A 12-week pregnant client presents for a routine checkup. She reports no vaginal bleeding or cramping, but her last fetal heartbeat detected on ultrasound is absent. The cervix is closed, and the client feels no fetal movement. Which type of miscarriage does the nurse suspect?

A. A threatened miscarriage is characterized by vaginal bleeding, mild cramping, and a closed cervix, but the fetus is still viable with a detectable heartbeat. In this case, the fetal heartbeat is absent, making a threatened miscarriage unlikely. B. An incomplete miscarriage occurs when some products of conception have been expelled while others remain in the uterus. It is usually accompanied by heavy bleeding, cramping, and an open cervix. This client has a closed cervix and no bleeding, ruling out an incomplete miscarriage. C. A missed miscarriage occurs when the fetus has died in utero but has not been expelled. The client may have no symptoms—no bleeding or cramping—and the cervix remains closed. Ultrasound confirms the absence of fetal cardiac activity, which matches this presentation. Missed miscarriages often require medical or surgical management to prevent complications such as infection or coagulopathy. D. An inevitable miscarriage is indicated by vaginal bleeding, cramping, and cervical dilation, suggesting that miscarriage is in progress and cannot be prevented. Since this client has a closed cervix and no active bleeding, an inevitable miscarriage is unlikely.