My first pregnancy was pretty easy, so when I didn't become nauseous I just assumed I was breezing through it. I put on weight and my stomach started to protrude. My skin broke out in pregnancy acne. I'd already told my family, but now I shared the news with friends. We got more and more excited as the weeks ticked by, looking at double buggies and researching how to parent two children under two. When I had a tiny amount of bleeding at nine weeks, I willed myself not to panic.
There was no telltale cramping to signal a miscarriage and I felt fine. I rang a hospital midwife who advised me to come in, but I told my husband to stay at home with our son.
I was sure everything was fine. I'll never forget the ultrasound in Holles Street that day and the unbearably long silence as the sonographer stared at the screen.
It wasn't. Our baby had never grown past the six week stage. There was no heartbeat. I'll never forget the midwife who wrapped me tightly in her arms as I clung to her and sobbed.
She was aghast that I had come in on my own. I'll never forget phoning my husband and hearing our son babbling in the background as I told him our other baby hadn't made it. Watching his face crumple with grief later that day was perhaps the hardest thing of all.
Otherwise, she can choose to have medicine to start labor or wait for labor to begin on its own. After the delivery, the provider will look at the placenta, fetus, and umbilical cord for signs of problems.
The parents will be asked for permission to do more detailed tests. These may include internal exams autopsy , x-rays, and genetic tests. It is natural for parents to feel uneasy about these tests when they are dealing with the loss of a baby. But learning the cause of the stillbirth can help a woman have a healthy baby in the future.
It may also help some parents cope with their loss to know as much as they can. Stillbirth is a tragic event for a family. The grief of a pregnancy loss can raise the risk of postpartum depression. People cope with grief in different ways. It may be helpful to talk to your provider or a counselor about your feelings.
Other things that can help you through the mourning are to:. Most women who have had a stillbirth are very likely to have a healthy pregnancy in the future. Placenta and cord problems or chromosome defects are unlikely to occur again. Some things you can do to help prevent another stillbirth are:. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; chap If you'd prefer not to wait, your doctor can give you Cytotec misoprostol , which will help the uterus contract and expel the tissue.
This procedure removes the fetal tissue from the uterus. By Bonnie Gibbs Vengrow. Comments 4. Sort by: Newest. Newest Oldest. Load More Comments. Close this dialog window Add a comment. Add your comment Cancel Submit. Close this dialog window Review for. Organizations have adopted different criteria as to when ultrasound findings indicate a miscarriage.
Research shows that a heartbeat should definitely be detected in embryos larger than 7 millimeters. Other criteria that indicate a miscarriage include:.
The guidelines listed above can be confusing. It's important that you understand how and why your physician has diagnosed a miscarriage. Be sure to ask any questions you have so that you are confident in and comfortable with your treatment plan. Also, give yourself grace as you process and cope with this news. Most of the time there is no significant risk associated with waiting a few more days, as long as there is no indication of problems such as an ectopic pregnancy.
Remember that there's nothing wrong with getting the advice of another physician if you are in doubt. Having to wait for confirmation of whether you're miscarrying can be very difficult. However, it is definitely better to be absolutely sure about your diagnosis before moving forward with treatment.
Ask as many questions as you need, and expect to receive clear and compassionate answers. For medical professionals, miscarriages are daily occurrences, but for you, they are not. It is normal to grieve, whether it is the anticipatory grief that comes with wondering about the absence of a heartbeat or the grief of loss if you miscarry.
Honor yourself and grieve in the way that is best for you. Get diet and wellness tips delivered to your inbox. Miscarriage Association. Ultrasound scans. American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. Early pregnancy loss. Reviewed February Diagnostic criteria for nonviable pregnancy early in the first trimester.
N Engl J Med. Role of ultrasound in the evaluation of first-trimester pregnancies in the acute setting.
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