Miscarriage is the sudden termination of pregnancy before 20 weeks. This is a very common situation and in most cases there is nothing the pregnant person can do about it. In fact, between 50% and 75% of miscarriages are due to a chromosomal abnormality in the fetus.
It is believed that between one and two out of every 10 pregnancies end in miscarriage, but it is very likely that this figure is higher because when it occurs in the first few weeks the person does not realize that she was pregnant.
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Involuntary pregnancy loss can be a very difficult situation for the person experiencing it, so it is natural to need support at such times.
Alarm signals
According to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, grief and sadness can be part of the process, but if you have any of the following conditions for more than two weeks, you should seek help: excessive or irrational worry, difficulty sleeping, concentrating or caring for yourself, tremors, muscle tension, sweating or nausea, loss of interest in normal activities, feeling hopeless, worthless or unresponsive, flashbacks or nightmares, and thoughts of hurting yourself.
It is valid for you to share what you are going through with your loved ones or seek support from organizations. At Aya Contigo you can chat for free with our companions for emotional support.
In the United States, Share Pregnancy & Infant Loss Support, an organization that helps people through the experience of loss, is available . You can research in your country to determine if there are groups available.
How to know if you are having a miscarriage
The most common symptom is bleeding that may or may not be accompanied by the expulsion of some type of tissue through the vagina. You may experience pain similar to menstrual cramps or more intense. Sometimes these pains can be felt in the back as well.
If you are pregnant and have bleeding, you should consult your doctor. Although bleeding is not necessarily a warning sign during the first trimester, your doctor can verify that everything is in order.
How miscarriage is treated
If you have a miscarriage in progress, usually the uterus expels all the tissue on its own, but when this does not happen and there is tissue left inside, you need help to expel it. For this, it is common to use misoprostol, whose function is to generate contractions and emptying of the uterus in case of incomplete abortion.
Some miscarriages have no symptoms and are only diagnosed at the time of the ultrasound. This is called a missed or missed abortion. In this case, people will be given mifepristone and misoprostol, or misoprostol alone to induce the miscarriage process, exactly the same as for an abortion with pills.
Another option is dilatation and curettage, which is a procedure in which the cervix is dilated and retained tissue is removed. Some specialists opt for aspiration, in which plastic cannulas are used to aspirate the contents. After this procedure, a relative rest of 2 to 5 days is recommended.
Here in our application you find how to take these pills and you can also chat with our escorts for guidance and support.
Abortion ban also affects people with miscarriages
Abortion bans in several countries and in some U.S. states also affect people who leak and are unable to obtain the medical care they require.
The case of Joseli Barnica, a mother who died of sepsis in Texas after doctors refused to give her care because of that state's restrictive laws, is an example of the dangers pregnant people face when abortion is banned in their region.
Individuals who are not receiving timely care for their miscarriage are at risk of complications such as hemorrhage that may require a blood transfusion, disseminated intravascular coagulation, endometritis, sepsis that can lead to death, and impaired ability to conceive in the future.
What is the probability of further losses in the future?
The Mayo Clinic states that the risk of miscarriage in a future pregnancy is 20% after one loss, 25% after two miscarriages in a row, and between 30% and 40% after three or more losses in a row.
When a person experiences three or more miscarriages, we speak of recurrent miscarriage and this only affects 1% of the population. There are various causes of this phenomenon, such as genetic disorders of the parents, uterine anatomical malformations, endocrine system problems, hemostatic dysfunctions and others. Some can be treated, but about 50% of the cases remain unexplained, according to studies.
It is a good idea to consult a doctor or fertility specialist if you have had two or more consecutive miscarriages in wanted pregnancies.
In some cases, a person may become pregnant only two weeks after the miscarriage. In fact, there is research that states that between the first and third month after the loss you have the best chance of achieving a successful pregnancy.
On the contrary, if you want to prevent pregnancy, you should use contraceptives. In our application we have a quiz to facilitate the choice of the ideal contraceptive according to factors such as lifestyle, preferences and needs of each one. It also allows the option to explore the available methods, how they work and how to use them.
Life after loss
Pregnancy loss can have a profound impact on mental health. It is critical to seek professional support if the person feels they need help processing their emotions.
Georgetown University recommends: "Even if the pregnancy does not continue, taking care of the body is still essential for a healthy recovery from miscarriage. Hydration, good nutrition, light exercise and sleep will help the body recover. Consider trying a new physical activity that brings you joy or allows you an emotional release."
At Aya Contigo you can access up-to-date resources on sexual and reproductive health without judgment.
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