Miscarriage

• loss before 20 weeks (five months) of

pregnancy What can you expect after a miscarriage?
• happens in one out of every six The loss of a pregnancy often involves more
pregnancies than a physical loss of a baby. There may be
• may happen suddenly without warning, many ways to react to a miscarriage. You may
but can happen slowly • You can expect some bleeding or feel very upset or have little reaction.
staining for a week or more. You may feel . . .
What happens when you miscarry? • If you are not allergic, you can take • Shock
Each miscarriage is different and doesn’t fit a Acetaminophen (Tylenol® ) every 3-4 • Confusion
special pattern. A miscarriage is a very hours for low abdominal pain. • Low self-esteem
premature birth. The pain you feel during a • Your breasts may be tender and your • Denial
miscarriage may be similar to childbirth. You milk may come in. Wear a support bra if • Guilt and/or self-blame
may spot, bleed, or have cramps. The amount of your breasts are uncomfortable. • Frustration
bleeding may scare you. If you are worried, it is • Cramping may continue for several days. • Relief
important that you go to emergency at the • Sadness and/or depression
nearest hospital and/or call your doctor’s office. When should you call your doctor? • Physical symptoms related to hormone
Sometimes tissue may need to be removed to Call your doctor if you have: changes
prevent infection or further bleeding. You may
need medication for that. Afterward, you may • heavy bleeding Is grief normal after a miscarriage?
need to have extra fluids that will be given • bleeding that increases or continues for It is as normal not to be upset as it is to be very
through an intravenous needle. You may also several weeks upset by a miscarriage. There is a wide range of
have pain, if so don’t be afraid to ask for • bleeding that turns bright red feelings after a miscarriage. Some feel sad and
something to help. are hurt by others who do not think they should
• a discharge that has a bad odour or is
feel so sad. Others may feel little sadness.
yellow or green
What happens to your body after a Emotional healing is as important as physical
• a fever (more than 38°C or 100°F),
miscarriage? healing. There is no right or wrong way to move
pelvic pain or unusual cramping
After a miscarriage, the body takes weeks to through your feelings.
return to normal. Besides your emotional
Helpful Hints
reactions, you will also have hormonal What are your chances of having another
responses. Your body will go through the same • Take care of yourself, don’t expect too
miscarriage? much
changes as you would with a full-term delivery. Losing a pregnancy usually doesn’t mean that
You may have mood swings, difficulty • Allow yourself to grieve, if grief is what
you can’t have more children. It also doesn’t
concentrating and sleeping, tire more easily than you feel
mean that there is something wrong with your
usual, and/or feel irritable. Your appetite and • Exercise
health. In a small number of women who have
energy levels may change. • Eat well
more than one miscarriage, there may be medical
• Cut down or stop smoking
reasons which may require investigation by your
• Cut down or stop drinking alcohol
• You can usually go back to your normal doctor.
• Keep a journal
daily work unless told otherwise by your
• Consider a memorial, e.g., plant a tree
doctor.
(
• Do not douche, use a tampon, or have
intercourse for at least a week.
• Talk with others who have had a similar Suggested Reading
experience Empty Cradle/Broken Heart: Surviving the
• Read books and literature about Death of Your Baby. Deborah Davis (1996).
miscarriage ISBN 1-155591-0302-4. Fulcrum Publications.
• Talk with your partner, family and
friends When Men Grieve: Why Men Grieve Differently
• Don’t make major decisions & How You Can Help. Elizabeth Levang.
• Get enough rest (1998).
• Consider counselling if you plan to get ISBN 1-57749-078-9. Fairview Press.
pregnant again.
Trying Again: A Guide to Pregnancy After
What about your partner/family? Miscarriage, Stillbirth and Infant Loss. (2000).
Ann Douglas & John R. Sussman. ISBN 0-
Early
Your partner and family may also be upset.
They may not be able to tell you how they are
feeling because they are in pain and feel sad.
87833-182-4. Taylor Trade Publishing.

Internet:
Pregnancy Loss
Often, they may feel left out, helpless, powerless
and useless. They may also feel angry, guilty or
<
<
www.sidelines.org/loss.htm
www.aplacetoremember.com
(Miscarriage)
frustrated because they don’t know how to help.
< www.nationalshareoffice.com
(Information Pamphlets)
It may be hard for someone who has never lost a
baby to understand what you are going through.
Often, people do not know what to say to you.
When trying to make you feel better they may
say things that upset you or make you angry.
Most people do not want to be insensitive; they
just do not understand the impact the miscarriage
has had on you.
Your library, Family Resource Centre or
The best way to deal with people is to be honest
Public Health Nursing office may have books
and tell them what you need. Instead of saying,
and videos for you to borrow.
“You just don’t understand how I feel!” say,
“I’m having a bad day, and it really hurts my
feelings when you say things like that.”
For those who have had
Where can you get help?
Other than your health care provider, partner, an early pregnancy loss
close friends, and family, there are other people "Adapted with permission of the Pregnancy and Infant Loss
Committee of the Annapolis Valley District Health
willing to help you. For some, clergy can be a
Authority. 2006" and Anne Fraser (June 2006)
great comfort. You can also find on-line
organizations designed to help grieving parents. Brochure prepared by Anne Fraser, RN, BScN, MBA
Dalhousie University School of Nursing 1998