Getting ready for the MVA
Incomplete abortion
A woman with an incomplete miscarriage or abortion is in serious danger. The
womb must be emptied right away. Look for these signs of infection or injury:
• severe pain in the lower belly
• heavy bleeding from the vagina
• fast pulse (over 100 beats a minute)
• high temperature
(over 38°C or 100.4°F)
• low or dropping blood pressure
See pages 406 to 408 to help a woman with these signs, or take her to a medical
center right away.
Getting ready for the MVA
Help the woman to be comfortable
Tell the woman what you will be doing. Answer any questions that she has.
You should find a private place to do the MVA where others are not watching,
and be sure to keep everything about her care confidential (see page 7).
Preventing pain during MVA
MVA can be painful. There are some
things you can do to reduce the pain:
• Always tell the woman what
you are doing and encourage
her to ask questions.
• Move smoothly and
do not rush.
• Show the woman how to
take slow, deep breaths.
This can help her body relax.
You can take slow
deep breaths too! This
will help you be
gentle and careful.
The touch of a supportive
friend can do a lot to
lessen a woman’s pain
Even when you are very gentle, there can be pain. Medicine to stop pain can be
expensive and may cause unhealthy side effects, but you may want to offer it to
women if you can get it. Women should not have to suffer pain unnecessarily.
And remember — pain medicine cannot replace gentle and respectful care.
419
A Book for Midwives (2010)