MISCARRIAGE

         At the first sign of miscarriage the woman should go to bed immediately.  Rest is essential if the pregnancy is to be saved.

         Three warning signs occur in succession if the miscarriage takes its full course.

  • In the early stages the commonest symptom is loss of blood from the vagina.  If the embryo has not been dislodged, this stage is known medically as a ‘threathend abortion’, and the pregnancy may still be saved.
  • If the condition becomes worse, pains like small labour pains may come and go at regular intervals.  This is a sign that the threatened miscarriage may have become inevitable.
  • The bleeding may also increase at this stage.

What can be done

  • Notify the doctor at the first signs and put the patient to bed.
  • If the miscarriage passes into the inevitable stage, the doctor may send the patient to hospital
  • In hospital she may have an evacuation of the uterus, under anesthetic to remove any placenta or membrane left behind after the embryo has been lost.

How common are miscarriages?

       Medical research has shown that probably about 1/3 of all pregnancies miscarry within four weeks of conception. 

      In many cases the woman never knows that she has been pregnant.  The miscarriage occurs about four weeks after her last menstrual period, and so passes unrecognized. 

      In other cases miscarriage may  occur a week or so later, and she just thinks that sh e has had a late period.

       Miscarriages may be nature’s way of ending a pregnancy that is in some way likely to be unsatisfactory.

How to avoid miscarriage

    Once a woman has become aware that she is pregnant she should avoid unnecessary fatigue and sporting activities, especially if there is a risk of injury.

     It is also a sensible precaution to avoid sexual intercourse during the time when periods would normally be due.





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