Complete miscarriage early. How does a miscarriage happen: causes and symptoms

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Pregnancy, if desired, is wonderful. But not all pregnancies end as planned. Sometimes the body of the expectant mother independently decides to reject new life, and usually this happens in the first weeks after conception, that is, a miscarriage occurs in the early stages.

According to statistics, this is observed in 20% of women, while many of them did not even know that they were in a position. From a medical point of view, this is a spontaneous abortion before the onset of 22 weeks. After this period, we are no longer talking about a miscarriage, but about, since starting from the 22nd week the child has a high chance of being born viable.

Probability of miscarriage by week

Exist critical periods pregnancy, when its further bearing is jeopardized. And the most vulnerable in this respect is the first trimester.

2-3 weeks

At this time, the implantation of the embryo occurs, and factors such as fibroids, a scar or trauma to the mucous membrane (after an abortion,), anomalies in the structure of the uterus, as well as the severe psycho-emotional state of a woman, can interfere with this.

A miscarriage in early pregnancy occurs if the fertilized egg fails to attach. It looks like a heavy period. The woman in this case does not even know that there was a pregnancy, taking the bleeding for the next menstruation.

4-6 weeks

At this time, the fetus is most vulnerable, it is now that all malformations (heart disease, cleft lip) are formed, which may be incompatible with life.

8-12 weeks

At this stage, active development affects, and it is possible that anomalies in its structure or localization may occur. Also at this time, a miscarriage can occur due to hormonal disorders in the woman's body, in particular, progesterone deficiency.

Causes

Consider the main causes of miscarriage on early term.

Genetic disorders in the fetus

According to statistics, 73% of early miscarriages occur for this reason. In most cases, we are not talking about a hereditary problem, but about single gene mutations that arose by chance as a result of the influence of negative factors, such as infections, alcohol.

That is, the pregnancy was initially pathological, and the body itself refused it - there was a so-called natural selection. A miscarriage at such an early date does without cleaning and occurs on the days when menstruation should begin, or with a slight delay.

A woman may note that the discharge this month turned out to be more abundant and painful. Less often, the pregnancy is terminated later, and then the genetic abnormalities of the fetus are diagnosed using a histological examination after curettage of the uterus.

Hormonal disorders

The disturbed balance of hormones in the body increases the likelihood of miscarriage in the early stages. As a rule, pregnancy is terminated due to a lack of progesterone. If you detect a problem in advance, you can save the pregnancy with conservative therapy.

Immunological causes

This is most often seen with . If the mother's blood has a negative Rh factor, and the fetus inherits an Rh-positive protein from the father, the mother's body will reject the embryonic tissues at the immune level.

To prevent the immunological causes of miscarriage in Rhesus conflict, specific therapy is used, including progesterone preparations that can protect the fetus.

Sexual infections

These diseases are also an explanation of why a miscarriage occurs in the early stages. Chlamydia, toxoplasmosis, gonorrhea, and other STDs often cause abortion in the first trimester. Pathogenic flora causes damage to the membranes, infects the fetus itself, as a result of which a miscarriage begins.

To exclude this, it is important to identify and treat any infectious pathologies of the genital area even at the stage of pregnancy planning.

Common infections

Any diseases that occur with signs of intoxication of the body, for example, with an increase in body temperature above 38 ° C, can be the causes of miscarriage in early pregnancy. The leading positions in the list of these infections are assigned to influenza, rubella, chickenpox and viral hepatitis. Even a common sore throat often causes fetal death before the 10th week of gestation, the situation looks worse with pneumonia, appendicitis and pyelonephritis.

Therefore, when planning a pregnancy, you need to remember about a preliminary medical examination, which will help detect foci of infection in the body.

abortion

A large number of women at various stages of their lives resorted to this procedure for one reason or another. For many failed mothers, abortion seems like a simple manipulation, during which the doctor simply removes the contents of the uterus along with the unwanted fetus. But in reality, everything is much more complicated.

Abortion is always a deep stress for a woman's body, which can later cause dysfunctional disorders of the reproductive system, problems with the adrenal glands and ovaries, inflammation in the pelvic organs, ending in an adhesive process and subsequent infertility.

Because of those negative consequences that causes abortion, a woman may experience recurrent miscarriage, which explains why miscarriages occur in the early stages.

Medicines and herbal preparations

In the first 12 weeks of pregnancy, it is better not to take any drugs and herbs at all. Most of them, especially with uncontrolled use, can terminate a pregnancy or provoke the development of defects in an unborn child.

The most dangerous are antibiotics, hormonal drugs, some analgesics and an overwhelming number of plants, even harmless chamomile and parsley are not indicated for internal use in the first trimester.

Many medicinal plants are used in folk recipes that tell women who do not want to keep their pregnancy how to have an early miscarriage.

Stress, nervous shock

Deep nervous shock, prolonged stress, sudden mental shock are dangerous during pregnancy. So that the situation does not end in a miscarriage, the expectant mother needs to pull herself together and discuss with the doctor the possibility of using sedative drugs.

Unhealthy Lifestyle

Habits such as smoking, alcohol and drug use, uncontrolled coffee addiction, dieting and fasting, and simply poor nutrition can lead to miscarriage symptoms in early pregnancy.

It is recommended to correct your usual lifestyle at the stage of pregnancy planning.

Carrying weights, falls, violent sex life

These factors, although very rare, can cause spontaneous abortion. To prevent this from happening, it is important to take care of yourself from the first days, as it became known about pregnancy.

Symptoms

Most often, a woman is told about a threatened or incipient miscarriage by pain localized in the abdomen and vaginal bleeding. Pain may radiate to the lower back. Bloody discharge from the genital tract comes in different shades and intensities, but their appearance in any form should be a mandatory reason for an urgent consultation with a doctor.

Minor discharge often means that the pregnancy can still be maintained. Abundant bleeding, especially with clots and pieces of tissue, indicates that the pregnancy has already been terminated. Usually these early miscarriage symptoms are accompanied by increased tone uterus, which causes discomfort and pain in a woman.

Sometimes the above symptoms occur in the first trimester, but the pregnancy is not interrupted, and the woman continues to bear it further under the close supervision of a gynecologist and a “threatened miscarriage” mark in the outpatient card.

Regardless of the gestational age - both in the fifth and in the twentieth week, the signs of termination of pregnancy are similar. Therefore, you need to know how they manifest themselves in order to take action in time.

stages

Spontaneous abortion occurs in several stages.

Stage one - threatened miscarriage

Signs of an early miscarriage are characterized by aching pain in the lower back and lower abdomen. Sometimes there are minor spotting from the genital tract.

These symptoms require immediate treatment, as the first stage of pregnancy can almost always be maintained.

The second stage - the onset of a miscarriage

Pain becomes more intense, takes on a cramping character, localized in the region of the sacrum and abdomen. Bloody discharge intensifies, especially with the physical activity of a woman. There is a feeling of weakness, dizziness.

Third stage - miscarriage in progress

Pain in the abdomen and lower back becomes sharp. The bleeding is significant. The fetus at this stage is already dead, the pregnancy cannot be saved. The fetal egg can partially leave the uterus along with bleeding (in this case, they speak of an incomplete miscarriage) or come out completely.

Fourth stage - completed miscarriage

At the fourth stage, the fetus is completely expelled from the uterine cavity. The organ is reduced, its size returns to normal. Bleeding after an early miscarriage stops. It is necessary to find out with the help of ultrasound whether there are any remains of the fetus and membranes in the uterus.

What happens after a miscarriage

If there is a suspicion of spontaneous abortion, a woman should contact a medical institution. Only a specialist can say with certainty whether a miscarriage has occurred or not. Usually, for this purpose, an ultrasound scan and a blood test for hCG, the pregnancy hormone, are performed.

If gestational sac not in the uterus, and the results of hCG are unsatisfactory, which means there is no pregnancy. A woman should consult a gynecologist. The doctor will help to find out the cause of the miscarriage and give recommendations on how to proceed.

Complications

Most women who have had a miscarriage feel well. But in 10% of cases, there may be complications, such as abdominal pain and bleeding of varying intensity.

Seek immediate medical attention if after miscarriage in early pregnancy experienced the following symptoms:

• massive bleeding;
• sharp pains in the abdomen;
• convulsions, heat;
• frequent heartbeat;
• nausea, vomiting.

Curettage of the uterine cavity

Cleaning, or curettage of the uterus, is carried out in order to eliminate the remnants of the membranes and the fetus. This is a surgical procedure performed under general or local anesthesia. During cleaning, the woman is on the gynecological chair. Her external genitalia are treated with a 5% iodine solution. The doctor inserts the vaginal mirrors, exposing and fixing the cervix, after which, by means of a curette, which looks like a spoon, the curettage itself is carried out.

After cleaning is completed, the extracted biological material is sent to the laboratory for further research. Histology of a miscarriage must be carried out in order to find out the cause of the problem and prevent it in the future.

Is it always necessary to clean?

Many women are confident that they know how a miscarriage occurs in the early stages, and are in no hurry to seek medical help or refuse to clean, considering it an unnecessary manipulation. But it's not. The fetus and fetal membranes are exceptionally rarely expelled in full. And if they are not removed from the uterus in time, they will decompose and cause inflammation in the female body.

That is why after a miscarriage, regardless of the conditions in which it occurred, you should contact a medical institution, where the doctor will determine for sure whether cleaning is needed or not. If curettage is necessary, you should not refuse it, as complications can be more serious.

Treatment after a miscarriage

To do without consequences, it is important to follow the requirements of the doctor:

• monitor secretions from the genital tract, if they change, contact your doctor;
• control body temperature - its rise can mean inflammation in the body;
• monitor the cleanliness of the genitals, washing them at least twice a day with antiseptic solutions.

To normalize the hormonal background, the doctor may prescribe COCs (Logest, Lindinet 20). Birth control pills after an early miscarriage are also early prevention repeated pregnancy, which is undesirable in the first 6 months after curettage. Antibiotics (Cifran) are also prescribed to prevent infection of the genital area after the intervention.

How to restore health after a miscarriage

The early re-conception of a child as a way to survive an early miscarriage is seen by many women as the only way out. This is a normal mental reaction.

But before planning a new pregnancy, doctors advise paying attention to your own health with the help of the following recommendations:

• You should not become pregnant for 6 months to give the body time to rehabilitate the reproductive system and prevent another failure. This will require reliable contraception in the form of COCs or condoms.
• It is important to prepare the body for a second pregnancy. Measures to prevent miscarriage should be discussed with your doctor.

Currently, there are not only antenatal clinics, but also family reproduction centers, where doctors specialize in conception and pregnancy. Do not neglect the help of these centers.

Specialists will be able to draw up an individual work plan, based on the health and reproductive capabilities of partners, which will help ensure successful conception and pregnancy in the future.

Psychological rehabilitation

After a miscarriage occurs in the early stages of pregnancy, the female body physically recovers after 4-6 weeks, and psychological rehabilitation can take years. If the pregnancy was desired and planned, then it is difficult to cope with the burden of loss.

In this case, it is recommended not to withdraw into yourself, not to look for the guilty, and even more so not to blame yourself for the failure. In 73% of cases, spontaneous abortion is due to mutations, chromosomal problems, which means that the fetus was not healthy. You need to tune in to the fact that after some time a new pregnancy will come, for which you need to prepare better than last time.

After the bleeding after an early miscarriage has passed, you should not sit back, but consult a doctor, undergo an examination, be tested for possible infections, and do an ultrasound. All these actions should distract a woman who wants to become pregnant again from the development of depression. While waiting for the doctor's verdict, you can consult a psychologist to smooth out the acute moments of fears and worries.

Even if pregnancy does not occur on the first try, there is no need to panic. Most likely, the “striped” test will not keep you waiting long, and you can start this path all over again - from conception to the logical conclusion of pregnancy, that is, the birth of a child. Everything will work out!

Useful video about early miscarriage

Pregnancy is one of the most desired stages in a woman's life. But sometimes it happens spontaneously, called a miscarriage. As a rule, a miscarriage occurs in the early stages of pregnancy, and this can be caused by various reasons.

According to medical statistics, one out of five pregnancies ends in miscarriage. Most often, a miscarriage occurs in the early stages, when a woman is not yet aware of her situation: a miscarriage during a 2-week pregnancy has practically no symptoms. But there are, of course, cases when a woman already knows about her situation, but loses a child. So that the tragedy does not happen again, she needs to know how to protect herself from a miscarriage and what factors cause it.

Causes of early miscarriage

First you need to define what is an early miscarriage? According to gynecological terminology, a miscarriage is a spontaneous termination of pregnancy for up to 20 weeks. It may occur for the following reasons:

• Genetic disorders of the fetus. Geneticists believe that about 75% of miscarriages occur precisely because of this factor. There is no need to be afraid of this, since most often such deviations are accidental. They can be provoked by various viral diseases, radiation exposure and other external negative influences. Pregnancy in this case is interrupted due to the so-called natural selection, which helps to get rid of unhealthy or unviable offspring. Avoiding such a spontaneous abortion is almost impossible. Because of a large number negative environmental influences cannot prevent the risk of developing genetic abnormalities.
• Hormonal imbalance during pregnancy. Often a miscarriage in early pregnancy occurs when there is a lack of the hormone progesterone in the female body. Such a failure in the hormonal background can occur for various reasons, but most often it is possible to prevent a miscarriage at an early stage with the timely detection of a violation. For this, a woman is prescribed a course of hormonal drugs. Women also have another hormonal problem - a high content of male hormones. They help reduce the synthesis of estrogen and progesterone, which help pregnancy to proceed normally. Also, thyroid and adrenal hormones can affect pregnancy, so these organs should be checked before planning.
• immunological factor. Many people know about such a phenomenon during pregnancy as. It occurs when the fetus inherits a negative blood factor from the father, and it is positive from the mother. As a result, the female body perceives pregnancy as something alien and rejects it. At the risk of an early miscarriage, a woman is prescribed treatment in this case, which involves taking the hormone progesterone, which acts as an immunomodulator.
• Infectious diseases in women. Today, there are many sexually transmitted diseases. They can lead to early miscarriage. Such diseases include: toxoplasmosis, syphilis, gonorrhea, trichomoniasis, herpes, chlamydia, cytomegalovirus and others. When planning a pregnancy, you should be aware that many of these infections can be asymptomatic. Therefore, before you become pregnant, it is important to exclude their presence in the body. Spontaneous abortion is associated with infection of the embryo and damage to the membranes. If such diseases are detected during pregnancy, they should be treated immediately in order to reduce their impact on the fetus.
• Weakened health of women and chronic diseases. The likelihood of miscarriage in early pregnancy increases when a woman becomes ill, and there is a high temperature and intoxication of the body. The most dangerous diseases for a pregnant woman: viral hepatitis, rubella and influenza. Even rhinitis or tonsillitis in early pregnancy increases the risk of miscarriage. More serious diseases threaten not only the course of pregnancy, but also the health of the unborn child. Before planning, it is necessary to be examined for the presence of chronic diseases and to treat them. It is also important to immediately tell your doctor about any problems you have.
• Previous abortions. A large number of women have had abortions for various reasons. Such an intervention in the body puts on him the strongest stress. The consequence of an abortion can be an inflammatory process in the female organs, the development of dysfunction of the ovaries and adrenal glands. These complications disrupt the normal course of a new pregnancy. Artificial abortion leads to secondary infertility. When a new pregnancy occurs, a woman must inform her doctor about the abortion.
• Taking certain drugs and herbal treatment. Everyone knows that some drugs can cross the placenta to the fetus and have a negative effect on it. The most dangerous is the use of such drugs in the first trimester of pregnancy. This is due to the fact that during this period all systems and organs of the unborn child are laid, and if negative impact drugs, abnormalities in the formation of the fetus may occur, and consequently, an early miscarriage. Dangerous drugs include some groups of antibiotics, contraceptives, drugs that relieve pain. If a woman took them before she found out about the pregnancy, you need to tell the doctor about it. Can negatively affect the fetus and folk methods treatment. The following herbs are most dangerous for a pregnant woman: St. John's wort, tansy and nettle. It leads to the tone of the uterus, and as a result, to a miscarriage, even seemingly harmless parsley.
• Stress. Very often, unexpected reasons lead to an early miscarriage. One of them is stressful situations that have a negative impact on the course of pregnancy. Under forced circumstances that led to stress, a pregnant woman should inform the doctor about this. You can not start taking sedatives on your own: they can harm the fetus even more.
• excessive physical exercise. For the period of pregnancy, a woman needs to give up lifting weights, and, if necessary, evenly distribute the load and give herself rest. The maximum allowable weight for a pregnant woman is 5 kg.
• Injury. Falls and injuries rarely lead to spontaneous abortion, as the fetus is well protected in the mother's womb. But in the event of such situations, it is better to consult a doctor.
• Hot bath. There are rare cases of miscarriage when a woman abuses hot baths. To reduce the risk of spontaneous abortion, a woman does not need to completely abandon such procedures, she should not make the water excessively hot, and stay in the bath for no more than 15 minutes.
• Bad habits of the expectant mother. and alcohol abuse during pregnancy can cause early miscarriage. Excessive consumption of coffee and lack of walks on fresh rest also negatively affect the development of the unborn child.

Symptoms and signs of a miscarriage

The most common symptoms of a miscarriage in early pregnancy include pain in the lower abdomen and bleeding. The pain may radiate to the lumbar region. In this case, pain is not constant, but appears periodically. If there is a discharge of red or Brown you should immediately consult a doctor to avoid spontaneous abortion.

The signs of a threatened miscarriage include the tone of the uterus, but only if it causes discomfort to the woman and is accompanied by pain. If there are no unpleasant sensations with tone, then the doctor recommends only a decrease in physical activity and avoidance of stress.

At any stage of pregnancy, the symptoms of a miscarriage are similar to each other, only their soreness and abundance of discharge may differ. In the second trimester, damage to the bag is added to them amniotic fluid, accompanied by fluid flowing from the vagina, blood clots during urination, and very severe pain in the shoulder or stomach, indicating internal bleeding.

How does an early miscarriage happen?

An early miscarriage does not happen all at once. This process can take several hours or several days. This goes through several stages:

1. The first stage: the threat of miscarriage. They appear with her. Gradually, they increase, and they become paroxysmal. Along with this, the discharge of blood from the vagina begins. At this stage, timely seeking medical help gives a great chance of maintaining the pregnancy, since the uterus is still closed.
2. Second phase. The detachment of the placenta begins, as a result of which the fetus experiences oxygen starvation. It is no longer possible to stop spontaneous abortion, as the fetus dies.
3. Third stage. During this period, the placenta completely exfoliated, but the dead fetus remains in the uterus. From this moment begins his separation.
4. Fourth stage. In this case, the dead fetus, along with the placenta, leaves the uterine cavity. After that, the doctor carefully examines the woman and, if necessary, removes the remnants of tissue.

During what period of pregnancy do miscarriages most often occur?

A miscarriage most often occurs at a very short gestational age - 2-3 weeks. At the same time, the woman does not yet know about her pregnancy and perceives an early miscarriage as the onset of menstruation. This is due to similar symptoms: spotting and pain in the lower abdomen.

Less common is a miscarriage in the later stages up to 20 weeks. Spontaneous miscarriage late after 20 weeks is called a stillbirth.

Early diagnosis of miscarriage

The risk of early miscarriage is reduced to a minimum when a woman at the planning stage passed all the recommended tests and underwent examinations, and also treated the identified diseases. In this case, the threat of miscarriage is diagnosed during planning, and treatment is carried out in advance.

If there was no preliminary examination and treatment, then a doctor can diagnose an early miscarriage during an examination. For this, the following manipulations are carried out:

• the conformity of the size of the uterus to the deadline is checked;
• it is determined whether the uterus is in good shape;
• the closure of the cervix is ​​​​checked;
• attention is drawn to the discharge from the vagina.

At a later date, the most reliable way to determine the threat of miscarriage is to conduct a transvaginal ultrasound. This checks the length of the cervix and its internal condition.

In the presence of blood discharge and other serious threats of miscarriage, a woman is admitted to a hospital, and if there is no fear for the state of pregnancy, she remains treated at home.

Types of miscarriages

Spontaneous abortion can be classified into several types:

1. Incomplete miscarriage is characterized by pain in the lower abdomen or lower back, while the cervix opens. With the opening of the cervix, the fetal membrane bursts, but the pain and bleeding have not yet stopped.
2. Complete miscarriage. After death, the fetus or embryo completely leaves the uterine cavity. Bleeding stops and other unpleasant symptoms disappear.
3. A failed miscarriage. The dead fetus or embryo remains in the uterus. This condition is also called, but it is found only on examination by a doctor when listening to a heartbeat. At the same time, all signs of pregnancy disappear. If a failed miscarriage is diagnosed, the woman is treated with curettage of the uterus.
4. A recurrent miscarriage is defined when a woman has had at least three miscarriages in the first trimester.
5. Anembryony is characterized by the onset of fertilization without the formation of a fetus: the egg is fixed in the uterus, but the embryo is not there. The woman has a missed period and possibly other signs of pregnancy.
6. Choriadenoma occurs due to a genetic error during fertilization: instead of a fetus, abnormal tissue grows in the uterus. Its first signs are similar to pregnancy.

Any such conditions end in spontaneous miscarriage or mechanical abortion.

Can early miscarriage be prevented?

As mentioned earlier, it is possible to stop a miscarriage at an early stage only if you seek medical help in a timely manner. If a threat of spontaneous miscarriage is detected, the doctor first prescribes bed rest. Sometimes the woman is not even allowed to get up. It is necessary to reduce physical activity to a minimum.

Any unrest and negative thoughts affect the state of the fetus negatively. It is important to try to avoid stressful situations. The doctor may even prescribe valerian or motherwort as a sedative.

Drug treatment is prescribed to block uterine contractions, which helps stop the miscarriage. If necessary, the doctor prescribes an additional intrauterine ultrasound. If insufficiency is detected in the hospital, an operation is performed to suture the uterus, helping to keep the fetal egg inside. They do it under anesthesia, and at the same time, relaxing drugs are injected into the uterus.

It happens that a woman is diagnosed with a threat of miscarriage at an early stage, and she spends almost the entire pregnancy in the hospital.

Consequences after a miscarriage

After an early miscarriage, the doctor may give a few days for the remnants of the fetal tissue to come out on their own with vaginal discharge. If this does not happen, it is assigned mechanical cleaning uterine cavity: curettage is done and subsequent recovery of the body.

In this case, you need to monitor the discharge, and if you have any suspicions, immediately consult a doctor. Incessant bleeding at the beginning of menstruation after an early miscarriage may be due to the remnants of the membranes in the uterus. To diagnose them, the doctor performs an ultrasound scan, and, if necessary, does a second cleaning. If nothing is found in the uterus, drugs are prescribed to actively contract the uterus and stop bleeding.

An increase in body temperature may indicate the onset inflammatory process. In this case, you also need to seek medical help. If there are no complications, the body recovers within 1-2 months.

Many couples experience spontaneous miscarriage in early pregnancy. An early miscarriage should not be an obstacle to the desire to have a baby. If an early miscarriage was a single one, then the chances of a normal course of a subsequent pregnancy are 80%.

With repeated miscarriages, the likelihood of a normally developing pregnancy is significantly reduced. To prevent this from happening, you need to determine the cause of the miscarriage, and if any disease has become it, be sure to treat it.

You can plan a new pregnancy only a few months after a miscarriage or curettage of the uterus.

Preventive measures

Women who once experienced a miscarriage are worried about how to prevent spontaneous abortion the next time. You can increase the likelihood of a normal course of the next pregnancy by adhering to some preventive measures:

• complete rejection of bad habits: smoking, drug and alcohol use;
• conducting healthy lifestyle life;
• moderate physical activity.

When a new pregnancy is detected, you should:

1. As soon as possible, consult a doctor so that he, if necessary, prescribes drugs for the normal development of pregnancy in the early stages.
2. Reduce consumption of strong tea and coffee.
3. Refuse to lift weights and play sports, especially if there is a chance of falling or injuring yourself.

Pregnancy is a wonderful period that every woman dreams of who wants to feel the joy of motherhood.

However, unfortunately, sometimes it happens that a pregnancy can be terminated for reasons beyond your control: it dies, or a miscarriage simply occurs.

As a rule, such a threat is especially dangerous in the early stages, when the baby is still quite fragile, and you may not even suspect that you are already carrying a child (according to statistics, every fifth woman ends up so miserably).

A miscarriage manifests itself in different ways, is caused by various reasons, and therefore is characterized by different symptoms in each individual case. Early miscarriage or spontaneous abortion is the termination of pregnancy for up to 12 weeks.

If it occurs between 12 and 22 weeks, then. After this period, doctors consider miscarriage as premature birth, and if the baby's weight exceeds half a kilogram, and his development was normal, then modern medicine has every opportunity to save the life of a little person.

Of course, the loss of a child is an extremely deep and strong emotional trauma, which is accompanied by nervous shock, despair, and depression.

A miscarriage will be especially painful for women who have managed to become attached to their baby: who saw the baby on an ultrasound, heard, etc.

Miscarriage can only be an unfortunate combination of circumstances that led to such a tragic outcome, and maybe a dangerous diagnosis, so any expectant mother needs to know about the main factors and causes that provoke in order to be able to save her little treasure.

So why does a miscarriage occur in the early stages?

Hormonal imbalance as a cause of spontaneous miscarriage

In order for the body to function properly, the hormonal balance must be normal. With the onset of pregnancy, women often experience disruptions and disruptions in the work of hormones, which can cause spontaneous miscarriage in the early stages.

The problem is not only the lack of any hormones, but also their excess: for example, a miscarriage can provoke an increased content of the male hormone - androgen, because it is this substance that suppresses the production of other, very important ones - progesterone and estrogen.

If your thyroid gland is not functioning well, there are problems with the endocrine system and adrenal glands, this will also carry a certain threat and the likelihood of a miscarriage, since it depends on how these glands and organs work correctly, and how they secrete hormones that affect formation and development of pregnancy.

With a timely visit to the doctor, this problem can be solved with the help of hormone therapy. However, it is better to be examined and treated before pregnancy.

Genetic anomalies in the development of the fetus

Unfortunately, this factor is attributed to natural selection, since spontaneous abortion caused by a genetic anomaly cannot be stopped. Such anomalies are rarely caused by heredity, as a rule, they can be the result of any single mutation.

You will definitely have a consultation with a geneticist who will give you the maximum information on how you can reduce the risk of such genetic abnormalities and protect yourself from exposure to mutagenic factors. There are many reasons for their presence:

• ecological environment;
• harmfulness at work / place of work or housing;
• viruses;
• unhealthy lifestyle (smoking, alcohol, drugs, unhealthy diet, etc.);
• taking certain medications;
• bad heredity.

Genetic abnormalities cause miscarriage in more than 73% of cases. Regrettable as it may be, this is how nature gets rid of unviable offspring.

Infectious and inflammatory diseases in the mother

Infections, viruses and diseases are unfavorable for the body even at normal times, and even more so during pregnancy. If you underwent a comprehensive examination before conception, then most likely you don’t have to worry. However, no one is safe from colds and other diseases, and for a child, any of them will be fatal.

All infections that are sexually transmitted, as well as - and - affect the fetal membranes, can infect the fetus and lead to impaired or halted development, the occurrence of various malformations or the death of the child.

General diseases (inflammatory or chronic) also pose a great threat to the life of the baby, especially in early pregnancy: fever, intoxication of the body, the impossibility of standard drug treatment - all this greatly aggravates the situation and increases the risk of miscarriage.

Of course, any diseases of the genital organs will be a very alarming signal.

Immunological factor

During pregnancy, the immune system weakens dramatically. Moreover, if there is, then the threat of miscarriage becomes very serious.

A woman in the list of mandatory tests also donates blood to determine the group (together with the father of the child with a negative Rh factor), so that the doctor can assess all the risks.

If the father has a positive indicator, then there is a high probability of developing an Rh conflict: that is, the embryo can inherit the Rh opposite to that of its mother, which means that the mother's body will perceive the embryo as a foreign body and begin to reject it.

Today, to solve this problem, doctors use the prevention of miscarriage for immune conflict (drugs are administered to a woman to neutralize antibodies, and also as an immunomodulating agent).

Physiological features

In some women, the uterus may be an unusual shape. There are various congenital anomalies in the structure of the genitals:

• bicornuate uterus;
• saddle;
• double;
• also occurs infantilism of the uterus or underdevelopment of the organ;
• often a normal placenta cannot form due to the intrauterine septum, for the same reason the fetal egg is poorly fixed.

If the muscular layer of the cervix is ​​very weak, then cervical insufficiency occurs, which also often serves as a trigger for premature termination of pregnancy.

The cause of miscarriage or habitual miscarriages can also be abortions that you have done before.

The female body is greatly harmed by such medical manipulation, and no one knows how the stress of abortion may subsequently respond.

Often, the genitals become inflamed, dysfunction of the adrenal glands or ovaries begins, etc. Even the usual surgical intervention (operations) on the abdominal cavity can lead to single or repeated miscarriages.

Wrong way of life

This includes several key factors. If you keep them under control, you can make a kind of prevention and at least somewhat protect yourself and your baby.

1. Already when planning a pregnancy, a woman needs to radically change her habits and habitual lifestyle.

Take care of a healthy, complete and balanced diet, drink vitamins, adjust the daily routine, get enough sleep, avoid drinking alcohol, smoking, etc. Get rid of the “miscarriage allies” in advance.

1. Pregnancy is not a disease, so physical or physical activity is not contraindicated for you, but you should follow the measure in everything and be sure to consult a doctor.

Physical exercises or loads should not be excessive and exhausting, and sports should not be extreme. Remember that you can not lift weights, fall, get injured (especially in the abdomen).

1. Even Bad mood, depression or severe stress can trigger a miscarriage.

Try to avoid nervous shocks, do not be nervous and think only about the good, so as not to harm the child.

1. When pregnancy has just begun, the baby is still very weak, so in the early stages it is better to coordinate any actions with your doctor.

Remember that not only almost everything can be dangerous for the crumbs medications, but also many herbs or other folk treatments, so you should not self-medicate and prescribe anything to yourself.

A simple pain reliever or sedative can seriously harm the baby or cause a miscarriage.

1. Do not forget that, under certain indications, both a hot bath and overly aggressive sexual intercourse can serve as a trigger.

All these reasons often turn out to be just a background for the provocation of a miscarriage and can contribute to its occurrence in tandem with more serious factors.

What are the symptoms of a miscarriage?

The most common signs by which spontaneous miscarriage can be recognized at an early stage are the following characteristic symptoms:

• , sometimes she .

It can be stretching, it can manifest itself in spasms, periodically appearing and disappearing.

• Further, the woman feels pain in the area of ​​\u200b\u200bthe ovaries and uterus (especially pronounced and painful, often becomes an alarm about the possibility of a miscarriage).
• (color may vary from pale pink to red or).

If the discharge is still small (just a smearing character), then with a timely visit to the doctor, the pregnancy will be saved. In the case of sharp and with clots of tissue, unfortunately, this will most likely not work;

• Indirect signs will help to recognize a miscarriage: feeling unwell, weakness, dizziness, disruption of the gastrointestinal tract, accompanied by and, weight loss is also possible.

Sometimes a woman can mentally stop feeling like a pregnant woman, as her early signs of pregnancy disappear.

How does this happen?

In the early stages, as a rule, a miscarriage does not occur immediately and suddenly, but in several stages. Depending on this, the symptoms characteristic of each of them are also distinguished.

• Risk of miscarriage.

If we are no longer talking about a threat, but about a so-called miscarriage that has begun, then doctors can state a partial detachment of the fetal egg from the walls of the uterus and its expulsion (which has begun). If the ultrasound specialist hears a heartbeat, and the cervix has not yet opened, then the doctors will do everything to save your pregnancy.

• A miscarriage on the go.

The fertilized egg at this stage may already completely exfoliate, and your body will simply expel the dead fetus from itself. There is no reverse course to this process, so doctors will have to perform an operation on the woman to completely clean the uterine cavity.

If a miscarriage occurs in the course, then intense pains (like contractions) in the lower abdomen will be observed.

They are characterized by severe spasms, so that the woman has to take some kind of forced position, and if she tries to change it (mainly during extension), then the pain intensifies even more. Abundant discharge develops into uterine bleeding, and the fetus may splash out with it.

• Completed miscarriage.

A completed or complete miscarriage will be only in this case (when the fetal egg or the fetus itself is expelled). This option will save a woman from pain and other unpleasant sensations. The hemorrhage process will also stop.

Curettage in this case, as a rule, is not necessary. It is much worse if the miscarriage was incomplete or failed, that is, the expulsion of the fetus and membranes occurred only partially.

A failed miscarriage or a missed pregnancy are the most dangerous, because a woman may not be aware of the tragedy that has happened, and a dead child in the uterus begins to mummify or fester.

What if the process has already started?

From stage to stage, the symptoms increase in intensity, therefore, if you feel pain or other characteristic signs of a miscarriage, it is better not to try to “endure”, but to immediately go to the doctor. Perhaps the child can still be saved.

The main diagnostic method is considered ultrasonography. It is this procedure that will allow doctors not only to ascertain a miscarriage that has occurred or has begun, but will also help determine further treatment tactics: is it possible to apply conservation therapy, should it be done, etc.

The doctor also examines the woman, looks at how open the cervix is, takes blood for (after the death of the child, the indicator decreases sharply).

After that, the doctor will be able to prescribe the appropriate treatment. For example, if the Rh conflict could be the cause, the woman will be given special drugs, if the problem is in the imbalance of hormones, hormone therapy will be carried out, etc.

If it was not a threat, and the miscarriage did happen, then after all the necessary measures to clean the uterus, the doctor will prescribe medication (antibiotics) to avoid a possible infection.

Is cleaning necessary after a miscarriage?

This question continues to generate controversy today. Doctors recommend gynecological cleaning or curettage if the miscarriage was incomplete, and, of course, in the case of a missed pregnancy.

The remains of the fetus, blood clots, particles of the shell - all this must be removed, because even the smallest piece left can cause serious inflammation, infection and other complications.

If during spontaneous abortion or a miscarriage, all parts of the fetus and membranes came out, and the ultrasound showed that the uterine cavity is clean, then cleaning can be done.

What to do after: recovery period

Coping with the loss of a child is very difficult. Only the support of close and dear people will help you cope with your grief, because it will be hard not only in physical plane how much in the moral and emotional. You may need the help of a qualified psychologist.

For several weeks it is better to rest, gain strength, restore mental and physical health. Do not rush to become a mother again. at least six months must pass, and during this time you will have to take care of your health so as not to jeopardize a future pregnancy.

In most cases, miscarriage can be avoided. If you are planning a child, you will definitely undergo a comprehensive examination for infections, diseases, etc.

Try to eliminate all the factors that provoke a miscarriage that depend on you: change your habits, adjust your lifestyle and do not despair - you will definitely be able to experience the joy of motherhood.

A miscarriage is an ordeal

Pregnancy can be long-awaited and completely unexpected, but the realization of a special position changes the state of a woman. That is why a miscarriage in the vast majority of cases turns out to be a real tragedy, after which it is difficult to recover both physically and morally. Let's try to figure out what symptoms indicate an early miscarriage and what can provoke it.

What can cause a miscarriage?

In the understanding of the layman, a miscarriage is any termination of pregnancy, while doctors use this term only starting from a period of 22 weeks. This approach is due to the fact that the average weight of the fetus at the “equator” of pregnancy reaches 500 grams, and modern medicine can save a baby with such a body weight. In the case of earlier dates, the chances of survival are almost zero. So, what are the symptoms of an early miscarriage?

genetic pathology

The first month of pregnancy, as well as the first trimester, is a very important and difficult period in the development of the embryo. It is at this time that the foundation of the whole organism is laid, cells are formed from which organs and tissues will grow. Their condition depends on the genetics of the parents: in the presence of certain mutations in the genes, the embryo may not be viable. In this case, a healthy maternal organism stops its development and rejects the embryo, which could not survive after birth. Usually, the genetic factor "works" in the period from the 5th to the 8th week, and a woman notices signs of a miscarriage in the first trimester.

With a hormonal interruption factor, the couple should be examined

Hormonal disbalance

The menstrual cycle and pregnancy are regulated huge amount hormones. So, during ovulation, luteinizing hormone is released, if a mature egg meets a sperm cell and conception occurs, estradiol promotes the introduction of a fetal egg into the endometrium of the uterus, and prolactin ensures the growth of the embryo. After implantation, hCG is produced. All hormones are produced by different organs, the process of their synthesis is very fragile. Failure at any stage can cause pregnancy to fade and further miscarriage. That is why it is recommended to plan conception, after passing special tests, and with a delay and two strips on the test, consult a doctor as soon as possible.

physical factor

In the early stages, lifting weights or falling can hardly provoke a pregnancy to fade, but such a negative impact, in the presence of other “alarming” factors, can cause a miscarriage at the end of the first trimester or at the beginning of the second. The woman who learned about interesting position, you should take care of your body as much as possible and limit physical activity. This does not mean that you need to adhere to a sedentary lifestyle - you need a balance, for example, replacing strength training with active walking, swimming or yoga for pregnant women - from the second trimester.

Limit physical activity during pregnancy

Past illness

Infections are a serious threat in the early stages, especially in the first trimester. Until the 12-14th week, the placenta, which protects the fetus from dangerous external factors, continues to form and is not yet fully functional. This means that almost any bacteria and viruses can harm the embryo. The mother's body will not allow the infected embryo to develop, and the pregnancy will stop. Another risk factor that accompanies the disease is high temperature. It is caused by infections, viruses, inflammation. A rise in body temperature above 38 degrees for several days is very likely to cause an early miscarriage.

Abortion and missed abortion in anamnesis

Termination of pregnancy of any nature adversely affects the hormonal background of a woman and her health in general. Due to abortion or curettage during a missed pregnancy, the walls of the uterus can be injured, scars form at the sites of damage. They can interfere with the normal implantation of the embryo. If the embryo is not properly fixed, it will not be able to receive normal nutrition and will stop developing after a while. With all this in mind, women who have had to endure abortion, miscarriage, diagnostic curettage, and even C-section, in the first weeks of pregnancy, you need to carefully monitor your condition.

Pregnancy with a history of abortion should be planned

Medical treatment

Many drugs, even "harmless" and well-known ones, can be extremely dangerous not only in the first weeks, but throughout pregnancy. In the first trimester, there is still no placenta that protects the fetus, but even at a later date, many aggressive substances can penetrate through it and harm the fetus. A number of drugs can be the cause of a miscarriage, which is why taking any medications and even vitamins should be agreed with the doctor. The same applies to folk remedies, because natural is not always safe. So, for example, decoctions with herbs like nettle, parsley, St. John's wort and cornflower can cause an abortion.

Wrong way of life

Bad habits undermine a woman's health, and with the onset of pregnancy become a very big threat to the fetus. Excessive alcohol consumption in the early stages, smoking, and even more so the use of drugs literally poison the body. Dangerous toxins cause numerous malformations, and in some cases, abortion. Therefore, bad habits must be abandoned at the planning stage, or at least immediately after the fact of conception is confirmed.

How does a miscarriage occur in the first weeks?

Between ovulation, when conception is possible, and the beginning of the next menstruation, about 10-14 days pass. Scenario for cycle early miscarriage may look like this: menstruation is delayed by 1-4 days, the first discharge is accompanied by more intense than usual pulling pains in the lower abdomen. Menstruation in the new cycle turns out to be unusually plentiful, 1-3 days after it begins, a woman notices a large blood clot. This may be a confirmation that in the previous cycle there was a pregnancy, which was interrupted in the very first days. In this case, you can not be afraid of serious consequences, but it would be useful to consult a gynecologist with an ultrasound examination. Your doctor may recommend using anti-inflammatory drugs or vitamins for prevention.

Miscarriage at the earliest stages is difficult to recognize

Symptoms of a miscarriage in the first trimester

It is much more difficult to survive an early miscarriage if the pregnancy is confirmed. The following signs may signal that the embryo has stopped developing:

• pain - the stomach pulls down, pain give in the groin, pubis, inner thighs or lower back, after the 10-12th week, spasms may be of a shingles character, this condition is a reason for immediate medical attention;
• discharge - the main symptom of an early miscarriage, a woman may notice brown spotting, pink marks on linen or bloody, as during menstruation. Whatever the discharge, a pregnant woman needs urgent medical care, sometimes they do not signal an interruption, but a detachment, which, with the right treatment, can be stopped in a hospital setting;
• tone is one of the earliest signs of a miscarriage that has begun: tone is felt as a tension in the lower abdomen, it can be painless, but one way or another causes some discomfort. Do not ignore such a sign - it is better to consult a gynecologist and exclude the threat;
• a sharp disappearance of signs of toxicosis - when developing "pregnancy hormones", expectant mothers may feel unwell, nausea, weakness and drowsiness. If the manifestations of toxicosis disappear overnight up to 10 weeks, you need to be alert and monitor your own condition. If any of the above symptoms of a miscarriage appear, you should consult a doctor.

If you suspect a miscarriage, you should immediately consult a doctor

Regardless of whether the pregnancy can be maintained or not, a woman needs professional medical help. With a positive prognosis, the child can be saved, with a negative one, due to correct and timely treatment, it will be possible to minimize the threats to the next pregnancy.

Signs of a miscarriage at the beginning of the second trimester

It is believed that the most "disturbing" stage of pregnancy is the first. It is up to 12 weeks that the main number of miscarriages occurs in the early stages, their consequences are corrected relatively easily in comparison with the interruption in the second trimester. What symptoms can not be ignored from the 13th to 22nd week and beyond?

• Pain - from the second trimester, pain may be cramping or resemble pain during menstruation.
• Leakage of amniotic fluid - if the fetal bladder is damaged, the discharge is transparent, watery, it is easiest to detect leakage using a pharmacy test for amniotic fluid.
• Painful urination with discharge of bloody clots from the vagina during stool.
• Disappearance of movements - the first movements are felt after 18 weeks, they become obvious and distinct on the 20th week, if on the 21-22nd week the movements are no longer recognized, you need to urgently consult a doctor.
• Bleeding - any spotting at any time is a threat, especially at the stage of development, when the placenta is already formed. The fact is that the placenta and the uterus are connected by many vessels, if they are damaged, internal bleeding can begin.

Long-term miscarriage is the most dangerous

Internal bleeding is an extremely dangerous symptom that develops rapidly and poses a direct threat to a woman's life. Its beginning is indicated by a sharp weakness, dizziness, blanching of the skin, increased heart rate with a decrease in blood pressure, confusion. Small internal bleeding can be indicated by pain that radiates to the stomach or shoulder area.

Forecast

What will be the next pregnancy if there was an early miscarriage? It all depends on the timing and circumstances of the interruption, history, age and condition of the woman. If the fading of pregnancy occurred in the first weeks, with the correct drug treatment and a course of physiotherapy after six months, you can try to conceive a child again. If fetal development has stopped for more than late term, it will take more time to recover, and it is best to plan a pregnancy together with a doctor and under maximum medical supervision. If the miscarriage was aggravated by any complications or occurred at the 5th month, assisted reproductive technologies may be required for re-conception. In any case, with an early miscarriage, all actions of a woman and a couple should be agreed with the doctor.

Spontaneous abortion, more commonly referred to as a miscarriage, is the termination of a pregnancy between implantation and 22 weeks of gestation. According to the time of occurrence, a miscarriage is divided by doctors into early or late. In addition, according to their manifestations, they are divided into, abortion in progress, and a miscarriage. This is important so that doctors can choose the most optimal volume. medical care woman.

Table of contents:

If, with a threat or a miscarriage that has just begun, it is still possible to save the fetus by applying various methods of maintaining pregnancy, then in the later stages it is only necessary to carry out the entire cycle of life-saving measures (with severe bleeding due to the remnants of the fetal egg) and the preservation of the woman's health.

The interruption can begin after it has been formed or with a completely viable embryo, which for some reason is rejected by the mother's body.

Current abortion rate

Signs of an early miscarriage

Usually, the first manifestations or the onset of a miscarriage are discomfort, heaviness in the lower back, aches, and as at the onset of menstruation. In addition, there may be pinkish or brown, "daub" on linen, increased mucous secretions.

note

Sometimes the threat of miscarriage is detected only according to ultrasound when establishing the fact of pregnancy. The doctor on the computer screen sees a formation in the zone of the forming placenta or a hematoma in the area of ​​the placental site, reinforced along any of the walls of the uterus.

In these cases, timely measures to ensure complete rest, as well as bed rest and taking medications that relax the uterus and keep the ovaries working (or synthetic progesterone analogues), ways to keep the pregnancy going and eliminate the threat.

Signs of an early miscarriage

Usually, a miscarriage is accompanied by rejection of the fetal egg with a placental site and exposure of the uterine mucosa with bleeding vessels. In this regard, one of the main manifestations of miscarriage will be of varying severity, from minor in the initial stages of abortion, to heavy losses and life-threatening conditions. This is possible with a delay in the uterus of the remains of the fetal egg, when its walls cannot fully contract and squeeze the bleeding vessels. Against the background of bleeding, pain in the pubic area and perineum is possible, pulling or cramping, which are formed due to an increase in the tone of the uterus.

note

Sometimes during an abortion, against the background of pain, signs of bleeding may not appear for a certain time if the blood forms a hematoma in the upper uterus.

Closer to 10-12 weeks, the fact of a miscarriage will be the release of the remains of the fetal egg with the embryo and blood clots to the outside, which marks a complete abortion. If parts of the embryo or membranes remain in the uterus, this is an incomplete abortion, and curettage of the uterine cavity is necessary to stop bleeding and prevent complications. Any suspicious symptoms or the slightest spotting during gestation should be the reason for an immediate appeal to a gynecologist or an ambulance.

Diagnostic methods for threatened miscarriage and termination of pregnancy

The basis of diagnosis in case of a threatened miscarriage is data. Only on modern devices, the fetus can be determined after three to four weeks, and its heartbeat from the fifth week of pregnancy. When, according to the study, the doctor sees a small area of ​​detachment or hematoma, while the fetal heartbeat is good, the chances of bearing a fetus are up to 95%, but subject to normal uterine tone and cervix closure.

When bloody contents are released from the genital tract, if a deformation of the fetal egg is detected, the embryo itself is too small by this time or it does not have a heartbeat, termination of pregnancy will be inevitable.

Often, with bleeding arising from the genital gap, and pain, retrochoreal hematomas are detected. If their size is small, it is necessary to monitor the woman and take measures to preserve the pregnancy, but if the exfoliation of the emerging placenta is large and the accumulation of blood is large, the chances of termination of pregnancy and severe bleeding are high.

Supplements data on ultrasound blood test for the level of hCG hormone(chorionic hormone), its definition helps in making a diagnosis at a time when ultrasound data are doubtful or not indicative. If, according to ultrasound data, there is no fetal egg in terms of 3-4 weeks, the level of hCG is determined at an interval of two days, if the level of the hormone does not increase or decreases, this indicates a miscarriage.

Methods of treatment for a miscarriage that has begun

Doctors say that it is almost impossible to influence a miscarriage that has begun in the first trimester, use hemostatic drugs and (if there was a history of miscarriages). These measures of therapy are limited, since it is often impossible to stop them, especially in the presence of fetal chromosomal pathologies.

Not applicable in modern obstetrics, such means as bed rest, papaverine and analgesics in injections, magnesium and vitamins. These methods have no proven effectiveness and are not recommended for use. In addition, strict bed rest can only aggravate the mother's condition due to constipation and a tendency to thrombosis and stress reactions.

Treatment, tactics for complete abortion

If a complete abortion has occurred with the release of blood and particles of the fetal egg, this condition does not require any additional therapy., it is recommended to take an analysis (blood for hCG) after 2-3 weeks from the date of interruption. When the indicators are normal, no further treatment is prescribed. If hCG does not have a downward trend or it is weak, it is possible to form hydatidiform mole, a serious complication that requires emergency treatment.

Measures to help with an abortion

In the case when a miscarriage began and bleeding broke out, but there was no discharge of the membranes and the fetal egg from the uterus, doctors apply three approaches, depending on age and the specific situation:

• Expectant tactics for a week for detachment and release of the remains of the embryo and tissues
• Drug induction of miscarriage by taking misoprostol (it shrinks the uterus and expels the ovum)
• Classical curettage of the cavity or vacuum aspiration of the contents, which is applicable in case of treatment failure and with severe bleeding.

note

In each case, the question of how to help a woman is decided by the doctor, depending on the situation. If the bleeding is severe, hemostatic drugs, plasma transfusions and blood substitutes are applicable.

Recovery after termination of pregnancy

If the pregnancy was desired, losing it would be a great physical and emotional stress on the body. In addition, we must add to this list also worries about the consequences of a miscarriage and the possibility of having children in the future in general. Therefore, we need a full-fledged treatment tactics and methods of rehabilitation immediately after a miscarriage and then, during the recovery period and new pregnancies.

Doctors can resort to different tactics:

If there was relatively heavy bleeding during the miscarriage, the doctor will recommend taking iron supplements and enhanced nutrition to restore the amount of hemoglobin and red blood cells. In some cases, the doctor will recommend immediately after the miscarriage to start taking oral contraceptives with a hormonal correction spruce, while the reproductive system is being restored.

When is it possible after a miscarriage?

If this was the first miscarriage, and it had no complications and consequences, then pregnancy planning can be started in 3-4 months or when the woman is psychologically and physically ready for this. If the miscarriage is repeated or there is a diagnosis of habitual miscarriage, with three or more miscarriages in a row, a detailed examination is necessary to determine the reasons for this.

Alena Paretskaya, pediatrician, medical commentator