Miscarriage: when your unborn baby dies
Miscarriages are life-changing experiences. What signs are there, and what are miscarriage causes? What happens afterwards and which benefits are covered by your health insurance? This article provides further information and explains where you can get help.
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Short and simple
A miscarriage means that your baby dies before it is born.
One reason for this can be illness in the mother or the baby.
Miscarriages usually make the parents very sad.
Advice centers offer support to parents.
About 15% to 20% of all pregnant women suffer a miscarriage in the early stages of the pregnancy. If a pregnancy ends unintentionally before the start of the 24th week of pregnancy, this is known as a miscarriage or, in medical terms, as a spontaneous abortion.
Women often do not notice miscarriages in first weeks of pregnancy, instead perceiving them as a delayed or heavy period.
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What are the risk factors for miscarriages?
The likelihood of miscarriages increases as the mothers get older. In comparison with those under 30, the risk of miscarriage is twice as high in women over 35. The risk of miscarriage by week is also higher:
- In the event of multiple pregnancies.
- In women who have previously had a miscarriage.
- In women who consume nicotine.
- If the woman is significantly underweight or overweight.
- In women who are suffering very high stress levels or are under considerable psychological strain.
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What causes miscarriages?
The are a wide range of possible causes of miscarriages and these can depend on various factors. In many cases no reason can be found. When the cause is unknown, this is referred to medically as an «idiopathic» miscarriage. For the medical causes that are known, a distinction is drawn between causes affecting the child and causes affecting the pregnant mother.
Most causes in the child are chromosome anomalies, such as Down syndrome.
The following factors affecting the pregnant woman can also play a part:
- Metabolic diseases like diabetes
- Infections during the pregnancy (bacterial or viral)
- Coagulation disorders
- Overactive thyroid and other hormonal disorders
- Complications involving the placenta
- Malformations of the womb
- Cervical weakness
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Miscarriage symptoms
Common symptoms include:
- Vaginal bleeding
- Abdominal pain
- Contractions (labour)
In such cases, those affected should contact their gynaecologist immediately for an examination. Sometimes, measures like bed rest and labour-suppressing medications can help to prevent an impending miscarriage.
Losing your baby during pregnancy – timescale
Before the start of the 24th week of pregnancy, the child generally is not capable of living outside the womb and weighs less than 500 grams. Depending on when the miscarriage occurs, a distinction is drawn between:
- Very early miscarriage: The embryo dies in the first six weeks of the pregnancy.
- Early miscarriage: A miscarriage that occurs between the 7th and 12th week of pregnancy.
- Late miscarriage: Miscarriages between the 13th and 23rd week of pregnancy are known as late miscarriages.
If a child dies inside the womb after the 24th week, this is called a stillbirth. Many stillborn children already weigh more than 500 grams.
My baby has passed away – what happens now?
An ultrasound is used to confirm clearly that a miscarriage has occurred. The ultrasound scan will also show whether the foetus and the placenta have already been rejected. If the body does not reject the foetus, medication can help to induce labour. It may also be necessary to scrape out the lining of the uterus (curettage). Usually there is no reason to hurry.
Talk to your gynaecologist about the medical steps that need to be taken. Take time to process this sad news and think about what you would like to do next.
After a miscarriage
A miscarriage is a life-changing event that can cause considerable grief. Decide for yourself or as a couple how you would like to say goodbye to your child.
The kindsverlust.ch competence center advises affected people by telephone or e-mail (in German only). The platform also provides useful information on legal matters, funeral arrangements and family-related questions.
The CONCORDIA Mental Health Check can offer guidance on coping with the mental burden
