Miscarriage: A Guide to Women

 For couples and especially for women the part of losing a pregnancy can be wrecking because nobody knows what you are going through. No one knows what emotional toll you are experiencing under this condition. The key is to remember that you are not alone in this condition as there is around 20 percent of pregnancies end in miscarriage due to different issues.

The Meaning of Miscarriage is the spontaneous loss of a pregnancy that takes place before 20 weeks of gestation and is considered painful for the mother both physically and mentally. With a majority, it takes place in the first trimester and before the 12th week ranging with different symptoms and causes.

Types of Miscarriage

There are several types of miscarriages that a woman can witness. Here’s the list.

1. Threatened Miscarriage: A result of implantation leading to uterine bleeding followed by severe cramps and back pain.
2. Incomplete Miscarriage: Includes bleeding followed by abdomen and pack pain with an open cervix.
3. Complete Miscarriage: A situation when the embryo and the product of conception are emptied from the uterus.
4. Missed Miscarriage: A situation where a woman experiences a miscarriage without knowing it.
5. Recurrent Miscarriage: Affecting 1% of couples it is a situation defined as the 3 or more miscarriages.

Prodrome of a Miscarriage

The exact signs and symptoms related to miscarriage vary from person to person and from condition to condition and how far along you are in pregnancy. For instance, if the loss is at 14 weeks then at 5 weeks then there will be more bleeding, tissue loss, etc. One of the most common signs of miscarriage is bleeding or light spotting from the vagina, changes in blood color, and others.

The symptoms of miscarriage include:

1. Spotting or bleeding from the vagina
2. Abdomen cramps
3. Lower back pain
4. Passage of fluids and tissues
5. Weight loss
6. True contractions

It is advised if you experience any of these miscarriage symptoms immediately contact your health care provider and evaluate the signs of whether you are having a miscarriage or not.

Causes of Abnormality

In general, the causes of miscarriages are caused by chromosomal abnormality referring to something not right with the baby’s chromosomes. Other reasons causing miscarriage are said to vary and unidentified, but the other causes of abnormality are:

1. Infection
2. Maternal age
3. Kidney problem
4. Uncontrolled diabetes
5. Autoimmune diseases
6. Incompetent cervix
7. Hormonal irregularities
8. Uterine abnormalities
9. Certain medicines
10. Several lifestyle factors

Chances of Having a Miscarriage

Affecting around 20% of women the chances of miscarriage depends on various factors like:

1. Women under the age of 35 have a 15% chance of miscarriage.
2. Women with an increase in maternal age have a chance of 20%
3. Women under the age of 35 to 45 years have a 30% chance of miscarriage.
4. Women under the age of 45 have a 50% chance of miscarriage.
5. A woman with a history of miscarriage has a 25% chance of another.

As per Dr. Elsa, a Top Specialist in Obstetrics and Gynaecology in Dubai, it is advised to keep a check if you are pregnant and experience bleeding. To diagnose your miscarriage the doctor will perform an ultrasound to look for the child’s heartbeat, advise you to appear for a blood test, etc.