Miscarriage | Causes, and symptoms

Miscarriage

“I had a miscarriage and lost my baby. Will this happen again?”

This is what a patient asked her doctor on her first visit when she got

pregnant after miscarriage for a second time.

Miscarriage is one of the most common fears of pregnant women, especially if it has happened before.

Women think it is because of a mistake they made or extra effort, but this is not the case.

What is defined as a miscarriage?

It is an event that occurs during pregnancy and causes fetal loss before the 20th week of pregnancy, usually within the first trimester.

Miscarriage causes

A pregnant woman’s activities or disregard for instructions and advice do not cause the loss of the fetus.

However, they can be one of the contributing factors if overdone.

Actually, the abnormal growth of the fetus is the major cause of miscarriage.

There are many reasons for abnormal fetal growth, such as:

Genetic causes

The mother and the father contribute equal sets of chromosomes (23 chromosomes each) to the fetus.

Sometimes these chromosomes contain some abnormalities and can cause the following:

Intrauterine fetal demise

The fetus is formed, but does not grow and dies before the pregnant woman notices that she is pregnant sometimes.

A Blighted ovum

The sperm fertilizes the egg, but no embryo is formed.

Molar pregnancy

The fetus has no maternal chromosomes and gets all his 46 chromosomes from the father.

Partial molar pregnancy

The mother contributes her share of chromosomes, but the father also contributes twice his share of chromosomes.

Placenta

The placenta is the organ responsible for the delivery of blood, food, and oxygen to the fetus.

Any problem in the placenta’s development affects the fetus and causes its loss.

Habits and lifestyles

Certain lifestyles and habits can cause the loss of the fetus, such as:

Chronic diseases

These diseases cause fetal loss in the fourth to sixth months, especially if not treated or controlled. 

For example:

Infection

Certain infections increase the risk of fetal loss, such as:

Food poisoning

Pregnant women should avoid foods of unknown origin for fear of food poisoning that affects the pregnancy and can cause fetal loss.Common Microbes that cause food poisoning include:

Listeria

It is found in unpasteurized dairy products, such as blue cheese.

Toxoplasmosis

Toxoplasmosis is transmitted to a pregnant woman by eating undercooked meat.

Salmonella

Undercooked eggs cause this type of food poisoning.

Pharmaceutical products

Pregnant women should consult their doctor before taking any medications.

Some medications can increase the risk of fetal loss, for example;

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)

It is a condition in which the ovaries are too large because of hormonal changes in the ovaries.

Some studies suggest that this syndrome increases the risk of fetal loss in women

What increases miscarriage risk?

Risk is increased by certain factors, such as:

Miscarriage early symptoms

Symptoms vary according to the stage of pregnancy and its progress.

It sometimes happens even before the pregnant woman is aware of her pregnancy.

Symptoms include:

Repeated miscarriage

A woman should wait a while before trying to conceive again.

Miscarriage is rarely recurrent.

However, if it happens again, it is preferable to run the following tests.

Repeated miscarriage causes

It is recurrent if it occurs two or more times.

One research shows that its recurrence occurs for unknown reasons in 60% of cases.

Other cases occur mainly due to genetic and thyroid problems.

Misconceptions about miscarriage

Some people believe that the following situations contribute to an increased risk of fetal loss, but this is not true, for example;

Types of miscarriage

The doctor determines the type by examining the pregnant woman.

There are several types, and here we list the following:

Complete miscarriage

All pregnancy tissue is expelled from the body.

Incomplete miscarriage

Some of the pregnancy tissue is expelled.

Missed or silent miscarriage

It occurs when a fetus or embryo dies but no bleeding or loss of fetal tissue occurs.

The mother may continue to experience pregnancy symptoms.

Threatened miscarriage

The pregnant woman at risk of losing her fetus has constant cramping and bleeding.

Inevitable miscarriage

Cramping and bleeding continue, and the cervix dilates as a sign of its occurrence.

Septic miscarriage

The pregnant woman has a uterine infection and symptoms such as high fever, shivering, and vaginal discharge with a distinct foul odor.

How can I prevent a miscarriage?

Some tips and instructions for prevention include:

Miscarriage in twin pregnancy

Miscarriage chances in twin pregnancy are high because the mother may lose one or both fetuses.

Sometimes the so-called vanishing twin syndrome occurs.

At the beginning of the pregnancy, the mother learns she is carrying twins, triplets, or more.

However, later in the pregnancy, one of the embryos or fetuses may no longer be detectable.

Usually, the vanishing fetus is absorbed into the placenta.

Period vs miscarriage

A pregnant woman may lose the fetus before realizing it is there, and she may believe she is experiencing PMS symptoms, but they differ in some respects.

Miscarriage symptoms last longer than the menstrual cycle, such as bleeding, severe cramps, and secretion of blood clots or fluids.

Miscarriage chances

Chances vary, but research shows that it usually occurs during the first three months of pregnancy, and its rate decreases with the progression of pregnancy.

It appears in 10% of the cases.

Miscarriage also occurs in the first month at a rate of 3 out of 4 pregnancies, and its incidence increases with age.

Treatment of miscarriage

Treatment depends on its type. 

If the pregnant woman has lost the entire fetus and all tissues, she does not require treatment.

But if some tissues remain inside the body, the following treatments may be needed:

Expectant treatment

The pregnant woman is waiting to get rid of all the tissue naturally.

Medical therapy

Here, the pregnant woman uses some medications to help her get rid of the remaining pregnancy tissue.

Surgical treatment

The doctor performs surgery to remove the remaining tissue.

Home remedy after miscarriage

Women return to normal within a short period.

However, it varies according to pregnancy progress. 

They may experience some cramping or slight bleeding.

Pregnancy hormones last a few weeks, and it is preferable to stop having sex for at least two weeks after losing the fetus.

How to recover after a miscarriage?

After losing the fetus, women suffer from a lack of sleep, the desire to cry, and the lack of energy because of fluctuating feelings.

Therefore, women need psychological support to face this difficult period and overcome it with no psychological accumulation.

The following tips may help:

In conclusion, the pregnant woman should not worry about the risk of miscarriage, and go about her life normally.

However, she should take good care of her health and follow the doctor’s instructions.

Read Also;

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