What is a miscarriage?
What is a miscarriage?
A miscarriage is the loss (death) of a baby before the 20th week of pregnancy. The medical term for a miscarriage is spontaneous abortion, but the condition is not an abortion in the common definition of the term.
According to the March of Dimes, as many as 50% of all pregnancies end in miscarriage — most often before a woman misses a menstrual period or even knows she is pregnant. About 15% of recognized pregnancies will end in a miscarriage.
More than 80% of miscarriages occur within the first three months of pregnancy. Less likely they occur after 20 weeks gestation; these are termed late miscarriages.
Miscarriage – Symptoms
Symptoms of a miscarriage include:
- Vaginal bleeding that may be light or heavy, constant or irregular. Although bleeding is often the first sign of a miscarriage, first-trimester bleeding may also occur with a normal pregnancy. But bleeding with pain is a sign that miscarriage is more likely.
- Pain. You may have pelvic cramps, belly pain, or a persistent, dull ache in your lower back. Pain may start a few hours to several days after bleeding has begun.
- Blood clots or grayish (fetal) tissue passing from the vagina.
It is not always easy to tell whether a miscarriage is taking place. A miscarriage often does not occur as a single event but as a chain of events over several days. One woman’s physical experience of a miscarriage can be very different from another woman’s experience.
Risk factors for miscarriage
Things that may increase your risk of miscarriage include:
- Your age, especially at age 35 and older.
- A history of recurrent miscarriage (three or more).
- Polycystic ovary syndrome, which can cause ovulation problems, obesity, increased male hormone levels, and an increased risk of diabetes.
- Certain bacterial or viral infections during pregnancy.
- A blood-clotting disorder such as antiphospholipid antibody syndrome.
- Problems with the structure of the uterus (such as a T-shaped uterus).
- Exposure to dangerous chemicals or certain medicines.
- The father’s age, especially beyond age 35.
- Alcohol use, cigarette smoking, or cocaine use during pregnancy.
- Heavy caffeine use during pregnancy.
It is normal to wonder whether you did something to cause your miscarriage. It may help to know that most miscarriages happen because the fertilized egg in the uterus does not develop normally, not because of something you did. A miscarriage is not caused by stress, exercise, or sex.
How Can I Prevent a Miscarriage?
Most miscarriages are caused by genetic abnormalities in the fetus. Unfortunately, there is nothing that can be done to prevent miscarriages caused by genetic abnormalities.
However, not all miscarriages are caused by genetic abnormalities. If you have had a miscarriage, work with your health care provider to determine the reason for your miscarriage, if possible, and to plan a future pregnancy. A healthy lifestyle before and during pregnancy may help. Here are some tips that may help prevent miscarriage:
- Be sure to take at least 400 mg of folic acid every day, beginning at least one to two months before conception, if possible.
- Exercise regularly.
- Eat healthy, well-balanced meals.
- Manage stress.
- Keep your weight within normal limits.
- Don’t smoke and stay away from secondhand smoke.
- Don’t drink alcohol or have more than one to two cups of coffee a day.
- Avoid illicit drugs.
These steps may help to prevent miscarriage, too:
- Avoid radiation and poisons such as arsenic, lead, formaldehyde, benzene, and ethylene oxide.
- Take special care to keep your abdomen safe while pregnant. Avoid sports that carry a higher risk for injury, such as contact sports and skiing, and always wear your seat belt.
- Check with your health care provider before taking any medication including over-the-counter drugs during pregnancy.
- Avoid environmental hazards such as X-rays and infectious diseases.
You can also help ensure a healthy baby by finding out about and treating any health conditions you have before you try to conceive. If, for example, you know a previous miscarriage was due to an autoimmune response or a hormonal imbalance, seek treatment for this underlying condition. Once you become pregnant, get early, comprehensive prenatal care to improve your chances of a healthy pregnancy.
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