How long should one stay in bed for a threatened miscarriage?

Written by Du Rui Xia
Obstetrics
Updated on January 23, 2025
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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.)

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Written by Zhang Lu
Obstetrics
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Threatened miscarriage how many days naturally miscarry

Threatened miscarriage refers to the occurrence of symptoms suggesting a possible miscarriage, such as severe abdominal pain or vaginal bleeding. However, a threatened miscarriage does not always progress to an actual miscarriage. With appropriate treatment and oral medication, the majority of embryos can be saved during a threatened miscarriage. If the quality of the embryo is poor and the symptoms of threatened miscarriage continue to worsen, it may develop into a natural miscarriage. However, there is no specific clinical guideline on how many days it may take for a natural miscarriage to occur following a threatened miscarriage. If the symptoms of threatened miscarriage are mild, with only slight abdominal pain or vaginal bleeding, it may not lead to a natural miscarriage, or it might take up to a week to occur naturally. If the symptoms of threatened miscarriage are severe, featuring intense abdominal pain or heavy vaginal bleeding, it generally may result in a natural miscarriage within one to two days.

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Written by Zhang Lu
Obstetrics
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Is a threatened miscarriage the same as a biochemical pregnancy?

Threatened miscarriage and biochemical pregnancy are two important terms used to describe the state of pregnancy in early stages, but they are two completely different physiological states. First, threatened miscarriage refers to a situation where an intrauterine pregnancy has been confirmed and the gestational sac is unstable or affected by external stimuli, showing symptoms such as lower abdominal pain and spotting. These symptoms merely indicate signs of a possible miscarriage, and with timely treatment, it is possible to revert to a normal pregnancy. Second, a biochemical pregnancy is a type of natural miscarriage. It refers to early pregnancy where the HCG levels are relatively low, no clear gestational sac has formed, and upon re-examination, the HCG levels are found to decrease quickly, accompanied only by minimal vaginal bleeding.

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Written by Zhang Lu
Obstetrics
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Intercourse during a threatened miscarriage can have what effect?

Threatened miscarriage refers to the symptoms indicating an impending miscarriage, often characterized by significant lower abdominal pain and vaginal bleeding. During a threatened miscarriage, intense activities should be avoided, appropriate rest is necessary, and sexual intercourse should also be avoided. Engaging in sexual intercourse during a threatened miscarriage can cause the following harms: First, intercourse can stimulate the uterus, causing lower abdominal pain, which can lead to uterine contractions. These contractions can stimulate the gestational sac, and in severe cases, can trigger a spontaneous miscarriage. Second, sexual activity can stimulate the vagina and alter the vaginal flora, which sometimes can lead to vaginitis. Vaginitis can spread through the cervix into the uterine cavity, sometimes causing endometritis, affecting the development of the gestational sac and in severe cases can also lead to a spontaneous miscarriage. Therefore, it is crucial not to engage in sexual intercourse when symptoms of a threatened miscarriage appear.

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Written by Zhang Lu
Obstetrics
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Can a threatened miscarriage have a transvaginal ultrasound?

Whether or not to perform a transvaginal ultrasound during a threatened miscarriage mainly depends on the symptoms of the threatened miscarriage. A threatened miscarriage refers to the signs of a potential miscarriage, with common symptoms including vaginal bleeding and severe abdominal pain. If there is significant abdominal pain, a transvaginal ultrasound can be performed to determine the position of the gestational sac, or an abdominal ultrasound can also be done. If there is vaginal bleeding, performing a transvaginal ultrasound in this case may aggravate stimulation to the uterus and can easily lead to vaginal inflammation. In such cases, an abdominal ultrasound is generally recommended. Therefore, a transvaginal ultrasound can be performed if there is only abdominal pain during a threatened miscarriage, but it should not be done if there is concurrent vaginal bleeding.

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Written by Wang Xiu Mei
Obstetrics
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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.