What to do about a threatened miscarriage?

Written by Zhang Yin Xing
Obstetrics
Updated on March 16, 2025
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Threatened miscarriage refers to the occurrence of a small amount of vaginal bleeding before 28 weeks of pregnancy, often dark red, with no pregnancy tissue expelled, and may include pain in the lower abdomen and back. During a gynecological examination, the cervix is closed and the membrane is unruptured, and the pregnancy can continue if the symptoms disappear after rest and treatment.

In handling a threatened miscarriage, it is first necessary to analyze the causes of the miscarriage. Common causes include embryonic factors, mainly chromosomal abnormalities. If the miscarriage is caused by chromosomal abnormalities, it is mostly unavoidable.

Maternal factors, such as systemic diseases in pregnant women, include increased blood pressure, severe anemia, high fever, etc. Pregnancy can mostly continue with treatment of the cause.

Abnormalities in the reproductive organs, such as uterine malformations, submucous and intramural fibroids, adenomyosis, etc., can lead to miscarriage. With appropriate treatment to preserve the pregnancy, there is hope to continue the pregnancy.

If due to endocrine abnormalities, such as luteal phase deficiency or hypothyroidism, supplementing with progesterone and thyroid hormones can mostly allow the pregnancy to continue.

Identifying the cause of a miscarriage is extremely important, as different causes can lead to different pregnancy outcomes.

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Written by Du Rui Xia
Obstetrics
47sec home-news-image

What should you not eat during a threatened miscarriage?

When there are signs of a threatened miscarriage, pregnant women should avoid consuming raw, cold, spicy, and irritating food such as onions, ginger, garlic, chili peppers, and overly sour food, as these may stimulate the uterus, causing it to contract, and increase the risk of miscarriage. Additionally, do not consume cold-natured foods, especially chilled beverages straight from the refrigerator or melons and fruits. Also, some foods can cause uterine contractions, such as hawthorn, seafood products, and black fungus; these should be avoided during this period. Also, try not to be overly anxious.

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Written by Zhang Lu
Obstetrics
1min 3sec home-news-image

What should be done for a threatened miscarriage?

Threatened miscarriage, as the name suggests, is a precursor to miscarriage, typically manifesting in several ways: first, a feeling of heaviness or pain in the lower abdomen; second, vaginal bleeding. The presence of these two symptoms often indicates signs of a miscarriage. Regarding the management of threatened miscarriage, whether to proceed with treatment to preserve the pregnancy primarily depends on the severity of the condition and the value of preserving the pregnancy. First, for minor cases of threatened miscarriage, if there is only slight bleeding and mild abdominal pain, medication can be used to inhibit uterine contractions and reduce bleeding. Second, if there is significant vaginal bleeding and severe abdominal pain, and if the embryo has already been confirmed to have ceased developing, preserving the pregnancy is generally not recommended. It is advised to terminate the pregnancy promptly or let it proceed naturally. (Medication should be used under the guidance of a doctor.)

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Written by Zhang Yin Xing
Obstetrics
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What are the symptoms of threatened miscarriage?

Threatened miscarriage primarily refers to the occurrence of a small amount of vaginal bleeding before 28 weeks of pregnancy, often dark red or blood-stained discharge, with no pregnancy tissue expelled. The amount of bleeding generally does not exceed that of a menstrual period and may be accompanied by intermittent pain in the lower abdomen or the sacral area. During a gynecological examination, the cervix is not dilated, the membranes are intact, and the size of the uterus corresponds to the gestational age. After rest or treatment, the symptoms may alleviate, allowing the pregnancy to continue. If vaginal bleeding increases and lower abdominal pain intensifies, and all or part of the pregnancy tissue is expelled through the vagina, a miscarriage that cannot be avoided is considered. In this case, it is necessary to terminate the pregnancy promptly to avoid endangering the pregnant woman's life due to excessive bleeding.

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Written by Du Rui Xia
Obstetrics
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Symptoms of threatened miscarriage and missed abortion

In the event of threatened miscarriage or fetal developmental arrest, the first symptom to appear is vaginal bleeding, which is a very important sign. Mainly, the uterus expels the fetus that has stopped developing based on the principle of natural selection. Another symptom that may occur after embryonic arrest is pain in the lower abdomen, which is also common. Furthermore, after embryonic arrest, the hormones secreted in the body will gradually decrease, leading to a reduction or disappearance of early pregnancy reactions such as nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, and breast tenderness in pregnant women. It is crucial to address fetal arrest promptly and to regularly conduct prenatal check-ups during pregnancy to monitor the health of the fetus.

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Written by Du Rui Xia
Obstetrics
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What should I do if the threatened miscarriage is not completely miscarried?

When there is a threatened miscarriage and the miscarriage is not complete, the treatment method needs to be determined based on the size of the residual tissue. It is recommended to first go to the hospital for an ultrasound to evaluate the amount of residual tissue in the uterus. If the residual tissue is relatively small, it can generally be treated with oral medications that promote blood circulation and remove blood stasis, which helps the uterus contract and aids in the expulsion of the remaining tissue. However, if the residual tissue is large and medication is ineffective, a repeat uterine curettage may be necessary. Therefore, when there is residual tissue in the uterine cavity, it must be dealt with promptly, otherwise it can lead to repeated vaginal bleeding, decrease the body's resistance, and increase the risk of anemia and infections.