Signs of a Miscarriage

Surely one of the most difficult experiences in life is losing a child. Signs of a faulty pregnancy may not show up right away. Things can go wrong from the moment of fertilization and go unseen for many weeks. Or if the fetus doesn’t properly implant itself in the uterine wall, it may go unseen until the first ultrasound is performed. If you do feel that something isn’t right, trust your instincts and talk to your doctor about it.

First Signs of a Miscarriage

Heavy bleeding and clotting, accompanied by severe cramps is usually the first sign that you are having a miscarriage. The bleeding may last up to seven to ten days. Other signs may include weight loss, sharp pain, no fetal movement and suddenly losing your basic pregnancy symptoms. This can sometimes be hard to detect because symptoms change throughout your pregnancy anyway. Learn about the different stages of development and let your doctor know if anything seems off.

What You Should Do

If you think you are having a miscarriage you should keep a small sample of the blood clots for your doctor to examine later on and call him or her right away.

The best thing you can do while waiting for assistance is to get comfortable. Lie down, making sure your hips are higher than your shoulders. For the coming weeks you will want to avoid sexual activity, use pads rather than tampons and refrain from using any vaginal creams.

What Your Doctor Will Do

First, your doctor will order an ultrasound. The next step will be based on the observations your doctor makes during this test. You may need a D & C, dilation and curettage. This is a process that uses a vacuum to remove tissue and prevent infection.