Threatened Miscarriage: Understanding Risks & Potential Outcomes

Question
I am 32, have one living son born 2/6/03 and lost another son at 19 weeks a year ago this week due to severe heart defects (was not chromosomal). My last period was 10/25/05 and I am currently having miscarriage symptoms - spotting pink to brown to bright red but only with a BM; an ultrasound showed the baby is about 1 week behind in growth and has a heartbeat, but it is "slow". My OB said I most likely will miscarry and called it a threatened miscarriage. I'm wondering if things ever turn around in these cases?  Is it possible for the baby's growth to catch up or lead to normal development, and for the heartrate to get stronger?  Could the slight bleeding be something other than miscarriage if the baby is still alive?
Thank you for your help!
melissa

Answer
Anything is possible. We diagnose a "threatened miscarriage" in anyone who has vaginal bleeding but the cervix is closed. 50% of these will go on to have normal pregnacies, and 50% will go on to abort. If there is a good heartbeat there is always a chance. If you start having heavier bleeding with cramps, and the cervix starts to open, it is a miscarriage. If, at the next sonogram, there has not been adequate growth of the fetus or if there is no longer a heartbeat, it is called a "missed abortion" and should be removed from the uterus. There is always hope.