Miscarriage
A miscarriage occurs when a pregnancy terminates before 20 weeks and research suggests that around 10-20 percent of pregnancies end in this way, with the majority of miscarriages occurring during the first trimester.
An exact overall figure is hard to pinpoint, since many women miscarry before they even realize they’re pregnant and pass it off as a very heavy period.
At least half of the miscarriages that occur in the first trimester are caused by chromosomal abnormalities, which prevent the fetus from developing normally and mean it could never have survived. The symptoms of miscarriage are vaginal bleeding, accompanied by lower backache and severe stomach cramps. Although many women experience bleeding in early pregnancy and go on to have a normal pregnancy and healthy baby, once the uterus starts to expel the pregnancy there’s little that can be done to save it.
If you experience any bleeding, contact your OB-GYN or nurse-midwife immediately. They’ll arrange for you to be given an ultrasound to check if you’ve had a complete miscarriage (where the uterus expels the fetus and placenta entirely), a missed miscarriage (where the fetus and placenta die but remain in the uterus for some time before being expelled) or an incomplete miscarriage (where a miscarriage happens but some of the products of conception are left inside the mother).
If the ultrasound shows there is anything left inside your uterus you’ll be offered a D&C (dilatation and curettage), which is a minor operation carried out under anesthetic to clear any remaining tissue.
See our features on pregnancy after miscarriage and trying for a baby after a miscarriage for advice on the next steps after suffering from a miscarriage.
The information in this feature is intended for educational purposes only. If you have any concerns about your health, the health of your child or the health of someone you know, please consult with a doctor or other healthcare professional.
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Last Modified: 02/07/2007
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