Pregnancy loss is the death of the developing foetus at any time during pregnancy. It is a distressing and heart-wrenching event. Each loss is unique and poses a difficult time for the mother, as she naively gets intimately bonded to her unborn child. The issue of coping up lies not in throwing blames, as it is not likely that it could have been prevented, but in connecting closely with those who can relate to your feelings.

The various forms of pregnancy loss are:

• Blighted ovum is a pregnancy loss before eight weeks where the fertilized egg does not develop into an embryo.
• Tubal or Ectopic pregnancy is one where the foetus grows outside the uterus, most frequently in the fallopian tube, cervical canal or the pelvic/ abdominal cavity.
• Molar pregnancy is one where there is a growth of abnormal placental tissue in the uterus.
• Miscarriage is a spontaneous loss of a pregnancy before the fetus can survive outside the uterus.
• Stillbirth is when the baby dies for any reason after the mid point of pregnancy (after 20 weeks).
• Vanishing twin syndrome (VTS) is a pregnancy loss where one foetus from a multiple gestation disappears; it is usually reabsorbed by the mother, her placenta or the surviving foetus.

There are some typical signs and symptoms of pregnancy loss and if caught in time by the medical experts, pregnancy losses may be prevented. These include vaginal bleeding, abdominal pain, backache, headache, excessive nausea and vomiting, fever, fainting, loss of baby movement and passing of discharge and fetal tissue from the vagina.

It is very difficult to identify the causes of pregnancy loss. Nevertheless some reasons are suggested below:

• Genetic factors which relate to defective chromosomes and cause abnormal embryo development.
• Health of the uterus and level of a woman’s reproductive hormones.
• Lifestyle factors which include abuse of alcohol, tobacco and prohibited drugs.
• Diabetes in the mother.
• Incompetent cervix (opening to the uterus).
• Antifetal antibodies.
• Autoimmune disease.
• Exposure to toxic substances and chemicals.
• Lastly, don’t just blame the women, unhealthy, imperfect and inefficient sperms that lead to weak embryo formation are also a vital cause.

Pregnancy losses can be diagnosed using ultra sound techniques and pregnancy blood tests done for the hormone hCG. Treatments for the same are based on the overall health of the mother, gestational age of the foetus and type of pregnancy loss.

Another important concern after a pregnancy loss occurs is that, the uterus must be cleared of all the remnants of the balance fetal tissue to avoid further holdups.

The physical aspect of recovery after a pregnancy loss takes some time as the body needs a while before it comes back to its original shape but the most important part is overcoming the grief over losing a pregnancy. Emotional healing is as crucial as corporeal healing.

A pregnancy loss generates mixed feelings of anguish, shock, melancholy, guilt, fury, vulnerability and a sense of incompleteness. Withdrawal symptoms, mood swing and insomnia are common pointers of pregnancy loss.

Keep a few arguments in your mind to tide through this troubled time. Don’t take the blame for the loss. Give it time, as nothing heals better than time. Don’t pull out and don’t nag your partner just because he’s not reacting in the way you are. Remember men are from Mars and women from Venus.

Lastly, don’t go through it alone. Take support of your doctor, close relatives and community groups. They’ll be there for you whenever you need them, day or night, to cry with you, listen to you, even laugh with you and will always have tissues for you. Be brave and move on with life. It has lots more to offer.