The miscarriage

Miscarriage – how to recognize it and how to deal with it

Many women suffer a miscarriage in the first few weeks of their pregnancy. This event is a decisive experience in a woman’s life, which is estimated to be experienced by more than 1/3 of all expectant mothers. Unfortunately, miscarriage is not getting the attention it deserves. Too often the topic is hushed up, swept under the carpet or has no place in the public domain. Who wants to deal with the problems of a miscarriage? However, the concerned parents who have lost a child to a miscarriage have to in order to overcome the experience and be able to move on – even if only on a day-to-day basis. Here’s how you can cope with grief

What is an abortion?

From a purely technical point of view, a miscarriage (abortion) is the termination of a pregnancy before the embryo, fetus or child is viable. That means if it weighs less than 500g or if it is born before the 24th week of pregnancy. Then one speaks either of a stillbirth or of a premature birth .

From a pragmatic point of view, not even half of all fertilized egg cells make it. Therefore, many women have had a miscarriage in the first two weeks and did not even know about their fate. They simply perceived the miscarriage as an irregular, delayed, or increased period. For the rest of the women, the first 12 weeks of pregnancy are the most critical. Eight out of ten miscarriages occur during this difficult time. The reasons for this are manifold and unfortunately can only rarely be proven. But it is precisely this question that occupies those affected intensively. Why we? Did we do something wrong?

Causes of miscarriage

One of the most common reasons for an abortion is an error in the child’s genetic makeup. Especially often an amniotic sac develops without an embryo inside. Diabetes or anatomical peculiarities of the mother can also be the cause of a miscarriage. Fibroids and hormonal problems during pregnancy are also triggers. If a woman has already had a miscarriage, the risk increases from 5% to 20%. After three miscarriages, the risk of having another miscarriage is over 40%. Furthermore, various risk factors have been shown to influence the likelihood of miscarriage. These include: The age of the mother-to-be, the consumption of alcohol during pregnancy , smoking during pregnancy, excessive consumption of caffeine and trauma suffered.

How does the doctor recognize a miscarriage?

Normally, the doctor will perform an ultrasound of the uterus. From the sixth week of pregnancy, i.e. four weeks after fertilization, he would have to determine the heartbeat of the embryo. If no heart sounds are found, there is a high probability that it was a miscarriage.

What happens after the diagnosis?

The further procedure of the physicians depends on the type of miscarriage that has taken place. In the case of a complete miscarriage, the mother is placed under observation and initially waited to see whether everything physically heals and regenerates as planned. In the case of an incomplete abortion, drugs are administered that cause the remaining products of the pregnancy to be expelled. Unfortunately, in some cases it is unavoidable that a surgeon suctions off the pregnancy products (curettage) in order not to endanger the health of the mother. If the mother has Rhesus factor negative (Rh), vaccination is carried out to avoid intolerance due to antibodies in future pregnancies.

Can you get pregnant again after an abortion?

Women who have had a miscarriage could get pregnant again immediately. However, experts strongly recommend waiting about two to three months after the abortion and giving the body enough time to be prepared for the marathon “pregnancy” again. The affected women should also avoid intercourse during this time, as well as tampons or full baths.

How to help a woman who has suffered a miscarriage?

Women who have experienced the tragedy of a miscarriage usually take a long time to get over it. The grief is great and outsiders unfortunately often cannot understand the grief. It is therefore in no way appropriate for a mother’s friend or relative to say: It just wasn’t supposed to be; or: You already have a healthy child, enjoy it. Nothing in the world can replace the life lost. It was part of his parents and just because it wasn’t registered yet, his parents loved it. Best of all, as a friend, just stand by, show that you’re there and will listen when you’re needed. If the mothers cannot cope with the miscarriage on their own,
Also read: What to do after childbirth