Treatment of Miscarriage Option #1 - Observation
Majority of women that miscarry especially within the first twelve weeks of gestation are given this option for treatment of miscarriage. The treatment of miscarriage in this manner is extremely difficult for a woman and is impossible for anyone to understand unless they have experienced a miscarriage themselves. The woman is informed that she is having a miscarriage and is sent home to allow nature to take its course, with follow up with her physician as instructed. The woman will be instructed to get plenty of rest, have complete pelvic rest (nothing to be placed inside the vagina), examine vaginal discharge for any gray or white tissue which might be the products of conception, and seek medical attention if bleeding is excessive, pain is severe, and / or development of fever. This treatment of miscarriage can take anywhere from hours to days and in rare cases weeks.
Treatment of Miscarriage Option #2 - Medication
This option for treatment of miscarriage is usually done when the pregnancy is either an ectopic pregnancy or occurs in the second trimester of pregnancy.
Treatment of miscarriage for an ectopic pregnancy if caught early can be through medication. Within recent years methotrexate (a chemotherapy drug) has been used successfully in treating ectopic pregnancies. This treatment of miscarriage works by stopping the fetal cells from dividing which causes a miscarriage to follow. Usually after the injection of methotrexate women will experience a miscarriage about two to six weeks later.
Another medication option for treatment of miscarriage is the use of prostaglandins and pitocin. Prostaglandins are inserted into the vagina and placed next to the cervix, this will soften the cervix and make it easier for the cervix to dialate during uterine contractions. If the uterus does not begin to contract over a certain period of time pitocin will be added to this treatment of miscarriage. Pitocin will cause a woman's uterus to contract and the contractions with the softening of the cervix will allow the delivery of the products of conception. This treatment of miscarriage is also extremely difficult on the woman and a couple. A woman has to deliver her miscarriage which is emotionally difficult. One must ensure that the woman and couple have a strong support group for this treatment of miscarriage.
Treatment of Miscarriage Option #2 - Surgical
A surgical option called a D&C (dilatation & curettage)can always be used as a treatment of miscarriage. This decision is left up to the woman and medical provider. This treatment of miscarriage requires the woman to go into the hospital and have anesthesia will a obstitrician dilates her cervix with instruments, then using either suction or curettage (scraping) the endometrial lining to ensure removal of all products of conception. The procedure is a same day surgery which means that the woman will go home the same day the surgery is performed. Some women like this because it gives them immediate closure and other women do not like this treatment option. The one benefit for this treatment of miscarriage is that the products of conception are sent to a pathologist who can assess the fetus for chromosomal abnormalities if so desired.
Another time the surgical option is used for the treatment of miscarriage is when an ectopic pregnancy is not detected early enough for the used of medication. In this situation the ectopic pregnancy must be removed surgically.
