New Miscarriage Details Just Make Moms-to-Be Worry More

on July 5, 2011 at 4:37 PM

pregnant doctor Most pregnant women experience some degree of stress about the possibility of miscarriage; I know I did. But now researchers have figured out a way to predict which pregnancies are most likely to end in miscarriage, meaning ... pregnant women don't have to worry anymore? Not exactly.

Figuring out that a combination of two prenatal factors -- extent of bleeding and hCG levels -- can accurately determine whether or not a pregnancy is viable won't make the experience of going through a miscarriage any less difficult for women.

In fact, it's the women who are probably going to carry a baby to full term anyway who'll benefit the most from these results, as doctors plan to cut back on "wasteful" and "harmful" interventions like extra ultrasounds, blood tests, and progesterone supplements for women whose pregnancies have a "high likelihood of continuation."

I just can't help but think that it would be almost worse, somehow, to know ahead of time that the baby inside you most likely won't make it and to have to live with that sad knowledge. Doctors are hoping that by spending less time on unnecessary testing for viably pregnant women, they'll be able to put more of a focus on why women lose their babies in the first place and how to prevent miscarriages in the future.

But no test is 100 percent accurate, so I'm guessing that there will be a fair amount of women whose pregnancies are deemed "unviable" who actually go on to deliver happy, healthy babies. Unfortunately they will have spent most of those pregnancies in a state of fear, waiting for the other shoe to drop.

Would you want to know if you were having a miscarriage?

Image via Daniel Lobo/Flickr

About the author Jacqueline Burt

has written for numerous magazines, newspapers, and websites. She is easily bored and often tired, so she requires constant entertainment to keep her awake. Dance, Monkey! Dance!

Filed Under: tests, miscarriage & loss

Comments (4)

angevil53

on Jul 5, 2011 at 5:27 PM

honestly i don't think that those PVI results will stop a woman from going to the er to get an u/s. they do it ALL the time, even if they just found out they are pregnant. i think it's best for women to educate themselves on how/why and the likelyhood of having a m/c. it wont take away the pain if they do have a m/c BUT knowing that it happens to completely healthy women for no reason might help them to realize subsequent pregnancies will not necessarily be affected.

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Nonmember comment from Elle

on Jul 5, 2011 at 8:49 PM

My 2nd pregnancy was deemed "unviable" at 18 weeks due to Cystic Hygroma and hydrops, which led to a diagnosis of Turner Syndrome (which has a 98% prenatal mortality rate). Instead of opting for the recommended termination, I continued the pregnancy - and 19 weeks later, delivered a 6 lb 3 oz, 17 inch long redhead that is now 3 and a half years old. She's not a healthy child, she's had multiple heart surgeries, a kidney removed, and is fed by a g-tube, but, the most important thing here, is that she IS alive. Doctors are wrong every day.

tyrelsmom

on Jul 5, 2011 at 9:09 PM

Quite frankly, it wouldn't affect me. If I started bleeding early in a pregnancy, I would put myself on pelvic rest and pray. Time will tell. The only reason I would go to the ER is if I was hemorrhaging. There is nothing they can do for the baby anyway.

Zyva

on Jul 6, 2011 at 1:13 AM

I was given a 80% chance to miscarry ... I currently am nursing my 6 week old. I am not entirely sure those tests are accurate and it made me worry my entire pregnancy. In fact I am 40 lbs lighter now due to the stress and worry when I was pregnant with her.