Sunday, April 27, 2008

 

Miscarriage Factsheet

27-APR-2008:

I plagiarized this factsheet from the BUPA website and added some notes of my own. 

This factsheet is for people who have had a miscarriage or for those who want to know more about them.

Each year in the UK, hundreds of thousands of women are affected by miscarriage. A miscarriage is when a pregnancy ends before 24 weeks. In the vast majority of cases, there is no way of preventing a miscarriage.

Mine occurred at 8.5 weeks and knowing there was no way I or anyone could have prevented it somehow made me feel better.

Having a miscarriage does not mean that you won't be able to get pregnant again, and most women go on to have a successful pregnancy.

What is it?

The medical definition of miscarriage is the spontaneous loss of a pregnancy before 24 weeks. Miscarriage is very common, occurring in 10 to 20 percent of confirmed pregnancies. Most of these occur in the first 12 weeks of pregnancy.

Miscarriage symptoms

The most common symptom is vaginal bleeding, which can range from light spotting to heavier than a period. You may see blood clots, brown discharge or other tissue that is not clearly identifiable. Sometimes a sac-like structure is seen.

Mine started with a very faint pink discharge that turned to a brown stringy one, which then turned red and then eventually turned into something like a normal period.  There were blood clots about 6 hours before the miscarriage occurred.  

Often there is cramping, with pelvic or back-pain. You may find that the usual symptoms of pregnancy, such as breast tenderness, feeling sick and having to pass urine more frequently than usual, stop unexpectedly.

I experienced no cramping until when I actually lost the baby.  The cramping was more painful than normal period cramps but less intense than labour pain.  After I passed the sac into the toilet, the pain went away.  I never had any pregnancy symptoms but somehow felt different and knew that the baby was gone.

Sometimes there are no signs or symptoms of miscarriage and pregnancy symptoms continue, and the miscarriage is only discovered in a routine scan.

Why does it happen?

About half of all early miscarriages happen because of a problem in the way genetic material from the egg and sperm has combined during fertilisation. It can be difficult to find out why this has happened but it is more likely to be due to random chance than to any underlying problem with either parent.

Imbalances in pregnancy hormones, problems in the immune system, and some serious infections (not minor coughs or colds) are also thought to make miscarriages more likely. The risk of miscarriage increases with age, because the quality of eggs deteriorate. If a woman drinks too much alcohol or smokes heavily, the risk of a miscarriage is higher. It is also increased with multiple pregnancies, such as twins.

If a woman has previously taken the contraceptive pill, the risk of having a miscarriage appears to be slightly reduced.

While some studies suggest that stress may play a role in pregnancy loss, it hasn't been shown to cause miscarriages on its own. Research also indicates that doing moderate exercise or having sex whilst pregnant does not increase the risk of miscarriage.

Often the cause of a miscarriage remains unknown. If a miscarriage has started there is very little that can be done to stop it.

What should I do if I notice bleeding in pregnancy?

If you experience vaginal bleeding at any time during pregnancy it is worth contacting your doctor or midwife for advice.

You may be referred to an early pregnancy assessment unit, which is often based at a local hospital, and may be given an ultrasound scan.

At hospital

After a discussion of the symptoms, and possibly an examination, some tests and investigations may be needed to find out what is happening. Some examples are listed below.

Types of miscarriage

Different terms are used to describe miscarriage, depending on what the ultrasound scan or an internal examination reveals.

Threatened miscarriage is used to describe bleeding in early pregnancy, where the cervix is found to be tightly closed. The pregnancy is most likely to continue. Some doctors may advise you to rest in bed, although there is little evidence to suggest that this will make any difference to what happens.

Inevitable miscarriage describes bleeding in early pregnancy where the cervix is found to be open, suggesting that the pregnancy will be lost.

Incomplete miscarriage describes a miscarriage that has definitely started, but there is still some pregnancy tissue left in the uterus. The cervix is usually found to be open.

Complete miscarriage means that the pregnancy has been lost, the uterus is now empty and the cervix has closed.

I had a Complete Miscarriage.  It is reassuring to know that this means my uterus is now empty, there are no more tissues retained and hopefully this will mean that I will recover and get back to normal.  Hopefully, there'll be no or very little risk of a hemorrhage or an infection.

Missed miscarriage describes a pregnancy that stopped growing some weeks ago, but there was no bleeding at that time. This type of miscarriage usually causes a small amount of dark-brown blood loss and the sudden end of normal pregnancy symptoms but there may be no symptoms at all, coming to light only at a routine scan. It is sometimes called a blighted ovum.

Treatment options

If a miscarriage is complete then you don't need any further treatment. For a missed miscarriage or when there is significant bleeding, treatment with medicines or surgery may be recommended to remove the remaining pregnancy tissue. Some women may prefer to let nature take its course, which is called expectant management.

I chose expectant management, although my gynae referred to it as "conservative management".

Doctors can prescribe a combination of misoprostol and mifepristone. These soften the cervix and make the uterus contract so that the remainder of the pregnancy is expelled.

Surgical treatment involves an operation to empty the uterus. This is known as an evacuation of retained products of conception (ERPC), but is sometimes called a dilatation and curettage (D&C). This is carried out under general anaesthesia. A soft plastic tube is passed through the cervix into the uterus and the pregnancy material is removed by suction.

General anaesthesia can temporarily affect your co-ordination and reasoning skills, so you should not drive, drink alcohol, operate machinery or sign legal documents for 48 hours afterwards. If you are in any doubt about driving, please contact your motor insurer so that you are aware of their recommendation, and always follow your doctor's advice.

Research shows that expectant management is linked with an increased risk of bleeding, while surgical treatment carries a slightly increased risk of infection. The decision on what type of treatment is needed may depend on the stage of pregnancy, the amount of bleeding, and your personal choice. Your doctor should explain and discuss the options available to you. In most cases, you should be able to have time to think about what you would prefer.

I am still bleeding - much like having a medium flow period.  Hopefully, it will settle down in a few days time.  

Recurrent miscarriage

Miscarriage is a very common event and many women experience two or more miscarriages, purely by chance. Having more than one miscarriage can lead to anxieties that a normal pregnancy will never occur. But even after two miscarriages it is unlikely that you have an underlying problem, and there should be every chance of a successful pregnancy in the future.

After three consecutive miscarriages it is advisable to undergo some tests to rule out a specific cause. Possibilities include a hormonal disturbance, genetic problems, abnormalities of the uterus, or a condition of the immune system called "antiphospholipid syndrome". This is a disease where the body's own defence mechanism causes blood clots in the placenta.

Miscarriage later in pregnancy

Four-fifths of miscarriages occur in the first 12 weeks (first trimester) of pregnancy. Pregnancy loss later than this is much less common, and the causes may be different to those described above. You may need more specialist information and advice.

After a miscarriage

The physical effects of a miscarriage tend to clear up quickly. Any bleeding usually settles down within 7 to 10 days, and your next period is likely to follow between four and six weeks later. Sometimes infection can make the bleeding last longer or cause an offensive discharge. If this happens, a course of antibiotics can be prescribed and this will usually clear it up quickly.

The doctor also told me that if I have an infection, I may also develop a temperature.  I'm keeping my fingers crossed that no such thing ever happens to me.  

The emotional impact of miscarriage can be greater. Grief is a natural reaction to miscarriage and it is normal for it to be as intense as that after any other bereavement. Many women describe a feeling of numbness and emptiness following a miscarriage. Some withdraw, feeling alone and isolated, others may wish to talk about it.

I am over the grief now although sometimes I just feel weepy for no reason.  Anyway, I've always been a weepy person and the waterworks come very easily - even when reading a book or watching a sentimental show on TV.  

Some couples decide that they want to begin trying for another pregnancy right away, while others feel that this is too soon and need longer to recover. There is no 'right' thing to do, and you have to go with your feelings. It is usually advised to wait at least one normal period before trying again, though it is safe to have sex when the bleeding has settled and you both feel ready.

Further information



# posted by Skye @ 11:22 am
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