Some miscarriages occur without any signs of miscarriage, these spontaneous abortions occur in the very early weeks of conception i.e. before the fetus is 20 weeks old. Very often the fetus can be aborted before the mother is aware she is pregnant, this type of miscarriage often presents as a heavy period, with or without discomfort, usually out of the usual sequence of the menstrual cycle. It is estimated that up to 20 percent of pregnancies end in this way although the true figure may never be known, simply because the mother may never have been aware she could have been pregnant. Of course not all heavier periods with or without discomfort mean the woman is experiencing a spontaneous abortion, there are many perfectly normal reasons for variation in menstrual flow and change of cycle pattern stress, illness and some medications can be responsible.
Sadly more than 80 percent of miscarriages occur in the first 12 weeks of pregnancy, it is believed that at least half of these miscarriages are due to the fetus having abnormal chromosomes, usually caused when the egg begins to divide. These problems result in miscarriage as the fetus is unable to survive due to the abnormalities. Such a miscarriage can occur several weeks after the embryo has died. Having had a previous miscarriage does not mean you will suffer from further miscarriages, due to abnormal division of the egg, many women suffer numerous miscarriages yet still go on the have a normal pregnancy resulting in the birth of a normal healthy child with no signs of miscarriage.
Probably the most recognized sign of miscarriage is vaginal bleeding, which can be either heavy or slight and can be constant or come and go. Many women will also experience abdominal cramps and or lower back pain and this could be a signs of miscarriage. Approximately 25% of women experience some bleeding during their pregnancy, but only about half of these result in miscarriage. Any bleeding or spotting should be considered as a sign of miscarriage until a diagnosis as to the cause of the bleeding is confirmed by a qualified doctor.
Signs of miscarriage later in pregnancy can be due to the mother’s health, infection, compromised immune system, high blood pressure and some chronic conditions such as diabetes. Problems with the uterus or cervix (when the cervix starts to dilate too early in the pregnancy) will generally present with signs of miscarriage in the second trimester, again the signs of miscarriage can be bleeding with or without pain or discomfort.
Working, having sex, exercising or lifting heavy objects when pregnant does not cause miscarriage and it is unlikely that a fall or fright will result in a miscarriage. Suffering from severe morning sickness even right through the pregnancy is not a cause of miscarriage.
It should be noted that not all bleeding in pregnancy should be considered as signs of miscarriage, but all bleeding not matter how small should be investigated by a qualified doctor as soon as possible in order to rule out any possibility of problems.
Responses to “Signs of Miscarriage”