Early pregnancy loss less then 20weeks is called a spontaneous abortion. After 20, it is called stillbirth. There are different types and causes. So I’m just going to touch on the different varieties with brief descriptions.

CHEMICAL PREGNANCY

Usually happen before week 5. Some woman aren’t even aware they are pregnant. So the sperm fertilizes the egg, but implantation never happens. The body passes the egg and usually heavy bleeding occur, so sometime a woman may not know a miscarriage happened. She may think she is late with heavy menstrual flow.

ETOPIC PREGNANCY Fertilization happens outside the uterus, in the Fallopian tubes. Very dangerous and painful. Not viable for life.

BLIGHTED OVUM also called an anembryonic pregnancy, the fertilized egg implants on the uterine wall, but no embryo develops. Meanwhile the gestational sac develops, eventually will stop developing and will pass with dropping hormone levels.

MISSED PREGNANCY Egg gets fertilized, implantation occurs, but for varies reason the embryo stops growing.

MOLAR PREGNANCY Egg gets fertilized, implantation occurs, embryo develops but there is tissue overgrowth. The embryo may have missing parts, abnormal placenta, complete and partial molar pregnancy cannot sustain life. GTD and Choriocarcinoma usually are discussed in molar pregnancies. These are just a couple of different types of miscarriage. All with different causes.

SOME CAUSES Chromosomal, Immunologic, Diabetes, Thyroid, Blood clotting disease, Infections, Hormonal, Uterine abnormalities (septum, polyps), lifestyle such as drugs and alcohol. MYTHSMiscarriages are rare, not true.Heavy lifting early trimester cause miscarriage, false.Past abortion will cause a miscarriage, false.Drinking coffee will cause miscarriage, falseStrenuous exercise will cause miscarriage, false.It is the woman’s fault, false.

SYMPTOMS Back pain, fever, cramps, bleeding, abdominal pain, weakness, if you are experiencing any of these symptoms while pregnant please seek emergency help.

Just touching on different types there are more but mainly just making people aware of the difference in early pregnancy miscarriages. Have any questions or want to add or debate the list feel free to comment or contact me.