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Spontaneous Abortion Overview

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Spontaneous Abortion Overview

Spontaneous Abortion Overview

Spartan Aborting-fetus
Picmonic
Spontaneous abortion is defined as loss of pregnancy before 20 weeks gestation. Excessive bleeding before 20 weeks gestation in a pregnant women may indicate a nonviable fetus. Types of spontaneous abortion include threatened, inevitable, incomplete, complete, and missed. Identifying the type of spontaneous abortion is critical for determining subsequent treatment. Interventions include promoting bed rest and providing emotional support. Since fluid imbalance may occur in spontaneous abortion, monitoring for hemorrhage includes saving the patient's pads and linens. The administration of RhoGAM may be necessary for Rh- women exposed to R+ blood of nonviable fetuses. Dilation & curettage and cerclage may be done to remove fetal tissue from inside the uterus.
9 KEY FACTS
ASSESSMENT
Bleeding < 20 weeks Gestation
Bleeding with Less-than (20) Dollar-bill

The 20-week mark during pregnancy is considered the point of fetal viability. Pregnant women <20 weeks gestation who experience bleeding may be experiencing a miscarriage or spontaneous abortion. Factors such as chromosomal abnormalities, endocrine imbalances, systemic disorders, and genetic mutations may lead to an early pregnancy loss occurring before 12 weeks gestation. A late miscarriage occurring between 12 and 20 weeks gestation may be caused by advanced maternal age, reproductive tract abnormalities, obesity, inadequate nutrition, and stress.

INTERVENTIONS
Identify Type
Magnifying-glass Typewriter

Identifying the type of spontaneous abortion is critical in determining appropriate subsequent treatment. Types of spontaneous abortion include threatened, inevitable, incomplete, complete, and missed.

Bed Rest
Bed

For threatened spontaneous abortion, bed rest is recommended for 24-48 hours following symptoms of bleeding and cramping. Instruct the patient to avoid intercourse for the next 2 weeks. Bed rest is also recommended in patients experiencing inevitable spontaneous abortion if there is no pain, fever, or bleeding.

Monitor for Hemorrhage
Monitor for Hemorrhage-hammer

During a spontaneous abortion, monitoring the patient for hemorrhage is critical for timely interventions of maintaining fluid balance. Instruct the patient to save and measure the amount of blood on pads. Administer IV fluids or blood as needed.

Save Pads and Linens
Saving Pads and Linens

Since the patient may experience excessive bleeding during a spontaneous abortion, saving pads and linens is important to monitor the amount of bleeding.

RhoGAM
Rowing-Groom

RhoGAM is indicated to suppress the immune response in nonsensitized Rh-negative women who are exposed to Rh-positive fetal blood cells. Rh- women experiencing spontaneous abortion may be exposed to Rh-positive blood of the nonviable fetus and require RhoGAM to prevent complications (refer to the Picmonic on "RhoGAM").

Dilation and Curettage (DandC)
Dyed-dilation of cervix and Carrot-trap

Dilation and curettage (D&C) is a surgical procedure involving the dilation of the cervix to facilitate the insertion of a suction curette to scrape the uterine walls to remove uterine contents. The procedure is done to remove the tissue of the nonviable fetus from inside the uterus. Prior to D&C, a full history is obtained and a pelvic examination is conducted. After removing the contents, oxytocin may be administered to prevent hemorrhage.

Cerclage
Circle-suture

A cervical cerclage or cervical stitch is done in patients with cervical insufficiency in which the cervix shortens prematurely and leads to a late miscarriage. A strong suture is inserted around the cervix between weeks 12 to 14 and removed toward the end of the pregnancy or it may be left in place and a cesarean birth performed, if the woman anticipates another pregnancy.

Emotional Support
Emoticon Support

A spontaneous abortion is a traumatic experience for many pregnant women. Assessing the woman's reaction to the experience and providing emotional support is critical during this time of emotional grief of the loss of pregnancy.

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