What is a miscarriage, how the miscarriage blood looks like, types and conditions of miscarriage?
A miscarriage is defined as the spontaneous loss of the fetus before it is viable, usually before 20 weeks of gestation. A miscarriage is the spontaneous loss of pregnancy due to chromosomal abnormalities, an unhealthy lifestyle, womb structure abnormalities, weakened cervix, underlying health conditions, etc.
Pregnancy loss after 20 weeks is referred to as stillbirth.
In the United States of America, approximately 10% to 20% of pregnancies end in miscarriages.
Conditions like:
There might be signs that you are having a miscarriage. In case of either of these signs and symptoms, see your doctor.
Many women may experience a miscarriage before they know they are pregnant. It may not be obvious to the naked eye when a miscarriage occurs because it may simply look like a heavy period. But this will bring along intense cramping in the abdomen, pelvis, and lower back.
A little spotting is normal during pregnancy, but do speak with your doctor to be sure and safe.
In some miscarriages, the symptoms may not occur at all until you get an ultrasound done. There may not be any morning sickness or tenderness in the breasts.
Miscarriage may also be called ‘spontaneous abortion’. What does a miscarriage look like and what other names are used for it, take a look:
In the case of a complete miscarriage, all the products of conception leave the body; the embryo is emptied of the uterus and leaves the body. The pain and vaginal bleeding may continue for a few days. You may feel pain similar to labour, which is common- as it is the uterus contracting to empty.
In this case, the baby has died, but it stays in the uterus. The discharge is brownish, and the symptoms of pregnancy such as morning sickness, tiredness, and nausea tend to fade. Nothing unusual is noticeable. But you may be shocked to have found the baby has died.
Some part of the pregnancy tissue remains in the uterus, but the vaginal bleeding and the cramping shall continue as the uterus tries to empty it. The medical procedure called D&C is dilatation of the cervix, and curettage of the uterus is necessary to remove any remaining pregnancy tissue in the uterus. This medical procedure is performed in the operation theatre.
Inevitable miscarriages may occur after a threatened miscarriage or without warning. During the miscarriage, the cervix opens, and the fetus comes away with vaginal bleeding. The bleeding is more, and the abdomen pain is more severer.
Some women may experience repeated miscarriages- two or three miscarriages in a row. That condition is referred to as Recurrent Miscarriage. If this happens, do consult your doctor for any underlying causes.
While you wait for the pregnancy tissue to empty, you can opt to stay home and rest, or you can go to work if you feel like it. For pain, you can take paracetamol and use sanitary pads instead of tampons if you are bleeding.
Although bleeding during pregnancy is a cause for concern, but not always does it indicate a miscarriage. Bleeding may be due to hormonal changes, cervical inflammation, or implantation. Implantation bleeding means that the fertilized egg implants in the lining of the uterus. It may happen before the woman realizes that she is pregnant.
Miscarriage blood may start as a light spotting and increase intensely as the uterus begins to empty. It may also start suddenly and heavily, which usually happens during the second trimester of the pregnancy. Sudden and heavy bleeding during the second trimester happens only in 2% of pregnancies and is not common.
Understand what miscarriage blood looks like:
At this time, most women may not see anything to recognise if they have a miscarriage. Bleeding may come in clots with a small sac filled with fluid. The sac contains the products of conception- the baby (about the size of a fingernail), the placenta, and the umbilical cord.
The tissue that passes may look dark red. The sac contains the baby (about the size of a bean), and upon looking closely, where the eyes, arms, and legs were forming can be seen.
The blood clots passing are dark red and look like jelly. The sac is inside one of the clots. A baby is fully formed at this time with the toes and fingers. The blood clots have a part of the placenta inside them.
The women having the miscarriage at 16-20 weeks, often termed as ‘late miscarriage’, will pass the vaginal bleeding in the form of large shiny red clots containing the pregnancy tissues. It is painful and may feel like labour pain. The baby might be fully formed and may fit in your palm.
Unfortunately, there’s nothing that can be done as a treatment for a miscarriage. However, medication or medical procedure D&C can be performed to prevent heavy blood loss or infection.
The pregnancy tissue will pass as the uterus empties itself, which may take up to 3 to 4 weeks.
Finding an answer to the question ‘What does a miscarriage look like’ may not provide you with a happy feeling. And in such a case, there shall take place not only physical changes but also psychological changes. A miscarriage can be both physically and emotionally painful.
While you feel weakness and pain, you also feel various feelings ranging from grief, sadness, and depression. Your body shall recover in a couple of weeks but reach out to someone to talk and grieve.
