Late miscarriage: What you need to know

Late miscarriage is a serious trauma to parents, both physically and mentally, when faced with this situation during pregnancy.

Pregnancy is a journey filled with joy and happiness for all parents. However, despite being happy, this journey is also fraught with risks and if unfortunately, you will encounter very serious injuries.

Miscarriages are not uncommon, especially in the early stages of pregnancy . However, late miscarriage is not only rare but also seriously affects parents both mentally and physically. Because the loss of a baby about to be born is difficult to accept, so update the information about late miscarriage to take appropriate precautions.

What is a late miscarriage?

Late miscarriage is a term used to refer to the loss of a baby 12–14 weeks after pregnancy and before 20 weeks after conception. Usually, 80% of miscarriages occur in the first trimester of pregnancy , or before 13 weeks.

Miscarriage in late stage is very rare, with 1 in 100 pregnancies, usually caused by problems with the placenta, cervix or exposure to toxic chemicals by the mother. .

For people with a late miscarriage, a single word "miscarriage" does not seem enough to describe the pain they are experiencing. That doesn't seem any different from losing a real baby.

Signs of late miscarriage

Signs of miscarriage after 12 weeks of conception will vary from woman to woman depending on many factors. However, you may still experience the following common symptoms:

Appearance of cramping pain like labor

There are signs of mild to severe bleeding, blood clots appear

Premature rupture of the amniotic fluid

Sometimes there aren't any abnormalities or you may just feel the pregnancy is no longer moving.

A miscarriage can only be concluded after a prenatal visit. Late miscarriages can be painful for the mother and your doctor will consider giving you pain relievers.

What causes late stage miscarriages?

Late miscarriages are quite rare, so it is difficult to identify a specific reason, and there are even cases of miscarriage of unknown cause. For the most part, these cases are usually related to the health of the mother. Here are some common reasons that can lead to this condition:

Weak placenta can lead to miscarriage. According to one report, a quarter of all miscarriages are caused by an early dilated cervix. Your risk of a late miscarriage is higher if you've had a miscarriage or abortion in the past.

Mothers suffering from diseases such as gestational diabetes , kidney problems, high blood pressure , and thyroid disease can affect hormones, causing miscarriage.

The cause of miscarriage after 12 weeks can also be viral infections such as malaria , HIV, rubella or sexually transmitted diseases .

Uterine defects can also increase the risk of a late miscarriage.

The way the blood vessels supply nutrients to the placenta is problematic.

Placenta biopsy may also increase the risk of a miscarriage. This test is done to see if the baby has a birth defect, such as Down syndrome.

Use medications that are not directed by your doctor.

A mother who is underweight, overweight or deficient in vitamins can also lead to miscarriage.

Amniotic fluid infection caused by vaginitis or group B streptococcal infection.

How is late miscarriage diagnosed?

Late miscarriage is usually diagnosed with ultrasound. In the event of fetal death, ultrasound will not show any activity of the fetal heart. This test should be done when you are no longer feeling the fetal movement in the uterus.

What happens after a late miscarriage?

When a miscarriage is late, the body will automatically go into labor and give birth as usual. This is an indescribable experience for most women. Because losing a baby in the second trimester can be extremely emotional and stressful for parents. In some cases, the doctor may perform procedures to remove the fetus from the womb.

After a late miscarriage, you may experience continuous vaginal bleeding for several weeks. In addition, you may feel tired, exhausted, in pain, and there will be other physical changes that require special care. Depending on the length of pregnancy, the body can produce milk as usual. If you are not feeling well, you can request to use drugs to cut the milk (the milk will stop naturally after 1 week).

After a miscarriage, you can ask your doctor to determine the exact cause. Your doctor will also provide you with useful information and how to prevent this in future pregnancies.

How to recover physically and emotionally after a late miscarriage?

Physical recovery may depend on duration of pregnancy and the cause of the miscarriage . Your body may recover fairly quickly or it may take a few weeks.

You need to closely monitor your body's changes. If any unusual symptoms such as pain worsen, bleeding increases, vaginal discharge or discharge has a strange smell… you should contact your doctor immediately. If you want to go back to work, you need to ask your doctor to determine the right time.

It is also important to provide the mother with emotional support after a late miscarriage. After a miscarriage, you may be faced with a range of negative emotions such as anger, disappointment, guilt, sadness or jealousy. There is no one exact advice for any parent in this case. Each person will have a different way of coping with this pain. Some want to keep things related to their baby as a reminder that they are still around. Some choose to pack and keep it all because they don't have the courage to remember this painful experience.

With the mother, you should talk to the people next to you about your feelings and desires for everyone to follow. Sometimes your family and friends will comfort with “hard of hearing” words. Instead of seeking comfort from these people, you can seek psychological support if you feel the need.

Some frequently asked questions about late miscarriage

Here are some common questions of some pregnant mothers about late miscarriage:

1. Am I at risk of a second late miscarriage?

The risk of a second miscarriage is very low and most women experience only one miscarriage. However, this also depends on your physical and mental condition.

Ideally, you should consult your doctor and do the necessary tests before you want to get pregnant again. Your doctor will advise you on what to look out for for a healthy pregnancy .

2. Can miscarriage be prevented?

Most miscarriages cannot be controlled. It's best to take the necessary precautions to reduce the risk of miscarriage.

Regular exercise, maintaining a balanced diet, avoiding alcohol, smoking, limiting caffeine consumption, controlling blood sugar and blood pressure are some of the simple ways to prevent the risk of miscarriage. pregnancy .

Advice for women after a late miscarriage

According to studies, less than 5% of women experience two consecutive miscarriages. Therefore, after a miscarriage, it is possible for you to have a healthy pregnancy in the future. However, if you are trying to get pregnant again after a late miscarriage, remember these tips:

Pay attention to stay healthy, in case of chronic diseases, you need to consult your doctor.

Women who are overweight and underweight are at high risk of miscarriage. Therefore, if you want to conceive, you need to maintain a balanced diet and exercise regularly to keep your body healthy.

You will also need treatment for your uterus before trying to become pregnant again.

Make sure you live in a clean environment as pathogens can also increase the risk of miscarriage.

Avoid drinking, smoking and taking drugs indiscriminately.

In addition to all this, you need to consult your doctor about a safe pregnancy and continuously monitor your own pregnancy to ensure the health of your baby.

Above are some useful information about late miscarriage that aFamilyToday Health wants to share with you. Miscarriage, sooner or later, is a difficult and challenging experience. Therefore, it is never superfluous to understand late stage miscarriage for prevention and treatment if you intend to become pregnant.