Premature Abortion: Embryology - Essay Example

? 23 December Premature Abortion Premature abortion and miscarriage have tremendous consequences on the psychological, emotional as well as physiological well-being of mothers. Their causes are as innumerable as their consequences. This paper attempts at detailing some of the causes and consequences of premature abortion and miscarriage. The process of formation of the fetus is also briefly discussed in order to aid in understanding the phenomenon of abortion. Stages of Fetal Development The development of a fetus occurs in a series of steps that can be broadly divided into three main stages, namely – germinal stage, embryonic stage and fetal stage (Littleton and Engebretson 593). The germinal stage comprises of the first and second weeks of development wherein the embryo undergoes rapid cell division and differentiation. The germinal layers are formed at this stage. The embryonic stage begins on the 15th day of conception, proceeding from week 3 to week 8 (Littleton and Engebretson 593). At this stage of development, all major body organs and external features develop (Ricci and Kyle 269). Nervous system, ears, eyes, and red blood cells form in week 3. By the 21st day of conception, the heart of the fetus starts to beat. The brain and gastrointestinal tract begin developing by week 4 and limb buds also appear at this stage. The cartilage, primitive skeleton, lung buds and kidneys also begin to form. By week 7, the eyelids, palate, tongue, stomach and diaphragm form and the arms and legs begin to move. By the end of the embryonic stage, the fetus starts resembling a human being, the eyes move to the front, the heart is completely developed, the hands and feet are completely developed, and all the organs in the body begin to form. In the fetal stage that begins in the 9th week, the finger and toenails begin to form. The kidney makes urine, liver secretes bile, and pancreas secrete insulin (Littleton and Engebretson 593). By week 12, the lungs begin to take shape and the external genitalia are distinguishable. Hair begins to appear in the second trimester and there is frequent movement of the fetus. There is around 200 mL of amniotic fluid at this stage and amniocentesis can be performed. By 20 weeks, the heartbeat of the fetus can be heard with a fetoscope. The hands of the fetus are capable of grasping at this stage. The fetus sucks, kicks and sleeps at regular intervals. By the 24th week, the eyes are completely formed, the eyebrows and eyelashes are prominent, and the fetus is capable of many reflexes. There are slight chances of survival if the fetus is born at this stage. Development of the fetus continues till the 40th week, following which a normal delivery occurs. Premature Abortion and Miscarriage – Definition, Causes and Symptoms When a fetus is born before it has developed completely, it is called premature abortion or miscarriage. A ‘miscarriage’ or abortion can be defined as the “loss of the embryo, the fetus or the baby born dead weighing less than 500 g at birth” (“General Information on Premature Births and Miscarriages”). If the abortion occurs in the first 12 weeks of fetal development, it is called early abortion. A premature infant is defined as “an infant that was born more than 3 weeks prior to the calculated birth date, weighing at least 500 g or less than 500 g that gave a so-called “sign of life” at birth, e.g. that it was able to breath or its heart was beating” (“General Information on Premature Births and Miscarriages”). There are many causes of miscarriage. Most miscarriages are believed to be a result of genetic abnormalities in the embryo (“Miscarriage”). While some of the genetic abnormalities are inherited, half of the early miscarriages are due to causes that are unlikely to happen again. Some of the other causes of miscarriages or premature abortions are – abnormal levels of hormones, abnormal cervix or uterus, disorders in the blood clotting process, and infections such as blood infection (“Miscarriage”). The reasons for most miscarriages are rarely understood, however, those who are older, had previous miscarriages or fertility problems, are significantly overweight or underweight, have a significantly older partner, have unhealthy smoking or drinking habits – are at a high risk of miscarriage. A study has shown that women who surgically induce abortion in the first trimester of their pregnancy are at a higher risk of miscarriage in the first trimester of their subsequent pregnancy (Sun et al. 449). According to estimates, one in four pregnant women experience miscarriage at least once, and about 1 in 100 pregnant women undergoes recurrent miscarriages (“Miscarriage”). Moreover, some women undergo miscarriages before they even realize they are pregnant. Women experiencing premature abortion or miscarriage experience several symptoms. They may sense pain caused by uterine contractions, suffer vaginal bleeding, etc. When the miscarriage occurs, the incompletely developed fetus is lost through the vagina, along with membranes and placenta (“Miscarriage”). Sometimes, the fetus dies but is not eliminated through the vagina, which may only be discovered after a routine scan. Consequences Miscarriage and abortion have both psychological as well as physiological consequences for the mother and psychological and emotional consequences for the father. Both parents may experience a great sense of loss and sometimes even guilt (Neville 1). As described aptly by Neville, Because of the suddenness and urgency associated with miscarriage there is often little time to prepare for the loss and its impact. Many women report a sense of chaos - on one hand everything happens so quickly and yet, at the same time, the world stands still for them. There is often an inadequate amount of time to assimilate events and adjust on a psychological and emotional level (1). Physical recovery after a miscarriage may take a few days and periods may commence after 4-6 weeks. Some of the most common symptoms experienced by women after a miscarriage include general nervousness, insomnia, persistent fear, fatigue, headache, depression, nightmares, panic and anxiety (Neville 1). The psychological effects may include feelings of guilt, failure and disbelief, feelings of inadequacy, anger towards self or others, uncertainty about feminity, ruminations over lost baby, withdrawal from daily activities, and low self-esteem. In most cases, the psychological damage takes much longer to heal than the physical suffering. Works Cited “General Information on Premature Births and Miscarriages.” Saling-institut.de. 18 Oct. 2012. Web. 22 Dec. 2012. < http://www.saling-institut.de/eng/03infomo/01fruehfehl.html#_03_Abortions>. Sun, Yuelian, Yan Che, Ersheng Gao, Jorn Olsen, and Weijin Zhou. “Induced abortion and risk of subsequent miscarriage.” International Journal of Epidemiology 32.3 (2003): 449-454. Web. 22 Dec. 2012. . Neville, Anne. “The Emotional and Psychological Effects of Miscarriage.” Open Doors. n.d. Web. 22 Dec. 2012. . Littleton, Lynna, and Joan Engebretson. Maternal, Neonatal, and Women's Health Nursing. New York: Cengage Learning, 2002 Ricci, Susan, and Terri Kyle. Maternity And Pediatric Nursing. Philadelphia: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, 2009. “Miscarriage.” BBC.co.uk. n.d. Web. 22 Dec. 2012. http://www.bbc.co.uk/health/physical_health/pregnancy/pregnancy_miscarriage.shtml. Read More