Threatened abortion


What are the symptoms of a threatened miscarriage?
When threatened miscarriage occurs, pregnant women often experience vaginal bleeding and abdominal pain. However, at this time, the fetal heartbeat and embryo are generally still in good condition, and timely treatment to preserve the pregnancy can be effective. But if the patient experiences a significant amount of bleeding and severe pain, accompanied by backache and a sense of heaviness, it may indicate a threatened miscarriage. It is advised to go to a hospital for an ultrasound examination and to have blood tests to check progesterone levels to determine if treatment to preserve the pregnancy is needed. If, after such treatment, vaginal bleeding stops and abdominal pain disappears, then the pregnancy can typically continue.


What to do about a threatened miscarriage?
Threatened miscarriage refers to the occurrence of a small amount of vaginal bleeding before 28 weeks of pregnancy, often dark red, with no pregnancy tissue expelled, and may include pain in the lower abdomen and back. During a gynecological examination, the cervix is closed and the membrane is unruptured, and the pregnancy can continue if the symptoms disappear after rest and treatment. In handling a threatened miscarriage, it is first necessary to analyze the causes of the miscarriage. Common causes include embryonic factors, mainly chromosomal abnormalities. If the miscarriage is caused by chromosomal abnormalities, it is mostly unavoidable. Maternal factors, such as systemic diseases in pregnant women, include increased blood pressure, severe anemia, high fever, etc. Pregnancy can mostly continue with treatment of the cause. Abnormalities in the reproductive organs, such as uterine malformations, submucous and intramural fibroids, adenomyosis, etc., can lead to miscarriage. With appropriate treatment to preserve the pregnancy, there is hope to continue the pregnancy. If due to endocrine abnormalities, such as luteal phase deficiency or hypothyroidism, supplementing with progesterone and thyroid hormones can mostly allow the pregnancy to continue. Identifying the cause of a miscarriage is extremely important, as different causes can lead to different pregnancy outcomes.


Symptoms of threatened miscarriage and missed abortion
In the event of threatened miscarriage or fetal developmental arrest, the first symptom to appear is vaginal bleeding, which is a very important sign. Mainly, the uterus expels the fetus that has stopped developing based on the principle of natural selection. Another symptom that may occur after embryonic arrest is pain in the lower abdomen, which is also common. Furthermore, after embryonic arrest, the hormones secreted in the body will gradually decrease, leading to a reduction or disappearance of early pregnancy reactions such as nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, and breast tenderness in pregnant women. It is crucial to address fetal arrest promptly and to regularly conduct prenatal check-ups during pregnancy to monitor the health of the fetus.


Threatened miscarriage occurs in how many months?
Threatened miscarriage mostly occurs during the first three months of pregnancy because, at this time, the embryo's development is still unstable, and its connection to the mother is not secure, making it susceptible to various factors that might lead to a threatened miscarriage. In the first three months, before week 12 of pregnancy, which is considered the early stage, special attention must be given. First and foremost, one should not overexert themselves and must ensure adequate rest and sufficient sleep. Sexual intercourse should be avoided during early pregnancy as well as foods that might stimulate uterine contractions, such as hawthorn and coix seed. Generally, paying attention to nutritional intake and avoiding intense physical activities should largely prevent any major issues.


What should be done for a threatened miscarriage?
Threatened miscarriage, as the name suggests, is a precursor to miscarriage, typically manifesting in several ways: first, a feeling of heaviness or pain in the lower abdomen; second, vaginal bleeding. The presence of these two symptoms often indicates signs of a miscarriage. Regarding the management of threatened miscarriage, whether to proceed with treatment to preserve the pregnancy primarily depends on the severity of the condition and the value of preserving the pregnancy. First, for minor cases of threatened miscarriage, if there is only slight bleeding and mild abdominal pain, medication can be used to inhibit uterine contractions and reduce bleeding. Second, if there is significant vaginal bleeding and severe abdominal pain, and if the embryo has already been confirmed to have ceased developing, preserving the pregnancy is generally not recommended. It is advised to terminate the pregnancy promptly or let it proceed naturally. (Medication should be used under the guidance of a doctor.)


Is a threatened miscarriage considered a miscarriage?
Threatened miscarriage is not actually a miscarriage. If handled properly, it is possible to successfully preserve the pregnancy. However, if not treated in time, it could develop into an inevitable miscarriage. During a threatened miscarriage, the fetal heartbeat and embryonic tissue are generally normal, and there may be minor vaginal bleeding or slight lower abdominal pain. At this time, it is crucial to go to the hospital for an ultrasound and have blood tests for progesterone and human chorionic gonadotropin. If the fetal heartbeat and embryo are normal, then treatment to preserve the pregnancy is needed. At this time, it is important to rest, reduce activity, and avoid any vigorous exercise.


Can you eat chili peppers with a threatened miscarriage?
When a threatened miscarriage occurs, pregnant women should not eat chili peppers. This is because chili peppers are spicy and stimulating foods, and consuming them can easily lead to abdominal pain, diarrhea, and reflexively cause uterine contractions, which may result in miscarriage. After a threatened miscarriage occurs, it is essential to pay attention to diet. It is recommended to eat light, easy-to-digest foods, such as thin porridge, soft noodles, or soft bread. Additionally, it is important to increase the intake of fresh vegetables and fruits. These supplements of vitamins and proteins can enhance the immune capacity of pregnant women and strengthen their resistance, which is also helpful for successful pregnancy maintenance.


How long should one stay in bed for a threatened miscarriage?
Improper management of an impending miscarriage could potentially lead to an inevitable miscarriage. Therefore, it is crucial to rest during this period, preferably staying in bed. However, the specific duration of bed rest depends on the patient's clinical symptoms; for instance, if the woman experiences only minor vaginal bleeding and mild abdominal pain. Typically, through timely conservative treatment for maintaining pregnancy, taking progesterone orally or receiving progesterone injections can quickly stop the bleeding and alleviate lower abdominal pain. Generally, the patient can get out of bed three days after the symptoms disappear, but if there is still significant bleeding, continued bed rest is necessary until the bleeding stops for one week. (The use of medications should be conducted under the guidance of a doctor.)


How long does threatened miscarriage require bed rest?
Threatened miscarriage generally requires bed rest for about a week. A threatened miscarriage isn't an inevitable or natural miscarriage and may not necessarily result in the loss of the pregnancy. If the bleeding is minor and timely measures are taken to preserve the pregnancy, most cases won't progress to inevitable miscarriage. However, if measures to preserve the pregnancy are unsuccessful and not taken promptly, and if the bleeding is heavy and abdominal pain severe from the start, it will generally result in a miscarriage naturally within one to three days. During the treatment to preserve the pregnancy, it is crucial for the patient to rest in bed as much as possible, minimize physical activity to reduce the chances of miscarriage, and strictly avoid sexual activity to reduce stimulation to the uterus and fetus. Dietary nutrition should be increased, including more proteins, vitamin-rich foods, and high-fiber foods. It is important to actively prevent constipation, avoid spicy and stimulating foods, as well as cold, greasy foods, and maintain stable emotions.


Can you take a bath with a threatened miscarriage?
When a threatened miscarriage occurs, it is not advisable to bathe, as the threatened miscarriage could lead to an inevitable miscarriage, so it is essential to undergo treatment to support the pregnancy. At this time, it's crucial to rest in bed as much as possible, only getting up for bathroom needs, and to stay as still as possible. Sexual activity should be prohibited, and it's important to maintain emotional stability and not be overly anxious. Nutritional intake should be adequate, with an emphasis on easily digestible foods and a moderate consumption of fresh vegetables and fruits. If necessary, progesterone can be used under the guidance of a doctor to support the pregnancy. Activities can be resumed once everything stabilizes, and bathing is permissible, but care must be taken to avoid intense physical activities and excessive time spent bathing.