Top Health Tips on Coping With a Miscarriage

Recurrent miscarriage is a condition when there have been three or more successive pregnancy losses. It is different from infertility as infertility is the inability to conceive. For many cases, the cause of a recurrent miscarriage has not always been found. A number of factors can cause recurrent miscarriages of which some are treatable. It may not always be possible to identify a cause for recurrent miscarriage in a couple even after extensive research and treatment procedures. Some of the common causes of recurrent miscarriage are described below:

1. Chromosomal abnormalities
Incompatible chromosomes can result in pregnancy losses. When an egg and a sperm meet, of which one of them is faulty, they can't line up properly resulting in chromosomal abnormality. Such conditions lead to miscarriages.

2. Uterine abnormalities or Incompetent cervixes
Miscarriages occur if the uterus is abnormally shaped since the embryo is not properly implanted or even if it gets implanted, it may not get sufficient nourishment to survive. If the woman has a weak cervix, it cannot hold the developing embryo, leading to miscarriage.

3. Immunologic disorders
Under rare cases, the embryo itself is not accepted by the body. Antiphospholipid antibodies are antibodies which attack self-tissues such as embryos and prevent them from building up. This leads to miscarriages.

4. Untreated thyroid problems
Conditions such as thyroid or uncontrolled diabetes result in uterine conditions which make it tough for the embryos to survive.

5. Polycystic ovary syndrome
Women with polycystic ovary syndrome tend to have high levels of male hormones which result in irregular menstruation and ovulation. This can prevent the lining of the endometrium from maturing that is required for holding the embryo.

6. Bacterial infections
There may be a presence of a number of micro-organisms inside the reproductive tract that may be harmless for the person. But there may be certain bacteria lined up in the reproductive tract which can prevent the development of an embryo, thus leading to miscarriages.

7. Lifestyle
Smoking and drinking are harmful lifestyle habits which may increase the chances of miscarriages to a great extent. It is always advised to avoid smoking or drinking when you wish to conceive. Other lifestyle conditions, such as working in certain environments like hospital environments, farms, laboratories, etc, may lead to miscarriages; however, the exact reason has not been identified yet.

If you want to have a safe pregnancy by curtailing all sorts of complications, then you have to promptly respond to warning bells. There are certain warning symptoms that should not be neglected at all as that might put your pregnancy in danger.

Bleeding

This kind of situation cannot be ignored as that often leads to serious issues like placental abruption or miscarriage. In this case, you are definitely in need of the assistance of any expert midwife.

Swollen face or hands

Slightly swollen face or hands in pregnancy are normal, but if you observe excessive puffiness, especially on your feet and ankles, then it is a warning sign as it might lead to toxaemia or PIH. Therefore, consulting a doctor is very much needed in this regard.

Abdominal pain

Round-ligament pain is quite normal, and you do not have to worry about the same. But if the pain is accompanied by bleeding, then the danger of miscarriage might come into being, and thus you should be very much alert about the same.

Blurry vision

Both blurry vision and dizziness are the commonest pregnancy symptoms. But if they get increased suddenly, visit your doctor.

Itching

Itching is common during pregnancy mostly due to stretching of the skin. Your skin also becomes dry. But if it continues for long, then you should check the same with your doctor for avoiding liver disorder.

Fever

Exposure to flu and cold viruses increases during pregnancy, as a result of which fever occurs. But if the fever lasts for more than 48 hours, then viral conditions can be expected, which are pretty dangerous.

Unwanted back-pain

Normal pain in pregnancy is alright, but excessive pain might indicate bladder or kidney infections, preterm labour, miscarriage or cyst. All these conditions should be essentially avoided to ensure a healthy
pregnancy.

Gushing of fluid

If you are not in labour, but are feeling wet constantly, then it is better to see a doctor. There might be a great possibility of breaking of water, and this is quite dangerous in the advanced stage of pregnancy.

Less movement of baby

Experiencing baby kicking is quite natural during pregnancy, and if stops suddenly, then there is something wrong. Kicking patterns should be followed and then only you will be able to realize whether the baby is normal or not.

If you are facing any of the above symptoms, then immediately visit your doctor.

The term miscarriage is used to denote spontaneous termination of pregnancy before a fetus develops. In other words, miscarriage is denoted as spontaneous abortion in medical terms. Abortion is a condition in which fetus is expelled from the womb and this normally happens within the first 20 weeks of gestation.

What are the causes of sudden miscarriage?
Causes of an abortion or miscarriage may be due to fetal or maternal complications. Some of the fetal factors include:

Unwanted pregnancy
Abnormal development of fetus, either due to abnormal chromosomes or teratogenic factors.
Immunological factors
Problems with implantation
Serious health diseases like kidney disease
What are the homeopathic treatments for abortion?
Homeopathic medication system is one of the most popular and widely accepted holistic medication approaches used all over the world. The choice of remedy for any disease is based on individualized symptoms and lifestyle habits using a holistic method. In such a way, a state of complete wellness can be achieved by eliminating all the signs and symptoms that the patient is suffering from. The main objective of homeopathy is not just to manage the adverse effects of abortion.

Some of the homeopathic remedies that are beneficial in treating abortion or miscarriage are given below:

Aconite Nap: Helpful in treating anxiety, excitement or fear experienced before the procedure.
Apis Mel: Medication used during the 3rd month of pregnancy
Aletris Far: Treats conditions of typical abortion that is done due to anemia or weakness or other conditions affecting the mother
Arnica Montana: To manage abortion that is done after an accident to treat the mother
Baptisia: Used in treating abortion is done due to shock, fever or mental depression. Often used for women under the age of 21.
Sepia: Used when there is an abortion during fifth to seventh month of pregnancy.
Thuja: Used to treat women who have a history of gonorrhea.
Syphilinum: Used for treatment when there the abortion is done due to syphilis.

A miscarriage can have adverse effects on both physical and emotional health. The impact of one such event can last for a very long time and harm your social behavior and thus, relationships. It is important to understand that in most cases, it is no one's fault. A number of things can go wrong naturally during the development of the fetus and so, the feelings of guilt, shame and anger are best avoided.

Here are the common causes responsible for miscarriages:

Chromosomal defects: Chromosomal abnormalities are responsible for more than half of the miscarriages around the world. The development conditions like Turner syndrome, cystic fibrosis, Down syndrome etc. can be detected by the system and upon detection, the system often chooses to shut itself down leading to a miscarriage. If the cause of the miscarriage is identified as a chromosomal flaw, then a maternal and fetal specialist or a genetic counsellor can help solve the problem.
Diabetes: Pregnant women develop high levels of blood sugar even if they did not have diabetes mellitus in the past. This condition is known as Gestational diabetes mellitus. It occurs primarily due the changes in the regular hormonal cycles and secretion of pregnancy hormones and can result in a variety of complications, the most severe one being a miscarriage. A miscarriage may also be caused by a chronic diabetic condition.
Thyroid conditions: Both hypothyroidism (low production of thyroid hormones) and hyperthyroidism (high production of thyroid hormones) can be responsible for miscarriages. In case of hypothyroidism, the body produces more of the other hormones in order to make up for the deficiency and this interferes with the reproductive cycle. In case of hypothyroidism, the functionality of the estrogen hormone is compromised due to the over production of other hormones.
Separation of the sperm DNA: The sperm DNA is divided or separated due to a number of possible reasons like radiation therapy, chemotherapy, smoking, overexposure to heat etc. and it does not fertilize the egg properly i.e. the DNA is not delivered efficiently. The eggs can sometimes repair the damage in the DNA but this does not happen, a miscarriage is the likely outcome. The condition in males can be treated depending on the reason for the damage in the sperm.

Abortion is a condition in which fetus is expelled from the womb, and this normally happens within the first 20 weeks of gestation. Abortion is generally classified into two namely threatened abortions, which are carried out by medicines or surgical procedure. On the other hand, the recurring abortions are those occurring because of various medical reasons. There are various types of allopathic procedures to manage abortions. If you are looking for alternate procedure for Abortion - try homeopathy procedure.


The important aspects of these two types of abortions are further explained here:


- Threatened abortions are carried out because of various reasons. It may be because of the general health condition of the women or the women may prefer to terminate the pregnancy for various other reasons. In such cases, instead of going for a surgical procedure you can make use of a natural procedure that induces abortion. One such natural procedure is to look for medicines available under the homeopathic procedure.


- On the other hand, recurring abortion also called as habitual abortion is a case where the women experience two or more miscarriages. In the normal course, women who had two abortions will conceive thereafter. However, for various medical reasons, if there are possibilities of subsequent Abortion - try homeopathy medicines by consulting any of the experienced homoeopathy doctors.


Medicines to deal with both types of abortions:
In short, in case of both threatened and recurring Abortion, you can try homeopathy, which is one of the well-known alternate systems of medicine. For example, if the woman has experienced recurring abortions, the homeopathy physician will prescribe the medicine depending on the general health condition of the woman and the number of abortions she has experienced. In some cases, the homeopathy physician may also consider the family history of the woman before prescribing the medicine.


Medicines for those suffering from infertility:
Apart from this, there are several homeopathy medicines to deal with the problem of infertility both in women and men. In such cases, the homeopathy physician may suggest various kinds of tests before prescribing any medicines. After taking these medicines, if the woman conceives, she can again look for homeopathy. Now she can take appropriate medicines to provide enough nourishment for her and also for the child in her womb.


Follow dosage:
Homeopathy has medicine for pregnancy control and also for terminating the pregnancy. However, every medicine should be taken under the supervision of the homeopathy physician. You should ensure the medicines are taken strictly as per the dosage prescribed by the homeopathy physician.

Conceiving a baby is one of the most joyous experiences for a couple and it can be a healthy one as well if the couple is aware of pre- and post-conception care. While it is true that these days couples are more aware of family planning and pregnancy than they were in the earlier days, it still makes sense to make pre- and post-conception care a part of life when going for a baby.

It is important because:

It helps one get pregnant faster Many times, couples looking to get pregnant think that getting off the pill is sufficient to get pregnant but this is not true. Getting off the pill is just the first step towards conceiving and it has to be supplemented with other steps such as keeping a tab on the ovulation cycle, having intercourse at the most favorable time and with the right technique, eating a nutritious diet, saying no to unhealthy habits such as smoking and drinking and much more. It is only when a couple follows these other steps that the woman can get pregnant and this is why it is important to be aware of these pre-conception care steps as they ensure quicker pregnancy.
It ensures healthy pregnancy The nine months of pregnancy are a delicate time for the mother-to-be and she needs to take care of her health to make sure that her baby is also fine. She needs to eat healthily and abstain from harmful lifestyle activities, before as well as after conceiving. Pre-conception care makes sure that the fetus is healthy right from the beginning. The practice of healthy habits and lifestyle prior to and after conception makes the uterus fit to carry the fetus. It ensures that the mother-to-be is also in the right state of mind and body to sail through the pregnancy.
It minimizes the chance of miscarriage and post-delivery complications Miscarriage is something that creates fear in the minds of women and if they have had a history of abortion then they are even more concerned. However, if they know the necessary things about pre - and post-conception care and follow it, they can minimize the chances of miscarriage and also deliver the baby safely. Also, proper care makes sure there are no birth defects in the child and the mother and the baby are healthy after the delivery.
Basic few blood tests need to be done prior to planning pregnancy so that if any variation found, it can be corrected. Also, those women who are already on certain pills, need to reassure that medications that they are taking are safe.

Pre-conception care is vital not just for women but also for men. The latter also need to follow a healthy lifestyle in order to make conception a reality. Healthy lifestyle results in increased sperm count and healthier sperm, which when fertilizes with the eggs, results in a healthy embryo. As for post-conception care, it rests with the woman but being the father-to-be, the man also needs to be educated and mentally prepared for the pregnancy.

He needs to give emotional support to the mother of his child and look after her during the nine months. So, pre- and post-conception care is for the man as well as the woman and therefore, both should learn and get themselves educated about the same.

Once the reality of the positive pregnancy test sets in, dreaming about the yet-to-arrive begins. Curiosity about gender, options for names, ways to manage, shopping ideas, etc., begin to get discussed. And then totally out of the blue the news comes that there is a miscarriage. This is one of the most depressing phases. It is very important for the family to be around and support each other. While the entire family is upset and hurt over the news, the mother needs most care as there is just not emotional but a huge physical component also to the episode. On the other hand, remember that miscarriages are extremely common, and is no indication of a fertility issue.

The first step would be to diagnose and confirm the miscarriage. After that, depending on whether it was complete or incomplete, some medical intervention might be required. In most cases, medications like misoprostol are given to expel the uterine contents. These help by clearing out the contents in about a couple of days' time. In some cases, a D&C might be required if your doctor suspects that medication will not suffice. This also helps identify if there is any issue in the uterus that could have caused the miscarriage.

While the above take care of the physical part, the emotional component also requires cautious management. Needless to say, this is trickier than the earlier one.

Mourn to your heart's content - When you have nursed a life within you and have lost it, it is very normal to cry for its loss. There would be a mix of emotions - shock, denial, confusion, anger, grief, depression, etc. Take some solace from that fact that this is nature's way of removing unhealthy fetuses.

Get someone to talk to - Need not be your husband, but anybody whom you can talk to without having to watch words. A sibling, a good friend, a close relative - your choice. Make sure you don't pick ones who will judge and sympathize with you. More than sympathy, you need someone understanding and knowledgeable.

Socialize more - As you would have kept to yourself post your positive test, use this time to socialize more and meet friends whom you have not regularly been in touch with. Close family members, your children (if you already have), society groups, movie groups, etc., help to a great extent.

Formal medical counseling: If you are not able to cope with your regular circle of family and friends, try seeking professional advice from counseling.

Spirituality - Whether you believe in temple or churches, spend some time there. Involve in some religious activity if you would like, this helps very often.

As much as it is painful and traumatic, it is not very uncommon or unnatural. Get back on your feet, the sooner you do, the better. If you think you need additional help and would like to consult with me privately, please click on 'Consult'.

What is recurrent miscarriage?

If you have three or more miscarriages in a row, doctors call it recurrent miscarriage. If you have experienced recurrent miscarriage, your GP or midwife will refer you to a gynaecologist. Your gynaecologist will try to identify the reason for your losses.

Having miscarriage after miscarriage may leave you feeling utterly drained of hope. At times, it may be hard to keep trusting in the future. This experience affects every aspect of a woman s life from her mental and emotional health to her physical health and social well-being.

If you can, try to draw comfort from the fact that most women who experience recurrent losses do go on to have a baby. This is especially the case if tests can find no reason for the losses. Six out of 10 women who have had three miscarriages will go on to have a baby in their next pregnancy.

Treatment of Recurrent Pregnancy Loss

Treatment for anatomic abnormalities of the uterus involves surgical restoration through removal of local lesions such as fibroids, scar tissue and endometrial polyps or timely insertion of a cervical cerclage (a stitch placed around the neck of the weakened cervix) or the excision of a uterine septum when indicated.

A thin endometrial lining has been shown to correlate with compromised pregnancy outcome. Often times this will be associated with reduced resistance to blood flow to the endometrium. Such decreased blood flow to the uterus can be improved through treatment with sildenafil (Viagra), Terbutaline and possibly aspirin.

Sildenafil (Viagra) Therapy Viagra has been used successfully to increase uterine blood flow. However, to be effective it must be administered starting as soon as the period stops up until the day of ovulation and it must be administered vaginally (not orally). Viagra in the form of vaginal suppositories given in the dosage of 25 mg four times a day has been shown to increase uterine blood flow as well as thickness of the uterine lining. To date, we have seen significant improvement of the thickness of the uterine lining in about 70% of women treated. Successful pregnancy resulted in 42% of women who responded to the Viagra. It should be remembered that most of these women had previously experienced repeated IVF failures

Terbutaline this is a medication that relaxes the muscle in the uterine wall and so permits improved hormone delivery to the endometrium. The use of Terbutaline will often cause an increase in heart rate. It should not be prescribed to women who have irregular heart beats (arrhythmias), and women who have decreased cardiac reserve.

Aspirin this is an antiprostaglandin that improves blood flow to the endometrium. It is administered at a dosage of 81mg orally, daily from the beginning of the cycle until ovulation.

Selective Immunotherapy Using Intralipid, heparin, aspirin and corticosteroid

Many causes of pregnancy loss or failure can be treated with immunotherapy comprising combinations of aspirin and heparin and corticosteroids (dexamethasone or prednisone) and Intralipid (IL) to regulate increased level of Natural Killer Cell Activation (NKa). Achievement of optimal success with Intralipid/corticosteroid therapy requires that the treatment be initiated well before ovulation takes place (about 7-14 days prior to anticipated implantation). Given the fact that only 10-15% of natural cycles (with or without the use of insemination and/or fertility drugs) will result in a pregnancy, it follows that repeated administration of Intralipid will be required in most cases before a pregnancy will occur. IVF achieves pregnancy rates that are often 2-3 times higher. This often makes IVF a treatment of choice in cases of immunologic recurrent pregnancy loss.

Role of IVF

Preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD) a procedure whereby the embryo can be tested for genetic or structural chromosomal abnormalities requires the use of IVF to select the best embryo(s) for transfer to the uterus. In cases of structural chromosomal (translocations) egg or sperm donation is often another option worth considering.

In those cases where due to intractable anatomical or alloimmune dysfunction IVF repeatedly is unsuccessful or is not an option, Gestational Surrogacy might represent the only recourse other than adoption.
If a couple with Recurrent Pregnancy Loss is open to all of the diagnostic and treatment options referred to above, a live birth rate of 70% 80% is ultimately achievable.

Hi,

I am Dr. Gurmeet Kaur, Obstetrician, and Gynaecologist, Noida. Today I will discuss with you recurrent pregnancy loss. A lot of couple facing this issue. They even have 2nd-trimester losses. What is recurrent pregnancy loss? 2 or more abortion within 20 weeks is known as recurrent pregnancy loss. It actually increases with the subsequent pregnancy. Now we will discuss the causes of recurrent pregnancy loss. The most common cause is a genetic loss. Which means bache ki banawat mein koi problem aa rahi hai. Chromosomal abnormalities hain. 2nd is lifestyle changes. As per the modern trend, female is going for smoking, alcohol. Alcohol has an effect on ovum due to which it leads to pregnancy losses. Then there are hormonal disturbances like thyroid dysfunction, diabetes is also a major cause. If the sugar level is not controlled, it can lead to pregnancy loss.

Then there are autoimmune causes in which the body creates its own anti-bodies. It works against the fetus and leads to pregnancy loss. Then there are certain infections which can cause the same like rubella, toxoplasma. We have to investigate if the couple has come with a complaint of recurrent pregnancy losses then there are a set of investigations which has to be made. Uterine abnormalities can also cause a problem in the patient. Then there are 2nd pregnancy losses which can occur due to cervical incompetence. This happens in the cervix and it leads to the early losses of the pregnancy. Going towards the treatment. If it is a genetic cause, we have to do pre-conceptional counseling of the couple. We have to search for the cause. And then we can conclude the genetic cause of the pregnancy loss. Alcohol and smoking have to be stopped. The thyroid has to be get tested.

If it is hypothyroid then supplementation has to be done for it. Diabetic patients HbA1c should be maintained. Newer modalities medicines can be given to the patient to suppress the immunity and to maintain the door towards the baby. Due to low progesterone hormones, there is a loss of pregnancy in the 1st trimester. So, we give the supplementation for the same. We also have surgical options for the anomaly of the uterus. If there is cervical incompetence which leads to 2nd-trimester loss, we have to stitch the mouth of the cervix. Is se bache ka loss nahi hota hai. So, first, we investigate to know the cause and accordingly, we can treat. Thereby we can help the couple to continue with the pregnancy. Have a healthy and successful pregnancy.

Thank You.

Not everyone can conceive a baby easily. The inability to conceive a baby despite having intercourse during the fertile window in a woman s menstrual cycle for over a year is termed as infertility. Infertility does not affect only the physical health of a woman, but also her mental and emotional well-being as well as the couple s social health.

In some cases, infertility can be treated with Ayurveda. According to Ayurveda, a couple needs to be both physically and mentally strong and healthy. Ayurveda believes that a lack of nutrition in the shukra dhatu or the person s reproductive tissue is the cause of infertility. This can be triggered by indigestion, anxiety, depression, insomnia and the presence of toxins in the body. Some of the ways Ayurveda can be used to treat infertility are as follows:

Eat cool foods: Spicy food can affect the quality of shukra dhatu and lower the quality and quantity of both sperm and ovum. This is because shukra dhatu requires a cool environment to promote fertility. Hence, eat food that is easy to digest and which has a cooling effect on the body. Men can benefit from foods like asparagus, dates and almonds, while foods like quinoa and pineapples can help a woman conceive easily.
Shirodhara therapy: Shirodhara involves the movement of liquid over the forehead in a rhythmic manner at specific points. This stimulates the hypothalamus, pituitary and pineal glands and aids in the secretion of hormones including follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH). When it comes to women, FSH stimulates the ovarian follicles into releasing an egg without which it would be impossible to conceive a child.
Fight stress: One of the effects of stress is reduced libido. Prolonged exposure to stress is often a major factor that contributes to infertility. When it comes to women, stress makes a woman ovulate less regularly. In men, stress can affect the sperm production and affect testosterone levels. To fight stress, try deep breathing exercises like alom vilom or keep a little time aside each morning for a walk or light exercise.
Lodhra: This herb is very beneficial in treating women with infertility. It stimulates FSH and luteinising hormones (LH) and lowers the risk of a miscarriage. It also increases chances of conception. Lodhra should be taken twice a day along with honey and milk.
Lifestyle changes: Ayurveda is not only about herbal medicines but also following the right lifestyle. Bad habits like smoking, drug usage and alcohol not only affect a person s overall health but also interfere with fertility. Hence, when trying to conceive a child, quit these bad habits and try following a healthier lifestyle that involves following a routine, eating right and exercising regularly.