Once a miscarriage begins, it is almost impossible for it to stop. In some extremely rare cases, the signs of a miscarriage (sometimes known as a “threatened” miscarriage) may lead to something other than an actual miscarriage. In general, however, once a miscarriage starts it will generally only end after it completes.

The most common signs of a miscarriage include abdominal cramping, lower back ache, vaginal bleeding, and vaginal discharge that may resemble a blood clot. If you experience any of these symptoms, it is important that you contact your health care provider as soon as possible. Your health care provider will want to examine you to determine whether you are actually having a miscarriage or not. She will probably perform a pelvic exam, and may also wish to take a blood test or to do an ultrasound test to be certain of the diagnosis.

If your health care provider believes that you are having a miscarriage, she may try to treat it by prescribing progesterone or by putting you on bed rest. She will also indicate that you should avoid sexual intercourse. These measures will primarily work to lessen the pain and bleeding that you are going through. These measures are generally not intended to stop the miscarriage, and will have little or no affect on whether the miscarriage occurs.

Your health care provider will also be watching for complications from your miscarriage. A miscarriage may, sometimes, require some medical treatment. If your uterus does not clear out quickly enough you will be at an increased risk of getting an infection or losing too much blood. In this case, your health care provider will want to perform a D&C, or a dilation and curettage. This will help to clear out your uterus to prevent further complications.

While a miscarriage can be an extremely frustrating and saddening occurrence, the good news is that miscarriages do not generally indicate a problem with future pregnancies. Less than one percent of women will ever have three miscarriages in a row. If you have had several miscarriages in a row, you should speak with your health care provider to determine the cause.

Posted in Miscarriage

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