Have you just had a miscarriage, scared to have a miscarriage, or had a miscarriage before? Understanding miscarriages and why they happen will help you feel more comfortable the next time you try again. Remember your baby matters and his/her life counts! Here is everything you need to know about miscarriages.
What is a miscarriage?
A miscarriage is the loss of a fetus before 20 weeks of pregnancy, and it can be caused by many factors. Miscarriages are very common. 10-20 percent of pregnancies end in miscarriage.
What causes miscarriages?
There are many causes of miscarriage including:
Genetics or an abnormal amount of chromosomes is the most common cause, and it is random which means your second pregnancy would most likely not end in miscarriage.
Mom has certain health problems including illnesses like diabetes, uterine abnormalities, thyroid disease, hormone imbalance, blood clotting disorder, or problems in the cervix.
Injury of Severe Infection can also cause miscarriages.
***Exercise and sexual intercourse do not cause miscarriages.
What are the symptoms of a miscarriage?
Slow increase or decrease in HCG levels
Abdominal and back pain or cramps
Vaginal spotting or bleeding
Dilating cervix
The passing of fluid or tissue
What are miscarriage rates by weeks of pregnancy?
Miscarriages usually occur before the 12th week of pregnancy. Here is the correlation between the likelihood of miscarriages and the week of pregnancy.
Weeks 3-4 50-75 %
Week 5 21.3 %
Week 6 (If Heartbeat Seen) 5%
Weeks 7-12 2-4%
Weeks 13-20 <1 %
What are the types of miscarriages?
Threatened miscarriage: You may be showing signs of miscarriage but your cervix is still not dilating. Many women continue having a normal pregnancy after this.
Inevitable miscarriage: You have symptoms of miscarriage and your cervix begins to dilate. You will have a miscarriage no matter what if this case happens.
Incomplete miscarriage: Not all the tissue left the body. Your doctor will help to remove it.
Complete miscarriage: Your body got rid of all the tissue.
Missed miscarriage: You have no miscarriage symptoms but your baby stops growing and has no heartbeat.
What should I do if I have a miscarriage?
If you are miscarrying early on, there is no need to see a doctor. However, if you are in a lot of pain, call your doctor. Take a pain reliever and save the baby tissue if the doctor asks for it. Take a pregnancy test after a few days to make sure you are still not pregnant.
When can I try again after a miscarriage?
If you have only had one miscarriage, there is no need to wait. If you had more than one miscarriage or have had complications, ask your doctor when you can try again.
Here is everything you need to know about miscarriages. Share your miscarriage stories in the comments below.
