About this topic
A miscarriage is the loss of the pregnancy. The pregnancy is lost before the baby is able to survive outside of the womb. In most cases, there is nothing a woman can do to stop the miscarriage. Miscarriage is more likely to happen in the first 12 weeks of pregnancy. But, a miscarriage can happen at any time up to 20 weeks of pregnancy. These unexpected events happen in close to 15% to 20% of pregnancies. Sometimes, a miscarriage is treated at home. Other times, you may need surgery to get rid of extra tissue that is in the womb. ‚
What care is needed at home?
You may find this time to be hard for you. Get help from others. ‚
Ask your doctor when you may: ‚
- Go back to your daily routine
- Have sex
- Take any over-the-counter (OTC) drugs
- Take showers or baths
- Use tampons or douches
What follow-up care is needed?
Your doctor may ask you to make visits to the office to check on your progress. Be sure to keep your visits. ‚
What drugs may be needed?
The doctor may order drugs to: ‚
- Prevent infection
- Control bleeding
Will physical activity be limited?
You may have to limit your activity for a little while. Ask your doctor about when you may safely go back to activities like running, working out, or playing sports. ‚
What problems could happen?
- Vaginal bleeding
- Infection
- Sadness or low mood
What can be done to prevent this health problem?
In most cases, there is nothing a woman can do to stop a miscarriage. If you are pregnant again, go to the doctor as soon as possible. Good care before the baby is born is the best thing you can do. These tips may also help: ‚
- Do not smoke.
- Do not drink beer, wine, and mixed drinks (alcohol).
- Do not use illegal drugs.
- Take folic acid daily.
- Exercise regularly.
- Keep a healthy weight.
- Keep your belly area safe.
- Avoid heavy sports or a routine that has risks of injury.
- Stay away from hazards like radiation, diseases that can spread, and x-rays.
When do I need to call the doctor?
- Signs of infection such as a fever of 100.4 ‚ °F (38 ‚ °C) or higher, chills, pain with passing urine, foul smelling discharge.
- A very heavy period or vaginal bleeding that does not stop
- Feeling faint or dizzy
- Passing many or large blood clots
- You are not feeling better in 2 to 3 days or you are feeling worse
Helpful tips
Wait for your normal menstrual cycle before trying to become pregnant again. ‚
Teach Back: Helping You Understand
The Teach Back Method helps you understand the information we are giving you. The idea is simple. After talking with the staff, tell them in your own words what you were just told. This helps to make sure the staff has covered each thing clearly. It also helps to explain things that may have been a bit confusing. Before going home, make sure you are able to do these: ‚
- I can tell you about my condition.
- I can tell you what changes I need to make with my activities.
- I can tell you what I will do if I have large amounts of vaginal bleeding, feel faint or dizzy, or pass large blood clots.
Where can I learn more?
American Pregnancy Association ‚
http://www.americanpregnancy.org/pregnancycomplications/miscarriage.html ‚
Consumer Information Use and Disclaimer
This information is not specific medical advice and does not replace information you receive from your health care provider. This is only a brief summary of general information. It does NOT include all information about conditions, illnesses, injuries, tests, procedures, treatments, therapies, discharge instructions or life-style choices that may apply to you. You must talk with your health care provider for complete information about your health and treatment options. This information should not be used to decide whether or not to accept your health care providers advice, instructions or recommendations. Only your health care provider has the knowledge and training to provide advice that is right for you. ‚
Copyright
Copyright ‚ © 2015 Clinical Drug Information, LLC and Lexi-Comp, Inc. ‚