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Miscarriage can be a heartbreaking experience for any pregnant woman regardless of how and when it happens. It also raises innumerable questions and doubts in a woman’s mind – ‘How did it happen?’ ‘Was I not careful enough?’ All this ultimately leads to self-blaming which can cause major emotional trauma. However, being informed will help you to understand how and why it happened which will ultimately help in the healing process. In this article, we explain what is termed as a miscarriage and the different types of miscarriages one can have.
What Is A Miscarriage?
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If a pregnancy ends within the first 20 weeks of gestation, it is termed as a miscarriage. One of the most common types of pregnancy loss, it is estimated that around 10-25% of all clinically recognized pregnancies end in miscarriage (1).
Miscarriages can be confusing for women as there are several different types with varied treatments for each. Understanding the different kinds of miscarriage and why it happens will help in dealing with it if you are ever faced with such a situation.
What Causes A Miscarriage?
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Before we dive into the types of miscarriages, let’s first understand why they occur. The reason for a miscarriage can be different for each kind and often it’s hard to identify the cause. The most common cause of miscarriages during the first few months of pregnancy is chromosomal abnormalities. A chromosomal abnormality occurs when there is damage in the egg or sperm cell which causes problems when the zygote goes through the division process (2).
Miscarriage can also occur due to the following reasons:
- Lifestyle choices such as drinking, smoking, doing drugs, an excessive amount of caffeine consumption, and exposure to other toxic substances or radiation
- Maternal health issues, hormonal problems or infections
- When the implantation is not successful
- Maternal trauma
- Maternal age
The 8 Different Types Of Miscarriage
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There are several stages and types of miscarriage. A miscarriage can occur during the early or later stages of pregnancy. Here we list down the eight different types of miscarriages to give you a broader and better understanding about it:
1. Threatened Miscarriage
This type of miscarriage occurs during the early stages of pregnancy. Symptoms include uterine bleeding, cramping, and lower back pain. The cervix stays closed and bleeding is often the result of implantation (3).
2. Incomplete/Inevitable Miscarriage
It is accompanied by abdominal pain, back pain, and bleeding. The cervix remains open and miscarriage is inevitable if there is effacement or dilation of the cervix. The uterine membranes could also get ruptured in this case. Cramps and bleeding may also continue if the miscarriage isn’t complete.
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3. Complete Miscarriage
A complete miscarriage happens when the products from the conception or the embryo empty out from the uterus. All the symptoms that accompany this type of miscarriage such as bleeding, pain or cramping should subside quickly. The miscarriage can be confirmed by performing an ultrasound or doing a surgical curettage.
4. Missed Miscarriage
Pregnant women can’t usually identify a missed miscarriage as there will no embryo expulsion from the uterus. It happens when there is an embryonic death inside the uterus. A missed miscarriage is usually identified by loss of pregnancy symptoms and by performing an ultrasound for the fetal heartbeat (4).
5. Recurrent Miscarriage
A recurrent miscarriage happens when there are three or more repeated miscarriages during the first trimester. If you have experienced repeated miscarriages, it is important to discuss it with your doctor to investigate the causes.
There are a few other kinds of pregnancies which can result in a miscarriage
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6. Ectopic Pregnancy
An ectopic pregnancy occurs when the implantation occurs in other parts of the uterus, most commonly in one of the fallopian tubes. In such cases, immediate medical help is required to stop its development.
7. Blighted Ovum
In the case of a blighted ovum, though implantation takes place, there is no fetal development. Most often, there will be a gestational sac but no baby inside.
8. Molar Pregnancy
Molar pregnancies occur due to a genetic error at the time of fertilization which results in abnormal tissue growth within the uterus. Though it rarely involves a developing embryo, this type of pregnancy includes all the other pregnancy symptoms such as a missed period, positive pregnancy test, and nausea (5).
Miscarriage can occur with no fault of our own. It can also leave us physically and emotionally tired. So, make sure you have an open and honest discussion with your doctor and family members for a speedy recovery.
