Hi Guys - as many of you know I suffered from a miscarriage last year so writing this article has been a little difficult as I did not want to personalise it too much. Suffering a miscarriage is a very difficult and often stressful time in a female’s life
and also that of your partner. There are many women have their own coping strategies and this is great but its also important to talk and listen.
Suffering a miscarriage in today’s society is much better than suffering one 30 years ago. In today’s society it is accepted as a real loss whereas 30 years ago women were basically told to ‘get over it’. If you go back to the late 1800’s you will learn of horrible stories about women who mourned their babies. Some were seen as suffering from a mental problem and were locked away from society. Thankfully today people’s attitudes have changed and now counselling is available as well as support from family and friends.
Often a woman who has suffered from a miscarriage will find it very hard to deal with and will often seek answers or blame themselves, BUT a miscarriage is no one’s fault and sadly in 99% of the time they can’t be prevented.
Doctors consider a miscarriage as the loss of a pregnancy up until 20 weeks, although many are now saying that this should be changed to 16 weeks. It is said that around 1 in every 4 pregnancies will end in miscarriage and that most will occur before the woman even realizes that she is pregnant.
The most common reason for a miscarriage is because the fertilised egg does not develop normally. It is important to understand that a miscarriage is NOT caused by stress, exercise or sexual intercourse. The risk of miscarriage is also considered less likely once you reach the 12th week. Some of the other reasons for a miscarriage may be:
- Hormonal – There are some women that suffer from irregularities with their hormones, these women usually find it difficult to conceive and sadly when they do it can often end up with an early miscarriage.
- Infections – Whilst most infection like colds etc are not considered to be harmful it is important to remember that high temperatures can be harmful to an unborn baby. Its also important to remember that some childhood illness’s such as German Measles can be harmful and also may lead to a miscarriage.
- Ectopic Pregnancy – This is a pregnancy, which occurs in women’s fallopian tubes instead of the womb. This usually ends up in a miscarriage but sometimes can require surgical intervention.
~Are there any symptoms that suggest I may be having a miscarriage?~
There are no easy answers here but some of the signs that you can and should watch out for are:
- Bleeding – This can be light or heavy, on and off or constant. It is always hard to know whether or not the bleeding may be a sign of a miscarriage, but if you have bleeding with pain then the chance of a miscarriage is higher.
- Pain – Often pains are associated with miscarriage. These pains are often felt in the lower back, belly and pelvis; often these pains begin as dull and uneventful but sometimes they can be rather sharp.
- Clots (tissue) – Blood clots or tissue may pass from your vagina. If this happens its important to seek medical attention. If possible collect a sample to take with you.
~When should you call a doctor?~
You should always call your doctor is you suspect that you are having a miscarriage. If your symptoms and a pelvic exam do not show conclusively that you are suffering a miscarriage your doctor will do a blood test to see if you are still pregnant. Having a pelvic exam will not cause you to miscarry; pelvic exams are safe even during the early stages of pregnancy.
~Can a miscarriage be stopped?~
Sadly there is no treatment that can prevent a person from having a miscarriage. If you have no heaving bleeding, infection, fever or weakness then your doctor will allow nature to take it course naturally; this may take a few days.
Most miscarriages will happen without any need for medical intervention and your doctor will know if you need help or not. The only time a doctor will get involved is if your uterus hasn’t cleared quickly enough and you are at risk of too much blood loss or an infection developing. In this case your doctor will arrange for you to have a D&C. This procedure will clean out your uterus quickly and will help to prevent any complications.
As I mentioned earlier a miscarriage doesn’t happen all at once, it usually happens over the course of a few days and the symptoms will vary. Here are a few tips to help:
- Use pads instead of tampons. This will help you to know how heavy you are bleeding and will also lessen the chances of infection.
- Take paracetamol every 4 hours for the cramps. The cramps may last for 1-2 days.
- Eat a balanced diet that is high in iron and vitamin C. Your iron levels may drop off and leave you weak during and after a miscarriage so it is important to eat correctly. Best foods for iron are: Red meat, shellfish, eggs and leafy green vegetables. Best foods for Vitamin C are: Citrus fruits, tomatoes and broccoli. Talk to your doctor before using supplements or vitamin tablets.
- Talk with family, friends or even a counsellor if you are having problems coping with the miscarriage. DO NOT keep it bottled up inside and if you are feeling low for longer than a few weeks make sure you speak to your doctor.
- Check with your doctor about future pregnancies. Most doctors recommend that you allow your body to have at least 1-2 regular periods before you try again.
~I had a miscarriage, will it happen again?~
The chances of you having another miscarriage are very unlikely, miscarriages usually only happen by chance. It is unusual for a woman to have more than one miscarriage in a row BUT if this does happen your doctor will need to do further tests.
I have suffered from several miscarriages since marrying my husband 10 years ago. My doctors tell me that what has happened to me is rare and thankfully I am glad that other women will not have to endure the amount of loss that I have.
Please – if you do suffer from a miscarriage, don’t wait ‘til you are hitting rock bottom before asking for help. Here are some Australian services were you can go for help they are national services.
Pregnancy Support 1300 139 313
Free, professional, confidential counselling in relation to pregnancy testing, unplanned pregnancy, post-abortion concerns, pregnancy support, pregnancy loss & adoption
Pregnancy Counselling Link 1800 777 690
Free, professional, confidential counselling in relation to pregnancy testing, unplanned pregnancy, post-abortion concerns, pregnancy support, pregnancy loss & adoption
PITAS - Parent Information Telephone Assistance Service 1800 808 178
24hr parenting information line. No connection from mobile phones
Lifeline 13 11 14
National 24-hr counselling line
Thanks for taking the time to read this and I hope this is helpful to some one in the community.
Cheers Kellz
xoxoxoxo
© Copyright 2008 Kellzacar. . All writings by Kellzacar remain the property of Kellzacar and should not be republished or copied without written permission. Kellzacar can be emailed via Minti
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