How does early miscarriage happen? Wrong lifestyle

Every woman dreams of having children. This instinct is inherent in nature. But life doesn’t always work out the way you want. Many representatives of the fairer sex have to deal with pathologies such as frozen pregnancy or miscarriage. After such a disappointing diagnosis, it seems that the whole world has collapsed. But don't give up. Today's article will tell you what to do after a miscarriage and how to regain your health. It is worth recalling that the information below should not encourage you to self-medicate or refuse medical care. If you are faced with a similar problem, then you will not be able to cope with it without doctors.

General concept of miscarriage

Spontaneous is called a miscarriage. In this case, the membranes may come out (this often happens in the early stages) or remain partially in it. Such an event can occur at any time. If termination of pregnancy occurs in the first 12 weeks, then they speak of an early miscarriage. The situation is more complicated when a similar condition develops in the second trimester. After 25 weeks, we are already talking about premature birth, since at this time the embryo can be viable (if the right conditions are organized).

Is cleaning necessary after a miscarriage?

If this happens, then nothing can be fixed. There is no need to withdraw into yourself and refuse medical help. The consequences of such renunciation can be very dangerous. It's not uncommon for women to need a cleaning after a miscarriage. How to find out about such a need?

Contact your gynecologist and visit the ultrasound room. During the examination, the physician will determine the condition of the uterus and its inner lining. If the remains of the fertilized egg (even the smallest ones) are visible in it, then you will definitely be prescribed curettage. You cannot hesitate in such a situation, since wasted time is fraught with unpleasant consequences and even sepsis. When no remains of membranes are found in the reproductive organ, you can safely proceed to subsequent actions.

Curettage after a miscarriage is performed more often if the interruption occurred after 6-7 weeks. The manipulation is carried out exclusively within the walls of a medical institution using intravenous anesthesia. It lasts no more than 10-15 minutes. After this, the patient remains under medical supervision for several hours and, if she feels well, can go home. A miscarriage in the second trimester requires the woman to be hospitalized for several days for medical supervision.

What medications will you need first?

If the termination of pregnancy occurs spontaneously with complete removal of the fertilized egg, then no medications are prescribed after this (except in certain situations). When curettage was performed after a miscarriage, the gynecologist prescribes appropriate medications. Among them, the most popular are the following:

• Antibiotics (preference is given to penicillins and macrolides, other groups are prescribed less frequently). Bacteriostatic and bactericidal medications are prescribed to prevent infection. Often such consequences arise from cleaning. You need to take antibiotics for 3-10 days in accordance with the doctor’s recommendation.
• Uterine remedies (most often they use Oxytocin or medications based on it). These drugs enhance the contractility of the myometrium. Due to this, the mucous layer is quickly rejected, preventing extensive bleeding and speeding up the recovery process.
• Immunomodulators (“Isoprinosine”, “Derinat”). These drugs increase the body's resistance; they are also intended to eliminate viral infections obtained during or after curettage.

Any medications after a miscarriage should be prescribed by a doctor. Self-administration of drugs can be fraught with unpleasant consequences. Don't listen to experienced friends. Trust only your gynecologist.

Recovery period for the reproductive organ

The uterus recovers quite quickly after a miscarriage. Even if spontaneous termination of pregnancy occurs at a long term, the reproductive organ returns to its usual size within a few days. If this does not happen, then, again, the patient is prescribed appropriate contractile medications.

Sex after a miscarriage should be completely avoided until the arrival of the first natural menstruation. Despite this warning, many couples rush into another sexual encounter. The consequence of this may be infection, inflammation, bleeding and other troubles. Sexual intercourse without a condom is strictly contraindicated for the patient! Even if you are accustomed to other methods of contraception, now they need to be replaced with barrier ones. The fact is that condoms protect well against sexually transmitted infections. And your women's health is especially vulnerable now.

First menstruation after termination of pregnancy

What does the first period look like after a miscarriage? Many patients confuse discharge after cleansing with their first menstruation. In fact, this is not entirely correct. In fact, the doctor cleared the cavity of the reproductive organ from the endometrium. It turns out that the doctor did in a few minutes what usually takes 3-7 days. From this moment you can start a new cycle. But postoperative discharge should not be confused with menstruation. The next bleeding normally occurs after 3-5 weeks. It is preferable to use gaskets with it. Tampons can cause bacterial infections.

The first menstruation can be scanty or, on the contrary, abundant. This happens due to hormonal changes. An important role in this issue is played by the period at which the miscarriage occurred. If the cessation of embryo development occurs before 8 weeks, then the woman’s body has not yet had time to fully adjust to pregnancy. The cycle will be restored quickly and with minimal consequences. When a miscarriage occurs after 12 weeks, the placenta is already fully functioning. Here everything is more complicated. A woman's body needs more time to restore normal functioning. There are cases where hormonal diseases (mastopathy, endometriosis, ovarian tumors) became a consequence of late miscarriage.

Determine the cause and carry out treatment

Is it possible to determine the cause of this outcome after a miscarriage? Is it possible to find out why the pregnancy was terminated? After all, awareness of the problem is already half the way to solving it.

It is possible to reliably establish the cause of a miscarriage only after curettage. The materials obtained during the manipulation are sent for histological diagnosis. Its result helps determine why this situation arose. But this is not always enough. The patient definitely needs to get tested. Depending on the state of health and obstetric history, the doctor prescribes appropriate studies: blood tests, determination of sexually transmitted infections, identification of genetic abnormalities. You should definitely visit such specialists as a urologist, cardiologist, therapist, endocrinologist. These doctors may find pathologies in their area that contributed to the miscarriage. A comprehensive examination will allow you to prescribe the most correct treatment.

Organize your nutrition properly

Many women complain of pain after a miscarriage. If gynecological pathology is excluded, then the issue may be in digestion. Often the described condition causes stress, which, in turn, leads to constipation and increased flatulence. This is why it is so important to establish proper nutrition in the first months after a miscarriage. It will promote normal metabolism and good digestion.

Fill your diet with foods rich in protein and fiber. Eat lean meats and fish. Be sure to eat greens, vegetables and fruits. Drink plenty of water. After gynecological curettage, the likelihood of thrombosis increases. To prevent this from happening, thin your blood in a natural way: drinking water. Avoid any alcoholic beverages. They are actually contraindicated for you, since restorative drug therapy is present.

If constipation persists even after changing your diet, then it is necessary to eliminate it with the help of medications. Poor bowel movements contribute to stagnation of blood in the cavity of the reproductive organ. This is fraught with its consequences, for example, inflammation. Your doctor will tell you what medications to use to soften your stool. Usually, safe drugs “Guttalax”, “Duphalac” are prescribed for long-term use, or medications “Glycerol”, “Microlax” for quick action, but one-time use.

Psychological side

Afterwards, patients often withdraw into themselves. If spontaneous abortion occurs in the second trimester, then the situation is even worse. Women become depressed. There are cases when patients after this decided to commit suicide. It is not simply impossible to remain in this state. This can be very dangerous. We definitely need to talk about this problem. Such topics are rarely discussed with a partner. Therefore, the most correct decision would be to contact a psychologist.

During the consultation, the specialist will listen to your complaints and concerns. This doctor will help you cope with negative emotions after a miscarriage. After a few sessions you will already feel much better. If necessary, the doctor will prescribe you sedatives and antidepressants. Only the right approach to the problem will help solve it once and for all.

When can you plan your next pregnancy?

Absolutely all women for whom pregnancy was desired ask the question: is it possible to immediately plan a new one after a miscarriage? Any doctor will tell you that this cannot be done. Even if the interruption occurred for a short period of time and did not have negative consequences, your body needs time to restore strength and hormonal levels. We also need to find out what exactly caused such a tragic outcome. Otherwise, the situation may repeat itself again.

If everything is fine with the woman’s health, and the cause of the miscarriage is not the presence of pathologies (the interruption occurred due to taking some kind of medication or injury, nervous breakdown), then doctors allow planning after 3-6 months. In this case, the menstrual cycle should be restored completely.

When the cause of the problem is discovered, treatment is prescribed. It can be short or long. Planning for a subsequent pregnancy is postponed indefinitely. Remember that patients are often prescribed antibiotics. After a miscarriage, you can start planning only for the next cycle, starting with the completion of antibacterial therapy. But practically you can conceive a new life in the same cycle. Therefore, the entire designated time period must be carefully protected.

What kind of reminder can be provided to a woman who finds herself in a similar situation? What to do after a miscarriage? Doctors give the following step-by-step instructions.

1. Go for an ultrasound and find out if there are remnants of membranes in the uterus. With the result obtained, go to the gynecologist.
2. If the doctor prescribes curettage, then be sure to undergo this procedure. Otherwise, complications await you.
3. Strictly follow the doctor’s recommendations: take medications, follow the regimen, adjust your diet.
4. Find out the cause of your miscarriage with your doctor, after which the doctor will develop a treatment plan for you. Follow it, do not plan a new pregnancy at this time.
5. If there is mental anguish, depression and stress, consult a psychologist, do not withdraw into yourself.
6. Start new planning when the specialist allows it. Try not to remember negative moments, set yourself up for the positive.

Summarize

From the article you were able to learn a step-by-step plan for recovery after spontaneous abortion. If a miscarriage occurs in the early stages, its cause is often not possible to determine. Be sure to monitor your health. If vaginal discharge after a miscarriage acquires a strange color and an unpleasant odor, then an infection has probably occurred. Don't think that everything will go away on its own. The sooner you see a doctor, the fewer negative consequences will be for you. Gynecologists categorically do not recommend trying to solve the problem on your own. Do not take any medications on the advice of your girlfriends. This can only worsen the existing situation. Speedy recovery to you!

If all pregnancies went well, women would not need to worry about strange and confusing symptoms. But alas, in reality everything is not so smooth, and every woman can encounter such phenomena during pregnancy as pain in the lower abdomen or spotting. How to recognize an incipient miscarriage, what to do in this case, and what treatment will be needed?

First, some statistics that we have already given. Up to a fifth of all pregnancies (15-20%) end in spontaneous abortion. Most often this occurs in the early stages (in the first trimester of pregnancy). The most common reasons causing miscarriage are:

• Chromosomal abnormalities in the fetus that are incompatible with its life;
• Hormonal disorders in the mother, which without appropriate treatment lead to pregnancy loss;
• Viral infections suffered in the early stages (especially rubella, influenza and tonsillitis);
• The mother has sexually transmitted infections;
• Anatomical problems: abnormal structure of the uterus, the presence of fibroids and tumors;
• Isthmic-cervical insufficiency (weakness of the cervix);
• Rh conflict between mother and fetus;
• Injuries, falls, excessive physical activity.

An incipient miscarriage can even be triggered by the stress the woman has endured. In some cases, the reasons for termination of pregnancy may remain unclear.

But the most important thing that a woman should remember is that often the symptoms of an incipient miscarriage are exactly the same as those of a threatened miscarriage. And if you see a doctor in time, there is a chance to stop it. It is almost impossible to independently recognize what exactly is happening to you if pain and bleeding occur in the early stages. However, there are a number of symptoms that, if they appear, should immediately call an ambulance, no matter where you are.

Incipient miscarriage: symptoms

If a miscarriage occurs in the very early stages, then the woman may not even know that she is pregnant and mistake it for the onset of another, slightly delayed menstruation. However, you can still find out whether there was actually a pregnancy if you immediately take a hCG level test. It decreases in the blood gradually, so doctors will be able to determine the presence of pregnancy.

The main symptoms of an incipient miscarriage are pain in the lower abdomen and the appearance of bloody discharge. At the same time, such phenomena may well be present during a successful pregnancy, or when there is a threat of miscarriage.

The discharge may vary in intensity and color. Abundant bright red discharge is definitely a reason to immediately consult a doctor, but sometimes the discharge may initially have a spotting, brownish color. The same applies to their abundance - some women have profuse bleeding, while others have scanty bleeding, noticeable only by the spots on the pads. If your discharge contains bloody clots or patches of gray or pink mucus, save the pad to show it to your doctor at the hospital.

Pain during a miscarriage can be localized both in the lower abdomen and in the back. Its intensity largely depends on the duration of pregnancy: the longer the period, the stronger the pain. Under no circumstances should you endure pain: in order not to miss an incipient miscarriage, you need an immediate examination by a gynecologist. Sometimes the pain is cramping in nature and repeats after a certain interval of time. This cannot possibly be the norm in the early stages - it is too early for training contractions.

Finally, a woman may simply experience pregnancy symptoms: nausea, breast swelling. This may indicate that the pregnancy is fading, which will also ultimately lead to a miscarriage or gynecological cleansing.

Incipient miscarriage: treatment

Is it possible to save a child and stop a miscarriage that has begun? This question worries all women without exception, but there is not and cannot be a definite answer to it. It all depends on the situation, how quickly the woman seeks help and the reasons that caused the miscarriage. Thus, in the second trimester, with isthmic-cervical insufficiency, there is a chance to save the pregnancy if sutures are placed on the cervix in time or an obstetric unloading pessary is installed. It is also possible in many cases to save a fetus with Rhesus conflict.

It is more difficult to stop a miscarriage in the early stages, and this is only possible if the situation is amenable to intervention - for example, with the help of hormonal drugs it will be possible to normalize hormonal levels and treat an incipient miscarriage. But in any case, a doctor’s examination is absolutely necessary, since the main complications of a miscarriage are inflammation or uterine bleeding caused by the presence of fetal remains in the uterine cavity.

In this case, it will be necessary to undergo a gynecological cleansing procedure - curettage of the uterine cavity. Treatment of an incipient miscarriage, if the pregnancy cannot be saved, consists of complete removal of the remnants of the fertilized egg from the uterine cavity, histological examination of the material obtained and the prescription of therapy based on the examination results. This is a course of antibiotics after curettage, a possible prescription of hormonal therapy to restore the level of hormones in the blood and prepare the body for a new conception. If the cause of the miscarriage is sexually transmitted infections, both the mother and the father of the child will need to undergo treatment.

It's good when pregnancy is desired. However, two clear lines on the test do not at all guarantee that everything will be fine with the baby until birth. Sometimes the female body, for some reason, independently gets rid of the fetus some time after its appearance. We are talking about a miscarriage in the early stages of pregnancy. Why does this happen and is there a way to prevent trouble?

Let's turn to impartial statistics: a quarter of all early pregnancies are doomed to spontaneous termination. To be able to influence the course of events, it is important to know the causes of miscarriage and its signs.

How does miscarriage occur in the early stages?

Unfortunately, if there are serious prerequisites for spontaneous termination of pregnancy in the early stages, it is almost impossible to reverse the pathological process. The fetus at this time is so small that the woman will not even understand what is happening to her. At first glance, this looks like the resumption of the menstrual cycle after a long delay (1 - 2 weeks). Menstruation, more abundant than usual, is accompanied by nagging pain in the lower abdomen. In addition, not all women go to the hospital after the incident. Only a few people go to see a doctor - mostly those who are frightened by the sight of a blood clot that has come out, resembling a ruptured bladder. Ideally, all women need a medical examination - if there really was a miscarriage, then additional cleaning may be needed after it.

When a woman is aware of her “interesting” situation, it is much easier for her to predict the onset of spontaneous miscarriage at an early stage. First of all, you should carefully monitor the sensations in the lower abdomen and back. Painful dull and pulling spasms, spotting with bloody or tissue lumps signal danger. If you seek medical help right away, there is a chance to save the pregnancy.

An early miscarriage is said to occur when the pregnancy spontaneously ends before the 12th week of the fetus's existence. Late miscarriage occurs up to 22 weeks, and provided that doctors take timely and coordinated action, the premature baby has every chance of survival.

Early miscarriage: prejudices

There are many myths in society about the causes of spontaneous abortion. Any women's forum will tell you how to avoid early miscarriage, but not all advice can be trusted. It is reliably known that until the 12th week of pregnancy, the following factors do not pose a threat to the intrauterine development of the fetus:

• air travel by plane;
• minor blunt trauma to the abdominal area;
• moderate exercise;
• a single case of spontaneous abortion up to 12 weeks in history;
• active sex life;
• stress.

Real causes of early miscarriage

Doctors cite many socio-biological and medical factors as the reasons for spontaneous abortion. It is often very difficult to determine what exactly caused the misfortune: sometimes a miscarriage is based on one factor, and sometimes on a whole complex. A certain percentage of women are familiar with this pathology firsthand: the unfortunate ones have experienced several miscarriages in a row. In medical circles, this phenomenon was designated as recurrent miscarriage. We list the most serious and common factors that cause the threat of miscarriage in the early stages:

• Most often, the body itself gets rid of non-viable offspring if the appearance and development of the fetus is associated with a certain anomaly or genetic pathology. This may be a hereditary “breakdown” at the gene level or a spontaneous mutation caused by radiation, a dangerous virus or a difficult environmental situation. Medicine, alas, is unable to change or prevent this process. That is why thorough preparation for the upcoming pregnancy is impossible without consulting future parents with a geneticist;
• Disturbances in the functioning of the immune and hormonal systems pose a significant danger to the normal development of pregnancy. A woman needs to undergo the necessary checks at the stage of planning a child, then doctors will be able to eliminate all the “pitfalls” in advance. Quite often, progesterone deficiency, excess androgens, pathologies in the activity of the thyroid gland and adrenal glands become obstacles to achieving the dream of motherhood;
• Another pressing problem for the successful development of the fetus in a woman’s womb is Rh conflict. The maternal body reacts to the embryo as a foreign object and gets rid of it, since the Rh factor of its blood has a “-” sign, and was taken from the father with a “+” sign. If concerns about this are real, the situation is corrected with the help of immunomodulatory therapy at the stage of pregnancy planning;

• The undoubted enemy of a healthy pregnancy is infection (regardless of origin). In particular, these are all diseases that are transmitted “through the bed”: herpes, cytomegalovirus, toxoplasmosis, syphilis, chlamydia, trichomoniasis, etc. Pathogens, affecting the membranes, infect the embryo, which in the early stages of pregnancy leads to miscarriage;
• A disappointing ending to early pregnancy awaits a woman with chronic inflammatory and infectious diseases of internal organs. The most insidious of them: viral hepatitis, rubella, pneumonia, influenza, severe sore throat;
• It is extremely difficult for a woman’s body to cope with pregnancy due to the stress caused by an abortion. Artificial termination of pregnancies in the past threatens secondary infertility and recurrent miscarriage in the future. A woman must definitely inform her doctor about such facts of her biography during pregnancy planning;

• One cannot ignore such individual characteristics of the female body, such as, for example, congenital developmental anomalies and oncological diseases of the internal genital organs, ICN. These and other pathologies exclude pregnancy as such.

The first symptoms of early miscarriage

The nature of the development of a miscarriage excludes the simultaneity - spontaneous termination of pregnancy can be divided into several stages. So, let's find out how to detect early miscarriage.

The first “bells” are painful sensations that cover the back in the lumbar region and lower abdomen. Often at the same time, brownish or reddish clots are released from the genital tract. Blood during an early miscarriage is a very dangerous sign, which indicates that tissue detachment has begun. Even a few drops of blood on your underwear are a serious reason to immediately contact a medical facility. A reliable prevention of spontaneous abortion is to regularly visit the antenatal clinic for a routine examination and undergo all necessary tests. This is the only way the expectant mother will be sure that everything is fine with her baby.

What an early miscarriage looks like: the main stages

The first stage of pathology, the signs of which we learned above, is very common among expectant mothers. In order to save the baby, expectant mothers are forced to remain in conservatory care almost all the way until prenatal contractions. The initial stage of the pathology is marked by uterine hypertonicity, bleeding and discomfort reminiscent of contractions.

The second stage of the disorder leads to more severe consequences. At this moment, all the signs already indicate a full-fledged miscarriage in the early stages: fragmentary detachment of the fertilized egg from the inner wall of the uterus begins. However, at this time, trouble can still be prevented, doctors say. This is possible thanks to the immediate and coordinated intervention of professionals, provided that the pregnant woman gets to the hospital in a timely manner.

The next stage of early spontaneous abortion is miscarriage on the fly. Now nothing can help the embryo. A pregnant woman is suddenly seized by sharp spasms, bleeding begins almost immediately - the most convincing sign of an early miscarriage. This indicates the final death of the fertilized egg, which comes out completely or partially (incomplete miscarriage). The photo shows a fertilized egg during an early miscarriage:

The pathology ends in complete spontaneous abortion. After an early miscarriage, the uterus contracts and quickly returns to its “pre-pregnancy” size. In this case, a complication is considered to be an incomplete abortion or a frozen pregnancy (diagnosed by ultrasound), when there is a high risk of pus formation or the onset of sepsis.

How to recognize an early miscarriage

At first glance, it is quite simple to determine a miscarriage, so some women believe that if they feel well after the incident, they can neglect a visit to the hospital. However, this is a dangerous misconception: all the signs of spontaneous abortion in the early stages are also characteristic of other, more serious diseases, which without proper diagnosis can be mistaken for a miscarriage:

• ectopic pregnancy;
• malignant formation in the cervix;
• bloodless torsion of an ovarian cyst;
• cervical injury.

These conditions can only be eliminated within the walls of a medical institution.

What to do if you have an early miscarriage

Unfortunately, doctors are not able to radically change the course of events at the very beginning of pregnancy - you can’t go against nature.

It is common practice to prescribe the drug Tranexam to stop bleeding. If a woman has had several failed pregnancies in the past, Utrozhestan will be prescribed. When, thanks to the efforts of doctors, pregnancy can be brought to the second trimester, in the event of a threatened miscarriage, it is worth putting sutures or a pessary if there is a short cervix with isthmic-cervical insufficiency. In principle, this is where the methods of combating pathology end.

Now let's list what will not help in the process of developing a miscarriage:

• bed rest - a conscious reduction in the mother’s motor activity cannot stop a miscarriage if there are real prerequisites for its occurrence;
• taking medications: No-shpa, Papaverine, Magne B6, Analgin.

A few weeks after a complete miscarriage, a woman needs to see a doctor and have her blood tested for hCG levels. If all indicators are normal, there is nothing to worry about. However, if the hormone level has not decreased at all or has decreased, but has not dropped to the required minimum, there is a possibility of hydatidiform mole. This is a dangerous complication that requires immediate medical intervention.

An abortion in progress can be completed in several ways. If during the examination there is still blood coming from the vagina and the fertilized egg or embryo is still in the uterus, the doctor may determine the following course of action:

• a wait-and-see approach lasting up to 7 days (perhaps the body will reject what is unnecessary without outside intervention);
• medicinal approach (the woman is prescribed the drug Misoprostol, under the influence of which the uterine muscles strongly contract and remove the remnants of the fertilized egg out);
• surgical cleansing (if vaginal bleeding becomes massive).

How to prevent early miscarriage

To eliminate all possible factors that provoke early miscarriage, you need to have offspring under the professional guidance of a doctor. To do this, a woman undergoes a complete examination not during pregnancy, but at the stage of planning a child. This is the only way to ensure the absence of various “breakdowns” at the cellular level and internal pathologies. Moreover, future parents review and adjust their usual lifestyle in accordance with the upcoming changes: at this stage it is important to put an end to bad habits, establish a daily routine and diet.

Early miscarriage: how to understand where to move next

After such a crushing failure, the woman is recommended to undergo a rehabilitation course of treatment. If the cause of the incident could not be determined earlier, doctors will carry out the necessary diagnostics to determine it now. This is important, otherwise the woman risks facing the same problem the next time she prepares for motherhood.

An ultrasound procedure is a mandatory step after an early miscarriage. If there are fragments of an egg or embryo in the uterus, a woman will need cleaning to avoid the development of inflammation or infection. After all the necessary procedures, the doctor will prescribe the patient a course of antibacterial therapy, which will exclude various infectious diseases, as well as a course of hormones that will put the woman’s endocrine system in order.

Among other things, a failed mother is in dire need of professional psychological support. The loss of a baby, even such a tiny one, leaves an indelible imprint on a woman’s mind. It is important to experience this moment with the support of a psychologist or family.

It is wrong to isolate yourself from the outside world and be left alone with your misfortune, as negative emotions will simply “eat up” all hope for the best. Psychologists recommend that women who have suffered a miscarriage should not be ashamed of their feelings and do not hold back aggression and tears - the faster they can get rid of them, the faster the recovery will come. And in no case should you be afraid of the future: modern medicine and competent doctors will do everything possible to ensure that the new pregnancy ends with the victorious cry of the long-awaited baby!

According to some sources, about 10-20% of established pregnancies end in spontaneous abortion. In addition, miscarriage often occurs in the very early stages (before the 12th week), when the woman herself has not yet found out about pregnancy, and mistook its symptoms for regular periods or their delay.

In medicine, a miscarriage is considered an independent abortion that occurs in the early stages at 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17 and before the 22nd week of pregnancy. Children who were born prematurely, but after the 22nd week and weighing 500 g, modern medicine is able to save and survive.

How dangerous is early miscarriage?

Termination of pregnancy, including spontaneous abortion, is a huge stress for the body’s immune and hormonal systems, as well as a great psychological shock for a woman.

In most cases, survivors of a miscarriage perceive what happened as a tragedy. Some are able to recover from stress and depression within 1-3 months, while others need much more time for emotional recovery. Therefore, during such a period, a woman especially needs understanding and support from her husband and loved ones.

As for the physical condition and the resumption of reproductive function, if you receive timely medical care and follow the prescribed treatment, recovery occurs quite quickly and in the future the woman has every chance of becoming pregnant and giving birth to a healthy child.

A woman's health is at risk in the following cases:

• The uterus is not completely cleared of the embryo or membrane. Because of this, they may fester, which provokes the occurrence of inflammatory processes. Therefore, it is very important to consult a doctor and carry out the necessary examinations. If necessary, cleaning of the uterine cavity is prescribed.
• The woman lost a lot of blood. In such cases, hospitalization, blood transfusion or other surgical interventions are necessary.
• The cause of spontaneous abortion has not been determined. The greatest danger is not the miscarriage itself, but the reason that provoked it. If you do not conduct a thorough diagnosis and do not cure existing diseases, there is a danger that in the future the situation will not only recur, but will also affect your health even more seriously.

What can cause spontaneous abortion?

The reasons for early miscarriage can be different.

According to statistics, approximately 73% of miscarriages occur due to abnormalities in the development of the fetus. All systems in the fetal body are formed in the early stages of pregnancy. A woman’s immune system, having detected genetic abnormalities in a developing organism, can itself reject the fetus.

In most cases, these anomalies are not hereditary, but occur as a result of mutations that occurred in the cells of the parents due to the influence of mutagenic factors. These include viruses, radiation, poor ecology, hazardous production, etc.

As a rule, it is almost impossible to prevent a miscarriage in such cases. But by reducing the influence of negative factors and completing a course of treatment, the chances of another successful pregnancy and the birth of a healthy baby increase significantly.

For example, in many cases, the cause of spontaneous abortion was determined to be a violation of the woman’s endocrine system. This is due to the fact that hormones have a great influence on the intrauterine development of the child, and if a pregnant woman experiences any hormonal imbalance, then the body is unable to cope with pregnancy.

To diagnose the disorder, the doctor prescribes a series of tests, after which a course of treatment is prescribed. You can plan a new pregnancy after a miscarriage after restoring the balance of hormones in the body. But if you identify the problem in a timely manner and seek medical help, a miscarriage can be avoided.

One of the reasons for miscarriages at the initial stage of pregnancy is also abortions performed in the past (medical, vacuum, surgical). The fact is that abortion is not just a gross intervention, but also a strong shock and stress for the whole organism.

The consequences of abortion can be disruptions of the menstrual cycle, adhesions and scars on the uterus, dysfunction of the ovaries, adrenal glands, inflammation of internal organs, endocrine diseases, ectopic pregnancy, repeated miscarriages and infertility.

Spontaneous abortion is often caused by STIs: herpesvirus infection, cytomegalovirus, syphilis, trichomoniasis, chlamydia and others. Viruses and bacteria infect the membranes and infect the fetus, which increases the risk of miscarriage. To prevent this from happening, you should be tested for STIs before pregnancy and receive the necessary treatment.

The risk of early miscarriage increases with the so-called Rh conflict, when the blood of the expectant mother has a negative Rh factor. Then the woman’s immune system perceives the fetus as a foreign body and tries to get rid of it. Experts recommend paying attention to this even before pregnancy, getting tested and following the doctor’s orders. If a woman finds out about the Rh conflict already during pregnancy, it is necessary to consult a doctor and take special medications.

An unhealthy lifestyle has a negative impact on pregnancy and fetal growth. Therefore, you should get rid of bad habits (alcohol, smoking, etc.) at the stage of planning conception.

Severe stress, fear, unexpected grief, and nervous tension are dangerous both for the pregnant woman and for the child growing inside due to the release of large amounts of hormones into the blood. Try to keep your worries to a minimum and discuss this issue with your doctor. You may have to take a course of sedatives.

Taking certain medications, decoctions or herbal infusions can cause spontaneous abortion or provoke the development of certain defects in the fetus. The intake of some herbs, such as parsley, St. John's wort, nettle, tansy, cornflower, should be limited in the early stages of pregnancy.

Intense physical activity, heavy lifting, falls or strong impacts also pose a certain risk. Often such factors act only as a “push” for miscarriage if a woman has any of the above problems.

How to understand that a miscarriage has occurred - the main signs of pathology

The most important and most dangerous symptom of a miscarriage is bleeding from the genitals. It is not too abundant and lasts several days. The color of the discharge ranges from bright red to dark brown. Also, along with blood, small blood clots may come out of the vagina, which also indicates a self-abortion.

In any case, even scanty spotting, uncharacteristic of pregnancy, should alert the woman, since over time the bleeding may increase and a spontaneous miscarriage may occur.

You may also experience cutting pain in the lower abdomen and heaviness in the lumbar region. It happens that the pain occurs periodically, as if “rolling” in waves and disappears. Although these symptoms are not necessary: ​​in some cases, women experience no pain at all.

If a miscarriage occurs after the 13th week, the woman notices pain resembling contractions, her water breaks and then the fetus is expelled from the uterus.
If a pregnant woman experiences any of these symptoms, you should immediately call an ambulance.

Doctor's advice in this video:

Spontaneous abortion or menstruation - how to determine

As mentioned above, a woman does not always realize that she is already pregnant, especially in the very first weeks. The appearance of bleeding is perceived as the onset of menstruation.

It is almost impossible to distinguish between menstrual discharge and blood that appears during a miscarriage. You can find out for sure whether pregnancy has occurred. One way is to take a blood test to determine the level of the pregnancy hormone, human chronic gonadotropin. Even after self-abortion, the level of this hormone is elevated for some time, which indicates that pregnancy was still present. If the result is positive, you should consult a doctor to make sure that the embryo has completely left the uterus.

You can also try a pregnancy test at home. HCG levels are determined in urine. If the test showed one line, there was no pregnancy, and if two were noticed, then perhaps this indicates that a miscarriage has occurred. You should do another test and if the result is the same, consult your doctor.

In very early stages, an ultrasound examination may not show any results, since in the first days the fertilized egg is simply not visible, it is still too small.

How is a threat diagnosed early?

Modern diagnostic methods make it possible to determine the risk of miscarriage and find its cause in order to determine the correct treatment tactics:

1. A gynecological examination, which helps the doctor determine the overall picture and assess the condition of the cervix.
2. If there is a threat, an ultrasound examination is performed. Ultrasound allows you to study the structural features of the uterus and find out what is happening to the fetus and placenta.
3. Analysis of progesterone levels.
4. Analysis for the detection of viruses in the blood: herpes, toxoplasma, rubella, cytomegalovirus, syphilis, etc.
5. Blood test to determine antibodies for hCG.
6. Vaginal smear and blood for infections: gonorrhea, ureaplasma, chlamydia, mycoplasmosis, etc.
7. Test for blood clotting (if previous pregnancies also ended in miscarriages).

Treatment of threatened miscarriage depends on the severity of the situation and the reasons that caused the complication. If it is possible to save the fetus, the woman will undergo treatment in a hospital or, if her condition allows, at home. Sometimes it takes only a few days to eliminate the threat, and in some cases the pregnant woman is kept until the birth itself.

Consequences of miscarriage

If a spontaneous miscarriage occurs at an early stage, and the woman consults a doctor on time, then there should be no serious consequences or threat to her health.
Complications arise if the uterus is not completely cleared and part of the embryo or its membranes remains inside it. This can provoke infection of the uterus, which, in turn, threatens pelvic inflammation and even sepsis. This also leads to endometritis, inflammation of the appendages, obstruction of the fallopian tubes, ovarian dysfunction, and infertility.

There is an opinion that if a woman has a miscarriage, then her next pregnancy is also at risk. In fact, such a risk exists, but only if the cause of the previous miscarriage has not been determined and the woman has not undergone appropriate treatment.

When a pregnant woman with a suspected miscarriage does not rush to go to the hospital, she may experience severe bleeding that cannot be stopped on her own.

Serious health problems arise in women who try to independently provoke an abortion using traditional methods. The longer the period, the higher the risk of complications and even death.

Preventive actions

There are preventive measures, the implementation of which will help prepare for conception and reduce the risk of early termination of pregnancy to a minimum. First of all, a woman who takes care of herself and the well-being of her child must get rid of addictions (not smoke or abuse alcoholic beverages) and lead a healthy lifestyle.

Together with your spouse, consult a doctor and get tested to identify chronic and hidden diseases, including sexually transmitted infections. Remember that parental illness can negatively affect both the pregnancy process and the development of the child. Get tested for hormone levels. If the diagnosis shows the presence of any disease, take its treatment very seriously and follow all the recommendations of your doctor.

To reduce the risk of miscarriage, you should be very attentive to your condition, especially in the initial stages. If you notice any of the symptoms that may indicate a miscarriage, immediately consult a doctor or call an ambulance. Avoid stress, intense physical activity, and regularly visit an antenatal clinic.

Conclusion

Unfortunately, no one is immune from early miscarriage, but if this has already happened, you need to make every effort to cope with the loss. You should recover as quickly as possible and eliminate all the reasons that prevent you from bearing and giving birth to a healthy child in the future.

Pregnancy is one of the most desirable stages in a woman’s life. But sometimes it ends spontaneously, called a miscarriage. As a rule, miscarriage occurs in early pregnancy, and this can be due to various reasons.

According to medical statistics, one out of five pregnancies ends in miscarriage. Most often, miscarriage occurs in the early stages, when the woman does not yet know about her situation: a miscarriage during a 2-week pregnancy has virtually no symptoms. But there are, of course, cases when a woman already knows about her situation, but loses her child. To prevent the tragedy from happening again, she needs to know how to protect herself from miscarriage and what factors cause it.

Causes of early miscarriage

First you need to define what is an early miscarriage? According to gynecological terminology, a miscarriage is a spontaneous termination of pregnancy for up to 20 weeks. It may occur for the following reasons:

• Genetic disorders of the fetus. Genetics believe that about 75% of miscarriages occur precisely because of this factor. There is no need to be afraid of this, since most often such deviations are accidental. They can be provoked by various viral diseases, radiation exposure and other external negative influences. Pregnancy in this case is terminated due to the so-called natural selection, which helps to get rid of unhealthy or non-viable offspring. It is almost impossible to avoid such spontaneous abortion. Due to the large number of negative environmental influences, the risk of developing genetic abnormalities cannot be prevented.
• Hormonal imbalance during pregnancy. Often, miscarriage in early pregnancy occurs due to a lack of the hormone progesterone in the female body. Such a hormonal imbalance can occur for various reasons, but most often it is possible to prevent miscarriage at an early stage if the disorder is detected in a timely manner. For this, the woman is prescribed a course of hormonal medications. Women also have another hormonal problem – high levels of male hormones. They help reduce the synthesis of estrogen and progesterone, which help pregnancy proceed normally. Thyroid and adrenal hormones can also affect pregnancy, so these organs should be tested before planning.
• Immunological factor. Many people know about such a phenomenon during pregnancy as. It occurs when the fetus inherits a negative blood factor from the father, and the mother has a positive one. As a result, the female body perceives pregnancy as something foreign and rejects it. If there is a risk of early miscarriage, the woman in this case is prescribed treatment, which involves taking the hormone progesterone, which acts as an immunomodulator.
• Infectious diseases in women. Today there are many sexually transmitted diseases. They can lead to early miscarriage. These diseases include: toxoplasmosis, syphilis, gonorrhea, trichomoniasis, herpes, chlamydia, cytomegalovirus and others. When planning a pregnancy, you should know that many of these infections can be asymptomatic. Therefore, before becoming pregnant, it is important to eliminate their presence in the body. Spontaneous termination of pregnancy is associated with infection of the embryo and damage to the membranes. If such diseases are detected during pregnancy, it is necessary to immediately begin their treatment in order to reduce the degree of their impact on the fetus.
• Poor women's health and chronic diseases. The likelihood of miscarriage in early pregnancy increases when a woman becomes ill and there is a high temperature and intoxication of the body. The most dangerous diseases for a pregnant woman are viral hepatitis, rubella and influenza. Even rhinitis or sore throat during early pregnancy increases the risk of miscarriage. More serious diseases threaten not only the course of pregnancy, but also the health of the unborn child. Before planning, it is necessary to be examined for the presence of chronic diseases and begin to treat them. It is also important to tell your doctor immediately about any problems you have.
• Previous abortions. A large number of women had abortions for various reasons. Such interference in the body puts severe stress on it. The consequence of an abortion can be an inflammatory process in the female organs, the development of ovarian and adrenal dysfunction. These complications disrupt the normal course of a new pregnancy. Induced abortion leads to secondary infertility. When a new pregnancy occurs, a woman must inform her doctor about the abortion.
• Taking certain medications and herbal treatment. Everyone knows that some medications can cross the placenta to the fetus and negatively affect it. Taking such drugs is most dangerous in the first trimester of pregnancy. This is due to the fact that during this period all the systems and organs of the unborn child are formed, and if a negative effect of drugs occurs, anomalies in the formation of the fetus may occur, and, consequently, an early miscarriage. Dangerous drugs include some groups of antibiotics, contraceptives, and medications that relieve pain. If a woman took them before she found out she was pregnant, she should tell her doctor about it. Traditional methods of treatment can also have a negative effect on the fetus. The most dangerous herbs for a pregnant woman are: St. John's wort, tansy and nettle. Even seemingly harmless parsley leads to uterine tone, and as a result, to miscarriage.
• Stress. Very often unexpected reasons lead to early miscarriage. One of them is stressful situations that have a negative impact on the course of pregnancy. Under forced circumstances that lead to stress, a pregnant woman should inform her doctor. You cannot start taking sedatives on your own: they can harm the fetus even more.
• Excessive physical activity. During pregnancy, a woman needs to stop lifting weights, and, if necessary, evenly distribute the load and give herself rest. The maximum permissible weight for a pregnant woman is 5 kg.
• Injury. Falls and injuries rarely lead to spontaneous abortion, since the embryo is reliably protected in the mother's womb. But if such situations arise, it is better to consult a doctor.
• Hot bath. There are rare cases of miscarriages when a woman abuses hot baths. To reduce the risk of spontaneous abortion, a woman does not need to completely abandon such procedures; she should not make the water too hot, and stay in the bath for no more than 15 minutes.
• Bad habits of the expectant mother. and alcohol abuse during pregnancy can cause early miscarriage. Excessive coffee consumption and lack of outdoor activities also have a negative impact on the development of the unborn child.

Symptoms and signs of miscarriage

The most common symptoms of miscarriage in early pregnancy include pain in the lower abdomen and bleeding. The pain may radiate to the lumbar region. In this case, the pain is not constant, but appears periodically. If red or brown discharge occurs, you should immediately consult a doctor to avoid spontaneous abortion.

Signs of a threatened miscarriage include uterine tone, but only when it causes the woman discomfort and is accompanied by pain. If there are no unpleasant sensations with tone, then the doctor only recommends reducing physical activity and avoiding stress.

At any stage of pregnancy, the symptoms of miscarriage are similar to each other, only their soreness and abundance of discharge may differ. In the second trimester, damage to the amniotic fluid sac is added, accompanied by fluid leaking from the vagina, blood clots during urination, and very severe pain in the shoulder or stomach, indicating internal bleeding.

How does early miscarriage occur?

An early miscarriage does not happen overnight. This process can last several hours or several days. This goes through several stages:

1. First stage: threat of miscarriage. They appear with her. Gradually they increase, and they become paroxysmal. At the same time, blood begins to be discharged from the vagina. At this stage, timely seeking medical help gives a great chance of maintaining the pregnancy, since the uterus is still closed.
2. Second phase. Placental abruption begins, as a result of which the embryo experiences oxygen starvation. It is no longer possible to stop spontaneous abortion, since the fetus dies.
3. Third stage. During this period, the placenta has completely separated, but the dead fetus remains in the uterus. From this moment his separation begins.
4. Fourth stage. In this case, the dead fetus along with the placenta leaves the uterine cavity. After this, the doctor carefully examines the woman and, if necessary, removes remaining tissue.

During what periods of pregnancy do miscarriages most often occur?

Miscarriage most often occurs at a very short stage of pregnancy - 2-3 weeks. At the same time, the woman does not yet know about her pregnancy and perceives an early miscarriage as the beginning of menstruation. This is associated with similar symptoms: spotting and pain in the lower abdomen.

Less commonly, miscarriage occurs in the later stages up to 20 weeks. Spontaneous miscarriage late in pregnancy after 20 weeks is called stillbirth.

Diagnosis of miscarriage in the early stages

The risk of early miscarriage is reduced to a minimum when the woman, at the planning stage, took all the recommended tests and examinations, and also treated the identified diseases. In this case, the threat of miscarriage is diagnosed during planning, and treatment is carried out in advance.

If there was no preliminary examination and treatment, then a doctor can diagnose an early miscarriage during an examination. To do this, the following manipulations are carried out:

• the size of the uterus is checked for compliance with the set period;
• it is determined whether the uterus is in good shape;
• the closure of the cervix is ​​checked;
• attention is paid to vaginal discharge.

At later stages, the most reliable way to determine the threat of miscarriage is to conduct a transvaginal ultrasound. At the same time, the length of the cervix and its internal condition are checked.

If there is bleeding and other serious threats of miscarriage, the woman is admitted to the hospital, and if there is no concern about the condition of the pregnancy, she remains treated at home.

Types of miscarriages

Spontaneous abortion can be classified into several types:

1. An incomplete miscarriage is characterized by pain in the lower abdomen or lower back, while the cervix opens. As the cervix opens, the membranes burst, but the pain and bleeding do not stop.
2. Complete miscarriage. After death, the fetus or embryo completely leaves the uterine cavity. Bleeding stops and other unpleasant symptoms disappear.
3. Failed miscarriage. The dead fetus or embryo remains in the uterus. This condition is also called, and it is detected only during a doctor’s examination when listening to the heartbeat. At the same time, all signs of pregnancy disappear. If a missed miscarriage is diagnosed, the woman undergoes uterine curettage.
4. A recurrent miscarriage is defined as when a woman has had at least three spontaneous abortions in the first trimester.
5. Anembryony is characterized by the onset of fertilization without the formation of a fetus: the egg is implanted in the uterus, but the embryo is not there. A woman has a missed period and may have other signs of pregnancy.
6. Choriadenoma occurs due to a genetic error during fertilization: instead of a fetus, abnormal tissue grows in the uterus. Its first signs are similar to pregnancy.

Any such conditions end in spontaneous miscarriage or mechanical abortion.

Is it possible to prevent early miscarriage?

As mentioned earlier, it is possible to stop an early miscarriage only if you seek medical help in a timely manner. If a threat of spontaneous miscarriage is detected, the doctor first prescribes bed rest. Sometimes the woman is not even allowed to get up. It is necessary to reduce physical activity to a minimum.

Any worries and negative thoughts have a negative impact on the condition of the fetus. It is important to try to avoid stressful situations. The doctor may even prescribe valerian or motherwort as a sedative.

Drug treatment is prescribed to block the contraction of the uterus, which helps stop the miscarriage. If necessary, the doctor prescribes an additional intrauterine ultrasound. If insufficiency is detected, an operation is performed in the hospital to apply sutures to the uterus, helping to preserve the fertilized egg inside. It is done under general anesthesia, and relaxing drugs are injected into the uterus.

It happens that a woman is diagnosed with a threat of miscarriage in the early stages, and she spends almost the entire pregnancy in the hospital.

Consequences after a miscarriage

After a spontaneous miscarriage in the early stages, the doctor may give several days for the remaining fetal tissue to come out on its own with vaginal discharge. If this does not happen, mechanical cleaning of the uterine cavity is prescribed: curettage and subsequent restoration of the body.

In this case, you need to monitor the discharge, and if you have any suspicions, immediately consult a doctor. Continuous bleeding at the beginning of menstruation after an early miscarriage may be due to residual membranes in the uterus. To diagnose them, the doctor performs an ultrasound and, if necessary, performs repeated cleaning. If nothing is found in the uterus, drugs are prescribed to actively contract the uterus and stop bleeding.

A rise in body temperature may indicate the onset of an inflammatory process. In this case, you also need to seek medical help. If there are no complications, the body recovers within 1-2 months.

Many couples experience spontaneous miscarriage in early pregnancy. An early miscarriage should not become an obstacle to the desire to have a child. If there was a single miscarriage in the early stages, then the chances of a normal course of the subsequent pregnancy are 80%.

With repeated miscarriages, the likelihood of a normally developing pregnancy is significantly reduced. To prevent this from happening, you need to determine the cause of the miscarriage, and if it is any disease, be sure to treat it.

You can plan a new pregnancy only a few months after a miscarriage or uterine curettage.

Preventive measures

Women who have experienced miscarriage once worry about how to prevent spontaneous abortion the next time. You can increase the likelihood of a normal course of your next pregnancy by following some preventive measures:

• complete cessation of bad habits: smoking, drug and alcohol use;
• maintaining a healthy lifestyle;
• moderate physical activity.

If a new pregnancy is detected, you should:

1. Consult your doctor as soon as possible so that, if necessary, he can prescribe medications for the normal development of pregnancy in the early stages.
2. Reduce consumption of strong tea and coffee.
3. Avoid lifting weights and playing sports, especially if there is a risk of falling or injuring yourself.