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The term “miscarriage” is defined as the termination of a pregnancy before the end of the 22nd week, when the dead embryo or fetus is expelled from the uterus. Statistics are relentless and clearly show that many women lose children in this way – even every 6th pregnancy ends in miscarriage. Sometimes, however, it is possible to stop this process – if the expectant mother recognizes the symptoms of an impending miscarriage early enough and seeks specialist help, the chances of saving the pregnancy increase.
Worrying pregnancy symptoms
Miscarriage is most common in the first three months of pregnancy – the second trimester is much safer than the first. Many women lose their pregnancies before they even know they’re expecting a baby. While some symptoms in expectant mothers may indicate a miscarriage, don’t panic. However, you should always consult them with your doctor who will assess them and recommend appropriate treatment. It is worth remembering that many seemingly alarming symptoms can accompany a normal pregnancy. The symptoms of miscarriage are slightly different – pregnant women experience ailments of different severity, depending on the stage and age of the pregnancy. But intense symptoms are generally not a good sign. Nevertheless, only a doctor can determine whether complications have occurred and whether the pregnancy is really at risk.
Symptoms of threatened miscarriage and miscarriage in progress
There are several types of miscarriage – one of them is threatened miscarriage, which is manifested by bleeding from the uterus and relatively weak contractions of this organ. If the gynecologist suspects them, he recommends, first of all, rest and rest in a lying position. In this state, you should give up any physical exertion. If bleeding and cramps persist, the prognosis for the further development of the pregnancy is poor. Other symptoms of threatened miscarriage include low back pain, abdominal pain, and spotting. Such a complication of pregnancy develops if there is a separation of the fetal egg in a small section. Another type of miscarriage is called miscarriage in progress, which is manifested primarily by bleeding and abdominal pain. The pain is more severe than in threatened miscarriage and usually occurs after bleeding – it can be acute; in some cases, there are pains in the lumbar region. In-progress miscarriages often lead to pregnancy loss. In their course, clear elements of the separation of the fetal egg can be seen during a gynecological examination.
Late and complicated miscarriage – how to recognize them?
Late miscarriage (the third type of miscarriage) occurs late, i.e. after the end of the 13th week of pregnancy – in the second trimester. Then the egg is released twice. Such a miscarriage resembles labor, so contractions first occur, followed by the rupture of the amniotic sac and expulsion of the fetus with the placenta. If a miscarriage occurs after the 20th week of pregnancy, it is called a stillbirth. In some cases, complicated miscarriages occur, which are indicated by muscle pain, stiff neck, fever and chills, as well as adnexitis and endometritis.
Miscarriage – what to do?
While not all worrying symptoms during pregnancy indicate a miscarriage, you should report them to your doctor immediately. If you experience vaginal bleeding and abdominal pain, you should go to the hospital immediately. The expectant mother should also be alerted by the lack of fetal movements or lack of weight gain. The first gynecological examination performed in the ward consists in evaluating the cervix, its internal and external dilation and the visible elements of the fetal egg. Then, further tests are performed and a decision is made on further treatment.