Miscarriage
A miscarriage is the loss of a pregnancy before 20 weeks. It is common — about 1 in every 5 to 7 known pregnancies ends this way, most of them in the first 12 weeks. Most miscarriages happen because the baby was not developing normally and are not caused by anything the mother did. Heavy bleeding or infection after a miscarriage can be dangerous, so medical care is important.
Symptoms
- Bleeding from the vagina, from light spotting to heavy bleeding with clots
- Cramping pain in the lower belly or lower back
- Passing tissue or clots from the vagina
- Pregnancy signs such as nausea or sore breasts suddenly stop
- Sometimes no symptoms — it is found on an ultrasound
Causes
- Most often a chromosome problem in the developing baby that happens by chance
- Uncontrolled diabetes or thyroid disease
- Severe infections with high fever, such as malaria or brucellosis
- Problems with the shape of the womb or a weak cervix (more often in later miscarriages)
- Smoking, naswar, alcohol or drugs
- Normal work, sex, travel or light exercise do not cause miscarriage
Prevention
- Most miscarriages cannot be prevented
- Start folic acid before pregnancy and continue in early pregnancy
- Go for antenatal care early (before 12 weeks)
- Control diabetes and thyroid disease before pregnancy
- Avoid smoking, naswar, alcohol and medicines not prescribed by a doctor
- Treat fevers and infections quickly
Treatment
- An ultrasound and examination to see whether the pregnancy has fully passed
- Sometimes the body passes everything naturally with time
- Medicine or a small procedure to empty the womb, done by a trained health worker
- An anti-D injection if your blood group is Rh-negative
- Rest and emotional support — it is normal to feel sad
- Do not take medicines to end or "clean out" a pregnancy without a doctor
Common questions
Did I cause the miscarriage?
Almost always, no. Most miscarriages happen because the pregnancy was not developing normally. Work, lifting normal loads, sex or a fright do not cause it.
When can I try to get pregnant again?
Physically you can usually try again after your next normal period, once you feel ready. If you have had two or more miscarriages in a row, see a gynaecologist for tests.