Question 1

What is miscarriage?

Accepted Answer

A spontaneous abortion is the loss of a fetus during pregnancy due to natural causes. The term "miscarriage" is the spontaneous termination of a pregnancy before fetal development has reached 20 weeks. Pregnancy losses after the 20th week are categorized as preterm deliveries. The term "spontaneous abortion" refers to naturally occurring events, not elective or therapeutic abortion procedures.

Question 2

What are the risk factors for miscarriage?

Accepted Answer

The cause of most spontaneous abortions is fetal death due to fetal genetic abnormalities, usually unrelated to the mother. Other possible causes for spontaneous abortion include infection, physical problems the mother may have, hormonal factors, immune responses, and serious systemic diseases of the mother (such as Diabetes or thyroid problems). It is estimated that up to 50% of all fertilized eggs die and are lost (aborted) spontaneously, usually before the woman knows she is pregnant. Among known pregnancies, the rate of spontaneous abortion is approximately 10% and usually occurs between the 7th and 12th weeks of pregnancy.

Question 3

What are the symptoms of miscarriage?

Accepted Answer

Possible symptoms include: • Low-back pain or Abdominal pain that is dull, sharp, or cramping • Vaginal bleeding, with or without abdominal cramps • Tissue or clot-like material that passes from the vagina However, about 20% of pregnant women have some vaginal bleeding during the first trimester. Approximately half of these women have a spontaneous abortion.

Question 4

How is miscarriage treated?

Accepted Answer

The treatment for a threatened abortion varies from restricting some forms of exercise to complete bed rest. Abstaining from intercourse is usually recommended until the warning signs have disappeared. If a spontaneous abortion occurs, the signs of pregnancy decrease, the uterus begins shrinking to its original size, and a brownish or reddish vaginal discharge is often experienced. The tissue passed from the vagina should be examined to determine the source (fetal vs. hydatidiform mole). It is also important to determine whether any fetal tissue remains in the uterus. This is called an incomplete spontaneous abortion.

Question 5

What are the complications of miscarriage?

Accepted Answer

Complications in the mother are rare. However, possible complications include: • Retained fetal tissue (an incomplete abortion) may cause an infection and must be removed surgically. • An infection also may occur after a complete abortion. The death of a second- or third-trimester pregnancy is addressed differently than a first-trimester loss. If the fetus remains in the uterus for too long, an abnormal activation of blood clotting systems can develop. This can threaten the mother's health.

Question 6

Can miscarriage be prevented?

Accepted Answer

Many spontaneous abortions that are caused by systemic diseases can be prevented by detecting and treating the disease before becoming pregnant. Spontaneous abortions are less likely with early, comprehensive prenatal care and by avoiding environmental hazards (such as X-rays and infectious diseases). When a mother's body is having difficulty sustaining a pregnancy, signs (such as slight vaginal bleeding) may occur. This is a threatened abortion, which means there is a possibility of abortion, but it is not inevitable. A pregnant woman who develops any signs or symptoms of threatened miscarriage should contact her prenatal provider immediately.

Miscarriage

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Miscarriage

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