Miscarriage is the loss of a woman’s pregnancy. This loss can be traumatic and painful, both emotionally and physically. Losing that baby can hurt physically and cause depression post-miscarriage. There is no detailed guide on how to cope with a miscarriage, with a guarantee of success. Losing someone you love isn’t easy, it takes time. But there are a few ways to help reduce the pain, slowly and steadily.
To learn more about miscarriage, TC46 connected with Dr Sushma Tomar, Obstetrician & Gynaecologist, Fortis Hospital, Mumbai. Here she shares 6 steps on how one can cope with a miscarriage and possible risk factors that can cause one.
1. Half of all miscarriages occur due to chromosomal abnormalities
There can be multiple factors that can lead to miscarriages at different stages of pregnancy. About half of all miscarriages that occur in the first trimester are caused by chromosomal abnormalities — which might be hereditary or spontaneous. Mentioned below are the causes:
First 3 months:
- Genetic causes 50%
- Endocrine causes like Thyroid Diabetes, LPD
- Immunological disorders
- Infections
- Unexplained
Second trimester (4th and 5th month):
- Uterus anatomical abnormalities
- Maternal medical diseases
- Unexplained
2. Increased chromosomal abnormalities or health conditions can increase the risk of a miscarriage
The increased incidence of chromosomal abnormalities contributes to the age-related risk of miscarriage. Certain health conditions such as endocrine and metabolic diseases, genetic factors, anatomical factors, infections, immunological issues in the mother can also contribute to the risk. When the mother’s body starts aborting, she will have bleeding from the vagina and will experience pain in the lower abdomen, coupled with backache.
3. If you think you have miscarried, report to the gynaecologist as soon as possible
Once you start miscarrying your baby, first you must report to your gynaecologist as early as possible. The first investigation is UltraSonography to find out whether the cardiac activity is there or not. If the fetus is alive then we have to give conservative treatment like complete bed rest and medication. Do all related blood test to find out the causes of possible abortion and treat accordingly. If the fetus is dead, then we have to terminate the pregnancy either with medicine or surgery depending on the size of the fetus.
4. Post-miscarriage, have a healthy diet with multivitamins to keep weakness at bay
You can have a normal work life from the next day. You may experience a little weakness, so it is advised to take multivitamins as prescribed and maintain a good diet. Avoid lifting heavy things immediately. Keep a gap for a minimum of 3 months for your next pregnancy and use contraception. You can start having sex after a few days, but only if you do not have much pain or bleeding. It is better to use contraception, so you can avoid infection and early pregnancy. If all investigations and reports are normal, you can try your next pregnancy after 3 months from the miscarriage. Your first menses would come after 4 to 8 weeks from your miscarriage. Then it becomes normal like before if you are not using any contraceptive.
5. Seek professional help to cope mentally & emotionally
Mentally, physically, and emotionally, You have to be strong enough to tolerate this accident. Counselling has to be done to investigate the cause of abortion and take more care next time. Here are a few things you should know about therapy before booking an appointment.
6. Ensure proper treatment and health to avoid the risk of miscarriages
It is not true that if you have a miscarriage once, you will have it again. Proper treatment and precautions can help in having healthy babies even after a miscarriage. Visit your obstetrician or gynaecologist to get a full body checkup. Consulting with your doctor helps you prepare yourself and your body better for pregnancy. Learn how you can prepare your body for pregnancy here.
