spontaneous miscarriage Spontaneous Abortion: Signs, Symptoms, Prevention and Treatment

Spontaneous Abortion: Signs, Symptoms, Prevention and Treatment



Spontaneous abortion is a term used for a pregnancy that ends in itself, within the first 20 weeks of gestation. Most women are uncomfortable feeling the medical terms used to identify this possible complication or loss, so in this article we will refer to this type of threatened complication or loss of pregnancy less than 20 weeks as a miscarriage.

Spontaneous abortion is the most common type of pregnancy loss, according to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. Studies reveal that between 10% and 25% of all clinically recognized pregnancies will end in spontaneous abortion. Chemical pregnancies can explain 50 to 75% of all spontaneous abortions.

This occurs when a pregnancy is lost shortly after implantation, resulting in bleeding that occurs around the time your period waits. A woman may not realize that she conceived when she experiences a chemical pregnancy.

Most spontaneous abortions occur during the first 13 weeks of pregnancy. Pregnancy can be such an exciting time, but with the large number of recognized spontaneous abortions occurring, it is beneficial to be informed about spontaneous abortion, in the unfortunate event that you or someone you know is confronted with one.

There may be many confusing terms and moments that accompany a spontaneous abortion. There are different types of miscarriages, different treatments for each, and different statistics of what your chances of having one are. The following information offers a broad view of spontaneous abortion.

This information is provided to help equip you with knowledge so that you do not feel so alone or lost if you are faced with the possible situation of a miscarriage. As with most complications of pregnancy, remember that the best person to talk and ask questions is usually your health care provider.
Why Do Spontaneous Abortions Occur?

The reason for a miscarriage is varied, and more often the cause can not be identified. During the first trimester, the most common cause of a miscarriage is a chromosomal abnormality - which means that something is wrong with the baby's chromosomes. Most chromosomal abnormalities are the cause of a damaged egg or sperm cell, or are due to a problem at the time when the zygote went through the process of division.

Other causes of spontaneous abortion include (but are not limited to):

    Hormonal problems, infections or problems in maternal health
    Lifestyle (ie, smoking, drug use, malnutrition, excess caffeine and exposure to radiation or toxic substances)
    The implantation of the ovum in the lining of the uterus does not occur correctly
    Maternal age
    The maternal trauma

Factors that have not been proven to cause miscarriage are sex, working outside the home (unless in a harmful environment) or moderate exercise.
What Are the Odds of Having a Spontaneous Abortion?

For women of childbearing age, the chances of having a miscarriage can vary from 10 to 25%, and in healthier women the average is around 15 to 20% chance.

    An increase in the age of the mother affects the chances of a miscarriage
    Women under 35 years of age have a 15% chance of having a miscarriage
    Women who are 35-45 years of age have a 20-35% chance of having a miscarriage
    Women over 45 can have up to a 50% chance of having a miscarriage
    A woman who has had a miscarriage previously has a 25% chance of having another (only a slightly higher risk than for someone who has not had a previous miscarriage)



What Are The Warning Signs Of Spontaneous Abortion:

If you experience any or all of these symptoms, it is important to contact the doctor or a medical center to assess if you might be having a miscarriage:

    Mild to severe back pain (often worse than normal menstrual cramps)
    Weightloss
    White and pink mucus
    The real contractions (very painful happening every 5-20 minutes)
    Bleeding brown or bright red with or without cramping (20-30% of all pregnancies may experience some bleeding early in pregnancy, with about 50% of these resulting in normal pregnancies)
    Woven with material such as clots that pass through the vagina
    Sudden decrease in pregnancy signs

The Different Types of Spontaneous Abortion:

Miscarriage is often a process and not a single event. There are many different stages or types of spontaneous abortions. There is also a lot of information to learn about healthy fetal development so that you can get a better idea of ​​what is happening with your pregnancy. Understanding early fetal development and first trimester development can help you know what your doctor is looking for when there is a possible miscarriage occurring.

Most of the time, all types of spontaneous abortions are simply called spontaneous abortions, but you may hear your doctor refer to other terms or names of spontaneous abortions, such as:

Threat of Spontaneous Abortion: A certain degree of bleeding early in pregnancy accompanied by cramping or pain in the lower back. The cervix remains closed. This bleeding is often the result of implantation.

Inevitable or Incomplete Spontaneous Abortion: Abdominal or back pain accompanied by bleeding with an open cervix. Spontaneous Abortion is inevitable when there is a dilation or effacement of the cervix and / or there is rupture of the membranes. Bleeding and cramping may persist if the miscarriage is not complete.

Complete Spontaneous Abortion: A miscarriage is completed when the embryo or the products of conception have been emptied from the uterus. Bleeding should disappear quickly, as should any pain or cramping. A complete spontaneous abortion can be confirmed by an ultrasound or by having a surgical procedure (D & C) performed.

Lost Spontaneous Abortion: Women can experience a miscarriage without knowing it. A missed miscarriage is when embryonic death has occurred but there is no expulsion of the embryo. It is not known why this happens. The signs of this would be a loss of pregnancy symptoms and the absence of fetal heart tones found on an ultrasound.

Recurrent Spontaneous Abortion: It is defined as 3 or more consecutive spontaneous abortions in the first trimester. This can affect 1% of couples trying to conceive.

Ovule Huero: Also called an embryonic pregnancy. A fertilized egg is implanted in the uterine wall, but the development of the fetus does not begin. Often there is a gestational sac with or without a yolk sac, but there is an absence of fetal growth.

Ectopic Pregnancy: A fertilized egg is implanted in places other than the uterus, usually the fallopian tube. The treatment is necessary immediately to stop the development of the implanted ovule. If not treated quickly, this could end in serious complications for the mother.

Molar Pregnancy: The result of a genetic error during the fertilization process that leads to abnormal tissue growth within the uterus. Molar pregnancies rarely involve a developing embryo, but often involve the most common symptoms of pregnancy, including a missed menstrual period, a positive pregnancy test and nausea.
The Treatment of Spontaneous Abortion:

The main goal of treatment during or after a miscarriage is to prevent hemorrhage and / or infection. The earlier you are in pregnancy, the more likely your body is to expel all the fetal tissue by itself and do not require further medical procedures.

If the body does not expel all the tissue, the most common procedure performed to stop bleeding and prevent infection is a dilation and scraping, known as D & C. Medications may be prescribed to help control bleeding after the procedure is performed. D & C. Bleeding should be monitored closely once you are at home; If you notice an increase in bleeding or the appearance of chills or fever, it is best to call your doctor immediately
The Prevention of Spontaneous Abortion:

Since the cause of most spontaneous abortions is due to chromosomal abnormalities, there is not much that can be done to prevent them. An important step is to arrive as healthy as possible before conceiving to provide a healthy environment for conception.

    Exercise regularly
    Eat Healthy
    Controlling stress
    Keep weight within healthy limits
    Take folic acid daily
    No Smoking

Once you learn you are pregnant, again the goal is to be as healthy as possible, to provide a healthy environment for your baby to grow:

    Keep abdomen out of harm's way
    Do not smoke, nor be around the smoke
    Do not drink alcohol
    Check with your doctor before taking any over-the-counter medications
    Limit or eliminate caffeine
    Avoid environmental hazards such as radiation, infectious diseases and radiographs
    Avoid contact sports or activities that are at risk of injury

Emotional Treatment:

Unfortunately, a miscarriage can affect anyone. Women are often left with unanswered questions regarding their physical recovery, emotional recovery and trying to conceive again. It is very important that women try to keep the lines of communication open with family, friends and health care providers during this time.