Usually women can’t hide their tears when they experience an early pregnancy loss. For many men too, it can be a sad thing to go through! As you know pregnancy, especially the first pregnancy, puts smiles on the faces of many men. A miscarriage is one of the problems you may have to experience in life and you should not blame yourself when it occurs. It is one of the things that you may not have full control over.
What is miscarriage?
Miscarriage is defined as an early loss of pregnancy, usually occurring before 20 weeks. This is a word that is normally used to refer to a spontaneous loss of pregnancy. However, it is vital to understand that medics use the word ‘abortion’ to refer to any form of loss; spontaneous or even with a known cause.
Usually many lay people use the word abortion to refer to a situation where one chooses to terminate the pregnancy, so it is important to understand what the word exactly means and how to use it. Today we focus on spontaneous case: when you do not choose to lose the pregnancy.
Why does it occur?
Miscarriage occurs in about 15 ÔÇô 20 percent cases of pregnancies. There are various known causes but they may not always be known. Most miscarriages occur in the first 12 ÔÇô 13 weeks of pregnancy but it can occur even before the woman misses a period! As you see, it might be very common than we know. The known causes include:
Genetic factors: Usually the problems linked to genetics are not inherited but occur by chance. This means that any woman can experience this at anytime. The structures (from the male and female) that code the information about the new being do so by chance. The chance increases with age and in that case there is usually no health related problem in either of the parents.
Ill-health: infection affecting the cervix, uterus and the tubes can usually put one at risk of miscarriage. Problems associated with hormones can also cause early loss pregnancy.
Abnormalities: abnormal mouth of the womb or even womb itself can also cause problems. A cervix that widens during the early weeks of pregnancy without pain or sign of labour is called an incompetent cervix and this can be the cause of loss of pregnancy.
Lifestyle issues: smoking, alcohol intake and use of illicit drugs can cause early loss of pregnancy. Thus women who use these substances should stop their use during pregnancy planning stages.
There is no proof that work, intercourse and exercise cause miscarriage, but it is important to know that anything in excess can cause any relevant problems whatsoever. And women planning to fall pregnant should consult with relevant experts so that they know how to cope with the pregnancy.
What are the signs of miscarriage?
One should seek help if they experience the following signs and symptoms: bleeding with or without pain, cramps in the lower tummy, heavy or persistent bleeding or a gush of fluid with or without blood or pain.
What should I expect from the doctor?
Usually your doctor will confirm the pregnancy through a urine or blood test. An ultrasound scan of the lower tummy will then be done to check the status of the developing baby in the uterus. The scan confirms whether the foetus is alive or not. It can also confirm if the cervix is open but this is usually confirmed on physical examination.
What’s happens next?
If the pregnancy is confirmed, foetus found to be alive and the mouth of the womb is closed you may be sent home for rest and advised to avoid activities such as intercourse or any strenuous activity. If the doctor confirms the loss, the uterus is usually cleaned to prevent infection and you may be put on some medications to prevent infections and related complications.
Pregnancy loss is usually accompanied by grief and one needs to go through counselling before discharge from the hospital and even attend some sessions with counsellors, such as psychologists, post discharge from hospital. The male partner needs to attend these sessions too so that he also gets coping tools.
Should I blame myself?
Not at all! Miscarriage can happen to anyone so do not blame yourself. Counselling sessions should help you go through the ordeal. Even if you chose to terminate the pregnancy, consulting a counsellor may help getting you through to understand the problems you are struggling or aren’t coping with.
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