Anika (age 29) who came to the clinic that day was in such a state of grief that it felt as if her whole world had suddenly collapsed. Her eyes were swollen and she was having trouble speaking because she had been crying non-stop. Anika, who had walked with great difficulty and sat down in front of my table, wiped her tears with a tissue in her hand and said this to me:

"Dr. Priya, my baby is gone. I don't know what happened. I have nothing to do but blame myself. Did I do something wrong, doctor?"

Listening to Anika's story, I felt a deep sense of sadness. Although miscarriage is a medically normal occurrence, it is not something we talk about openly in our society. This is why many mothers think it was their fault. I held Anika's hand and said with compassion, "Anika, I am so sorry for what happened to you. But remember, this is not your fault at all. Let's talk about what really happened. Let's help you heal your body and mind."

What is a miscarriage?

A miscarriage is the natural loss of a pregnancy before 20 weeks of gestation. In medical terms, this condition is also known as a spontaneous abortion .

This is a very common condition. As many as 1 in 4 or 5 pregnancies end this way. Most miscarriages occur within the first 12 weeks of pregnancy. Some women may have a miscarriage before they even know they are pregnant.

Miscarriage Causes

Many mothers immediately assume that a miscarriage is because they did a heavy job or ate the wrong food. However, medically speaking, most miscarriages occur for reasons beyond the mother's control.

1. Chromosomal Abnormalities

More than 50% of early miscarriages are caused by genetic or chromosomal problems in the embryo. This is because chromosomes do not divide correctly due to a natural error that occurs during conception. This is not something that anyone can prevent, and it can be described as a step taken by nature itself to prevent an unhealthy embryo from developing further.

2. Uterine or Placental Issues

Miscarriage can occur due to abnormalities in the shape of the uterus, the presence of fibroids in the uterus, or an incompetent cervix. The placenta, which provides nourishment to the fetus, may not develop properly.

3. Maternal Health Conditions

The risk of miscarriage increases if the mother has conditions such as uncontrolled diabetes, thyroid disorders, or blood clotting disorders (Anti-phospholipid Syndrome).

Miscarriage Symptoms

Pay close attention to the following symptoms during pregnancy:

• Vaginal Bleeding: This can range from light spotting to heavy bleeding similar to menstruation. This is the most common symptom of a miscarriage.
• Abdominal Cramping: Cramps in the lower abdomen that are more severe than menstrual cramps and radiate through the back.
• Passing Clots or Tissue: Red or gray tissue and blood clots passing through the vagina.
• Loss of Pregnancy Symptoms: Sudden loss of morning sickness and breast tenderness.

🚨 Red Flags that require immediate hospitalization

If you experience the following symptoms during or after a miscarriage, you should go to the hospital immediately without delay:

• Heavy bleeding: If you have heavy bleeding that soaks more than 2 sanitary pads in an hour.
• Severe abdominal pain: Severe, unbearable pain that occurs on only one side of the abdomen (this may be a sign of an ectopic pregnancy).
• Signs of infection: High fever, chills, and foul-smelling vaginal discharge.
• Loss of consciousness: Severe dizziness, lightheadedness, or loss of consciousness.

How to treat a miscarriage? (Miscarriage Treatment)

When a miscarriage occurs, the doctor uses an ultrasound scan to check if there are any fetal parts left in the uterus. Treatment is then decided accordingly.

1. Expectant Management: If the miscarriage is complete and no tissue remains, you can wait 1-2 weeks under medical supervision until the body eliminates the remaining tissue on its own.
2. Surgical treatment (Dilation and Curettage - D&C): If tissue fragments remain in the uterus, a minor surgical procedure (D&C) is performed to clean out the uterus to prevent infection and excessive bleeding.
3. Medical Management: Specific medications may be prescribed by a doctor to stimulate the natural expulsion of the remaining tissue in the uterus.

Achieving physical and emotional recovery

Although it may take 1-2 weeks to recover physically, it may take longer to recover mentally.

• Physical rest: Get complete bed rest for at least 2 days after the abortion. Avoid heavy work and exertion. Avoid using tampons and sexual intercourse for at least 2 weeks to prevent infection.
• Express feelings:Instead of keeping the intense sadness and guilt bottled up inside, share it with your husband, a close friend, or a medical advisor.
• Planning for the next pregnancy: If you are physically and mentally ready, you can try to get pregnant again after at least one or two normal menstrual cycles have been completed.

Do's & Don'ts

Scientific sources (References)

• 📚 Miscarriage - NHS
• 📚 Signs and Symptoms of Early Pregnancy Loss: A Systematic Review - PMC