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When it counts in abortion

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Do you mean:
  1. When a pregnancy loss is medically counted as an abortion
  2. How pregnancy weeks are counted for abortion care
  3. When an abortion is legally permitted in a particular country
Please tell me which one, and your country if you mean the legal question.

When is a pregnancy loss medically classified as an abortion?

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pregnancy loss AND definition

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WHO abortion definition pregnancy loss fetal viability gestational age

Medically, “abortion” can mean any pregnancy ending before fetal viability, whether it happens naturally or is intentionally induced.
  • Spontaneous abortion = what is now usually called a miscarriage. Traditionally, in US clinical usage, it means a pregnancy loss before 20 completed weeks of gestation or when the fetus weighs under 500 g.
  • Induced abortion = a pregnancy intentionally ended through medication or a procedure.
  • A pregnancy loss at or beyond the locally defined threshold is generally recorded as a fetal death or stillbirth, not an abortion. The exact gestational-age cutoff differs by country and reporting system. For example, some use 20 weeks, others 22 or 24 weeks.
So, if the loss was unplanned and occurred before the applicable viability threshold, it may be medically documented as spontaneous abortion, although clinicians generally use the clearer and less stigmatizing term miscarriage in conversation. ACOG explains viability terminology.

When uterus comes to normal after birth of child

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postpartum uterine involution

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postpartum uterus return to pre pregnancy size 6 weeks NHS

After childbirth, the uterus normally shrinks back toward its pre-pregnancy size over about 6 weeks. This process is called uterine involution.
  • It shrinks quickly in the first 1 to 2 weeks.
  • It is usually close to its normal size by 4 to 6 weeks, sometimes taking 6 to 8 weeks.
  • Breastfeeding can make it contract faster because oxytocin is released. This can cause temporary lower-abdominal “afterpains.”
  • Postpartum vaginal discharge and bleeding, called lochia, can also continue for up to about 6 weeks.
Seek urgent medical care if bleeding is soaking a pad in an hour, you pass large clots, have fever, worsening lower-abdominal pain, foul-smelling discharge, dizziness, or feel very unwell. Postpartum care guidance describes the expected recovery timeline.

What about bp

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postpartum hypertension management

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ACOG postpartum blood pressure warning signs 160 110 140 90

After birth, blood pressure may not return to normal immediately. It can rise or peak around days 3 to 7 postpartum, even if it was normal during pregnancy. Pregnancy-related high BP often improves within days to a few weeks. If it persists beyond 6 weeks, clinicians assess for chronic hypertension.
Contact your maternity doctor today if BP is 140/90 mm Hg or higher on repeat measurement.
Seek emergency care now for 160/110 mm Hg or higher, or for high BP with any of these symptoms:
  • Severe or persistent headache
  • Blurred vision, flashing lights, or vision loss
  • Chest pain, shortness of breath
  • Severe upper abdominal or right-sided rib pain
  • New marked swelling of face/hands, confusion, seizure, or feeling very unwell
These can signal postpartum preeclampsia, which can first occur after delivery, usually within days but up to 6 weeks postpartum. ACOG postpartum warning signs explains when to get care.
If you tell me the BP reading, how many days since birth, and whether there are symptoms, I can help interpret how urgent it is.

When it comes normal

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For pregnancy-related high blood pressure, it often becomes normal within a few days to 6 weeks after delivery. It may temporarily peak around 3 to 7 days postpartum.
If BP is still high after 6 weeks, it needs medical review because it may be chronic hypertension or need ongoing treatment. Do not stop prescribed BP medicine without your doctor’s advice.
Get urgent care if it reaches 160/110 or higher, or if there is severe headache, visual disturbance, chest pain, breathing difficulty, or upper abdominal pain.
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