Emergency care for problems after miscarriage or abortion
2. Rub her womb every few hours until it
is hard (see page 224) to help it push
out the blood and tissue inside of it.
3. Check the woman for infection.
4. Watch the woman for signs of shock
(see page 414).
Internal injury (injury inside the body)
An internal injury from an abortion is most often caused by a sharp tool making a
hole in the womb. The object may also cause harm to other organs inside the body
such as the ovaries, intestines, or bladder.
When a woman has internal injuries she may have bleeding inside her belly
that you cannot see. Or she may have bleeding from her vagina that you can see.
Wa r nin g s ig n s
• Belly feels stiff and hard with no sounds or gurgles inside.
• Very bad pain or cramps in the belly.
• Fever with chills or shivering.
• Nausea and vomiting.
• Pain in one or both shoulders.
• Shock.
WARNING! Immediately take any woman with an internal
injury to a hospital or medical center to have surgery.
Without surgery she could die.
On the way to a medical center,
treat the woman as you would for
shock (see the next page), but do
not give her any food or drink by
mouth. (It is OK to give medicines
by mouth and a little water so
the woman can swallow the
medicine.)
413
A Book for Midwives (2010)