My first pregnancy ended abruptly at four months with a sudden gush of blood which had been preceded with brown spotting for a couple of days. It was excruciating and shameful; Painful that I have lost my baby, shameful because it happened openly at one of the busiest cities, Ikeja, Lagos.

I could see the mock and judgment in people’s eyes mostly from women whom I thought who have reached out to help.
Taxi drivers and bikers refused me to board their vehicles. After a while, with a streak of luck,k I got a taxi. Gush! The hurt, the shame and the guilt were indescribable.


What’s Miscarriage?


It is the sudden end of a pregnancy- the condition whereby the placenta no longer sends nutrients to the fetus leading to its death, and invariably its expulsion from the then body. It can happen at any point in pregnancy.

Oftentimes with bleeding and unbearable pains. Sometimes a woman could miscarry and not bleed or experience pains. This type is called a missed miscarriage. I.e. the fetus has stopped developing yet the body retains it. This is risky as it can cause decay in the womb which might lead to
womb –infection and if left untreated, could result in permanent damage of the uterus.


Causes of Miscarriage

Miscarriage most times happens due to some chromosomal abnormalities in the fetus or the fetus’s inability to develop some vital organs such as the heart. Miscarriage is one of nature’s ways of preventing birth defects.
Growth in the womb such as fibroids
In-take of some medication
Maternal-stress
High–level impact accident
Signs& Symptoms of a miscarriage

Spotting brown blood for a week or more
Spotting bright red blood for a week or more
Disappearance of pregnancy symptoms
Heavy bleeding accompany with clotting that can soak a pad
Absence of heartbeats at week seven or eight weeks using ultrasound
No sign of growth in the fetus under an ultra -scan monitoring
What Should a Woman do when she Suspects she is Miscarrying?
• If you noticed one or more of the symptoms listed above, go check with a doctor to determine what the issue might be as these signs could also be symptoms for other underlying problems and with early intervention, one might still go on to have a healthy pregnancy.
• Run an ultrasound to check for fetus heartbeats
• Do an ultra-scan to check baby development and any abnormalities
• Have a bed rest if you are stressed
• You could wait and watch allowing your body to do its’ job.


What can be done to a woman who is Miscarrying?

How long gone into the pregnancy determines the methods and measures your doctor would take, bearing in mind the mothers’ safety and medical history.
When a woman miscarries, the remnant could be evacuated using a Dilation and Curettage method (D&C)
She could be given drugs or injections so she could bleed the dead fetus
She might just wait and let nature take its’ course
If the woman wants, she could have the tissue collected from the fetus be sent to a laboratory for a proper examination so the cause of the miscarriage be ascertained to avoid future reoccurrence.


Things worth knowing about Miscarriage

• Most times, it is not the woman’s fault when a miscarriage happens. It is not what she did or didn’t do. It is your body rejecting a fetus that’s probably isn’t developing properly. In my case, there was no heartbeat even at week 12.
• It is a biological and natural occurrence that’s beyond you, there’s little to nothing you could have done differently.
• Going through a miscarriage is emotionally and physically draining. Have someone go through this season with you. Your spouse, a friend or a relative.
• Your body might take time to recover, if you are not up to it, you might call in sick at work or skip lectures if you are schooling. Allow your body to recover fully or to an extent before going back to work or school.
• You can still go on to have a healthy pregnancy and bring it to full term.
• Start trying for a second time as soon as you feel up to it. I got pregnant again two months after a miscarriage and I had an itch-free pregnancy as well as a bouncing, healthy baby.
• If a miscarriage occurs again, do not hesitate to speak to a specialist and run the complete prescribed test.

Healing Emotionally After a Miscarriage

Different women heal differently after experiencing a miscarriage. Some take months or weeks, others recover just immediately. Some have lifetime guilt. Some might have to talk to a therapist or a friend; others just need to mourn privately. Wherever you find yourself, below are steps you can take to cope and heal after a miscarriage:

Understand and accept it is not your fault
Tell your spouse how you feel and tell them how they can help
Talk to a friend or a family
Miscarriage can cause a Post-Traumatic Disorder. Women who suffer Post-Traumatic- Disorder after a miscarriage take longer time to heal bodily and mentally. Some are engulfed with guilt, unforgivingness and the fear of trying again. When you find yourself in any of these,seek professional help by speaking to a therapist.
Be optimistic
Avoid staying alone for long. Go out to some places with your spouse or friends
Do not call for a pity party.
We wish you happy healing and a successful pregnancy henceforth. May affliction never visit you twice.


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