Miscarriage |
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DESCRIPTION
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Miscarriage is the loss of a pregnancy before the growing baby is born. This usually occurs within the first 20 weeks of pregnancy. There is nothing you can do to prevent a miscarriage. However, you can still get pregnant again and have a healthy baby.
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CAUSES
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It may not be known why you miscarried. A miscarriage is your body's way of dealing with a baby that was not growing normally. Health problems of the mother can lead to miscarriage. Smoking, drinking alcohol, or drug abuse can also cause miscarriage. Having sex, exercising, working, suffering a minor fall, or using birth control pills before pregnancy does not cause miscarriage. Often, no reason for the miscarriage can be found.
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SYMPTOMS
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Bleeding is the most common sign of a coming miscarriage. You may have pain in your abdomen or back. A gush of warm liquid from your vagina is another sign, meaning your bag of water has broken early.
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CARE
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You may have an ultrasound test. It is done to check for your baby's heartbeat. Your doctor can tell if the miscarriage has happened or is about to happen. If your cervix (bottom part of the uterus) has opened and you are having painful cramps, a miscarriage is certain. Your doctor will watch you carefully if you start to bleed. After a miscarriage, you may have tissue left in your uterus. This tissue must be removed by a D & C (dilatation & curettage) because it can cause infection. This can be done in your doctor's office or the emergency department. It is sometimes done in the operating room. You may need to go into the hospital if you are bleeding heavily or if you need more care.
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COMPLICATIONS
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s Untreated bleeding or infection after a miscarriage could be fatal. But, the risks of serious illness or death are minimal if you follow your doctor's suggestions.
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