Bleeding after Miscarraige

A miscarriage is the loss of a pregnancy before the twentieth week. A miscarriage is no doubt a devastating event and heart-wrenching especially when you have been preparing yourself to welcome the new addition to the family. Unfortunately, but proven from research, 10%-20% of pregnancies end in miscarriages. While a miscarriage is common, it can be extremely painful and cause of grief for a mother, both physically and emotionally. The process of dealing with it involves a lot of mental and physical courage and well sought medical advice. It is completely normal to experience pain and bleeding after a miscarriage. But as every natural illness that affects the body, miscarriage is also a phenomenon that your body can deal with.

What Does Miscarriage Bleeding Look Like?

Vaginal bleeding is the most common sign of a miscarriage. Very light in colour, almost close to spotting and nothing more at times the bleeding can be much heavier than a normal period. These signs of miscarriage bleeding might last for a few days or even a few weeks. The bleeding could also be characterized by blood clots, either large ones or small ones or even discharge that looks like tissue. Continued bleeding after miscarriage could also be accompanied by cramping. You may experience pain in your abdomen, either light pain or heavy pain, almost alike contractions experience during labour. There have also been women who have had a miscarriage without any signs of it; they come to know about the death of the foetus during a routine ultrasound but have had no signs of bleeding to warn them.

How Long does the Bleeding Last after a Miscarriage?

The uterine mucosa which gets damaged, after a miscarriage, causes bleeding and abdominal pain. This bleeding generally lasts only for about two weeks. The severity of the bleeding could differ in women. It could be barely noticeable or severe, but the symptoms are often similar to those of a menstrual period. It is advisable to use pads to mitigate the risk of infection as tampons are not very hygienic to stem the bleeding. If you use more than one pad in an hour, then you need to immediately seek medical advice. Changing a pad every hour indicates the potential for haemorrhage. Severe bleeding may require surgery or a blood transfusion to stay healthy.

Miscarriage bleeding generally does not last for more than two weeks. Bleeding which lasts for more than two weeks calls for a visit to the doctor. It could mean an incomplete miscarriage that might need your tissue has to be expelled. The doctor will need to determine it is an incomplete miscarriage and suggest a surgical procedure to correct the problem.

Your periods will normally come back to their normal cycle within 3 weeks to 5 weeks after a miscarriage.

What is Abnormal Bleeding after Miscarriage? 

Miscarriages bleeding that occurs for more than two weeks after a miscarriage occurs is considered abnormal and needs investigation. An incomplete miscarriage signifies that all of the tissue is not passed completely and requires medical intervention. Most bleeding tapers off, becomes lighter and scant quickly after a miscarriage. If you saturate a pad every hour, then it is a warning sign and should be investigated.

What is Incomplete Miscarriage?

When a baby dies in the uterus, the body does not always expel the foetus or placenta completely. In such a case, the miscarriage is called “incomplete”. The uterus cannot heal if there are some remains which need to be cleared surgically. An incomplete miscarriage presents the following signs and symptoms

Signs of Incomplete Miscarriage Bleeding

• Dilated cervix
• Heavy bleeding where you soak one pad in an hour
• Presence of tissue in the uterus determined via an ultrasound
• Severe cramping and pain
• Water retention
• Flu-like symptoms

The most common sign is heaving bleeding and cramping lasting for weeks which indicates that there is more tissue remaining in the uterus which needs to be expelled. An incomplete miscarriage usually requires surgery or prescribed medications to finish the process.

Complications of Post-Miscarriage Bleeding

There are some complications associated with miscarriage bleeding. Low red blood count, anaemia, is one of the most common complications. In very rare cases, a low blood count could call for blood transfusion. Any infection in the uterus which remains untreated could cause a scarred tissue inside the uterus and fallopian tube, causing interference in future pregnancies. Choriocarcinoma, a rare cause of bleeding after a miscarriage, is cancer that stems from a placental tissue or following a molar pregnancy, in which the placental tissue develops into an abnormal mass. This is generally treated via chemotherapy.

Treatment for Abnormal Bleeding after a Miscarriage 

Treatments differ according to the type of miscarriage. In some cases, doctors suggest medications be administered orally or vaginally to help the miscarriage progress naturally. This will help the placental tissue pass faster within a couple of weeks. If a doctor diagnoses a piece of leftover tissue from the miscarriage in the uterus, he or she might perform a dilation and curettage, commonly referred to as D&C. The procedure is conducted under general anaesthesia, where the uterus is scraped of any tissue remains.

When to Call the Doctor?

Miscarriage bleeding can vary significantly from one woman to another for no particular reason. It is absolutely common and normal to bleed for a week or two after a miscarriage. Most cases, bleeding is accompanied by cramping. However, if you seem to bleed heavier than what you are comfortable with, you must get in touch with your doctor. If bleeding persists even after two weeks, then medical intervention must be sought as it could be mean an incomplete miscarriage where the tissue has not been expelled completely.

Management of Bleeding After Miscarriage

Once you have suffered a miscarriage, the bleeding will take a while to stop completely. It is best not to insert anything into your vagina, and sanitary pads are the best and most hygienic options to stem the flow of blood. Complete rest and lots of sleep are advised, and you could take over-the-counter painkillers to manage pain. The body must clear all the contents of the uterus, and any left-over pregnancy tissue could lead to an infection. You must rush to your doctor if you experience the following symptoms:

• Bleeding that lasts longer than two weeks
• Severe cramping and pain
• Heavy bleeding than normal
• Fever or flu-like symptoms
• Foul smelling or unusual vaginal discharge

Managing Life Once the Bleeding Stops

A miscarriage is not just painful for the body but to the mind too. It will take you a while to recover from the loss. But it is not impossible to move forward, and there are ways to help you overcome the setback.

1. Physical Recovery:

There is no doubt that the uterus is under stress after a miscarriage. In the case of an incomplete miscarriage, the uterus has to undergo a surgical procedure, and it will take some time to heal. The primary step to recovery after any miscarriage is adequate rest. Many women heal faster and can conceive in a month after suffering a miscarriage. But in some cases, it could take a year. Let your body heal completely before you plan your next pregnancy.

2. Emotional Recovery:

The psychological impact of a miscarriage is undoubtedly far more than the physical impact. The period of bleeding after a miscarriage can drain you emotionally as you are constantly coming to terms with the loss. You are likely to feel a sense of guilt, frustration, anger or grief. The hormonal changes that the body is experiencing only aggravate the situation. Many women suffer from depression too. Try to seek help from your partner or husband and stay in constant touch with your loved ones. Try to join a support group or consult a counsellor if you feel depressed and unable to deal with the situation alone.

Miscarriages are not rare. It affects a majority of pregnant women and does cause some devastating effects on the mind. Take your time to deal with the loss and be a constant support to your partner while seeking his help too. It is not impossible to conceive after a miscarriage. Take your time to recover and start trying to get pregnant again, once you are ready physically and emotionally.