The most immediate aspect of miscarriage treatment is initial stabilization of the patient to prevent infection and hemorrhage. Once a patient is stable, other components of miscarriage treatment including psychological counseling are available for patients who feel they would benefit from these services. It is important for patients to be aware that nothing can prevent a miscarriage once it starts, and often miscarriages are not preventable and not the fault of the mother.
When women experience a miscarriage, also known as a spontaneous abortion, a developing pregnancy terminates on its own. Miscarriages are most common during the first trimester of pregnancy. Women can experience symptoms like cramps, bleeding, and passing clots. Medical treatment must be provided, because there is a risk of massive blood loss from the miscarriage or infection as a result of abortus being left behind in the uterus.
An obstetrician will examine the patient and recommend a course of miscarriage treatment. In some cases, nature may be allowed to take its course. In others, a surgery may be recommended to make sure the uterus is fully emptied. As the patient is being stabilized, the physician will also start looking for possible causes. Anatomical abnormalities in mother or fetus can be a common reason to miscarry. Testing is available if women are interested in knowing if there was a genetic problem with the fetus.
The woman will also be tested for Rhesus factor, known as Rh factor, incompatibility. If a woman is Rh- and has a miscarriage, an injection of RhoGAM® will be recommended to prevent complications in future pregnancies. Women will also be assessed for anemia, a common complication of miscarriages. When the miscarriage is over and a woman is physically stable, she can discuss the event with her doctor, as well as a genetic counselor and a fertility specialist, if necessary, if she is interested in trying to conceive again.
In addition to being physically dangerous and exhausting, miscarriage is also very hard on women emotionally. The experience of pregnancy loss can be very upsetting, and mental health care is an important part of miscarriage treatment. Counseling is usually made available very early in miscarriage treatment, and women can speak with mental health professionals or religious officiants about the miscarriage and their emotions.
Women are usually advised to rest physically and emotionally after a miscarriage before returning to work or attempting to get pregnant again. Supportive family and friends can be very helpful after a pregnancy loss.
