Understanding Different Types of Miscarriage

My friend was 12 weeks pregnant when she found out she had miscarried. It’s a deeply personal and heart-wrenching experience that I couldn't really understand but seeing her, I knew how heavy the weight of this news was.

Through her journey, I learnt that acknowledging it can start to lay the groundwork for dealing with it. We worked together to process the loss and understand it better. Six months later she was pregnant again, and now she's a mother of a beautiful baby girl. I learnt so much in those six months and I think it's something every future parent should know too.

Miscarriage is an unexpected end of a pregnancy that usually occurs before week 20. While it happens more frequently than we think, each one is personal to the person – in different ways.

While we call it all miscarriage, it's not just one thing but has many different variations. Let's understand the different types.

A miscarriage without the usual signs such as bleeding or contractions is called a missed miscarriage or missed abortion. In this case, the embryo or fetus stops developing but remains in the uterus as there is no immediate expulsion of pregnancy tissue.

The risk factors for missed miscarriage include:

• Age as women over 35 years old have higher risks
• Hormonal imbalances
• Infections
• Underlying medical conditions like thyroid disorders or diabetes

It’s important to remember that missed abortions are often not in the mother's control or due to any actions by her.

A chemical pregnancy is an early miscarriage that usually happens within the first 5 weeks of pregnancy. Many don’t even realise it occurred unless they had taken an early pregnancy test. Signs of chemical miscarriage can include a positive test followed by bleeding like a period, mild cramps, and a sudden drop in pregnancy symptoms.

While it’s often due to chromosomal issues, taking precautions like managing stress, maintaining a healthy lifestyle, and regular check-ups can improve overall fertility health. If you’ve experienced this, I know it can feel confusing and emotional. But know that it’s common and doesn’t mean you can’t have a healthy pregnancy later. Always talk to your doctor for support.

Recurrent miscarriage refers to having three or more miscarriages in a row. This can be a devastating and traumatic experience for the mother but it's important to hold strong and try to understand the underlying reasons. The causes may vary but some common factors include:

• Hormonal imbalances
• Immune system issues like blood clotting disorders or infections
• Genetic problems in the embryo

Sometimes, you might not be able to know exactly what is wrong, but medical tests can give a clue. If you’ve miscarried more than once, be sure to discuss it with your doctor to try to work out why and, therefore, get the proper treatment or assistance to help you achieve a full-term pregnancy.

An incomplete miscarriage happens when some pregnancy tissue remains in the uterus after a miscarriage has begun. It can feel physically and emotionally overwhelming, often marked by heavy bleeding, strong cramps, and passing tissue.

If you suspect an incomplete miscarriage, seeking medical attention is important. Treatments may include medication or a minor procedure to remove remaining tissue. It’s a challenging experience, but your doctor can guide the you on next steps for recovery and future pregnancies.

The term "threatened" just means there's a risk of miscarriage, but many of these pregnancies end up fine. These signs don’t always mean the worst as every individual and every pregnancy is different.

Some of the early signs of miscarriage to watch out for are spotting, cramps, or lower back pain. It doesn’t mean a miscarriage will occur necessarily, but these are some signs to know about. A sudden change in common pregnancy symptoms, like nausea or breast tenderness, might also indicate a change in the pregnancy.

If you experience these symptoms, reach out to your doctor. In many cases, the pregnancy can be saved with medical intervention.

Miscarriage is natural and in most cases, due to no fault to the mother. But the guilt and trauma is understandable. If you're going through it now, you don't have to put a brave face on. It's okay to feel what you're feeling but remember that it's not the end. Talk to your doctor and with their help a healthy pregnancy is still possible. My friend is a proof of that.