Pregnancy Losses
The pregnant woman can loose her baby during the pregnancy period or at the end of the pregnancy due to various complications. This is one of the catastrophes that may become reality if proper care is not taken of the pregnant woman. And the pregnant mother may suffer a great loss, both emotionally as well as physically. As well as, apparently, this loss has to be suffered by the expectant father and the whole family.
Ectopic Pregnancy
The word "ectopic" signifies "out of place."
In an ectopic pregnancy, the fertilized egg implants outside of the uterus and starts growing. Unfortunately, an ectopic pregnancy cannot result in the birth of a baby. Without prompt treatment, it can cause serious bleeding as well as threaten the life of the pregnant woman. Ectopic pregnancy is treated either with drug therapy or surgery.
About 50% to 80% of women who have had an ectopic pregnancy history can have a normal pregnancy.
Preventions:
• Consult or call the doctor in case of slight, irregular vaginal bleeding a week or more after the period miss.
- The blood may be brownish in color.
- The bleeding may be followed by pain in the lower abdomen, often on one side.
- Without treatment, the pain will get worse and may be accompanied by shoulder pain, faintness, dizziness and nausea or vomiting.
• In case of an ectopic pregnancy, the suffering woman should be given enough time to recover physically and to grieve the loss of her pregnancy.
Miscarriage
A miscarriage is the loss of a baby before the 20th week of pregnancy. Most of the losses occur before a woman knows she is pregnant.
Most miscarriages occur in the first trimester (13 weeks) of pregnancy. The causes can be:
• A chromosomal abnormality in the baby or
• Health problems in the mother,
• Drinking alcohol,
• Smoking cigarettes,
• Use of illicit drugs.
Most women who have an early miscarriage do not need treatment. The uterus empties itself, like a heavy period. In other cases, a surgical procedure or the medication is required after the miscarriage.
Almost all women have a healthy pregnancy in future after a miscarriage. Some women have repeated miscarriages. But most women who have had two or three losses go on to have a healthy pregnancy.
Preventions:
• Limit the amount of caffeine each day.
• Report any bleeding or abdominal pain immediately to the doctor.
• In case of a miscarriage, the suffering woman should be given enough time to recover physically and to grieve the loss of her pregnancy.
• In case of repeated miscarriages, consult the healthcare provider to find the cause and the treatment.
Molar Pregnancy
In a molar pregnancy, the early placenta grows abnormally into a mass of cysts known as ‘hydatidiform mole’. Here, the embryo does not form at all or is malformed and cannot survive. The prevalence of molar pregnancy is 1 out of 1500 pregnancies.
A molar pregnancy can be diagnosed by an ultrasound examination. After this, the molar tissue is surgically removed from the uterus of the woman. In very rare cases, it can lead to a rare form of cancer called choriocarcinoma.
Most women with molar pregnancies usually have healthy pregnancies later.
Preventions:
• Call the doctor immediately in case of any of the following symptoms, especially around the tenth week of pregnancy:
- Vaginal bleeding, which may be dark brown in color
- Severe nausea and vomiting
- Rapid growth of the uterus
- High blood pressure.
• In case of a molar pregnancy, the suffering woman should be given enough time to recover physically and to grieve the loss of her pregnancy.
• Stillbirth
A stillbirth is a tragic and heartbreaking experience. It is the death of a baby in the womb after the 20th week of pregnancy. Prevalence of stillbirth is about 1 in 160 pregnancies. In many cases, the loss is completely unexpected, because it ends a pregnancy that seemed to be going well.
Most stillbirths occur before labor begins. The pregnant woman may suspect that something is wrong when the fetus suddenly stops moving and kicking. An ultrasound usually confirms the stillbirth during the pregnancy.
Labor usually starts within 2 weeks after the fetus has died. If it doesn't then recommend induced labor is recommended.
After delivery, tests are done to try to find out cause of the fetus death.
Preventions:
• Immediately contact the doctor in case of any feeling that the baby in the womb is moving less or has stopped moving.
• Pregnant women with high blood pressure, diabetes or kidney disease should be monitored regularly. These conditions should be kept under control during the pregnancy.
• In case of a stillbirth, the suffering woman should be given enough time to recover physically and to grieve the loss of her pregnancy.