Miscarriage
Alternate Names : Spontaneous Abortion, Complete Abortion
What are the treatments for the condition?
Some providers suggest that a woman try to collect any tissue that passes from
her vagina so it can be checked.
Other treatments for miscarriage include:
antibiotics to prevent infection
dilation and curettage,
or D & C, a procedure to remove any fetal tissue remaining in the uterus
medicines to help the uterus contract so that bleeding stops
Rh immune globulin, if the mother's blood is Rh-negative
Sometimes, the woman may have an incomplete miscarriage.
This means some fetal tissue stays in the uterus. To avoid infection, a procedure called a
D & C will
be done. The D & C helps empty the uterus.
What are the side effects of the treatments?
A D & C may cause
bleeding, infection, and allergic reaction
to anesthesia. Antibiotics and
medicines to help the uterus contract may cause rash,
upset stomach, abdominal cramps, and allergic reaction.
What happens after treatment for the condition?
If a woman has a complete miscarriage without abnormal bleeding, she is sent
home to get better. If a woman has a D & C
for an incomplete miscarriage,
she is usually able to go home within a few hours. She should rest in bed for 1 to 2 days.
A woman should contact her doctor if she has any of these symptoms:
any other new or worsening symptoms
continued heavy bleeding
a fever
cramps that get worse or pain that won't go away
Birth control should be
used if the woman does not want to get pregnant again. If a future pregnancy is desired,
the couple may try to conceive again after 2 to 3 months. They have an 85% chance of having a
successful, full-term pregnancy after 1 year.
How is the condition monitored?
A woman's doctor may do weekly blood tests to follow the HCG level until it is
nearly zero. This ensures that the pregnancy has ended. Sometimes tests are done on the
fetal tissue to learn about its genetic makeup. If a woman has had several miscarriages,
her doctor may recommend a complete evaluation for infertility.
|
Previous section
