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Diagnosing a Threatened Miscarriage

You may also be offered a pregnancy ultrasound, particularly if you are more than eight weeks pregnant.

A pregnancy ultrasound uses sound waves to help create a picture of your baby and your uterus. This can be used to monitor your baby's growth and fetal heart rate.

A blood test known as the Complete Blood Count (CBC) may also be performed, to help assess exactly how much blood you have lost. This blood test counts the amount of red and white blood cells in your blood.

Treating a Threatened Miscarriage

Unfortunately, there are no medications or treatments that can stop vaginal bleeding.

However, your health care provider may recommend certain courses of action:

• Wait and See: If your bleeding is minor and your baby appears healthy, your health care provider may suggest that you wait and see if there are any changes in your vaginal bleeding.
• Pelvic Rest: In order to prevent any trauma to the cervix, your health care provider may recommend pelvic rest. You will be asked to stop using tampons and douches and to abstain from sex for a specific period of time.
• Reduced Activity: You may be advised to reduce the amount of activity that you are engaging in everyday. Vigorous exercise and other rigorous activities could put you at risk for a miscarriage. Bed rest however, is no longer recommended as treatment for a threatened miscarriage.
• Progesterone: Though an uncommon treatment, you may be given progesterone to help relax your uterine muscles and reduce your risk of miscarriage.

Will a Threatened Miscarriage End in Miscarriage?

If you are diagnosed with having a threatened miscarriage, try to remain calm. Vaginal bleeding is pretty normal during the first 20 weeks of pregnancy, and the majority of women go on to deliver healthy and happy babies.

Only 30% of women experiencing a threatened miscarriage actually lose their pregnancies. However, it is important that you are aware of the warning signs of a miscarriage.

Call your health care provider as soon as possible if you experience:

• increased vaginal bleeding
• blood clots
• weakness or dizziness
• fever or chills

Preventing a Threatened Miscarriage

It is very difficult to prevent vaginal bleeding from occurring during pregnancy, however, the best way to reduce your risk is to maintain regular prenatal health appointments. This will allow you and your health care provider to remain up-to-date on any health concerns.