Complications - miscarriage

Miscarriage

Common terms related to miscarriage

• Blighted Ovum
  This is when the embryo does not develop after fertilization
• Threatened
  A pregnancy that is in doubt. There may be vaginal bleeding and cramping, but the cervix is closed.
• Inevitable
  The pregnancy loss is occurring, there is bleeding, cervical dilation, rupture of membranes, and contractions
• Complete
  The products of conception (embryo or fetus and placenta) have been fully expelled from the uterus
• Incomplete
  Only some of the products of conception are expelled (pass through the cervix), and part is retained (held) in the uterus
• Missed
  The embryo or fetus dies but is retained (held) in the uterus. There may be bleeding or spotting, and worrisome signs like no growth and no movement
• Septic
  The products of conception have become infected. There will be fever usually accompanied by uterine tenderness and foul smelling vaginal discharge.
• Recurrent
  Two or more successive pregnancies have ended in spontaneous miscarriage

In the early weeks of pregnancy, you may have no worrisome symptoms. From about 8 –10 weeks on, early signs that may indicate a threat to pregnancy are:

• nagging or worsening lower back pain
• pink mucus discharge
• cramping which becomes regular
• vaginal bleeding

Women with late miscarriage (16 –20 weeks) often pass their fetus vaginally. This is a difficult and emotionally stressful event – however seeing the baby is very helpful to some women in understanding and expressing their loss.

If there are any worrisome symptoms, your physician will likely do the following:

• perform a vaginal exam to see if the cervix is open or not
• check for pregnancy with a blood test (called a beta-sub unit or beta hCG)
• perform an ultrasound

Treatment of miscarriage may include D & C (dilation and curettage), a scraping of the uterus to remove products of conception and/or antibiotics when an infection is suspected.