Incomplete miscarriage: Why does it happen?

An incomplete miscarriage is not desirable. There are many causes of this situation, from the pregnant mother herself to the environmental factors. 

A miscarriage refers to the loss of a baby before reaching 20 weeks of pregnancy . A miscarriage after 20 weeks is called stillbirth . In addition, some women also experience incomplete miscarriage (or an incomplete miscarriage), which confuses them for normal pregnancy symptoms.

What is incomplete miscarriage?

By definition, incomplete miscarriage is when the cervix dilates and begins to bleed, but the embryonic tissues remain attached to the uterus. Sometimes the tissues are naturally eliminated from the body like a period. Therefore, if you think you have a miscarriage, you need to go to the hospital for timely medical assistance.

The cause of miscarriage is not complete

Some reasons why pregnant mothers have incomplete miscarriage include:

1. Chromosomal abnormality

This is an indicator of a faulty embryo chromosome. Inadequate quality eggs or sperm cells will cause most of the chromosome abnormalities. A zygote division problem can also cause this abnormality.

2. Endocrine problems

The undeveloped uterine lining carries the risk of miscarriage. In addition, hormonal imbalances in women with adrenal and thyroid problems are the most important reasons for the inability to keep the pregnancy.

3. Structure issue

Abnormal structure of the cervix can result in miscarriage. This condition will interfere with the fertilized egg clinging to the uterus. In addition, uterine fibroids also affect the uterine lining, leading to incomplete miscarriage if the tissue is not expelled from the mother's body.

4. Infections

If the mother has one of a number of infections like rubella, herpes and chlamydia during pregnancy, it can interfere with the fetal development, leading to miscarriage.

5. Environmental factors

Exposure to toxins in the living environment such as tobacco smoke, plant protection drugs ... for a long time has the risk of causing pregnant mothers to miscarriage.

Signs of incomplete miscarriage

Some symptoms of miscarriage that need to be paid attention to include:

1. Heavy bleeding

You could experience sudden vaginal bleeding and get worse within a few hours. If you encounter this phenomenon, you should go to the hospital immediately for timely medical assistance.

2. Emitting thrombosis

During pregnancy, if you suddenly start to notice a blood clot in your vagina, get to the hospital as soon as possible as this could be a sign of an incomplete miscarriage.

3. Severe cramps in the lower abdomen

Sometimes, pregnant women will feel the intense cramps in the abdomen similar to the contractions of the uterus . In some cases, this phenomenon presents a warning risk for miscarriage and needs to be checked to confirm it is correct.

4. Stillbirth

Stillbirth is where the baby is dead or not growing, but the mother still shows no signs of miscarriage until she has had an ultrasound or routine antenatal check-up.

Complications of miscarriage are not complete

Most miscarriages in the early stages of pregnancy do not appear to have complications that harm the mother's health. However, you should still exercise caution and seek immediate medical attention if you notice some or all of the symptoms mentioned below:

1. Prolonged bleeding

Most cases of incomplete miscarriage have longer abdominal cramps or bleeding than complete miscarriage. If you feel tired, have a mild headache or increase your heart rate, you should go to the hospital immediately. A small proportion of women face a risk of bleeding during an incomplete miscarriage.

2. Increased risk of infection

Incomplete miscarriage increases the risk of infection and can be dangerous for pregnant women if they are not treated immediately. Fever, chills, and bad vaginal discharge are often signs that you have an infection.

3. Adhesions of the uterus (also known as Asherman's syndrome)

Uterine adhesions occur when scar tissue forms in the uterus, causing fertility problems and miscarriage. This is a rare complication of cervical dilatation and curettage. The condition is often treated with surgical removal of scar tissue to facilitate pregnancy.

The treatment for miscarriage is not complete

Treatment for incomplete miscarriage may include invasive or non-invasive methods, depending on your doctor's judgment and the woman's requirements:

1. Cervical dilatation surgery and curettage

Surgical dilatation and curettage can help a woman avoid or stop bleeding. This is usually done with general anesthesia, then the doctor will dilate the cervix to reach the uterus and use a suitable device to clean remaining fetal tissue.

Although these procedures are quite safe, pregnant women can still encounter some unwanted complications, such as:

Bleed

Infection

Complications of coma

Cervical damage ...

2. Use medicine to push the pregnancy out

Cytotec (misoprostol) is a drug that can be given to women with incomplete miscarriage to remove fetal tissue with a high success rate for pregnancies less than 13 weeks. Side effects of this form of treatment include pain, vomiting, and diarrhea.

3. Watch closely

Normally, the mother's body will remove the embryo without problems. Therefore, some mothers choose to suggest the doctor can monitor their miscarriage without needing to be hospitalized. This is the least invasive approach.

Miscarriage or incomplete miscarriage is not desirable. If you happen to do it, take some time to rest and focus on eating healthy, doing something you enjoy, or whatever is fun for your mind. Try meditation to calm your thoughts and reduce your stress levels. This will also give your body enough time to recover and plan for your next pregnancy .