How can you prevent the pains and aches of suffering a miscarriage? Medics say that in most cases, a miscarriage cannot be prevented. A miscarriage is – basically- a pregnancy that ends unexpectedly in its early stage; it often ends in the early weeks or months. A miscarriage is also known as a spontaneous abortion. As noted, factors that cause most miscarriages cannot be avoided. Some of these include fetus development problems and chromosomal irregularities. Even so, miscarriages aren't uncommon.
Around 10% of early pregnancies often end in a miscarriage; a miscarriage usually occurs before the 20th week. In reality, the occurrence of miscarriages might be higher than the experts suggest. This is because many miscarry before they even know they're pregnant. While it's not possible to completely prevent a miscarriage, a woman can do things to have a healthier pregnancy. Once a woman knows what to do, she can lower the risks and promote the chances of carrying her pregnancy to full term.
Still, many ask: What really causes a miscarriage? It's difficult to pinpoint the precise causes of miscarriages. In many cases, the actual cause is something that the pregnant woman could not possibly have prevented. In a nutshell, this means you couldn't do much to prevent the misfortune. In a few cases, the doctors and pregnancy specialists may be able to point at one or two issues that may help the victim avoid a miscarriage in the future.
A whopping 80% of miscarriages usually occur in the first trimester. This generally refers to the time period between 1 and 13 weeks. Some common causes of a first-trimester miscarriage include the following:
Genetic abnormalities: Over 50% of first trimester miscarriages occur due to problems associated with the foetus' chromosomes. How? The moment a pregnant woman's body senses the foetus is damaged or has some missing chromosomes, it will initiate the process of ending the pregnancy. The next is blood clots: There's a condition that medics refer to as antiphospholipid syndrome (APS). The condition promotes the factors that cause blood clots. In turn, the occurrence of blood clots can end a pregnancy. APS can be treated with certain medications to help prevent a miscarriage.
Another cause is ectopic pregnancy. Ectopic pregnancy is a potentially serious type of pregnancy. It's, however, rare. An ectopic pregnancy occurs whenever the foetus starts developing outside the womb. It's impossible to save ectopic pregnancies. Nevertheless, it's important to note that these are rare emergencies that require immediate medical attention and treatment. Finally, there's the issue of placental problems. The pregnancy may be lost if the fetus and the placenta aren't compatible. Further, some uterine defects ( for example, an abnormally-shaped uterus) may cause a pregnancy to end suddenly.
Second-trimester miscarriage: A miscarriage that occurs in a later stage of pregnancy (13-24 weeks) is generally uncommon. But if it happens, it's likely that the cause has something to do with the mother's external health conditions. It might also occur due to problems with the mother's health. Some second-trimester issues that may cause a miscarriage include infections that occur within the cervix or the uterus. At the same time, some food-borne illnesses may potentially put a woman at risk.
Chronic conditions. We also have chronic diseases like high blood pressure or diabetes; these may increase the risk of having a miscarriage. The risk is often higher if the condition isn't adequately treated or managed. And then there's thyroid disease. This is an untreated thyroid condition that can definitely put a woman at high risk of miscarrying.
Autoimmune conditions. Autoimmune diseases, as well as lupus, can cause a miscarriage. As earlier noted, an abnormally- shaped womb or issues with fibroids may cause a woman to miscarry. Moreover, some lifestyle factors, including smoking, alcohol consumption, second-hand smoke, and drug use- all these can negatively interfere with the development of the foetus. It's also crucial for a pregnant woman to avoid high caffeine products since these may be problematic. It's wise to consider certain environmental factors that may be equally harmful. Experts point out that exposure to specific chemicals or chemical-related hazards can lead to a miscarriage. Some of these toxic substances include solvent, mercury, paint thinners, heavy metals, and pesticides.
A pregnancy that occurs later on in the trimester is commonly referred to as a stillbirth. Like with the others, experts note that it's challenging to pinpoint the exact cause of a third-trimester miscarriage.