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Patient Information for the
Gloucestershire Health Community
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GHPI0870_02_08
Author: Maternity
Review due: February 2008
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Early Miscarriage
Early Pregnancy Assessment Clinic
Orchard Centre
Gloucester Royal Hospital
08454 226668
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Miscarriage Association
C/o Clayton House
Northgate
Wakefield
West Yorkshire
WF1 3JS
Telephone number: 01924 200799
http://www.miscarriageassociation.org.uk
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Associated written information available from
the hospital:
(please ask your nurse/doctor)
• Conservative/Surgical Management of Miscarriage (leaflet)
• Evacuation of Retained Products of Conception (leaflet)
• Medical Management of Miscarriage (information sheet)
• Information and support following the loss of your baby
before completion of 24 weeks
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I’m really worried that about getting pregnant
next time, because I shall be so anxious about
miscarrying again. What can I do about that?
It is inevitable that you will feel like this especially around the time
when you miscarried. Take each day at a time and remember that
having this miscarriage does not increase you risk of miscarrying next
time. Three out of every four pregnancies do not end in miscarriage.
Is there something we can do to give our baby a
better chance?
Healthier parents have more chance of producing healthier babies.
Try to spend the time maximising your health before you start trying
for another baby e.g. both give up smoking, improve your diets, take
regular exercise.
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Will I receive any follow up after my
miscarriage?
Many women after they are discharged from the early pregnancy
clinic like to book a six week check up with their GP. Alternatively if
you would like to arrange for a Health Visitor to visit you at home to
discuss the emotional aspects of your miscarriage this can be arranged
at your GP surgery reception desk.
Useful Contacts:
Early Pregnancy Assessment Clinic
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St Pauls Wing
Cheltenham General Hospital
08454 222222 Ask the switchboard to bleep 1105 (Monday
– Friday 0800-1600)
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Miscarriage can be a distressing experience not only because you feel
the emotional sadness of losing a baby but the changes that your body
will go through may affect the way that you are feeling.
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We would like to offer our condolences to you and perhaps we can
help by answering some of your questions.
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Introduction
Miscarriage is the loss of a pregnancy before 24 weeks. It is estimated
that 1 in every 4 pregnancies ends in miscarriage and about 80% of
these happen before 12 weeks.
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Most women who have a miscarriage go on to have a successful
pregnancy next time.
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Why did I miscarry?
It is usually impossible to find a reason for any individual miscarriage
but we do know that in at least one third of miscarriages there is
something wrong with the pregnancy. This means that if a baby had
survived until birth it would probably have been born with some
degree of disability. If this can be proved in one third of miscarriages,
in reality this probably occurs in a higher number than that. This
means that a large number of miscarriages are nature’s way of
stopping/ending a pregnancy that is going wrong, rather than the loss
of what would otherwise have been normal.
Common causes for miscarriage are thought to
be:
Genetic: about half of all early miscarriages are due to abnormal
development from the beginning of the pregnancy
Hormonal: women who have irregular periods may find it harder to
conceive and when they do, they are more likely to miscarry
Immunological: sometimes problems with blood vessels to the
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placenta can lead to miscarriage
Infection: this does not include coughs and colds. Infections that cause
very high temperature and some infections such as German Measles
may cause miscarriage
Anatomical: a weak cervix (neck of the womb), irregular shaped uterus
or the presence of fibroids may increase the risk of miscarriage
Could anything that I have done have caused
me to miscarriage?
Usually not. If the pregnancy is normal, and there is no infection
affecting it then minor alterations in behaviour do not usually affect
the pregnancy. We do know that smoking, poor diet, alcohol, certain
illnesses and some drugs can cause miscarriage, but otherwise a
healthy pregnancy is usually quite resilient.
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Is this miscarriage likely to affect my chance of
having another baby?
A miscarriage itself does not affect future chances as long as some
physical reason was not found. If a physical reason was found you
may be advised of any treatment that may be required . The chances
of all women eventually having a normal baby are very much in their
favour even if they have had one of two miscarriages.
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How long should we wait until trying for
another baby?
From a physical point of view it is advisable to wait at least one period
after your miscarriage before trying to conceive again but there is no
evidence, however, to say that conceiving earlier increases your risk
of miscarriage. There are some circumstances, however, such as after
hydatidiform mole or ectopic pregnancy, when you will be advised to
wait longer and also in terms of your emotional health you may also
feel that you want to wait a bit longer before you try again.
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appear to cope very well at the time, focusing on the physical aspects
of the miscarriage but once the bleeding and pain have settled find
that they are very tearful.
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The loss of a baby is very sad and what you are feeling is normal, don’t
expect too much of yourself. Some people never forget the loss of a
baby but the pain will get easier over time.
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Some of the feelings associated with loss are difficult to talk about.
You may feel shocked or angry, or you may feel empty. Some women
feel really tired and lose interest in everyday life and in sexual
relationships with their partner. Some women feel guilty or as if they
have failed as well as feeling isolated and alone.
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Men and women react differently to the loss of a baby and it is
important to communicate your feelings with each other through this
difficult time.
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The Miscarriage Association leaflet on miscarriage available on their
website discusses the feelings your partner might be experiencing and
may help you to understand each others emotions better.
Our friends and relatives avoid the subject of
my miscarriage. Some seem to pretend it has
not happened. Why is this?
It can be very hurtful when people avoid talking about something that
is very important to you, but most people find another person’s loss
and grief very difficult to cope with. Usually they avoid talking about
it because they do not know what to say and very much want to avoid
saying the wrong thing and hurting your feelings. People frequently
feel that they don’t want to remind you about it, when of course, it
is actually at the front of your mind. You may feel hurt when people
avoid the subject but try to remember that they are doing so for your
sake. You may need to help them cope with the situation by bringing
up the subject yourself. Perhaps something positive will come from
your miscarriage is that you will be able to respond helpfully to
someone else’s grief in the future.
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Will my breasts produce milk?
A woman who has had a miscarriage after about 14 weeks of
pregnancy may experience hardness of her breasts and may have some
milk production. This does not require any treatment and will ease
after a few days.
Can we know the sex of the baby we lost?
If you miscarry before 12 weeks of pregnancy it is unlikely that you
will be able to be told. After this time it becomes progressively more
easy to determine the sex of the baby.
Can we see a photograph of the baby?
We do not offer photographs to women who miscarry under 14 weeks
because it is difficult to take pictures due to the size of baby. After 14
weeks we do our best to take pictures that you are able to retain as a
keepsake.
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For women who choose to have an operation it is not possible to take
photographs.
Can we arrange to have a blessing said for our
baby?
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There is a Hospital Chaplain available to facilitate your spiritual needs
and we will try to accommodate all religious beliefs. There is a Book
of Remembrance held within the hospital and the hospital also hold
a yearly Service in Remembrance of Babies and if you wish to know
more about either of these then don’t hesitate to ask.
It is weeks since I miscarried, yet I still feel upset
and depressed, is this normal?
Every woman is different. Some women find that they recover very
quickly after a miscarriage and others take much longer. Some women
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How long should we wait before resuming
intercourse?
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Your womb should settle within 2 weeks, and you would be unlikely to
cause any harm with intercourse after that. It is important to wait until
all the bleeding has stopped.
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When do I need to start using contraception
following a miscarriage, if I want to wait before
trying for another baby?
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You can ovulate (produce an egg) any time after a miscarriage, so if
you have intercourse it is possible to conceive a pregnancy before your
next period.
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Condoms
You can resume intercourse with condoms as soon as your bleeding
has stopped
The pill
You can use both the combined and progestrogen only contraceptive
pill the day after your miscarriage in which case after 7 pills you will be
safe to have intercourse or you can wait until your next period to start
the pill.
The diaphragm
If you use the diaphragm (cap), it is important to have the size checked
before you start using it.
The coil
If you want an I.U.C.D (coil) fitted it can be fitted by an experienced
nurse or doctor immediately after you miscarriage. You can discuss
contraception with your Hospital Doctor, Family Doctor or Family
Planning Clinic. If you are waiting to start using your chosen
contraceptive, you should use a condom or sheath in the meantime.
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Implant
If you would like the implant fitted this can be fitted by an
experienced nurse or doctor straight after a miscarriage or within the
first five days of starting your next period.
Do I need an operation to make sure my womb
is empty?
We know that 80%-100% of women in the process of miscarriage
and 75%-95% of women who are told that their baby has no heart
beat on scan will complete the process of miscarriage without any
intervention. It is not necessary for everyone to have an operation.
When the nurse or doctor informs you that you are miscarrying he/she
will discuss the options of managing the miscarriage.
You may be offered a choice of the following:
1. to let things happen naturally (conservative management) and we
will review you in clinic in 10-14 days during which time you may
ring us with worries on concerns
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2. to induce the miscarriage with medication (medical management)
but to allow the process to happen naturally with review in 10-14
days
3. to have an operation (surgical management) called an Evacuation
of Retained Products of Conception
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There are risks and benefits to all options and the nurse or doctor
will discuss these with you. We also have further leaflets for more in
depth information on each option.
How long will I bleed after a miscarriage
This is different for everyone. Generally though the bleeding should
gradually decrease over 7 to 10 days from the point that you actually
miscarry the pregnancy and usually cease by 3 weeks. We advise you
not to use tampons during this time of bleeding.
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If the bleeding is not decreasing or it is getting heavier or if you have
a lot of pain or smelly discharge you should contact your doctor.
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How soon will my periods return?
After a miscarriage your body will still contain some pregnancy
hormone and a pregnancy test may stay positive for up to 2 weeks.
Once the pregnancy hormone has fallen to a level which is not
detected from a urine pregnancy test your body will start the next
menstrual cycle. You should expect your period within 4 to 6 weeks
following miscarriage but this does vary with each person.
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How soon can I have a bath or swim?
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There is no reason to avoid having a bath or shower on the day
following a miscarriage. It is best to have water comfortably warm
rather than very hot. You may also swim as soon as you fell fit enough
to do so although it is advisable to wait until any vaginal bleeding or
discharge has stopped.
How soon can I resume normal activities?
This will vary greatly from person to person. You will probably
feel emotionally and physically low for at least a week, and it is
worthwhile taking things gently. You will find your physical strength
will return gradually, and you can then do whatever you feel like. If
you at all worried consult your GP.
How soon should I go back to work?
This depends on how strong you feel. Most women feel fit enough to
return to work after a week but this is a personal matter and your GP
will advise and support you.
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