Threatened Miscarriage – 2 Additional Interventions You Could Consider

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What Is Threatened Miscarriage?

How to know if I am having a miscarriage?

What are the common risk factors for miscarriage?

What causes the miscarriage?

How do I avoid miscarriage?

2 Interventions which can help me prevent miscarriage?

Top 10 Chinese Herbs

Table of Contents

What Is Threatened Miscarriage?

Threatened miscarriage or what can also be called threatened abortion refers to symptoms that indicate that you might be having a miscarriage. The main symptom is vaginal bleeding early in pregnancy (within the first 20 weeks). It is called “Threatened” because it is possible that it is a miscarriage but it is not definite yet.

How to know if I am having a miscarriage?

There are two main signs of miscarriage:

You are bleeding from down there. It could be spotting or there could be some discharge.
Abdominal cramps or lower back pain that is similar to the ones you have during your period

These are two ways to really check:

Fetus size is smaller than it should be
Fetal heartbeat is faint, hard to detect or undetectable

The usual thing is to wait and see if fetus continues growing, or if there is a change in the heartbeat status in the coming days.

What are the common risk factors for miscarriage?

There are some factors that may increase the risk of miscarriage.

Maternal age:

Maternal age is the most significant risk factor for having a miscarriage. Women older than 35 who get pregnant are known to have a high-risk pregnancy and are at risk of aborting their fetus.

Medical Conditions:

Some conditions put you at risk for miscarrying. They include heart disease, diabetes, and some infectious conditions.

Medications and Drugs:

Medications and Drug use: some medications and substances may harm your fetus and lead to miscarriage, so be careful and ask your doctor before starting to take any medication during your pregnancy.

What causes the miscarriage?

Some mothers may blame themselves for miscarrying. They think that they have done something wrong that harmed their baby. But in most cases, that is not true. Some causes of miscarriage are modifiable, which means that you can work on them to prevent a miscarriage. Others are not modifiable.

Modificable causes include emotional stress, substance abuse and physical injuries (like a fall). They can be remedied.

Non-modifiable causes include chromosomal abnormalities, problems with the placenta and an ectopic pregnancy. These are by no means the fault of the mother. They may be one-off occurrences.

How do I avoid miscarriage?

There are some lifestyle changes that you can do to keep yourself and your baby healthy and prevent miscarriage. They include:

Keep yourself safe
Take your prenatal vitamins
Avoid lifting heavy objects.
Avoid smoking and alcohol consumption
Consult your doctor before using any substance or medication

Are there treatments that can help me prevent miscarriage?

Progesterone supplementation is the first point of intervention. are used to help avoid miscarriage.

They can be oral pills, suppositories, patches or even progesterone injections.

Two other interventions to consider

Even though TCM Pregnancy Treatments are often not considered by patients who experience threatened miscarriage, they have been used for centuries as an effective intervention. Even now in this modern age, this form of intervention is being used by women more often that most people realize.

Some TCM Physicians focus on preventing miscarriage by treating with acupuncture and moxibustion.
Others administer Chinese herbs to help Protect the Fetus.

2 Interventions to Prevent Miscarriage

In the end, the patient who decides to actively prevent miscarriage tries everything she can. Progesterone supplementation e.g. Duphaston is usually added on to increase possible viability of the pregnancy.

Chinese herbs, Acupuncture and Moxibustion are very important to consider in the area of miscarriage management. This is especially so when the most common interventions for a smaller-than-expect fetal size or weak fetal heartbeat is bedrest and duphaston.

For centuries, Chinese herbs have been employed to actively manage threatened miscarriage.

Top 10 Herbs to Prevent Miscarriage

We know you want to know, and so we list out below the top ten herbs used to prevent miscarriage in a situation of threatened miscarriage:

Rhizoma Atractylodis Macrocephala: The root of Atractylodis has been traditionally used to treat digestive ailment and has adaptogenic qualities that strengthen the body, increase water metabolism, It is the most common herb used when treating threatened miscarriage.
Semen Cuscata: This seed nourishes yin and yang of the Kidneys according to the Chinese medicine. Like the Atractylodis root, this seed is supportive of the digestive system. More than that, it has a positive effect on the hormones and contains polysaccaride that have shown potential in the treatment of chronic inflammatory and autoimmune conditions. As it relates to threatened miscarriage, Semen Cuscata is able to invigorate the reproductive endocrine system and possible avert a miscarriage
Radix Dipsaci: The Dipsaci root is known in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) for its ability to support reproductive health, particularly in women. It is believed to nourish the reproductive organs and regulate menstrual cycles. It is also used to enhance overall vitality and resilience, which explains its importance when treating threatened miscarriage.
Colla Cori Asini: This gelatinous substance is valued for its ability to enrich and nourish the blood. It’s often used to treat conditions like anemia and poor blood circulation. It is believed to support reproductive and pregnancy health by enhancing microcirculation to the reproductive organs.
Radix Astragali: Astragalus is a well-known Chinese herbal adaptogen that can indirectly support blood circulation by boosting overall vitality and immune function. It is especially useful in cases of threatened miscarriage associated with Qi deficiency and Qi collapse resulting in cramping and bleeding.
Radix Peonia Alba: The root of the White Peony plant has traditionally been used to nourish and soothe the liver. This indirectly benefits blood circulation by reducing liver Qi Stagnation or liver fire. By calming the liver, it contributes to emotional stability and stress reduction.
Radix Angelica Sinensis: Angelica Sinensis or Dang Gui is renowned for its ability to invigorate blood circulation and alleviate blood stasis. Only a trained herbalist should employ its use during pregnancy.
Radix et Rhizoma Glycyrrhiza: The licorice root is recognized as an adaptogen in TCM. It helps enhance resilience to stress, improve adrenal function and support overall vitality.
Radix Scutellaria: Huang Qin is primarily known for its anti-inflammatory and cooling properties. While it’s not typically used to promote blood circulation, it can indirectly benefit circulatory health by reducing inflammation. This is especially pertinent when the patient is presenting with signs of fetal heat.