Miscarriage
A miscarriage is the loss of a baby before the 20th week of pregnancy. Most miscarriages occur during the first 13 weeks of pregnancy. About 35% of women who have had two consecutive miscarriages have a third. Miscarriage is the most common type of pregnancy loss. Early miscarriages are very common. Often, a woman miscarries before she even realises she’s pregnant. After a positive pregnancy test, there’s about a one in five chance of having an early miscarriage. This is when most miscarriages happen. Some women experience the anguish of recurrent miscarriage. This means that they have three or more miscarriages in a row. This happens to about one woman in 100. The reason for miscarriage is varied, and most often the cause cannot be identified. The following are some reasons that can cause miscarriages.
Causes of miscarriage
- Genetic abnormalities in the fetus
- Hormonal problems, infections or maternal health problems
- Implantation of the egg into the uterine lining does not occur properly
- Lifestyle factors, such as smoking, drinking alcohol, using illegal drugs and exposure to radiation or toxic substance
- A problem with the womb or cervix
- Maternal trauma
Warning signs of Miscarriage
If you experience any one of the following symptoms, you should immediately concern a medical facility to evaluate if you could be having a miscarriage:
- Vaginal bleeding during pregnancy
- Mild to severe back pain
- Tissue with clot like material passing from the vagina
- White-pink mucus
- Weight loss
Prevention of Miscarriage
- Usually a miscarriage cannot be prevented but one vital step is to get as healthy as you can before conceiving to provide a healthy atmosphere for conception to occur.
- Manage stress
- Maintain a healthy weight
- Eat healthy
- Take folic acid daily
Once you find out that you are pregnant, you should follow the below things to provide healthy atmosphere to your baby:
- Do not smoke
- Do not drink alcohol
- Check with your doctor before taking any over-the-counter medications
- Avoid contact sports or activities that have risk of injury
- Keep your abdomen safe
- Avoid exposure to radiation and poisons such as arsenic, lead etc.
