Possible Signs and Symptoms of Miscarriage

It is extremely important to seek medical advice and attention if you suffer any or all the symptoms listed below:

• Bleeding with cramps or pain in the centre of your lower abdomen. Severe pain and tenderness on one side in early pregnancy could be triggered by an ectopic pregnancy.
• Severe pain in abdomen or continual and unabated pain which lasts for more than one day even if you are not experiencing any bleeding or staining.
• Bleeding as heavy as you would during a menstrual period or light staining which continues for more than three days.
• Bleeding or cramping or both when you have a history of miscarriage.

Please seek Emergency Medical Attention if you experience any of the following signs and symptoms:

• Bleeding is heavy enough to soak through several sanitary towels in an hour, or if pain becomes so severe you can't bear it.
• If you pass blood clots or greyish or pinkish material-this may mean your miscarriage has already begun.

When not to worry

Although it is important to be aware of the signs and symptoms of miscarriage, it is also important for you to realize that not every cramp, ache or slight bleed is a warning of an impending miscarriage. Nearly every pregnancy will include at least one of these symptoms. Here are some common symptoms which you can tell your doctor about at your next visit, or sooner if they worry you, but are no cause for concern:

• Mild cramps, achiness or pulling sensation on one or both sides of the abdomen- these symptoms are usually due to the stretching of ligaments that support the uterus.
• Very slight staining around the same time you would have suspected your period and around 7-10 days after conception, when the ball of cells attaches itself to the uterine wall. Slight bleeding at this time is very common and doesn't necessarily indicate a problem as long as no pain is present.
• Light pink spotting after sexual intercourse. Although you should inform your doctor of any post-intercourse spotting this symptom is also common and doesn't usually indicate a problem unless it is accompanied by cramps or the bleeding gets heavier. During pregnancy a woman's cervix becomes more tender and engorged with blood vessels and can become irritated during intercourse which can cause some bleeding.

LATE MISCARRIAGE

When a fetus is spontaneously expelled between weeks 12 and week 22 of pregnancy it is termed as a late miscarriage.After week 22 when the fetus could live outside of the uterus (only with a lot of help from the neonatal dept. and high-technology equipment) it is termed as a preterm birth.Late miscarriages are rare in healthy women who are experiencing a low-risk pregnancy.

Where the cause for early miscarriage is usually related to the health of the fetus, the cause of late miscarriage is usually related to the mother's health; chronic infection, chronic illness, severe malnutrition, exposure to toxic substances and drugs, placenta problems or the condition of the mother's uterus or cervix.

SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OF A LATE MISCARRIAGE

If you experience ANY bleeding in the 2nd and 3rd trimesters you must notify your GP- IMMEDIATELY if bleeding is heavy or accompanied by pain or discomfort and THE SAME DAY if it is only spotting and there are no other symptoms.

• A pink discharge for several days, or a brown discharge for several weeks, indicates a threatened miscarriage.
• Heavy bleeding accompanied by pain or cramping often means a miscarriage is inevitable, especially if the cervix is dilated.

When a late miscarriage is threatened bed rest is usually prescribed, if the spotting then stops it is taken that the spotting was not related to miscarriage and normal activities can be resumed.

If after investigation by medical staff it is found that the cervix has started to dilate and a diagnosis of in-competent cervix is reached they may stitch the cervix closed and this may prevent the miscarriage.

 More help & Advice can be found here @ The Miscarriage Association

Healthy Mum - Miscarriage page 2