“What is happening?”
“What is wrong with me?”
“What did I do wrong?”
“Do I need to go to the doctor?”
These, among others, are natural questions and feelings that can arise when you are having a miscarriage. There can be a mixture of sadness, surprise, confusion, and shame all wrapped up in a private experience happening out of your control. The same emotions can be true for your partner; maybe they never even knew you were pregnant.
All of this to say, a miscarriage is a physically painful and emotionally tasking experience for any woman. Still, you never need to question whether you can receive medical attention. Contrary to what the media claims, any woman miscarrying can go to her OB-GYN or Emergency Room (ER) and receive medical services in all 50 states.
About 50% of miscarriages happen without receiving a procedure. However, if you need care, there are several options for palliative and medical services.
Blood or urine tests, tissue tests, pelvic floor exams, and ultrasounds will confirm that you had a viable pregnancy and that the child’s heartbeat has stopped. Your doctor will then assess if other tissues must be removed to prevent infection.
From there, they may prescribe different medications or, more commonly, a procedure called dilation and curettage (D&C). These options will help complete the miscarriage by letting the baby pass through the birth canal. A D&C might feel overwhelming at the moment, but rest assured, this is a procedure OBGYNs are familiar with, as it’s also done to remove polyps and cysts.
Your OBGYN should make you feel safe and comfortable throughout the quick (roughly 10-20 minutes) procedure. In case of an emergency, it is always best to seek medical attention from your closest trusted OBGYN or go to the ER. This is a standard procedure across America for women.
It is difficult to believe that one in five pregnancies end in a miscarriage. That is why, at Standing With You (SWY), we want to inform you of your options and that you will always be given the medical attention you need.