What Is Miscarriage?

A miscarriage occurs when a pregnancy is naturally terminated between conception and the 20th week of pregnancy. Miscarriage is often referred to as spontaneous abortion because the medical term, “abortion” refers to the intentional or unintentional end of a pregnancy. The majority of miscarriages occur between weeks seven and twelve after conception, in the first trimester of pregnancy. Miscarriage is one of the most common problems associated with early pregnancy.

Miscarriages are most common in the first few months of pregnancy. Approximately 85% of miscarriages happen before the 12th week. A woman may have a miscarriage before she discovers she is pregnant. Miscarriage is a common event, but it can be devastating.

Types of Miscarriage

Miscarriages are classified as threatened, inevitable, complete, incomplete, or missed.

Threatened Miscarriage

A ‘threatened miscarriage’ occurs when your body begins to display indicators of miscarriage. It’s possible that you’ll experience some vaginal bleeding or lower stomach pain. The cervix is still closed, therefore it can last days or weeks.

It is also possible that the discomfort and bleeding may go away, and you’ll be able to have a healthy pregnancy and child. Alternatively, things could deteriorate and you could experience a miscarriage.

Inevitable Miscarriage

The inevitable miscarriages can occur without warning or after a threatening miscarriage. More vaginal bleeding and severe lower stomach cramps are common. During this miscarriage, your cervix opens, allowing the developing fetus to escape through the bleeding.

A doctor, midwife, or you can rarely do much to protect the pregnancy. Bed rest has been advocated in the past, but there is no scientific evidence that it helps at present time.

Complete Miscarriage

When all of the pregnancy tissue has left your uterus, you’ve had a complete miscarriage. Vaginal bleeding can last for a few days. Cramping pain, similar to labor or a heavy period, is frequent as the uterus contracts to empty.

If you miscarried at home or anywhere without the presence of medical personnel, you should see a doctor or midwife to ensure the loss is complete.

Incomplete Miscarriage

Some pregnancy tissue can sometimes be seen in the uterus. As the uterus tries to empty itself, vaginal bleeding and lower abdominal cramps may persist. An ‘incomplete miscarriage’ is what this is called.

Missed Miscarriage

When a fetus implants but does not develop, it is called a missed miscarriage or a missed abortion. The pregnant tissue is not expelled by the body.

If the placenta continues to release hormones, you may continue to experience pregnant symptoms. Alternatively, you may realize that the indicators of pregnancy have faded. Although some women may feel vaginal discharge and cramps, many do not show any signs of miscarriage.

Sometimes, the fetal tissue is dispelled by the body, while other times, a D&C treatment is required.

Causes of a Miscarriage

During pregnancy, your body delivers nutrients to the growing fetus to aid in its appropriate development. The improper development of a fetus is one of the most common reasons of miscarriage during the first trimester. This can happen for a variety of reasons such as:

Genetic Causes

Chromosome problems may be the cause of half of all miscarriages. During the division of fetal cells, mistakes occur at random. They can also be caused by a sperm or egg cell that has been damaged.

Miscarriage due to chromosomal abnormalities can occur for a variety of reasons, including:

• Fetus Intrauterine Demise: The fetus’ intrauterine death occurs when the embryo develops but stops developing before any miscarriage symptoms appear.
• Blighted Ovum: A blighted ovum is one that does not develop into an embryo. This is one of the causes of early miscarriage.
• Molar Pregnancy: In this case, the father supplies both sets of chromosomes, but the fetus does not develop. The placenta, on the other hand, is growing abnormally.
• Partial Molar Pregnancy: In a partial molar pregnancy, the mother’s chromosomes are retained, but the father additionally contributes two sets of chromosomes. It’s linked to placental anomalies and the development of an unhealthy fetus.

Long Term Health Conditions

Miscarriage during 20 weeks of pregnancy can be as a result of a variety of factors, including the mother’s long-term health. Uncontrolled diabetes, thyroid illness, heart disease, hypertension, and antiphospholipid syndrome are only a few of these health issues.

A Weak Cervix

A weaker cervix, also known as the incompetent cervix or cervical incompetence, is one of the leading reasons of miscarriage in the second trimester of pregnancy. The cervical muscles are weaker in this condition, and the fetus cannot be held. It can happen as a result of a previous cervix injury, such as following surgery. The cervix may open too early during the second trimester of pregnancy due to muscle weakening, resulting in miscarriage.

Infections

A miscarriage can be as a result of a variety of infections in the mother. Chlamydia, gonorrhoea, syphilis, malaria, German measles, and AIDS are among these infections.

Risks of Miscarriage

There are a number of factors that can raise a woman’s chances of miscarriage.

• Age: Compared to younger women, ladies 35 years and older may have a higher chance of miscarriage. When you’re 35 years old, your chances of suffering a miscarriage are roughly 20%, 40% when you’re 40, and 80% when you’re 45.
• Obesity: If you’re overweight or obese, you’re more likely to have a miscarriage.
• Smokers: If you smoke during your pregnancy, your chances of having a miscarriage may be higher than for nonsmokers.
• Alcohol: Drinking a lot of alcohol while pregnant can raise your chances of suffering a miscarriage.
• Drugs: Using illegal drugs while pregnant can raise your chances of having a miscarriage.
• Caffeine: Excessive caffeine consumption (more than 200 mg per day) during pregnancy may raise the chance of miscarriage.
• Certain Medications: Taking some medications while pregnant can also raise your chances of miscarriage. Some of these medications include; misoprostol, retinoids, methotrexate, NSAIDs (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs).
• Trauma: Physical trauma might also raise your chances of miscarriage.

How to Prevent a Miscarriage

Because the causes of miscarriage are often unknown, it is impossible to avoid them. However, you can lower your chances of having a miscarriage. Here are some strategies for lowering the chance of miscarriage by addressing the potential causes:

• During pregnancy, refrain from using tobacco
• During pregnancy, avoid consuming alcoholic beverages.
• When you’re pregnant, you should avoid consuming illegal drugs.
• Eat a nutritious and well-balanced diet
• Keep an eye out for illnesses like rubella while pregnant
• While pregnant, stay away from contaminated foods because they can induce food poisoning and raise the chance of miscarriage.
• Get to a healthy or ideal weight before starting a family

Miscarriage Misconceptions

There are various myths about the causes of early pregnancy loss and the risk factors for miscarriage.

• Women’s emotional states during pregnancy: Women’s emotional states during pregnancy, such as depression or stress, are not associated to an increased risk of miscarriage.
• Exercising while pregnant: Exercising while pregnant has no effect on the chance of miscarriage. High-intensity workouts, such as cycling and jogging, are examples of this. However, you should talk to your doctor or obstetrician about the type and amount of exercise you can perform while pregnant.
• Lifting or straining during pregnancy: Lifting and straining do not enhance your chances of miscarriage.
• Working during pregnancy: You do not have to stop working, even if your job requires you to stand or sit for lengthy periods of time, because working during pregnancy is not linked to the risk of miscarriage. You should, however, ensure that you are not exposed to hazardous radiation or chemicals at work. If you have any concerns about work-related dangers, talk to your doctor.
• Having sexual relations when pregnant: Having sex is not one of the causes of miscarriage. So you can have sex with your husband while pregnant, as long as you’re comfortable.
• Air travel during pregnancy: Because air travel is not hazardous to pregnancy and is deemed safe, most commercial airlines allow pregnant women to fly until the 36th week of pregnancy.