Vaginal Discharge after Miscarriage and Its Significance
When you have a miscarriage, vaginal discharge and heavy bleeding accompanies it. This vaginal bleeding may carry on for quite some time. It is important to note that the vaginal discharge after a miscarriage is quite different from your normal monthly period. The vaginal discharge during a miscarriage is also of a different consistency and length of time.
To understand the differences, first let us understand the term 'miscarriage'. A pregnancy which ends before 20 weeks are over is termed as a miscarriage.
Pregnancy And Baby Care Questions
At 20 weeks, the growing baby (fetus) is unable to survive on its own outside the uterus. When a miscarriage takes place, the growing baby, the placenta and the fluid sac which surrounds the baby, are usually expelled from the uterus. However, it is also important to note that sometimes, not everything is expelled spontaneously, and this can cause problems later on.
There are a number of warning signs or symptoms of miscarriage. Usually, heavy and continuous vaginal bleeding is a symptom of a miscarriage. Broken pieces of issue and blood clots may also accompany this bleeding, along with pain and cramping in the lower back, lower back, thighs, buttocks and genitals.
Vaginal Bleeding Duration During Miscarriage
Bleeding is one of the most common symptoms of miscarriage and this bleeding can continue for a few days after the miscarriage. The bleeding after a miscarriage will not suddenly cease but it will slowly decrease until there is only a slight streaking or spotting. A miscarriage results in a sudden shock to your body and your body will take a few months to recover. Your ovulation cycle will also undergo several changes and this would probably result in a delay in menstruation. Ovulation after a miscarriage may take a couple of months but it is not advisable to try to conceive for at least a year after a miscarriage. Usually vaginal bleeding after a miscarriage continues for about 2 weeks. After this stage is over, normal periods may start after 4 to 6 weeks. You may then resume normal activities. Till then, it is better to avoid certain activities. When you suffer from vaginal bleeding after a miscarriage, it is better to use sanitary pads rather than tampons. Do not douche, bathe in a tub or go swimming. Avoid sexual intercourse.
Problems During Miscarriage
Sometimes, a miscarriage may be "incomplete". This means that some part of the tissue or placenta may remain in the uterus. This can cause infection later on. The symptoms usually are continuous and heavy bleeding, accompanied by pain and cramps. Sometimes, there may be a foul odor in the vaginal discharge, or you may even get a fever.
In such a situation, it is best to consult your doctor as soon as possible. You may need a D & C (dilation and curettage). This is a medical procedure in which the doctor will dilate the cervix and then clean the uterus, either by scraping or vacuuming. It is usually done under local or general anesthesia. A miscarriage can be a devastating experience and the emotional trauma may lead you to ignore the effects it has on your health. It is important to seek help for both the emotional as well as the physical problems caused by a miscarriage and so you will need to visit a counselor as well as a doctor regularly in the months following a miscarriage.
Post Miscarriage Menstrual Cycle Changes
Menstrual cycle changes after a miscarriage can also include the onset of PMS or Premenstrual Syndrome. Women who have never suffered from PMS prior to their miscarriage may start to experience the symptoms associated with PMS; while those who experienced PMS prior to their miscarriage may find that their symptoms are now more intense. As soon as you conceive, your body starts changing; and while some of these are obvious, several changes may go unnoticed. For instance, your hormonal levels fluctuate and this triggers other changes in your body. Among the most significant of all the changes a woman will experience during pregnancy, is the change to her abdomen. During pregnancy, a woman's uterus expands and the muscles and tendons in her abdominal area stretch to contain the growing and developing baby. After a miscarriage, it may take a while for the muscles and tendons to regain their original structure. Furthermore, changes in your reproductive system can cause significant discomfort and cramping. This cramping often manifests as a deep throbbing abdominal pain after a miscarriage. This pain can last for just a few days or it could linger for weeks or even months. You will need to discuss any pain medication with your doctor to ensure that there are no interactions with your existing medications.
Post Miscarriage Yeast Infection
Yeast infections after a miscarriage are a common problem and it important to treat them as soon as they occur as these infections can spread rapidly if they are neglected. After a miscarriage, hormonal imbalances, including hCG levels cause several changes in vaginal flora and this can trigger an infection. If you notice cloudy discharge after a miscarriage and if this rapidly becomes a thick discharge with a cottage cheese consistency, it is likely that you are suffering from a yeast infection. It is important to keep a track of all changes in discharge and while it is normal to experience white discharge after miscarriage, any other changes should be brought to the attention of your health care provider. Furthermore, a foul odor is indicative of an infection as is green discharge after a miscarriage. These are symptoms that should not be ignored and you may be required to go in for a couple of diagnostic tests to determine the type of infection and consequently, the treatment method. Even if you do not experience any drastic changes, but if you feel that you have contracted a yeast infection after your miscarriage, it is important that you inform your gynecologist.
Types of Discharge after a Miscarriage
Bleeding after a miscarriage is a natural occurrence and while this cannot be prevented, it is important to keep a track of it. Prolonged bleeding can reduce the efficiency of the immune system and leave you weak and fatigued. Once the bleeding has stopped, you may notice a brown discharge after a miscarriage and soon this too will clear up. A clear discharge after a miscarriage indicates that the bleeding has stopped completely. A sticky discharge after miscarriage may occur when you are extremely fertile and at the peak of your ovulation cycle. Discharge that is stringy or watery indicates that the period of ovulation is not at its peak. When the ovulation cycle peaks, the discharge is usually milky and rather sticky. Cloudy discharge after miscarriage shows that the ovulation is at its peak and that the woman is extremely fertile at this point of time. After a miscarriage, most women do not bother to check on their ovulation cycle and thus end up getting pregnant with no intention of even doing so.
Emotional support after a miscarriage is extremely important and so both partners need to work together towards overcoming the pain caused by the miscarriage. It is important to discuss each other's fears and troubles as this will help you to find strength and solace in each other. This will help you to grow stronger as a couple and it will also lay the foundation for your family when you conceive again.
Vaginal Discharge After Miscarriage