Abortion Notes

Abortion

• Interruption of pregnancy or expulsion of the product of conception before the fetus is viable.

Types of Abortion

• Spontaneous Abortion
  • Estimated that 1 of every 5 to 10 conceptions ends in spontaneous abortion due to a potential abnormality in the fetus, systemic disease, hormonal imbalance, or anatomic abnormality.
  • Most common in the first trimester.
  • Threatened, inevitable, incomplete, or complete; may need D&C if not complete.
• Habitual Abortion
  • Defined as successive, repeated, spontaneous abortions of unknown cause.
  • As many as 60% of abortions may result from chromosomal anomalies.
  • Interventions: Bed rest, progesterone, sexual abstinence, no straining on defecation.
  • Cervical cerclage if the cervix is incompetent.
• Induced Abortion
  • Voluntary induced termination of pregnancy.
  • Medical management.
  • Nursing management:
    • Supportive, therapeutic communication, emotional support.
    • Follow-up care, contraceptive education.