Final answer:
A miscarriage, the spontaneous termination of a pregnancy without the need for surgical intervention, typically occurs in the early stages of pregnancy. It leads to the natural expulsion of all products of conception, differentiating it from procedures such as a medically-induced abortion or D&C.
Step-by-step explanation:
When all products of conception are expelled and surgical intervention is NOT necessary, the event is known as a miscarriage. A miscarriage is a spontaneous termination of a pregnancy, typically occurring very early, often within the first few weeks. This can happen when the fetus cannot develop properly, and the gestation is naturally terminated, thus avoiding the need for surgical procedures such as a D&C (dilation and curettage). In contrast, an abortion is a voluntary termination of pregnancy, and the procedures and laws surrounding this differ widely. In the third stage of childbirth, the placenta and associated fetal membranes are expelled, this is known as the afterbirth, and its passage normally follows the birth of the baby.