Navigating Miscarriage: Essential Information for Women and Families Facing this challenge, 08 types

Miscarriage – Getting pregnant is a very joyous occasion for the woman and her partner. But what if the pregnancy ends in a miscarriage? This silent struggle affects countless women and leaves them with emotional pain. According to the latest statistics of the National Family Health Survey (NFHS) about 7% of pregnancies end in miscarriage. Why is it happening, and how can we prevent it? Let explore the causes and ways to find support.

What is Miscarriage?

Miscarriage & Spontaneous Abortion is the unexpected ending or sudden loss of pregnancy that occurs during the first 20 weeks of the gestation period (pregnancy time). Miscarriage does not mean that you did not take care of yourself during pregnancy because most of the Miscarriage are not in our control and happen because the foetus stops developing.

Approximately 10% to 20% of confirmed pregnancies end in miscarriage. However, the actual number is almost certainly much higher. This is because many miscarriages happen before the woman even knows she is pregnant.

Miscarriage rates by week

Almost 80%+ Miscarriage occurs in the starting 03 months of gestation period but after 20 weeks, pregnancy loss is called stillbirth. The following are the miscarriage rates by week.

Week	Statistics
After 05 Week	01 in 05 Women
Week 08 to 13	Rate fall from 2-4%
Beyond week 14	Risk almost 01%
After 20 Week	Is called Stillbirth

Types of Miscarriage

You might be diagnosed with any of the following types of miscarriages by your prenatal care provider:

• Missed Miscarriage: It occurs when you lose a pregnancy but are unaware of the loss. There are no signs of miscarriage, yet an ultrasound indicates that the foetus has no heartbeat.
• Complete Miscarriage: It means that you have lost the pregnancy & your uterus is empty. In addition to passing foetal tissue, you have experienced bleeding. An ultrasound can confirm that you have had a complete loss.
• Recurrent Miscarriage: It refers to three consecutive miscarriages. It affects around 1% of marriages.
• Threatened Miscarriage: Your cervix remains closed, but you are bleeding and having pelvic cramps. Typically, the pregnancy progresses without more complications. Your prenatal care provider may continue to closely monitor you throughout your pregnancy.
• Inevitable Miscarriage: You are experiencing cramps, bleeding, and a dilation of your cervix. You may have amniotic fluid leakage. A total miscarriage is likely.
• Incomplete Miscarriage: A certain amount of placental or fetal tissue remains in your uterus while the rest exits your body.
• Chemical Miscarriage: This form of loss, also known as a biochemical pregnancy, occurs before the 6th week. You have a positive urine or blood test, but an ultrasound cannot detect the pregnancy at this time.
• Septic Miscarriage: In this case, the pregnancy loss is followed with an infection in the uterus. It is extremely unusual, yet it can be fatal.

Miscarriage or period?

Miscarriage can often occur before you are aware that you are pregnant. Bleeding and cramps are also indications of a miscarriage, just as they are during your monthly period.  There are several characteristics to distinguish between a miscarriage and a period.

• Symptoms: Severe or increasing back or stomach discomfort, passing fluids, and big clots may suggest a miscarriage.
• Time: A miscarriage that occurs early in pregnancy may be mistaken for a period. However, this becomes less common after eight weeks of pregnancy.
• Duration: Symptoms of a miscarriage usually worsen and still exist longer than a period.

If you are experiencing excessive bleeding or suspect you are suffering a miscarriage, you should consult your doctor. 

Miscarriage signs

Miscarriage symptoms vary according to the pregnancy stage. In other situations, it happens so rapidly that you may not realise you’re pregnant until you miscarry.

Here are some of the signs of a miscarriage:

• Heavy Spotting
• Vaginal Bleeding
• Discharge of tissue or fluid from your vagina
• Severe abdominal pain or cramping
• Mild to severe back pain

If you encounter any of these symptoms while pregnant, call your doctor immediately away. These symptoms can also occur without having a miscarriage. However, your doctor will want to run tests to ensure that everything is alright.

Risk factors for a miscarriage

A risk factor is a characteristic or activity that raises an individual’s likelihood of getting a disease or condition. The following are the risk factors for miscarriage:

• Your Age: According to studies, the chance of miscarriage is 10% to 14% for persons in their 20s and increases to around 25% by the age of 40. The majority of age-related miscarriages are caused by genetic abnormalities.
• Previous Miscarriages: If you’ve had a miscarriage before, you have a 25% risk of having another one (just slightly more than someone who hasn’t).
• Health Conditions: Certain health factors, including uncontrolled diabetes, infections, or problems with your uterus or cervix, increase your risk of miscarriage.

Miscarriage Causes

It might be difficult to determine why a miscarriage occurred, although it is nearly never caused by something the woman who was pregnant did. Stress, having intercourse, exercising, and taking most medications do not result in a miscarriage. Minor injuries, such as falling, rarely result in a miscarriage.

Miscarriages can be caused by several factors, including:

• When the fertilised egg contains an abnormal amount of chromosomes (genes). This occurs at random in around half of all miscarriages, therefore it cannot be caused or prevented.
• Certain conditions, like severe diabetes, might make you more likely to miscarry.
• A severe illness or big damage might induce miscarriage.
• Miscarriages that occur beyond three months of pregnancy are known as late miscarriages, and they can be brought on by abnormalities in your uterus, such as fibroid tumours.
• If you have had two or more miscarriages in a succession, you are more likely to miscarry again. That does not imply that you caused any miscarriages.

Maternal health conditions

In some circumstances, certain health issues might cause miscarriage such as

• Uncontrolled diabetes
• Infections
• Hormonal problems
• Uterus or cervix problems
• Thyroid disease
• Obesity
• Lupus
• Exposure to radiation or toxic chemicals
• Smoking, drinking alcohol, or using illegal drugs

Conclusion

Many people take the blame of miscarriage on themselves and go into depression, however they should understand that many miscarriages happen due to random events in which they are not at fault. At last, we advise you to consult your doctor if you notice any symptoms because early diagnosis and support are essential for managing this difficult experience.

Read more about Miscarriage

Some Additional Doubts

Question: Can I get pregnant after I’ve had a miscarriage?
Answer: Yes, The majority of persons who miscarry (87%) go on to have normal pregnancies and deliveries. A miscarriage may not necessarily indicate a reproductive problem.

Question: How long would a miscarriage last?
Answer: A miscarriage can be several weeks. It is determined by the stage of the pregnancy, the kind of miscarriage, and the treatment. You may experience minor bleeding for up to two weeks after it is done.

Question: How do I know if I’m having a miscarriage?
Answer: Most miscarriages result in vaginal bleeding and stomach discomfort or cramps. You may pass tissue via your vagina. However, these symptoms do not always indicate a miscarriage. Sometimes you may not experience any symptoms at all. An ultrasound or blood test might be used by your doctor to confirm it.

Question: How does miscarriage affect a woman?
Answer: Many psychiatric illnesses have been identified in persons who have recurrent pregnancy loss, including an increased risk of stress,  guilt, and frustration. 

Question: Is miscarriage painful?
Answer: Not all miscarriages are physically unpleasant, however the majority of individuals have cramps. Some people experience intense cramps, while others experience mild cramps (similar to a menstruation). It is also typical to experience vaginal bleeding and pass big blood clots the size of a lemon.