After Abortion- Miscarriage Care
Today’s exam shows that your pregnancy has ended suddenly. While this is an emotionally difficult time for most women, it is not an uncommon event. A miscarriage may occur due to various causes. These include urinary or pelvic infection, abnormal growth of the fetus, blow to the lower abdomen (stomach) In most cases no cause can be found. Be assured that this miscarriage was not the result of anything that you did wrong, and it will not interfere with your ability to become pregnant in the future. It appears that your miscarriage is complete and all tissue from the pregnancy has passed. If there are parts of the pregnancy tissue that remains in the uterus, you will probably have more cramping and bleeding.
HOME CARE:
1) Avoid sexual intercourse for three weeks.
2) Do not douche or use tampons for three weeks.
3) Prevent dehydration by drinking at least 6-8 glasses of fluids per day.
4) It is common to feel sadness or grief after a miscarriage. It will help to talk about your feelings with those close to you, or a counselor or therapist.
FOLLOW UP: Make an appointment to see your doctor in the next one to two weeks for a check—up. If cramping and bleeding return and continue for more than a few days, call your doctor for a follow up appointment. Sometimes the doctor must remove remaining tissue from the uterus to stop the bleeding and prevent infection.
RETURN PROMPTLY if any of the following occur: (Danger sign)
— Heavy bleeding (soaking one pad an hour for three hours)
— Bleeding that fails to stop after ten days
—Fever over 99.5 F
—Worsening lower abdominal pain
—Weakness, dizziness or fainting
OBJECTIVES: BY THE END OF THIS EDUCATION, THE PATIENT WILL HAVE A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF WHY MISCARRIAGES OCCUR, AND WILL BE ABLE TO IDENTIFY CERTAIN DANGER SIGNS AFTER A MISCARRIAGE.