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Breaking the Silence Surrounding Miscarriage: Common Signs & Symptoms

Miscarriage – it’s a topic that you never want to have to think about unless you have to. Unfortunately, it’s more common than you might think. In fact, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) reports that roughly 15 to 20 percent of pregnancies end in miscarriage.

If you are newly pregnant, know someone who is, or hope to be in the near future, it is important that you understand what miscarriage is, the common signs and symptoms of miscarriage, and more.

First, let’s start with...

What is a miscarriage?

Also known as spontaneous abortion, miscarriage is often medically described as the spontaneous loss of a pregnancy in the first 20 weeks of gestation. This type of loss is the most common during pregnancy.

The statistics reported by the ACOG only reflect those miscarriages that occur in confirmed pregnancies, so it is believed that the actual number of miscarriages is much higher and may occur at a rate closer to 30 to 40 percent of conceptions resulting in a pregnancy loss. This reality is likely because women may miscarry before they even realize or know they are pregnant.

What causes miscarriage?

While it is common for a woman to question whether she miscarried because of something she did or didn’t do, it is important to avoid blaming yourself. Miscarriage does not occur because of moderate exercise, sex or a small cup of coffee each day.

According to the American Pregnancy Association (APA), the most common cause of miscarriage is an unexpected chromosomal or genetic abnormality. That said, certain factors may increase the risk of miscarriage, including:

• Drug use
• Smoking
• Excessive drinking
• Listeria, a common bacterium that is found in undercooked meat, raw eggs and unpasteurized dairy
• Maternal trauma such as a car accident
• Hormonal or structural abnormalities in the woman such as uterine fibroids or low progesterone
• Advanced maternal age (over 35)
• Infections including Fifth Disease or Lyme Disease
• Chronic illness including lupus, uncontrolled diabetes and thyroid disease

What are the common signs of miscarriage?

A miscarriage is a heartbreaking experience for a family, but being familiar with the common signs and symptoms of miscarriage can help women assess their own risk.

Some of the common signs of miscarriage include:

• Bleeding or spotting. Spotting or bleeding is one of the common first signs of miscarriage. While bleeding at some point during a healthy pregnancy is often normal, it is important to call your doctor for a checkup just to be sure should you experience any unusual bleeding.
  
  
• Cramping. If you begin experiencing heavy cramps located to one side of your abdomen or accompanied by bleeding, it could be a sign of miscarriage. Likewise, back pain may also be an indicator, particularly if the pain is in conjunction with bleeding.
  
  
• Vaginal Discharge. Heavy or unusual discharge may also be an indicator of miscarriage. If you begin experiencing discharge with blood clots or discharge with a distinct odor, it is important to contact your doctor for an evaluation.
  
  
• Loss of Symptoms. In many cases, feeling fine after a bout of nausea or breast tenderness is often an indication that your hormones have finally balanced in your pregnancy and isn’t cause for alarm. However, if you notice a drastic lift in your symptoms combined with other miscarriage symptoms, it may be cause for concern.

What happens during a miscarriage?

Depending on the actual medical situation, miscarriage can vary widely from person to person. Some women may experience heavy bleeding and cramping caused by contractions that serve to expel the contents of the uterus. This process may also be accompanied by large blood clots and tissue.

If it occurs quickly, the miscarriage is often completed by the body without further complications. In the event of a “missed miscarriage” that occurs when a woman has no symptoms and the body has not naturally recognized the occurrence of the miscarriage, a drug may be administered to induce contractions.

If there is medical concern that the woman may continue to bleed heavily without effectively passing the tissue, a medical procedure known as a D&C or dilation and curettage may be used to complete the miscarriage. This procedure involves dilation to open the cervix and curettage to remove the contents of the uterus using different suction and scraping instruments.

Can a miscarriage be prevented if caught early?

Unfortunately, there is no way to stop a miscarriage from taking place once it has begun. It is important, nonetheless, to visit your doctor and be treated to prevent hemorrhaging and/or infection should you experience a miscarriage.

Of the women who experience miscarriage, at least 85 percent will go on to have a healthy, full-term pregnancy later in life. It is important to work closely with your medical care provider throughout your pregnancy to determine your risk and maintain the health of you and your baby.

 

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