Miscarriage

Vaginal blood loss and pain like when you have your period can be a first sign of a miscarriage. Most of the time miscarriage will follow soon after the first signs like blood loss and lower belly pain, but it can also take days or weeks to complete.
Cramps will get more severe and blood loss will be like a strong monthly period. It can take a couple of hours to complete. If you get too much pain take Paracetamol.
Most of the time you will lose some blood clots together with the remains. Sometimes you will find a small cyst with the little fetus inside depending on how far the pregnancy had developed.
To prevent a miscarriage is not always possible, but try to live healthy. Try to stop drinking alcohol and smoking. Eat well and take Folic acid and vitamin D before getting pregnant again.

• Severe blood loss. When it is to much you will feel dizzy or faint.
• Persistent complaints. When blood loss keeps coming it can be because of an incomplete miscarriage .
• Fever. Temp above 38 degrees during or after the loss
• When you are worried. Just call us. It can help taking about it.

A miscarriage has a big impact and is very sad. Take time to process your loss. It can help to talk about it, feel free to call us.

Ultrasound can be done when you have blood loss. This is possible after the 7th week to see if there is a heartbeat. It is possible you only see an empty amniotic sac without a fetus, or a fetus that is too small. Sometimes the ultrasound needs to be repeated after 2 weeks to see if it is a good pregnancy or not.
Bedrest and medication cannot prevent a miscarriage. The cause is often not found.

When the ultrasound confirms the miscarriage it is best to wait for some time and let nature take it’s course. Medically seen it is best and chance for complications is very small. It is a natural process. Use Paracetamol if you have too much pain. We will tell you what to expect and when to call us.
If after 3 weeks nothing has happened yet, we will arrange a consultation in the hospital. The doctor will prescribe medication to start the miscarriage. You can take these tablet at home. In 80% it will start within 3 to 8 days.
Sometimes the loss is only partial. Then you will need a curettage. In less then 1 % there is a risk of inflammation or severe blood loss.

This is a medical intervention that needs full anesthesia. In the operation room the doctor inserts a vaginal tube or a kind of little spoon. Then they vacuum or scrape the inside of the uterus. You will be admitted for one day only. There is a chance the inside of the uterus will get some damage or infection because of the operation. The might affect a new pregnancy.

Many women experience a very difficult time after a miscarriage. One can feel sadness, guilt, anger and a feeling of emptiness. It ends all the plans and fantasies you had when you found out you were pregnant. Take time to recuperate. Friends and family can help you.

More information can be found on annature.nl.

Annature natal care was founded in 2017. Goals were improving healthcare for expectant parents and their baby. Midwifes, gynecologists, pediatricians, Focus and maternity nurses joined hands and started working better together. Biggest advantage is that we work with one file only, so all information about your pregnancy can be seen by all participants of Annature. This gives better care for you and your baby. No need to repeat your information when you meet another caretaker. Its all in one file.
Every midwife praxis has a buddy-gynecologist. Together we check very chart of every client to see id special care is needed.
Trained midwifes work together when the baby is in breech position. We try to turn the baby to a better position for a vaginal delivery.
We also have Shared care. This means that a woman who needs to be seen by the doctor, because a medical problem occurs, also keep visiting her midwife.
This way continuous care is more and more common with better outcome for mother and baby.