Where There Is No Doctor 2011 281
MISCARRIAGE (SPONTANEOUS ABORTION)
A miscarriage is the loss of the unborn baby. Miscarriages are most frequent in
the first 3 months of pregnancy. Usually the baby is imperfectly formed, and this is
nature’s way of taking care of the problem.
Most women have one or more miscarriages in
their lifetime. Many times they do not realize that they
are having a miscarriage. They may think their period
was missed or delayed, and then came back in a
strange way, with big blood clots. A woman should
learn to know when she is having a miscarriage,
because it could be dangerous.
The embryo of a
miscarriage may be no longer
than 1 or 2 centimeters.
30 days
A woman who has heavy bleeding after she
has missed one or more periods probably is
having a miscarriage.
A miscarriage is like a birth in that the embryo (the
beginning of the baby) and the placenta (afterbirth)
must both come out. Heavy bleeding with big blood
clots and painful cramps often continues until both
are completely out.
60 days
Treatment:
The woman should rest and take ibuprofen (p. 379) or codeine (p. 383) for pain.
If heavy bleeding continues for many days:
♦ Get medical help. A simple operation may be needed to clean out the womb
(dilatation and curettage, or D and C, or suction).
♦ Stay in bed until the heavy bleeding stops.
♦ If the bleeding is extreme, follow the instructions on page 266.
♦ If fever or other signs of infection develop, treat as for Childbirth Fever
(see p. 276)
♦ A woman may continue to bleed a little for several days after the miscarriage.
It will be similar to her menstrual flow (period).
♦ She should not douche or have sex for at least 2 weeks after the miscarriage,
or until the bleeding stops.
♦ If she is using an IUD and has a miscarriage, serious infection may occur.
Seek medical help fast, have the IUD removed, and give antibiotics.