Also known as a spontaneous abortion, a miscarriage ends pregnancy unexpectedly. An inevitable miscarriage occurs when symptoms indicate that pregnancy loss is most likely going to happen. Symptoms of inevitable miscarriage include:
In some cases, leaking amniotic fluid (which is the fluid referred to when someone’s water breaks) may also occur. These symptoms demand a trip to the doctor’s office or your local emergency department as soon as possible.
It is not possible to stop or reverse a miscarriage. However, doctors may need to remove any remaining tissues to prevent further complications, which can include infections.
Many people exhibiting signs of inevitable miscarriage require no treatment, as these miscarriages are often complete (which means that all remaining tissue is released on its own). In the event that a miscarriage is incomplete, doctors can administer medication or perform surgery to remove any remaining tissues.
Most miscarriages result from chromosomal defects, which means they cannot be avoided. In many cases, there is nothing a woman can do to prevent pregnancy loss from occurring. Attending prenatal appointments as necessary, eating right, maintaining a healthy weight, and avoiding cigarettes and alcohol can lower the risk of a miscarriage and support a healthy pregnancy, however.