A miscarriage, known medically as a spontaneous abortion, occurs when the pregnancy terminates inside the uterus by the week twenty.
After this stage of the pregnancy the fetus has a chance of survival outside of the uterus and the termination of the pregnancy is called a stillbirth.
A miscarriage usually takes place 1 - 3 weeks after the death of the fetus. Doctors define seven categories of miscarriage (sometimes called abortion):
A threatened miscarriage occurs when there is vaginal bleeding and possibly pain. Occuring in about ten percent (1 in 10) of all pregnancies, miscarriage is neither certain nor inevitable and the symptoms are usually confused with implantation spotting that occurs at the time of the first missed period.
An inevitable miscarriage occurs when the uterus contracts causing pain and vaginal bleeding. A sign of the inevitable miscarriage is the dilation of the cervix.
Complete miscarriage describes the death and expulsion of the fetus and placentaThe placenta is a large disk shaped membrane responsible for providing nourishment to the fetus during pregnancy. It consists of three parts, the fetal part made up from the chorion membrane surrounding the fetus, the maternal part, formed from the decidua basalis layer of the uterine lining, and the intervillous space between the two plates. It is connected to the fetus by the umbilical cord and consists of tissue from both the mother and the embryo.
Its function is complex. It has been described as a simple organ that combines the functions of a kidney-dialysis machine, heart and lung machine and intravenous drip. It consists of enormous numbers of blood vessel branches that permit the exchange of nutrition and oxygen, from the mother's bloodstream to the fetus and the removal of wastes to the mother to be excreted. The placenta's remarkable quality is that it does so without the blood of the mother mixing with that of the baby.
It also is responsible for the production of vital hormones including, estrogen, progesterone, and human chorionic gonadotropin. After birth, the placenta is delivered, and is sometimes referred to as the afterbirth.
Visit our comprehensive glossary for more pregnancy terms and definitions. from the uterus, sometimes without symptoms. The miscarriage is confirmed with ultrasound.
Incomplete miscarriage describes the death of the fetus and placentaThe placenta is a large disk shaped membrane responsible for providing nourishment to the fetus during pregnancy. It consists of three parts, the fetal part made up from the chorion membrane surrounding the fetus, the maternal part, formed from the decidua basalis layer of the uterine lining, and the intervillous space between the two plates. It is connected to the fetus by the umbilical cord and consists of tissue from both the mother and the embryo.
Its function is complex. It has been described as a simple organ that combines the functions of a kidney-dialysis machine, heart and lung machine and intravenous drip. It consists of enormous numbers of blood vessel branches that permit the exchange of nutrition and oxygen, from the mother's bloodstream to the fetus and the removal of wastes to the mother to be excreted. The placenta's remarkable quality is that it does so without the blood of the mother mixing with that of the baby.
It also is responsible for the production of vital hormones including, estrogen, progesterone, and human chorionic gonadotropin. After birth, the placenta is delivered, and is sometimes referred to as the afterbirth.
Visit our comprehensive glossary for more pregnancy terms and definitions., of which some of the material such as the amnionA membrane that surrounds the amniotic cavity, covering the fetal side of the placenta and the outer surface of the umbilical cord. It also becomes the outermost layer of skin on the developing fetus.
Visit our comprehensive glossary for more pregnancy terms and definitions. remains in utero.
No results found. Click here for amazon.com
Missed miscarriage is the term used to describe the death of the fetus and placentaThe placenta is a large disk shaped membrane responsible for providing nourishment to the fetus during pregnancy. It consists of three parts, the fetal part made up from the chorion membrane surrounding the fetus, the maternal part, formed from the decidua basalis layer of the uterine lining, and the intervillous space between the two plates. It is connected to the fetus by the umbilical cord and consists of tissue from both the mother and the embryo.
Its function is complex. It has been described as a simple organ that combines the functions of a kidney-dialysis machine, heart and lung machine and intravenous drip. It consists of enormous numbers of blood vessel branches that permit the exchange of nutrition and oxygen, from the mother's bloodstream to the fetus and the removal of wastes to the mother to be excreted. The placenta's remarkable quality is that it does so without the blood of the mother mixing with that of the baby.
It also is responsible for the production of vital hormones including, estrogen, progesterone, and human chorionic gonadotropin. After birth, the placenta is delivered, and is sometimes referred to as the afterbirth.
Visit our comprehensive glossary for more pregnancy terms and definitions., both of which remain undiscovered in the uterus for weeks if not months. With no other signs of pregnancy, additional examination confirms the miscarriage.
Habitual miscarriage (or abortion) describes a mother who has experienced three or more miscarriages that occur at the same stage of pregnancy for possibly the same reasons. A recurrent miscarriage also describes three or more miscarriages that occur at different stages of pregnancy for different reasons.
It is difficult to be sure that a miscarriage is occuring. One of the signs of miscarriage is the disappearance of pregnancy symptoms. Suddenly there is no more fatigue, no more nausea and no more tenderness of the breasts.
Another sign is vaginal spotting or bleeding. A symptom of miscarriage, it is also present in one quarter of all pregnancies. Of those, over half result in the delivery of a healthy baby at term. There are a number of factors that cause vaginal bleeding during pregnancy including the implantation of the embryo. If you are eperiencing bleeding you should contact your doctor right away.
If the bleeding or spotting occurs during the first trimester it can be difficult to determine whether a miscarriage is taking place. First your doctor will ask whether you are experiencing cramping, a sign of miscarriage, which will be confirmed by checking whether the cervix is dilated.
If the cervix is normal and you have ongoing symptoms of pregnancy there are good signs that the pregnancy is healthy and proceeding correctly. Your doctor will confirm the health of the fetus by undertaking a pelvic examination to confirm that the uterus is the correct size for the stage of pregnancy. If there is any discrepancy and your pregnancy is after week six the embryonic heart will be beating so your doctor will be able to confirm any fetal activity with an ultrasound scan.
If you are less than six weeks pregnant your doctor will need to perform a blood test every other day called a quantitative hCG test (which measures human chorionic gonadotropinHuman chorionic gonadotropin is a hormone released into the maternal bloodstream by the developing placenta from about six days after the last period was due (about 22 days after the last menstrual period). Its presence can be detected in the urine by a home pregancy test and a positive result indicates pregnancy. Gonadotropins are used to treat infertility, hypogonadism and nonobstructive cryptorchidism. Often abbreviated to HCG.
Visit our comprehensive glossary for more pregnancy terms and definitions., the same hormoneA complex chemical substance created in a part or organ of the body. When released it initiates or regulates activity in an organ or group of cells in another part of the body.
Hormones secreted by endocrine glands are transported through the bloodstream to their target organ. The amount of hormone secreted is regulated either by other hormones, by neurotransmitters, or simply when an excess of the organ's activity indicates a need to reduce the amount of the hormone produced.
Other hormones are produced locally by the organs themselves and are common in the digestive tract.
Visit our comprehensive glossary for more pregnancy terms and definitions. that a home pregnancy test measures). B-hCG is a hormoneA complex chemical substance created in a part or organ of the body. When released it initiates or regulates activity in an organ or group of cells in another part of the body.
Hormones secreted by endocrine glands are transported through the bloodstream to their target organ. The amount of hormone secreted is regulated either by other hormones, by neurotransmitters, or simply when an excess of the organ's activity indicates a need to reduce the amount of the hormone produced.
Other hormones are produced locally by the organs themselves and are common in the digestive tract.
Visit our comprehensive glossary for more pregnancy terms and definitions. produced by the placentaThe placenta is a large disk shaped membrane responsible for providing nourishment to the fetus during pregnancy. It consists of three parts, the fetal part made up from the chorion membrane surrounding the fetus, the maternal part, formed from the decidua basalis layer of the uterine lining, and the intervillous space between the two plates. It is connected to the fetus by the umbilical cord and consists of tissue from both the mother and the embryo.
Its function is complex. It has been described as a simple organ that combines the functions of a kidney-dialysis machine, heart and lung machine and intravenous drip. It consists of enormous numbers of blood vessel branches that permit the exchange of nutrition and oxygen, from the mother's bloodstream to the fetus and the removal of wastes to the mother to be excreted. The placenta's remarkable quality is that it does so without the blood of the mother mixing with that of the baby.
It also is responsible for the production of vital hormones including, estrogen, progesterone, and human chorionic gonadotropin. After birth, the placenta is delivered, and is sometimes referred to as the afterbirth.
Visit our comprehensive glossary for more pregnancy terms and definitions. and it doubles in value every 2 or 3 days. Your doctor will use this test in combination with the pelvic exam and ultrasound to confirm the healthy fetus and placenta.
No results found. Click here for amazon.com
If a miscarriage appears to be inevitable your doctor will require it to be treated in hospital. Miscarriages that take place prior to week seven are likely to be a complete miscarriage. A miscarriage after week seven is usually incomplete and will probably require a dilation and curettage. If the miscarriage was the result of Rh-negative blood your doctor will require you to have a RhoGAMRhoGAM or Rho(D) Immune globulin is a passive immunizing agent which is administered to Rh-negative mothers after abortion, miscarriage, ectopic pregnancy or regular delivery of the baby. Adverse reactions include anaphylaxis.
Visit our comprehensive glossary for more pregnancy terms and definitions. injection within 72 hours of the miscarriage.
Miscarriages occur in about twelve to fifteen percent (about 1 in 7) of all pregnancies. But the real risk of miscarriage rises with age. About ten percent (1 in 10) of pregnant women in their twenties risk a miscarriage and this figure rises to about fifty percent (1 in 2) pregnant women in their mid-forties. The majority of miscarriages are the result of genetic abnormalities in the fetus. Miscarriage therefore is not an issue of fertility but of pregnancy and if you are pregnant it is important to understand the risks involved.
Fifty percent of all miscarriages are blighted ovaA description of the fertilized egg which fails to develop. It appears as a fluid filled cell attached to the uterus when viewed through x-ray or ultrasound. A blighted ovum results in many first trimester spontaneous abortions.
Visit our comprehensive glossary for more pregnancy terms and definitions. in which an abnormality in the embryo prevented it from implanting properly in the uterine wall leaving only the placentaThe placenta is a large disk shaped membrane responsible for providing nourishment to the fetus during pregnancy. It consists of three parts, the fetal part made up from the chorion membrane surrounding the fetus, the maternal part, formed from the decidua basalis layer of the uterine lining, and the intervillous space between the two plates. It is connected to the fetus by the umbilical cord and consists of tissue from both the mother and the embryo.
Its function is complex. It has been described as a simple organ that combines the functions of a kidney-dialysis machine, heart and lung machine and intravenous drip. It consists of enormous numbers of blood vessel branches that permit the exchange of nutrition and oxygen, from the mother's bloodstream to the fetus and the removal of wastes to the mother to be excreted. The placenta's remarkable quality is that it does so without the blood of the mother mixing with that of the baby.
It also is responsible for the production of vital hormones including, estrogen, progesterone, and human chorionic gonadotropin. After birth, the placenta is delivered, and is sometimes referred to as the afterbirth.
Visit our comprehensive glossary for more pregnancy terms and definitions. to develop.
Another ten percent (1 in 10) of all miscarriages are the result of genetic problems which come from either the egg or the sperm. Paternal factors can include blood type incompatibility. This causes the mother to produce antibodiesA protein immunoglobulin which is produced naturally by the body and is essential to the immune system by working to combat foreign bodies, germs or bacteria. They are produced by thelymphoid tissue and consist of different classes each of which is designed to fight specific antigens. They include agglutinins, bacteriolysins, opsonins and preciptin.
Visit our comprehensive glossary for more pregnancy terms and definitions. to her partner's blood, which then attack the fetus.
The remaining forty percent (2 in 5) of miscarriages are caused by a number of factors including smoking, poor nutrition, infections or moderate drinking. In fact there is evidence to suggest that one ounce of absolute alcohol each week (that's about four glasses of wine) will double the chances of a miscarriage.
While there is evidence that poor health and nutrition habits may increase the chance of a miscarriage, there is no evidence suggesting that emotional stress such as anger or fear can increase the chance of a miscarriage.
No results found. Click here for amazon.com
If a miscarriage was the result of a chromosomal abnormality (about sixty percent or 3 in 5), then the chance of a second miscarriage is only seven percent (7 in 100). If it was the result of something else such as a hormonal or uterine problem the risk of a second miscarriage rises to twenty four percent (1 in 4). The risk of a third miscarriage after two previous ones is also twenty four percent (1 in 4) although the risk remains the same after that.
It can be very difficult for many couple to accept a loss. While it is possible to try to conceive immediately after a miscarriage some doctors feel that conceiving too quickly after a miscarriage increases the chance of another miscarriage. Most doctors feel that waiting for one menstrual cycle or more before trying to conceive again reduces the risk of a subsequent miscarriage.
There are now a number of tests that can be used to predict the chances of subsequent miscarriages. One measures the levels of luteinizing hormone (LH), which controls the other pregnancy hormones. If the levels before ovulation are too high the risk of subsequent miscarriage is increased.
If a woman has experienced three consecutive miscarriages she will be tested also for uterine abnormalities, hormonal imbalances, and disorders of the immune system.
About eighty percent (4 in 5) of women who have miscarried multiple times suffer from polycystic ovarian disease. This is a condition characterized by multiple ovarian cysts caused by a hormonal imbalance. The results are over-production of testosterone and immature eggs created by over-stimulation of the ovaries. After testing the condition can be treated with fertility drugs.
The immune system is designed to repel any foreign bodies that are potentially harmful. Pregnancy usually overides the immune system's normal operation helping the mother protect the baby rather than reject it. In some cases the immune system fails to recognize the pregnancy and creates antibodies that attack the baby.
Careful monitoring of repeat miscarriers will ensure that a subsequent pregnancy has a sixty percent (3 in 5) chance of a successful completion to term.
No results found. Click here for amazon.com
