Miscarriage – Unexpected Pregnancy Loss and Heartbreak
Miscarriage, also known as spontaneous abortion, is the natural loss of a pregnancy before 20 weeks of gestation. Most happen in the first trimester, and are often related to chromosomal abnormalities of the fetus. Unfortunately, miscarriage is something that many women will suffer. However, even if a woman has a miscarriage, she will usually be able to have a successful pregnancy later on.
It is a very scary time in a woman’s life when she wonders if the life she carries inside of her will survive. Traditional Chinese Medicine has been used for thousands of years to help prevent miscarriage once pregnancy occurs, and also to avoid pregnancy loss before conception even happens.
If you are experiencing severe abdominal cramps or uterine bleeding, or both, during your pregnancy, it is advised that you visit your midwife or OB-GYN to get an ultra-sound or doppler done to find out what is happening inside of your uterus. If there is still a heartbeat – there is hope, and depending on your condition, acupuncture and / or Traditional Chinese Medicine may be able to help you prevent a miscarriage.
Categorization of Miscarriage
Threatened – there are warning signs of pregnancy loss but still hope
Incomplete – some fetal tissue has been expelled, but some still remains in the uterus
Complete – all of the products of the pregnancy have been expelled from the uterus
Missed Abortion – the loss of a pregnancy, but a failure to expel any pregnancy tissue
Inevitable – a loss of pregnancy in progress which cannot be stopped
Traditional Chinese Medicine & Threatened Miscarriage
If a pregnancy is in the “threatened” stage (bleeding and / or cramps), there is still a chance to save it with Traditional Chinese Medicine. Your midwife or OB-GYN will recommend getting adequate bed rest, avoiding intercourse, avoiding heavy exercise & traveling, and minimizing any risk factors while also being conscious to report any increase in bleeding, cramping, the passage of tissue or any fever. This is good advice – your Doctor of Traditional Chinese Medicine will recommend the same.
Traditional Chinese Medicine also has a selection of herbal formulas which have been used for hundreds (even thousands) of years to save a threatened miscarriage. These formulas are prescribed according to Traditional Chinese Medicine diagnosis, which is based on a woman’s predominate pattern of disharmony. If there are signs of Qi & Blood Vacuity, a formula such as a Tai Yuan Fin (Fetal Origin Beverage) may be prescribed. If there is evidence of Kidney Deficiency, Shou Tai Wan (Fetal Longevity Pill) may be more appropriate. If it appears that there is pathogenic heat in the Blood level, Bao Yin Jian (Yin-safeguarding Brew) is the best match. If there is evidence of traumatic injury, then Sheng Yu Tang (Sagacious Cure Decotoction) is the one to use. Only a qualified Doctor of Traditional Chinese Medicine or TCM Practitioner can determine which differential diagnosis pattern a person is displaying, and which herbal formula is the best fit for that pattern.
Traditional Chinese Medicine & Pregnancy Loss Treatment
If the results of an ultra-sound show that your fetus no longer has a heartbeat, it is important to shift into the next phase, which is ensuring the complete expulsion of the products of pregnancy. Any tissue related to pregnancy remaining in the uterus after a loss brings a risk of infection or heavy bleeding. If a woman’s body is strong and circulating freely she will be able to complete the process naturally, without medical help. The biomedical treatment for an incomplete miscarriage involves Dilation & Curettage (D&C), where the uterus is physically cleaned of any remaining tissue. A D&C carries a risk of uterine scarring, but is sometimes a necessary step.
There are techniques in acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine to help clear the uterus if a spontaneous abortion needs assistance. The same acupuncture points which are used to induce labor can also be used to expel any remaining products of pregnancy (which is why it is important to see an experienced acupuncturist if receiving treatment during pregnancy). There are also herbal formulations designed specifically to expel contents of the uterus. Sheng Hua Tang (Engendering Transformation Formula) is a formula which can do this, and is routinely prescribed to women in China after childbirth to help ensure the placenta is also fully delivered.
Traditional Chinese Medicine and Recurrent or Habitual Miscarriage
Some women seem unable to carry a pregnancy, suffering more than their fair share of pregnancy loss. Traditional Chinese Medicine even has a name for this – “Hua Tai”, or a “slippery slide”. If their pregnancy losses happen before 12 weeks of gestation, they are usually due to luteal phase / progesterone defect, a chromosomal abnormality of the fetus, or hypothyroidism. If it happens later than 12 weeks, it may be due to a uterine deformity, a premature opening of the cervical orifice, or maternal / fetal blood group incompatibility.
For those women who suffer from multiple or recurrent pregnancy loss, a period of at least 3 months (and, possibly as many as 12 months) of Traditional Chinese Medicine pre-conception care is recommended before the next pregnancy is attempted. In TCM, we want to ensure that the Kidney Jing is abundant, the Yin & Yang of the body is harmonized, the Qi & Blood are plentiful and nourished, and the body is free from any pathogens such as dampness, heat, or Blood stagnation. Pre-conception care involves weekly acupuncture and daily herbal medicine, and together with dietary, relaxation, exercise and healthy lifestyle recommendations can help prevent miscarriage.
