Miscarriage: Let's talk about this painful experience, you are not alone

One of the most painful words an expectant mother can hear is 'miscarriage'. The sadness, fear, guilt that come with hearing this word can make you feel like you're alone. But you're not alone. Miscarriage is much more common than you think. And, most importantly, it's not your fault in most cases. Let's talk about it all today.

What exactly is a miscarriage?

Simply put, a miscarriage is the loss of a baby in the womb before 20 weeks of pregnancy.

Miscarriages are very common. Sometimes they can happen before you even miss your period or know you're pregnant. So it's hard to say exactly how many miscarriages actually occur. About 10% to 20% of pregnancies confirmed by doctors end in miscarriage. But researchers say the overall rate could be as high as 40%.

If a baby is lost after 20 weeks of pregnancy, we call it a stillbirth.

What are the symptoms of a miscarriage?

Sometimes a miscarriage can occur without any symptoms. However, there are a few common symptoms. If you have one or more of these, contact your doctor immediately. He or she will tell you whether to stay home, come to the clinic, or go to the emergency room (ETU).

What are the causes of miscarriage? Is it my fault?

This is a question that many mothers ask themselves. Most miscarriages are caused by serious genetic problems in the embryo or fetus. These are usually random events, without any involvement from the mother or father. Simply put, something goes wrong early in the development of the baby. This is not something that anyone can prevent.

Sometimes a fertilized egg implants in the uterus but does not develop into an embryo. This is called an ``Anembryonic Pregnancy`` or ``Blighted Ovum``. This also ends in miscarriage.

In addition to this main reason, there are other factors that increase the risk of miscarriage:

• Infectious conditions in the mother.
• Conditions such as uncontrolled diabetes or thyroid disease in the mother.
• Hormonal problems.
• Immune system problems.
• Any abnormalities in the uterus (e.g. cysts).
• Smoking, drinking alcohol and drug use.
• Exposure to radioactive materials or toxic chemicals.
• Mother's age over 35 years.
• Having had two or more previous miscarriages.

Cervical Insufficiency

Sometimes a miscarriage can occur due to a weakened cervix. Doctors call this `Cervical Insufficiency`. In this case, the cervix opens prematurely because it cannot support the weight of the growing baby. This usually happens in the second trimester of pregnancy. Because of this, the baby and placenta can come out suddenly, without much pain, during a miscarriage. For someone with a history of this, a cerclage is placed around the cervix at about 12 weeks of the next pregnancy to strengthen it. The sutures are removed when the baby is close to being born.

Are there different types of abortions?

Yes, miscarriages can be divided into several types depending on how they occur.

What do you do after an abortion?

After confirming that a miscarriage has occurred, your doctor will decide what to do next.

• If a complete miscarriage occurs and the uterus is empty, no other treatment is usually needed.
• If you have an incomplete miscarriage and tissue remains, your doctor may suggest several options.
• Waiting: You may be asked to wait a week or two for the remaining tissue to fall out naturally.
• Medication: Medication may be given to help the remaining tissue drain.
• D&C procedure: Dilation and Curettage (D&C), a procedure to clean the uterus, can be performed.
• Rh negative blood type: If your blood type is Rh negative, your doctor will give you a shot called `Rh immune globulin (RhoGAM)` to prevent the antibodies your body produces from harming future pregnancies.

If you have recurrent miscarriages, your doctor will recommend genetic testing, blood tests, and scans to find the cause.

After a miscarriage... physically and mentally

It takes time to heal both physically and mentally after an abortion.

Physically, there may be some light bleeding and discomfort for a few days. However, if you experience heavy bleeding, fever, chills, or severe pain, tell your doctor right away. These could be signs of an infection.

Emotionally, you may feel a lot of sadness, anger, guilt, and fear about the future. All of these feelings are normal. Allow yourself to grieve and cry. Talk about this with your partner, a family member, or a close friend. If necessary, seek the help of a counselor. Everyone heals at a different pace and in a different way. So give yourself time.

Is it possible to have another baby after a miscarriage?

Yes, you definitely can! Having a miscarriage doesn't mean you can't have children. More than 80% of women who have experienced a miscarriage go on to have healthy pregnancies and healthy babies.

Talk to your doctor about how long you should wait before trying again. Some doctors recommend waiting a month or three, but research has not shown that there is any specific medical benefit to waiting that long. The important thing is that you recover, both physically and mentally.

Miscarriage, Women's Health, Pregnancy, Loss of Child, Vaginal Bleeding, Gynecology