What Causes Heavy Bleeding After a Miscarriage, and When Is Medical Treatment Needed?

Hello,

If you have had a miscarriage and are experiencing heavy bleeding that requires frequent use of high-absorbency sanitary pads, please take it seriously. Heavy bleeding after a miscarriage can be dangerous and needs urgent medical assessment.

What should you do if you have heavy bleeding after a miscarriage?

• Go to the nearest hospital emergency department now if the bleeding is heavy or continuing. Do not wait for it to stop on its own.
• If you are soaking through about two large sanitary pads per hour for two consecutive hours, seek emergency care. If you feel faint, very weak, breathless, or have severe pain, get emergency help immediately, even if you are bleeding less.
• Have someone accompany you. Do not drive yourself if you feel dizzy or weak.
• Use sanitary pads to monitor the amount of bleeding. Avoid tampons or menstrual cups until a healthcare professional advises that they are safe.

Why can heavy bleeding happen after a miscarriage?

There can be several reasons, including

• Pregnancy tissue remaining in the uterus: Some tissue may not have passed completely.
• The uterus not contracting properly: This can cause continued bleeding.
• Infection: An infection in the uterus may cause bleeding, fever, worsening pain, or foul-smelling discharge.
• Other complications: Significant blood loss or another pregnancy-related problem may need to be ruled out.

What treatment be needed?

The doctor will assess your bleeding, blood pressure, pulse, and overall condition. Depending on the findings, treatment include

• Blood tests to check your haemoglobin level and the amount of blood loss.
• An ultrasound to check whether any pregnancy tissue remains in the uterus.
• Medicines to help the uterus contract or to treat other identified problems.
• A procedure to remove remaining pregnancy tissue if necessary.
• Fluids through a vein or a blood transfusion if there has been significant blood loss.
• Antibiotics if an infection is suspected or diagnosed.

What precautions should you take?

• Do not take abortion medicines, hormonal medicines, or other medication to stop the bleeding without medical advice.
• Drink fluids if you are fully alert and can drink without difficulty, but do not delay going to the hospital.
• Keep track of how many pads you soak and how quickly they become full.
• Take any previous ultrasound reports, prescriptions, and details of medicines used during the miscarriage to the hospital.
• Do not rely on home remedies to control heavy bleeding.

Seek emergency care immediately if you have rapidly soaking pads, large blood clots with heavy bleeding, severe abdominal pain, fainting, dizziness, unusual weakness, fever, or foul-smelling vaginal discharge. Heavy blood loss can become life-threatening.

Wishing you and your family good health always.
Warm regards,
Team HexaHealth