Sometimes things don't go as we want to or plan for and a pregnancy is abrupted. Here we try to give you some support and guidance when this happens.

Fertility


## What is a late miscarriage?
A miscarriage that occurs after week 12 up to week 22 is considered a late miscarriage. After week 22, it is no longer classified as a miscarriage but rather as intrauterine foetal  death.

## How common is late miscarriage?
Late miscarriage is uncommon after week 12.

## How do you know if you have experienced a late miscarriage?
Late miscarriage often begins with pain in the lower part of the abdomen, above the pubic bone, or in the lower back. It may be felt around the entire pelvis and may also radiate on the inside of the thighs. Many describe it as strong menstrual pain, which can be persistent or come and go like cramps. If you are well into pregnancy, it may feel like labor contractions. Often, it also starts with heavy bleeding, a fresh red bleeding that may contain clots. It may also begin with the rupture of amniotic fluid. If you have started feeling the baby move, the first symptoms may be the cessation of fetal movements. Contact your midwife or healthcare provider for assistance if the bleeding is heavy, meaning you bleed through a large pad in less than an hour, or if you have difficulty managing the pain. If possible, it's good to have someone by your side to support you. For pain relief, you can use paracetamol and apply heat in the form of a warm shower or a hot water bottle. Sometimes, the pain may require seeking medical attention for more effective and stronger pain relief than what is available at home.
In most cases, the body expels the entire pregnancy on its own, but sometimes a procedure called scraping may be necessary to ensure the uterus is completely empty. Bleeding after a miscarriage should gradually decrease and then disappear.

## How to move on after a late miscarriage?
Many women who experience a miscarriage tend to blame themselves although this almost always not the case. It is essential to remember that you cannot cause a miscarriage through stress, exercise, or lifting heavy objects. You also cannot induce a miscarriage by flying an airplane. What you can do during pregnancy is to take care of yourself as best as you can: eat nutritious and varied food, exercise, rest when you are tired, avoid smoking, drinking alcohol, or using drugs. Taking extra folic acid may have a protective effect, as folic acid reduces the risk of abnormalities in the embryo. Be cautious with medications and consult with your midwife or doctor if you need to take any medication. Beyond that, you can only try to trust your body and believe that it will do what it needs to do.

*Source*
- Ajne, G., Blomberg, M. & Carlsson Y. (2021). *Obstetrik*. Studentlitteratur.
- 1177.se

A miscarriage that occurs after week 12 up to week 22 is considered a late miscarriage. After week 2...

Late Miscarriage

AdobeStock 616515652

Going through a miscarriage is both physically and emotionally challenging. Different individuals react differently and, as a result, may need varying amounts of time to cope with the loss of the expected child. There are no strict rules for processing a miscarriage; however, there are some guidelines that can be helpful to focus on, such as the well-being of the body and the state of mind.

## Be mindful of the following
If you experience fever, notice a foul odor or an increase in the amount of bleeding or brownish discharge, or feel pain in the lower part of your abdomen, it may be a sign of infection in the uterus. In such cases, seek medical attention urgently. Infections are usually treated with antibiotics.

## Things to avoid after a miscarriage
As long as you are bleeding, your uterus is still in a healing phase, and there is an increased risk of infection. Therefore, it is advisable to avoid:
- Taking baths in tubs, lakes, seas, or pools
- Using tampons
- Having sex without a condom

Experiencing a miscarriage does not diminish your chances of conceiving again. After a miscarriage, the body often adjusts quickly, and it is possible to become pregnant again after a few weeks.

Tips for coping when it feels difficult:
- Talk to someone, whether it's your partner, a friend, or your midwife
- Keep a journal
- Engage in activities you enjoy (to the extent that your body and mind can handle), such as going to a restaurant, treating yourself to a massage, or going on a weekend getaway

## Be kind to yourself
Many women who experience a miscarriage may blame themselves. It's important to remember that you cannot cause a miscarriage by stressing, exercising, or lifting heavy objects. You also cannot induce a miscarriage by flying in an airplane.
The only thing you can do while expecting a child is to take care of yourself as best as you can; eat nutritious and varied food, exercise, rest when you're tired, avoid smoking, drinking alcohol, or using drugs. Taking extra folic acid can have a protective effect, as it reduces the risk of abnormalities in the embryo. Be cautious with medications and consult with your midwife or doctor if you need to take any medication. Beyond that, you can only try to trust your body to do what it needs to.

## It's okay to feel all emotions
For most women, a miscarriage is associated with various emotions, and all feelings are valid. If you feel grief, allow yourself to grieve. The body may also physically mourn after a miscarriage. If you or your partner need counseling support, there is often a counselor connected to the midwifery clinic. Do not hesitate to seek help if needed.

## Recurrent miscarriages
If you experience repeated miscarriages, an investigation is usually conducted to determine if there is any cause for the miscarriages and if they can be addressed. If you have had one or more miscarriages before this pregnancy, it is not uncommon to experience increased anxiety that may persist until the child is born, and you can see with your own eyes that everything is fine.

*Source*
- Ajne, G., Blomberg, M. & Carlsson Y. (2021). *Obstetrik*. Studentlitteratur.
- 1177.se

Going through a miscarriage is both physically and emotionally challenging. Different individuals re...

Practical tips after miscarriage

AdobeStock 531904166


## What causes early miscarriage?
The most common cause of an early miscarriage is that there was something wrong with the foetus, leading the body to expel the pregnancy to start anew. Miscarriage can also result from an infection or an underlying medical condition that increases the risk of miscarriage. For the most part, the body manages to expel the entire pregnancy on its own, but sometimes a procedure called scraping may be necessary to ensure the uterus is completely empty.

Bleeding after a miscarriage should gradually decrease and then disappear completely. If you develop a fever, if the bleeding or brownish discharge starts to smell bad or increases in volume, or if you have pain in the lower part of your abdomen, it may be a sign of an infection in the uterus. In this case, seek emergency care. The infection is usually treated with antibiotics.

## What does an early miscarriage look like?
The first sign is usually bleeding similar to menstruation. However, in early pregnancy, bleeding is common without indicating a problem. During a miscarriage, bleeding continues until the uterus has expelled the entire pregnancy. Unfortunately, miscarriage cannot be prevented. Up to as many as 15–20% of all pregnancies result in a miscarriage.

The bleeding is often heavier than a regular period, and blood clots, so-called "clots," may be present. Sometimes tissue remnants can also be seen. Many women also experience severe menstrual cramps. Emergency care is not necessary, and you can wait and contact your midwife/maternity care for advice. If a miscarriage is occurring or has already begun in the early part of your pregnancy, unfortunately, there is nothing that can be done to stop or prevent it. Most of the time, the body manages it on its own without the need for medical attention.

## When should I seek medical care?
If, in addition to bleeding, you have severe abdominal pain in the lower part of your abdomen or on one side of your abdomen, or if you bleed and feel that your general condition is worsening, seek emergency care. Bleeding combined with pain on one side of the abdomen may be a sign of an ectopic pregnancy (the egg has not implanted in the uterus but outside, usually in the fallopian tube). This can quickly become a life-threatening condition if not treated promptly, as the fallopian tube may rupture, causing significant bleeding inside the abdomen.

## Support after an early miscarriage
For most women, a miscarriage is associated with various emotions, and all feelings are valid. If you feel grief, allow yourself to grieve. The body can also mourn physically after a miscarriage. If you or your partner need counseling support, there is often a counselor connected to the midwife/maternity care. Do not hesitate to seek help if needed. If you experience repeated miscarriages, an investigation is usually conducted to try to determine if there is any cause for the miscarriages and if so, whether it can be addressed. If you have had one or more miscarriages before this pregnancy, increased anxiety is not uncommon and may persist until the baby is born and you can see with your own eyes that everything is going well.

## When can I try to conceive again after early miscarriage?
It may be possible to conceive again just a few weeks after a miscarriage; the body is wise and adjusts quickly. For you, it's about what feels best. Perhaps you need some time to grieve, or maybe trying to conceive again as soon as possible feels right for you. We are all different.

If you have had an infection or other complications associated with the miscarriage, we recommend discussing with your doctor what is most suitable for you.

*Source*
- Ajne, G., Blomberg, M. & Carlsson Y. (2021). *Obstetrik*. Studentlitteratur.
- 1177.se

The most common cause of an early miscarriage is that there was something wrong with the foetus, lea...

Early Miscarriage

AdobeStock 649574075 edit


### Early Miscarriage
A miscarriage that occurs before week 12 is the most common and often due to a genetic or chromosomal abnormality in the foetus. Read more in the article Early Miscarriage.

### Late Miscarriage
This is defined as a miscarriage that occurs after week 12 up to week 22. After week 22, it is no longer considered a miscarriage but is referred to as intrauterine foetal death. The cause is not always clear, but it may be due to an infection or weakness in the cervix (the neck of the uterus).

### Missed Abortion
A missed abortion,  also known as a retained miscarriage means that the miscarriage is delayed, and it takes time, sometimes several weeks, before the body expels the foetus. This is noticed by the onset of bleeding, or it may be discovered during an ultrasound examination. Often, pregnancy symptoms persist even though the foetus is no longer alive.

### Recurrent Miscarriage
The definition of recurrent miscarriage usually means that you have had three or more consecutive miscarriages. The recommendation here is to contact your healthcare provider so that you can undergo an investigation to try to find the reason for the miscarriages.

A miscarriage that occurs before week 12 is the most common and often due to a genetic or chromosoma...

Different Forms of Miscarriage

AdobeStock 656299801 edit

Unfortunately, miscarriage cannot be prevented. Up to as many as 15-20% of all pregnancies result in a miscarriage. The first sign is usually bleeding similar to menstruation. However, in early pregnancy, bleeding is common without indicating a problem. During a miscarriage, bleeding continues until the uterus has expelled the entire pregnancy.

The bleeding is often heavier than a regular period, and blood clots, also known as "clots," may be present. Sometimes tissue remnants can be observed. Many women also experience severe menstrual cramps during the bleeding. Emergency care is not necessary, and you can wait and contact your midwife/maternity care for advice. If a miscarriage is occurring or has already begun in the early part of your pregnancy, unfortunately, there is nothing that can be done to stop or prevent it. Most of the time, the body manages it on its own without the need for medical attention.

However, if, in addition to bleeding, you have severe abdominal pain in the lower part or on one side of the abdomen, or if you bleed and feel that your general condition is worsening, you should seek emergency care. Bleeding combined with pain on one side of the abdomen may be a sign of ectopic pregnancy, where the egg has implanted outside the uterus (usually in the fallopian tube). This can quickly become a life-threatening condition if not treated promptly, as the fallopian tube may rupture, causing significant bleeding inside the abdomen.

## Missed abortion
Missed abortion, also known as retained miscarriage, means that the miscarriage is delayed, and it takes time, sometimes several weeks, before the body expels the foetus. This is noticed by the onset of bleeding, or it may be discovered during an ultrasound examination. Often, pregnancy symptoms persist even though the foetus is no longer alive.

## Causes of miscarriage
If bleeding leads to a miscarriage, the most common cause is that there was something wrong with the foetus, prompting the body to expel the pregnancy to start anew. Miscarriage can also result from an infection or an underlying medical condition that increases the risk of miscarriage. In most cases, the body expels the entire pregnancy on its own, but sometimes a procedure called scraping may be necessary to ensure the uterus is completely empty. Bleeding after a miscarriage should gradually decrease and then disappear completely.

If you experience repeated miscarriages, an investigation is usually conducted to try to determine if there is any cause for the miscarriages and if so, whether it can be addressed. If you have had one or more miscarriages before this pregnancy, increased anxiety is not uncommon and may persist until the baby is born and you can see with your own eyes that everything is going well.

## Can I reduce the risk of miscarriage?
It's important to remember that you cannot cause a miscarriage by stressing, exercising, or lifting heavy objects. You also cannot induce a miscarriage by flying an airplane.

However, when you are expecting a child, there are things you can do to take care of yourself as best as you can, such as:
- Eating a nutritious and varied diet
- Exercising regularly
- Resting when you are tired
- Avoiding smoking, alcohol, or drug use
- Being cautious with medications and consulting with your midwife or doctor if you need to take any medication
- Taking extra folic acid, as it may have a protective effect and reduces the risk of malformations in the embryo

*Source*
- Ajne, G., Blomberg, M. & Carlsson Y. (2021). Obstetrik. Studentlitteratur.
- 1177.se

Unfortunately, miscarriage cannot be prevented. Up to as many as 15-20% of all pregnancies result in...

Miscarriage

River-Birth-Story-18

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