Miscarriage and stillbirths

>» Culture and medical advancements have made
us forget how common miscarrying is

Janis McMath
Editor-in-Chief

 

  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 

Ames and society have progressed, the length of our expected lifespans have grown. Many of us

ave been spoiled by the safety modern medicine offers, and this has changed our understanding and

relationship with our own bodies. For example, people with chronic ailments can grow into their old age

instead of being given a death sentence, surgeries can reconstruct previously broken bodies, and pregnancy

is a significantly safer process for women who are capable of conceiving, Previously, pregnancy could easily

lead to death or permanent complications for expecting mothers—but now the process is commonly viewed

as a nearly “guaranteed” experience for parents. And while there is no doubt that maternity has evolved, our

culture’s perception of pregnancy has a concerning blind spot for how normal miscarriages are. *
Miscarriage 1s defined as the end of a pregnancy before 20 weeks. After 20 weeks of pregnancy, the

fetus’ termination is called a stillbirth. While both experiences are similar, stillbirths occur much more

infrequently; approximately 25 percent of pregnant women will experience at least one miscarriage,

and in comparison, stillbirths occur in an estimated one to five percent of pregnancies. The number

of stillbirths is not negligible though; data from Statistics Canada shows that in 2019, of the

44,018 babies born in BC, a total of 528 babies died before or during birth. After the baby has

grown for 12 weeks, the risk for miscarriage drops significantly; around 90 percent of women’s

miscarriages will occur in the first 12 weeks. The mother’s age has a clear connection to e

miscarriage risk; women that are between the ages of 40 and 44 have a 50 percent chance

of miscarrying,

THE TREATMENT OPTIONS

There are several options when it comes to dealing with a miscarriage, but there
is no way to reverse or stop a miscarriage once it has already begun. Medical
intervention is sometimes necessary as infection and excessive blood loss

are concerns for the mother if the uterus does not properly dispose of the
remnants—and these are called “incomplete miscarriages.”

Those experiencing a miscarriage have several options: expectant =
management, medicine to clear the uterus, a surgery by the name of
dilation and curettage (D&C), and in some cases, induced labour.

Letting the miscarriage run its course is the safest option—and
most who choose this option experience success. When Global
News interviewed director of the Tommy’s National Centre for
Miscarriage Research Professor Arri Coomarasamy, he stated that
between 50 to 75 percent of miscarriages will happen during

the early “chemical pregnancy” phase when embryo cannot

be detected on an ultrasound. Miscarriages that occur during

this stage do not require any assistance in completion as they

will happen around the same time the female would’ve
experienced her period. Considering this, it is easy to

understand why it’s common for women to be oblivious to .
their early miscarniages.

A natural miscarriage often takes two weeks, but
sometimes it can take six to eight weeks for the cervix to
completely clear out. And while expectant management
is commonplace, nearly one in four who choose
this method will need surgical intervention, D&C
is a short 10 to 15 minute procedure that involves
opening the cervix and suctioning the fetus into a
tube. It is appealing as it 1s 99 percent successful,
but the surgery does come with the risks of pain,

 

infection, a puncturing or scarring of the uterus,
an anesthesia-related reaction, heavy bleeding,
ongoing bleeding, and in some rare cases, a need
for a blood transfusion. Some say that the surgery
itself is painless—and that they primarily struggle
emotionally.

Choosing medicine involves taking two
different drugs that achieve up to 92 percent
success in finishing a miscarriage. This option
allows women to potentially go home and finish
their miscarriage and avoid anethesia and other
surgery related risks, but the downsides include
lots of cramping and bleeding, nausea, vomiting,
and even having to do surgery if the pills fail.