What is a Miscarriage and How To Cope

Any pregnancy loss within 20 weeks is called a miscarriage. Though it is still a taboo topic, it is very common in women and occurs in as many as 50% of all pregnancies. Most often, it might happen even before a woman misses her period and knows she is pregnant. If the miscarriage process has already started it cannot be reversed. However, there are various medications and procedures to help you avoid any kinds of complications due to it.

• Light bleeding that progresses into heavy bleeding
• Fatigue
• Severe tummy cramps
• Extreme back pain
• Fever along with any other symptom listed
• Pink or white mucus
• Contractions
• Blood clots
• Sudden loss of pregnancy symptoms

Types of Miscarriages

Chemical Pregnancy

This type of pregnancy ends just after implantation. So the miscarriage occurs even before a missed period. However, with time due to the sensitivity of pregnancy tests, it has become easier to diagnose a chemical pregnancy. One of the most common causes of a chemical pregnancy is chromosomal abnormalities.

Blighted Ovum

This condition happens when an embryo fails to develop or stops developing. The egg is fertilized and implants but fails to develop further. Thus, it is also called an anembryonic pregnancy and is one of the leading causes of miscarriage. As the embryo doesn’t grow it leads to inevitable pregnancy loss.

Ectopic Pregnancy

Ectopic pregnancy takes place when a fertilized egg starts to grow outside the uterus. Most often, it develops in the fallopian tube. If undetected, it can lead to life-threatening complications. It can be treated with medicines if diagnosed in the early stages, but in later stages, a woman might require surgery.

Missed Miscarriage

A missed miscarriage can be extremely devastating as a woman hardly realizes she has lost the pregnancy. The symptoms continue and most of the time is detected through an ultrasound or when the miscarriage process already starts days after a baby has already passed away. As someone who had gone through three missed miscarriages, this is more than real.

You can either wait it out and let the fetus pass naturally. Or you can go in for a dilation and curettage. 

Causes of Miscarriage

Though the most common cause of a miscarriage is chromosomal abnormalities, there are a few other reasons too. They are:

1. Infection
2. Health conditions such as high blood pressure, diabetes
3. Autoimmune diseases such as lupus 
4. Thyroid 
5. Problems with the uterus or the cervix
6. Blood clotting conditions
7. Health abuse such as excessive smoking and drinking
8. Environmental factors such as high content of lead in water, mercury, pesticides, or arsenic.

Once the miscarriage process has already started, there is hardly any way to prevent it. Losing a baby at any stage of pregnancy be it just discovering you are pregnant or at a later stage can be equally overwhelming. Not only do you need to recover physically, but you also need a lot of emotional support. As it is a taboo subject and is most often discussed in hushed voices, many times you only get to know how common it is once you have gone through it yourself. If it happens at a later stage, you will require more rest and care as your body goes through stress pushing out the fetus and all the tissues. Also, if you had to undergo surgery, you will require proper monitoring and rest. 

Ways to Cope With a Miscarriage:

1. Grieve

It is a loss and you have all the reasons to grieve. Though you might encounter people saying other women have faced worse, your loss is no less. Only if you grieve and accept will you be able to move forward. Talk to friends and dear ones who are willing to listen and comfort. Sometimes, you can also get genuine advice and suggestions that would be beneficial in your motherhood journey.

2. Join a Support Group

If you find it too difficult to move forward you can talk to your doctor and join a support group. Many women go through multiple miscarriages and they are caught in the constant loop of loss. This might lead to low self-esteem and self-hatred. And this is not what you deserve. No matter what the reason was, you should never hold yourself accountable. Join a support group with whom you can share your fear and worries.

3. Talk to Your Partner

A pregnancy loss is difficult for both partners. Though the woman goes through all the changes both physically and emotionally, the husband too goes through emotional turmoil. If you do not turn to your partner to cope, it might cause a strain. So, spend time, grieve together, and invest in your relationship. You will be surprised how important is your partner’s support to heal. 

Though it might feel traumatic after a miscarriage, most women go to have healthy babies later. If the reasons are known, today medical interventions can help treat the cause and help one get pregnant and deliver a baby. So, hang in there and seek help for your mental health if necessary!

Miscarriage is a difficult phase for any woman going through it and all they require is some ray of hope to keep moving. If you have any stories that you feel like sharing, then we are all ears.