When 29-year-old Niti Pal (name changed) suffered a miscarriage this March, there was nothing that could have prepared her for the loss. “I still cannot wrap my head around this incident. I don’t know how it happened. I was always so careful,” says Pal who was in her 21st week of pregnancy.
Sadly miscarriages, medically defined as loss of pregnancy during the first 23 weeks, have become a come occurrence. And this loss of pregnancy is more common for women over 30. Dr Neema Sharma, senior consultant, obstetrics and gynaecology, Fortis Hospital, Delhi, explains, “In women under 30, 1 in 10 pregnancies can end in a miscarriage. For women aged 35-39, 2 in 10 pregnancies can end in miscarriage and in women over 45, more than half of all pregnancies can end in miscarriage.”
Common symptoms of miscarriage
- Cramps: The most common symptom of miscarriage is pain in the lower abdomen or the pelvic region. “Pain in this particular region could feel like a dull ache or period-like cramping,” says Dr Sharma. She advises that even a dull ache must be checked by the gynaecologist. In addition, blood spotting could also be an indication of a pregnancy loss.
- Bleeding: Vaginal bleeding can be another symptom. Bleeding per vaginum, as it’s called, can be light spotting or a brownish discharge or heavy bleeding. “It could be continuous or irregular with the passage of blood clots or foetal tissue or discharge of fluid from your vagina,” says Dr (brig) R.K. Sharma, head of department, IVF, Primus Super Speciality Hospital, Delhi. However, light bleeding is common during the first 12 weeks.
- Abdominal pain: If you experience a sharp pain in the lower abdomen, it could be a sign of miscarriage. However, you may also feel discomfort because as the foetus grows, the body muscles stretch to accommodate it. But if you have one-sided pain, then it’s better to consult the gynaecologist.
- Decrease in NVP: “You could experience a decrease in pregnancy-related symptoms such as nausea and vomiting of pregnancy (NVP) or breast pain,” says Dr (brig) Sharma. These symptoms are associated with a decreased risk of pregnancy loss. So, if you do not experience any of these or they abruptly stop, you must consult the gynecologist. However, remember that some women do not experience natural NVP during the entire tenure of their pregnancies.
- No movement of foetus: Usually, foetus movement is associated with the growth of the baby inside the womb. It is also a good indicator that pregnancy is going as desired. So, in case you stop experiencing foetal movements, you must consult the gynaecologist.
Remember, a miscarriage can have a profound emotional impact not only on the woman, but also on her partner, friends and family. “In such cases, the woman needs constant emotional support. Physically, she must take daily prenatal vitamin or folic acid supplements, ideally beginning a few months before conception,” advises Dr Sharma.
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