A miscarriage is the term for a pregnancy that ends in the loss of the fetus before the 20th week of pregnancy. There are many reasons that a miscarriage may occur, including an infection or physical problems with the mother, problems with hormone levels that help the body maintain the pregnancy, age of the mother or issues with the fetus. The chances of a miscarriage decrease further along in the pregnancy. There are several signs to look for that may indicate a miscarriage is threatened.
Pain
Cramping associated with a miscarriage can vary from mild to severe. The cramping can occur in the lower back or across the stomach, and will feel similar to the pain of menstrual cramps. Some aches and pains are normal during pregnancy, and are typically the result of joints loosening in preparation for delivery and carrying excess weight. Any pain that is similar to menstrual cramps warrants a call to your healthcare provider. He can help determine the cause of the pain, which, before the 20th week, may indicate a miscarriage, and later in the pregnancy may signal preterm labor.
Bleeding
Anyone who experiences bleeding at any point in their pregnancy should contact their healthcare provider immediately. The American Pregnancy Association reports that between 20 and 30 percent of women will experience bleeding during pregnancy. About one half of these women go on to have trouble free pregnancies, while the remainder experience miscarriages. There is no way to prevent a miscarriage, however, medical care is essential to prevent complications, such as infection.
Passage of Material
During a complete or incomplete miscarriage, some or all of the fetal materials are expelled from the uterus. Expelling any tissue prior to the 20th week of pregnancy may indicate a miscarriage. During this time, if you pass any material from the vagina, such as blood clots, fluid or tissue, contact your doctor immediately. Some doctors request that you place any materials in a container and bring them in for testing. Although some doctors will test the tissue to attempt to determine the cause of the miscarriage, it is important to realize that it is impossible to determine the cause of many miscarriages.
Signs of Infection
It is possible that you may not pass all of the fetal material during a miscarriage or that you will experience a silent miscarriage. In a silent miscarriage, there are no physical symptoms of miscarriage. Most women who experience a silent miscarriage don't realize that the fetus has died until a routine doctor's visit shows a lack of fetal heartbeat. In either case, an infection can develop from fetal tissue that remains inside the uterus. When this happens, the mother can become very ill and such infections can have a long term affect on fertility. Symptoms of infection from a miscarriage include vaginal discharge that is thick and has a bad odor, aches, fever and chills. An infection that develops after a miscarriage is life threatening, if you experience any of these symptoms, contact your physician immediately.
