MISCARRIAGE

A miscarriage is the spontaneous, natural loss of a pregnancy before the 20th to 23rd week, often occurring in the first trimester. It is commonly characterized by vaginal bleeding, cramping, and passing tissue. Often caused by chromosomal issues, it is a frequent occurrence affecting 10–20% of known pregnancies, usually not preventable. Common Synonyms/Types: Early pregnancy loss, complete miscarriage, incomplete miscarriage, missed miscarriage. Key Symptoms: Vaginal spotting or heavy bleeding, pelvic pain, backache, and decreased pregnancy symptoms. Timing: Generally defined as occurring before 20 weeks of gestation, though some definitions extend to 24 weeks. Contextual Distinctions Stillbirth: Loss of a fetus after 20 weeks or 24 weeks depending on local definitions. Recurrent Miscarriage: Experiencing two or more consecutive miscarriages. Ectopic Pregnancy: A pregnancy that develops outside the uterus, which is different from a typical miscarriage. Common signs of miscarriage include vaginal bleeding (ranging from spotting to heavy flow), pelvic or lower back pain/cramping, and passing tissue or fluid from the vagina. While cramping and bleeding are the primary indicators, they do not always mean a miscarriage is occurring, but they require immediate medical attention. Key Signs of Miscarriage Vaginal Bleeding: This is the most common symptom, ranging from light brown spotting to bright red bleeding, which may come and go. Abdominal Pain or Cramping: Often more intense than menstrual cramps, this is usually felt in the lower belly or back. Passing Tissue or Fluid: Passing grayish tissue or blood clots (sometimes the size of a lemon) from the vagina. Sudden Decrease in Pregnancy Symptoms: A rapid reduction in pregnancy symptoms like breast tenderness or nausea. Other Potential Symptoms: Feeling very faint, lightheaded, or experiencing intense shoulder tip pain. When to Seek Immediate Care Call your doctor or go to the emergency room immediately if you experience heavy bleeding—defined as filling more than two sanitary pads per hour for two consecutive hours. Note: In cases of a "missed miscarriage," there may be no symptoms at all, and it may only be discovered during an ultrasound scan. What to do: Use sanitary pads rather than tampons to monitor bleeding and reduce infection risk. If you pass any tissue, you may be asked to bring it to a doctor to be examined. If you have a fever, chills, or severe pain, contact a healthcare provider immediately. Credits: #Mayo Clinic #Wakepedia #AI