Pregnancy After Missed Miscarriage: Everything You Need To Know About It

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When you decide to start a family and learn that you are expecting, the wonderful adventure of pregnancy starts. However, this pregnancy might quickly become negative in some circumstances, such as a missed miscarriage. However, don’t give up hope; you can still experience pregnancy after missed miscarriage with the right precautions and procedures.

Continue reading to learn more about missed miscarriage, its causes, and preventive measures.

What Is Missed Abortion In Pregnancy?

A missed miscarriage can happen in any pregnancy. After conception, a fertilized egg implants in the uterus. Even before this phase, something may go wrong and the pregnancy discontinues.

• This might happen when the embryo fails to develop or when the sac is empty.
• This might also happen in cases when the embryo grows but fails to progress suddenly.
• As the mother is not able to realize if anything has gone wrong, this condition is known as a silent miscarriage (1).

As the mother is not able to realize if anything has gone wrong, this condition is known as a silent miscarriage.

Signs Of A Missed Miscarriage

Missed miscarriage is not accompanied by the normal signs of a miscarriage. Signs like heavy cramping, vaginal bleeding, or fetal tissue expulsion are missing from this kind of miscarriage.

Here are some signs that may be there (2) (3):

• Your placenta may still secrete hormones in a missed miscarriage. This in many cases continues the signs of pregnancy.
• Sometimes women claim that their discomforts like nausea, vomiting, tiredness, and breast tenderness have disappeared completely.
• You may experience brown vaginal discharges at times as well.
• Lack of fetal heartbeat is considered a sign of missed miscarriage. Ultrasounds performed will show underdevelopment of the fetus.
• Two measurements of β-HCG levels in 48 hours will ensure the missed miscarriage.

Why Does This Happen?

A missed miscarriage happens when something goes wrong in the early phase of pregnancy.

• It might be a result of the wrong number of chromosomes. It may be that one piece of chromosome is missing or duplicated. In this case, the genetic material that the chromosomes carries will not be suitable for the fetus inside (4).
• In later stages of pregnancy, this may happen because of infections like rubella or parvovirus. You may be asked to go for a blood test for herpes simplex virus (TORCH), cytomegalovirus, toxoplasmosis, or rubella if required. This diagnosis will help to look for infections (5).
• Thyroid problems, uncontrolled diabetes, thrombophilia or antiphospholipid syndrome, as well as uterus abnormalities may be responsible for the missed miscarriage.

If an ultrasound shows you had a missed miscarriage, you will be generally asked to go for a second ultrasound to confirm it.

What Happens After The Diagnosis?

When you eventually miscarry, you may want nature to take its own course. Some women also take the decision of undergoing a minor operation known as Evacuation of Retained Products of Conception (ERPC) to remove all pregnancy tissues from the uterus. If you allow the pregnancy tissues to remain in your uterus for long, it might increase chances of infection and heavy bleeding. In case bleeding is a concern, you may be recommended dilation and curettage (D&C) that helps removal of the tissues (6) (7).

• You will be administered general anesthesia before the operation.
• It is natural to feel anxious if you had a missed miscarriage and many reel under the constant fear if it happens again.
• It is recommended to wait for one period after a miscarriage before trying to get pregnant again (8).
• There is no need to hurry. You can always take time and make the right decision.

What About Future Pregnancy After Missed Miscarriage?

You can easily diagnose a missed abortion with the help of ultrasounds or β-HCG levels.

• This has helped women to protect their future pregnancies with the help of medical treatments.
• Regular ultrasounds ensure you do not suffer any further dangerous late abortions (9).

Women today enjoy their pregnancies like any other women after a missed miscarriage. So there is no need for you to despair and lose your faith. Follow the guidelines and treatment procedures your doctor suggests and stay positive. This may definitely improve the chances of pregnancy after missed abortion. You, with the help of your partner, can again look forward to a beautiful beginning.

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Reviewer Author

Dr. Irene (Eirini) OrfanoudakiPhD, MD

Dr. Irene (Eirini) Orfanoudaki is a gynecologist-obstetrician, having a private practice in Heraklion, Crete, and collaborating with private health clinic 'MITERA' - Euromeda in Heraklion. With around 21 years of experience as a gynecologist-obstetrician, she specializes in ultrasound, colposcopy, minimal and advance gynecologic surgery, aesthetic gynecology, fertility consulting, menopause consulting, operative obstetrics, high-risk pregnancy, normal deliveries, antenatal, intra-parum, postnatal care, breast diseases, and teenage issues.

Read full bio of Dr. Irene (Eirini) Orfanoudaki

shreeja pillaiMSc

Shreeja holds a postgraduate degree in Chemistry and diploma in Drug Regulatory Affairs from the University of Mumbai. Before joining MomJunction, she worked as a research analyst with a leading multinational pharmaceutical company.

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