How long does threatened miscarriage require bed rest?

Written by Wang Xiu Mei
Obstetrics
Updated on January 19, 2025
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Threatened miscarriage generally requires bed rest for about a week. A threatened miscarriage isn't an inevitable or natural miscarriage and may not necessarily result in the loss of the pregnancy. If the bleeding is minor and timely measures are taken to preserve the pregnancy, most cases won't progress to inevitable miscarriage. However, if measures to preserve the pregnancy are unsuccessful and not taken promptly, and if the bleeding is heavy and abdominal pain severe from the start, it will generally result in a miscarriage naturally within one to three days. During the treatment to preserve the pregnancy, it is crucial for the patient to rest in bed as much as possible, minimize physical activity to reduce the chances of miscarriage, and strictly avoid sexual activity to reduce stimulation to the uterus and fetus. Dietary nutrition should be increased, including more proteins, vitamin-rich foods, and high-fiber foods. It is important to actively prevent constipation, avoid spicy and stimulating foods, as well as cold, greasy foods, and maintain stable emotions.

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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 Zhang Lu
Obstetrics
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What are some medications for threatened miscarriage to stabilize the pregnancy?

When threatened miscarriage occurs, it is necessary to use medications to sustain the pregnancy. Commonly used medications include the following types: The first type is progesterone medications, which have the effects of stabilizing the uterus and suppressing the immune system; the second type is estrogen medications, which can promote the proliferation of the endometrium, providing a favorable environment for the implantation and growth of the gestational sac; third, traditional Chinese medicine formulations, which also have the effects of stabilizing the uterus, promoting the development of the gestational sac, and reducing bleeding. In addition, it is necessary to conduct examinations based on the symptoms of threatened miscarriage to determine if there are any abnormalities in coagulation indicators. If the threatened miscarriage is caused by abnormal coagulation indicators, anticoagulant medications can be used for treatment.

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Written by Du Rui Xia
Obstetrics
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What foods are good for threatened miscarriage?

When experiencing signs of threatened miscarriage, pregnant women should choose foods rich in vitamins and pay attention to a light diet, eating food that is easy to digest and absorb. They should avoid spicy and stimulating foods, as well as raw and cold seafood or other barbecue and hot pot foods, to prevent diarrhea and aggravate the miscarriage. When choosing foods, one can opt for soy products, fresh vegetables, fruits, lean meats, eggs, and walnuts. Additionally, it is advisable to select foods that are rich in vitamin E, which supports pregnancy, such as some soy products. It is also beneficial to choose foods containing roughage but avoid cold foods and thermogenic foods like longan, as longan is very heaty and should be avoided as it might induce miscarriage.

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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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How long does it take to prevent a threatened miscarriage?

During threatened miscarriage, proactive treatment to preserve the pregnancy is required. However, the duration of such treatment varies from person to person and should be based on the specific circumstances of the patient. If the patient has a history of recurrent miscarriages, in the event of a threatened miscarriage, the pregnancy should be preserved for a longer period, at least until three months into the pregnancy when the fetal development has stabilized. However, if the patient experiences light vaginal bleeding without abdominal pain, and the condition is relatively mild, approximately a week of medication may be sufficient for improvement. It is recommended that one to two weeks after the bleeding stops, a visit to the hospital should be made to perform an abdominal ultrasound to check the embryo's growth.