnancy is completely lost and your uterus is empty. You may bleed, and pieces of fetal tissue may also pass out . A doctor can confirm whether this is a complete miscarriage with an ultrasound .

Recurrent Miscarriage

This is when you have three miscarriages in a row. This condition is said to affect about 1% of couples. It's normal to feel a lot of stress when something like this happens.

Threatened Miscarriage

In this case, even though your cervix is ​​closed, you may experience some bleeding and lower abdominal pain, similar to a period. But most of the time , the pregnancy continues without any problems . However, your doctor will monitor you a little more closely throughout your pregnancy. It is important to follow your doctor's instructions without panicking at this time.

Inevitable Miscarriage

You may be bleeding, have lower abdominal pain, and your cervix may be starting to open. You may also be leaking amniotic fluid , the watery fluid that surrounds the baby. This is when you are more likely to have a complete miscarriage.

How do I know if I'm having a miscarriage? (Symptoms)

Sometimes you may not even realize you're having a miscarriage. But for those who do experience symptoms during a miscarriage, these are the most common signs:

• Bleeding that gradually increases. Sometimes grayish tissue or blood clots may come out.
• Lower abdominal pain and cramping. This is usually more severe than the pain experienced during menstruation.
• Back pain. This can start slowly and become severe for some people, and it can be mild for others.
• Pregnancy symptoms gradually diminish. For example, things like dizziness and nausea may subside.

If you have any of these symptoms, you should call your prenatal care provider right away . He or she will tell you whether to come to the office or go to the emergency room. It's hard not to panic at a time like this, but it's important to take action quickly.

What causes a miscarriage?

Many people wonder, "Why did this happen to me?" "Did I do something wrong?" But the truth is, most miscarriages are not caused by your own fault. Let's look at the main causes.

Chromosomal Abnormalities

Chromosomal abnormalities account for about 50% of miscarriages in the first trimester, which is about 13 weeks into pregnancy. Remember, chromosomes are the little things inside our cells that carry all our genes. Everything from a person's sex to their hair color, eye color, and blood type is determined by these genes.

When an egg and a sperm combine to form an embryo, two sets of chromosomes are added together. Imagine, if the egg or sperm has fewer or more chromosomes than normal, the resulting embryo will have an abnormal number of chromosomes. Then, as the embryo develops, the cells divide and multiply, and abnormalities in that process can also cause miscarriage. Most of the time, these chromosome problems are random. It is not yet known exactly why this happens.

What are other causes of miscarriage?

Aside from chromosomal abnormalities, several other factors can cause miscarriage:

• Various infections.
• Exposure to diseases belonging to the TORCH group of diseases.These are some types of infections that can be dangerous during pregnancy. (Example: Toxoplasmosis, Rubella, Cytomegalovirus, Herpes simplex)
• Hormonal Imbalances.
• Improper implantation of the fertilized egg into the uterine wall.
• Your age. The risk of miscarriage increases slightly as you get older.
• Uterine Abnormalities (e.g., changes in the shape of the uterus, fibroids)
• Incompetent cervix: This is when the cervix begins to open too early during pregnancy.
• Some lifestyle factors. For example, smoking, drinking alcohol, and using illegal drugs.
• Immune system diseases, such as lupus .
• Severe Kidney Disease.
• Congenital Heart Disease.
• Diabetes that isn't managed.
• Thyroid Disease.
• Exposure to radiation.
• Some medications. For example, medications like Isotretinoin (Isotretinoin / Accutane®) for acne.
• Severe Malnutrition.

The most important thing is that there is no scientific evidence that stress, exercise, sex, or long-term use of birth control pills cause miscarriage. No matter what your situation is, don't blame yourself if you have a miscarriage. Most miscarriages are not caused by anything you did or didn't do. Understanding this can help you make up your mind.

How painful is an abortion?

This really varies from person to person. Some people may experience severe lower abdominal pain and cramping. Others may experience pain similar to that of a menstrual period. The amount of pain can also vary depending on the type of miscarriage you have. For example, if you have a 'complete miscarriage' at home, you may experience more pain than someone who has a 'missed miscarriage' with a surgical abortion.

What happens first during a miscarriage? How long does it take?

It's hard to say exactly what happens first in a miscarriage, because everyone's symptoms are different. Sometimes, there are no symptoms at all, and an ultrasound scan is the only way to know if a miscarriage has occurred. Most women experience some degree of abdominal pain and bleeding . But what happens first varies from person to person.

The same goes for how long it takes to have a miscarriage, it also varies from person to person.Some women may have more severe pain and heavy bleeding than others. Your doctor can tell you what to expect and give you advice on how to manage this pain and discomfort.

What are the risk factors for miscarriage?

A risk factor is a characteristic or behavior that increases the likelihood of developing a disease or condition. There are several main risk factors that can lead to miscarriage:

• Your age: Studies have shown that the risk of miscarriage for women in their 20s is between 12% and 15%, rising to about 25% by the age of 40. Many age-related miscarriages are due to chromosomal abnormalities , which are when the fetus has too many or too few chromosomes.
• Having had a previous miscarriage: If you have had a previous miscarriage, you have about a 25% chance of having another miscarriage (this is only slightly higher than for someone who has never had a previous miscarriage).
• Health conditions: Uncontrolled diabetes, various infections, or certain problems with your uterus or cervix can increase your risk of miscarriage.

Talk to your doctor about these risk factors. He or she will review your medical history and tell you about your risk.

How many women have miscarriages? What is the risk from week to week?

It is estimated that between 10% and 20% of all known pregnancies end in miscarriage . Most of these miscarriages (about 80%) occur within the first three months of pregnancy (that is, within 13 weeks). After 20 weeks, less than 5% of miscarriages occur.

Sometimes, this percentage can be even higher if you consider miscarriages that occur very soon after implantation. In such cases, the bleeding may occur as often as during a normal menstrual period, so a person may not even know they are pregnant. This is also called a 'chemical pregnancy' .

The good news is that your risk of miscarriage decreases as you get older . It's estimated that about 15% of pregnancies end in miscarriage. The risk of miscarriage in the second trimester (weeks 13 to 19) is between 1% and 5%. Many factors, such as your age and health, affect this risk. However, if you have no other health problems, your risk of miscarriage decreases as you get older.

How do you accurately diagnose a miscarriage?

To confirm a miscarriage, your doctor may perform the following tests:

• Ultrasound: This checks to see if the baby has a heartbeat or if there is a 'yolk sac', which can be seen in the early stages of the embryo.
• Blood test:This tests for the level of a hormone called 'Human Chorionic Gonadotropin' (hCG) . This is a hormone produced by the placenta. Low hCG levels can confirm a miscarriage.
• Pelvic Exam: This checks to see if your cervix is ​​open.

How is a miscarriage treated?

If you have a miscarriage, the fetus must be removed from your uterus. If any parts of the pregnancy are left inside your body, you could develop infections, heavy bleeding, or other complications .

If the miscarriage is complete, meaning all fetal tissue has been removed from the uterus, no further treatment is usually needed. Your doctor will perform an ultrasound to make sure that nothing is left in the uterus.

However, if your body has not removed all of this tissue, or if you have not yet started bleeding, your doctor may recommend removing this tissue either with medication or surgery.

Nonsurgical Treatment

Your doctor may tell you to wait for your body to expel the pregnancy. This is especially true in cases of a missed miscarriage. But waiting for the pregnancy to pass can take several days. If it's not safe to do so, or if you want to get rid of the pregnancy as soon as possible, your doctor may give you a medicine to help the pregnancy pass. This option is usually only available if you had a miscarriage before 10 weeks into your pregnancy.

Even if a miscarriage is not confirmed, if you have symptoms of a miscarriage, your doctor may recommend bed rest for a few days. You may also be kept in the hospital overnight for observation. Once the bleeding has stopped, you can resume normal activities. If your cervix is ​​open, it is diagnosed as an 'incompetent cervix' and surgery to close the cervix (called a 'cervical cerclage') may be performed.

Surgical Treatment

If your pregnancy has not passed, or if you are bleeding heavily, your doctor may perform a D&C (Dilation and Curettage) or D&E (Dilation and Evacuation) . If you are more than 10 weeks pregnant, surgery may be the only option. In this procedure, your cervix is ​​opened and any remaining pregnancy tissue is removed from your uterus by scraping or suctioning. This procedure is done in a hospital, under anesthesia.

What are the symptoms after a miscarriage? When should I see a doctor?

It is normal to experience some spotting and discomfort after a miscarriage.

However, if you experience any of these symptoms, you should call your doctor immediately , as these could be signs of an infection:

• It is okay to bleed excessively or to bleed more and more.
• Getting a fever.
• Chills.
• Very severe pain.

Do not put anything inside your vagina for at least two weeks after an abortion. This means not using tampons, having sex, or using fingers or sex toys during this time. Your doctor will schedule a follow-up appointment to check on your recovery and any complications.

What tests should be done if you keep having miscarriages?

If you have had more than three miscarriages in a row (this is called 'repeated miscarriage'), then your doctor may order some blood tests or genetic tests. Some of these include:

• Genetic Tests: Both you and your partner can have blood tests, such as karyotyping, to check for chromosomal abnormalities. If tissue from the aborted fetus is available, it can also be tested for chromosomal abnormalities.
• Blood Tests: Blood tests can be done to check for autoimmune conditions or hormonal conditions that could be causing miscarriage.

Additionally, your doctor may use one of these methods to examine your uterus:

• Hysterosalpingogram: This is a procedure that uses a dye, similar to an X-ray, to examine your uterus and fallopian tubes.
• Hysteroscopy: In this procedure, the doctor looks inside the uterus with a thin, telescope-like instrument.
• Laparoscopy: In this, the doctor looks at the pelvic organs with a lighted instrument.

Can you get pregnant again after a miscarriage? How soon?

Yes, you can. Most women who have a miscarriage (about 87%) go on to have normal pregnancies and healthy babies. Having a miscarriage does not mean you have a fertility problem. Remember, most miscarriages are caused by a chromosomal abnormality, not something you did.

The decision about when to try to get pregnant again is something you and your doctor should make together. Most women can get pregnant again after one 'normal' menstrual period.

The most important thing is to take time to heal physically and mentally after a miscarriage.Counseling is available to help you cope with this loss. Support groups where you can talk about the loss of a miscarriage can be a valuable resource for you and your partner. Ask your doctor for more information about counseling and such support groups. Above all, don't blame yourself for the miscarriage. Take your time to grieve.

If you have had three miscarriages in a row, ask your doctor about testing to find an underlying cause. It is best to use birth control until you get the results of those tests. The doctor will review the test results, then tell you to stop using birth control and try to get pregnant again.

Can another miscarriage be prevented?

In fact, it is not usually possible to prevent a miscarriage. If you have had a miscarriage, it is not because you did anything to cause it. The best thing you can do is take good care of your body. Here are some ways you can take care of yourself:

• Attending your prenatal care regularly.
• Maintaining a healthy weight that suits you.
• Avoiding risk factors for miscarriage, such as drinking alcohol and smoking.
• Taking a prenatal vitamin.
• Regular exercise and a healthy diet.

How to cope with the grief of a miscarriage? ( Lastly, remember this )

Losing a pregnancy is a traumatic experience, bringing up many emotions and questions. The emotional recovery from a miscarriage is often much longer and more difficult than the physical recovery. Take the time you need to grieve your loss. Talk about your feelings with your partner, friends, and family. Or find a pregnancy loss support group online. Surround yourself with supportive people, or seek professional help to help you cope with the loss.

A miscarriage is a very emotional time for expecting parents, and it's natural to grieve the loss. Remember, a miscarriage cannot be prevented, and it's not something you did wrong. It doesn't mean you can't have children again, or that you will miscarry again. It's normal to feel sad. Get support from family, friends, online support groups, or a licensed counselor. If you're planning to get pregnant again, talk to your doctor about your next pregnancy, the timing, and any questions you may have.

` Miscarriage, Pregnancy, Women's Health, Symptoms, Causes, Treatment, Abortion