Symptoms of a miscarriage
Identify what symptoms are alarming us about a possible miscarriage, and what we can confuse them with.
“Spontaneous abortion”. There is no expression that can make a woman who is looking for a baby more scary. Miscarriage is defined as the involuntary loss of a pregnancy before the first 20 weeks of gestation .
Index
Related topics
- Deferred abortion: everything you need to know
- Differences between a miscarriage and a deferred abortion
Three types of miscarriage are known: complete, incomplete, and delayed abortion. The complete abortion features are fully ejects the gestational sac in which the fetus was. In incomplete abortion , remains of the conception remain inside the uterus and it is usually necessary to perform a curettage or take some medication to eliminate what remains inside the body. A deferred abortion , on the other hand, is an abortion in which the embryo has died but is still in the uterus. In this case, the woman has no symptoms of miscarriage despite having lost the fetus.
Knowing how to identify the symptoms of a miscarriage is essential for our own health. The first symptom that is usually had is a vaginal bleeding, but be careful, because bleeding is not an exclusive symptom of abortion, in fact, 1 in 4 pregnant women lose blood at the beginning of pregnancy without assuming the loss of the fetus .
Abdominal pain may also occur, which usually appears after the bleeding occurs. This pain varies greatly from person to person : it can be crampy, persistent, mild, or severe. It may also feel like a pain in the lower back or perhaps pressure on the pelvis.
It is very important to see a doctor before these symptoms, since they can also be a sign of an ectopic or molar pregnancy . Ectopic literally means “out of place,” and this type of pregnancy is considered to be when the fertilized egg implants outside the uterus. This occurs in 1 in 50 pregnancies, and unfortunately, there is no way to fix it: the pregnancy must be terminated, because it is potentially dangerous for the woman.
If you think you are having a miscarriage because you identify these symptoms, go urgently to your doctor , who will examine if the blood comes from the cervix and if it is closed. They will also perform blood tests, to check that the level of the pregnancy hormone (hCG) is correct. Using an obstetric ultrasound (inserting a probe into the vagina), it will check if the fetus is still implanted in the uterus and if the heart is beating normally.
WHAT HAPPENS AFTER AN ABORTION?
After an abortion, you will feel mild menstrual pain and bleed for a couple of weeks. It is recommended to use compresses and not tampons to control bleeding , and to take ibuprofen or paracetamol for pain. Until the bleeding stops, it is important not to have sex, swim, or douche.
If you bleed heavily (using a compress once an hour), have a fever, discomfort or vaginal discharge with an unpleasant odor , go to the doctor urgently, you may have an infection .
After this experience, it is normal to be afraid of losing another pregnancy. However, doctors say that having a single spontaneous pregnancy is not an indicator that the woman cannot conceive a child . However, they recommend waiting between 6 and 8 weeks to start looking for the child again, so that your cycles normalize.
First of all, it is important that you bear in mind that it was not your fault . The experience of an abortion is very hard and you have to cope with it. In addition, hormonal ups and downs will cause changes in your mood and it is usually normal for you to feel sad or discouraged.
If you want to get pregnant again, you have to be fully emotionally and physically recovered. To do this, lean on your family and friends, and especially on your partner , who may also feel as sad or helpless as you. Seeking psychological support is a good way to go hard for the next one and not pay for your frustrations with your partner. It can also help a lot to talk with other mothers or couples who have lived this same experience . They more than anyone will be able to understand you and give you advice with which you can move on and regain confidence and security enough to try again.
Dr. Tabriella Perivolaris, Sara's mother and fan of fashion, beauty, motherhood, among others, about the female universe. Since 2018 she has been working as a copywriter, always bringing to her articles a little of her experience and experience as a mother and woman.