It's normal to feel a little scared when you're pregnant. Things like "Is the baby okay?", "Will something go wrong?" are always on your mind. Among these, one thing that many mothers fear and also cause a lot of grief is miscarriage . Hearing this word makes you feel a lot of pressure, doesn't it? But it's very important to be fully aware of this. Because then you can take action quickly if necessary, without being unnecessarily afraid.
Simply put, what is a miscarriage?
A miscarriage is the loss of a pregnancy for any reason before 20 weeks of pregnancy. Sometimes this can happen before you even know you're pregnant or even before you miss your period. Most miscarriages happen within the first 13 weeks of pregnancy, which is the first trimester.
The most important thing is that a miscarriage is usually not something we can prevent. So if something like this happens, never blame yourself, thinking it's your fault. You didn't cause it.
Could these be signs of a miscarriage?
The symptoms we'll discuss below are common during a miscarriage. But remember, some of these symptoms can also be caused by other reasons. So, if you have one or more of these, the best thing to do is not to panic and inform your doctor .
| Symptom | A simple explanation |
|---|---|
| Vaginal Bleeding | This can start as a small spotting of blood and gradually increase to heavy bleeding, similar to menstruation. |
| Cramps/Pain in the stomach or back | Pain in the lower abdomen or back, similar to menstrual cramps, but sometimes more severe. |
| Vaginal discharge of fluid, tissue, or blood clots | It may feel like a white-pink mucus, fluid, or blood clots, and sometimes pieces of tissue are coming out. |
| Fever and malaise | Symptoms such as weakness, fever, and vomiting can sometimes be seen. |
| Sudden decrease in pregnancy symptoms | It feels like the early signs of pregnancy, like morning sickness and breast tenderness, suddenly disappear. |
| Weight loss and contractions | Sudden weight loss or abdominal cramps, similar to labor pains. |
Special case to watch out for: Ectopic Pregnancy
Ectopic Pregnancy is a condition that has similar symptoms to a miscarriage, but is more serious and requires emergency medical treatment . Simply put, this is when the fertilized egg implants outside the uterus, usually in a Fallopian tube. This is a very dangerous condition. As the embryo grows there, the fallopian tube can rupture and cause internal bleeding.
If you have these symptoms, see a doctor immediately or go to the hospital's Emergency Department (ETU):
- Severe stomach pain , especially on one side of the stomach.
- Vaginal bleeding or spotting.
- Shoulder pain or a feeling of needing to defecate (this could be a sign of bleeding from the fallopian tube).
- Lightheadedness or fainting.
Be aware of the symptoms of an infection.
Sometimes, an infection can develop in the uterus after a miscarriage. This is also a condition that requires immediate treatment . If you have the following symptoms, inform your doctor immediately. You may need to be hospitalized.
- Excessive vaginal bleeding.
- High fever and chills.
- A foul-smelling discharge from the vagina.
- Severe stomach pain .
How can the doctor confirm this situation?
If you have symptoms of a miscarriage, the first thing your doctor will do is examine you. This will include a pelvic exam and an ultrasound scan. The scan can clearly see the inside of your uterus.
What are the treatment options?
After testing, if the miscarriage is complete and the uterus is completely empty (clear), you may not need any further treatment.
But if there are still pieces of tissue left inside the uterus , treatment will be needed to remove them. There are two main methods for doing so.
1. D&C (Dilation and Curettage) Surgery: This is simply called "curettage of the uterus" in Sinhala. Here, the doctor slightly dilates the cervix and carefully removes any remaining fetal tissue or placental fragments from the uterus using a special instrument.
2. Medication: As an alternative to D&C, some medications can be used. For example, when a medicine called `(Misoprostol)` is given, it causes the uterus to contract and expel the contents like during menstruation.
You should discuss with your doctor which of these two methods is best for you. For example, if you have an infection, medication may not be appropriate.
Take-Home Message
- Miscarriage is a common occurrence among pregnant women. It is not your fault.
- Be aware of the warning signs of a miscarriage, such as vaginal bleeding and abdominal pain.
- If you experience any of these symptoms, don't panic, call your doctor immediately.
- Symptoms such as severe abdominal pain, shoulder pain, and fainting can be signs of an ectopic pregnancy, which is an emergency. So go to the hospital immediately.
- If treatment is needed, talk to your doctor about the treatment method that is best for you and make the best decision.
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