Signs of Miscarriage

The thought of having a baby is thrilling. The most exciting part is when you are actually having a baby growing inside you. Nothing can be as sweet and as blissful as the moment when you look gently into the eyes of your significant other and deliver the surprise by saying, “I’m pregnant!”

Pregnancy is a very delicate condition for both the mother and the fetus. One common complication that is associated especially during the first months of pregnancy is miscarriage. It is defined as the end of pregnancy that usually happens on the early stages, more commonly before 12 weeks of pregnancy. It occurs in approximately 20% of confirmed pregnancies. It also happens to women even before they discover that they are pregnant.

Medical experts believe that miscarriage can be due to any of these factors. A defect in the fetus’ chromosome may be one. Errors in the structure of the fetus’ cells commonly occur by chance. For some unknown reasons, something must have gone wrong with the fertilization process. Conditions that affect the health of the mother also predispose a pregnant woman to miscarriage. Any infection, either viral or bacterial, health diseases and disorders such as hypertension, diabetes, and immunosuppression are all attributed to pregnancy loss. A defect or abnormality in the reproductive structures such as the cervix and the uterus may be a factor as well. Example of this problem is cervical incompetence, which is characterized by early dilation of the cervix. This type of miscarriage usually affects mothers in the mid and late stages of the pregnancy.

Be wary if you are pregnant and have these following manifestations. Here are the signs of miscarriage. One of the most initial signs is vaginal bleeding. However, not all bleeding leads to loss of pregnancy. Sometimes, it may be due to the process of implantation or irritation of the cervix. In these conditions, the bleeding normally stops and the pregnancy continues without any complications. More or less ten percent of mothers report spotting or bleeding during their pregnancy. Another sign is extreme abdominal pain and it is commonly related to ectopic pregnancy where the fetus grows outside the uterus. This is an emergent situation and needs prompt medical intervention. In this case, there is no choice but to remove the fetus surgically. Meanwhile, mild cramping happens normally and is not a sign of abortion. In the middle stage of pregnancy, around the fifth month, the baby’s movement and heartbeat are apparent. Hence, if these are no longer evident, then it may indicate miscarriage. Preterm labor, or labor that is earlier than the expected date, calls for an immediate trip to the hospital. Signs include frequent and strong contractions, vaginal discharges, abdominal pain, and pelvic pressure.

These danger signs need to be checked and confirmed by the doctor as soon as possible. You will be undergoing series of tests to confirm your condition. You may need to follow your doctor’s pieces of advice such as bed rest and abstinence from sexual intercourse for a period of time. Pregnancy continues in most cases. However, unfortunately, there are times when miscarriage is inevitable and there is nothing that can be done to save the baby. It is important to bear in mind that miscarriage can affect anyone and as a mother, it is not your fault.