What Every Woman Should Know: Miscarriage

Miscarriage is something that is scary, surprisingly common (20% of all pregnancies are said to end in miscarriage), and yet not talked about. You may feel afraid to ask your OB about miscarriage because you don't want them to think that you are expecting one, or it just seems like negative thinking. You may be afraid to ask your girlfriends or family because you don't want to bring up bad memories. So, what should you know about this devastating event that happens all too often for people who are trying to start a family?

Statistics

Up to 20 percent of all pregnancies end in miscarriage. Many are never noticed and just show up as a heavier than normal period. Of these 20 percent, 20 percent of the woman who have one miscarriage go on to have more than one.

Abortion

It is important to note that a miscarriage in the medical field is called 'abortion'. This does not mean that it was induced by the woman, but is just the medical term. Further, it can be called a spontaneous abortion to clarify that it was not due to the woman's choice. Spontaneous abortion is shortened to SAB in medical lingo.

Signs

If you have gotten a positive pregnancy test, any bleeding can be a sign of a 'threatened miscarriage' or 'threatened abortion'. Bleeding is not a sure sign that your baby is miscarrying, though, 70 percent of women who experience bleeding in pregnancy go on to carry a healthy baby to term. It can be terrifying, though. Further signs of a miscarriage are heavy cramping, heavy bright red bleeding, and the passing of clots.

What to do

If you choose, you may stay home to complete your miscarriage. It is painful emotionally and physically, so you will likely want to call in sick to work. If you don't want to talk about it, that is okay, you can just call it pregnancy complications until you are ready to say what happened. Often miscarriages complete on their own in one to three weeks.

Seeking outside help

If you do stay home to complete your miscarriage and you suspect you are bleeding too much, here is what to look for: It is considered normal to bleed through one pad every couple hours. If you are bleeding through more than one pad an hour, it is time to go get help. Your doctor may suggest a D&C to complete it, but a D&C also comes with risks, so be sure to be informed before consenting to the procedure.

Emergency help

In an emergency, if you are bleeding too much and are unable to get to a hospital, Shepard's Purse is an emergency herb that can stop excessive bleeding. If you don't have that either, if you can have someone put direct pressure over your uterus (above your pelvic bone, low as they can get it) that is an emergency solution to be used as a last resort. Try to get help immediately, blood loss can cause major problems. I hope this has helped you to understand what can happen and how to deal with this sad situation.