Common Causes of Miscarriage and Ways you Can Prevent It

A miscarriage is a pregnancy that has ended unexpectedly. Also known as spontaneous abortion, a miscarriage is usually not preventable. This is because the factors leading to most miscarriages like fetus development problems and chromosomal abnormalities are unavoidable. However, there are some steps you can take for having a healthier pregnancy.

In order to understand how to deal with miscarriage or prevent it, you must first know how to identify it. Here are some common miscarriage signs:
• Bleeding that includes tissue or clots
• Spotting lasting longer than three days
• Weight loss
• Cramping and pain in the abdomen and back
• Mucus or fluid vaginal discharge
• Decrease in pregnancy signs like vomiting, nausea, and breast tenderness
If you are pregnant and experience any of the above-mentioned symptoms, you need to seek emergency treatment. At BirthRight by Rainbow, the best mother and child hospital Vijayawada, we have highly-qualified and experienced specialists who can determine the exact cause of these symptoms through a physical exam.

Causes of a Miscarriage
Finding the exact cause of a miscarriage can be difficult. But, if the doctors can find an issue that might increase the risk of miscarriage, it is possible to prevent a future miscarriage.

1. First trimester
Most of the miscarriages happen in the first trimester (1 to 13 weeks). Here are some of the most common causes behind miscarriage in the first trimester:
o Genetic abnormalities - The most common reason for first trimester miscarriages are the issues with the fetus’ chromosomes. The pregnancy will end if the fetus has missing or damaged chromosomes.
o Blood clots - Antiphospholipid Syndrome (APS) is a condition causing blood clots that might result at the end of a pregnancy. You can prevent miscarriage from this condition by treating the issue with the medications.
o Ectopic pregnancy - This is a rare but serious type of pregnancy where the fetus starts to develop outside the womb. In this, you will need immediate treatment.
o Placental problems - If the placenta and fetus are not compatible, it can lead to a miscarriage. Uterine defects like an abnormal shape can also end the pregnancy suddenly.

2. Second Trimester
Miscarriage at this stage (13 to 24 weeks) is uncommon. However, if miscarriage does occur, it is mostly because of issues with the mother’s health or external health conditions. Here are some issues that can cause pregnancy loss in the second trimester:

o Infection - If there is an infection inside the cervix or uterus, it can cause a miscarriage. Food-borne illnesses can also put your pregnancy at risk.
o Chronic conditions - Conditions like high blood pressure or diabetes can increase your risk of having a miscarriage. If the condition is not being managed or properly treated, it will increase the risk even more.
o Thyroid disease - Leaving thyroid conditions untreated can increase the risk of miscarriage.
o Autoimmune conditions - Autoimmune conditions like Lupus can lead to a miscarriage.
o Issues with cervix or uterus - Abnormally shaped womb or fibroids can cause a miscarriage.
o Lifestyle - Consuming alcohol, smoking, second-hand smoke, and drug use interfere with the development of the fetus. High consumption of caffeine can be problematic as well.
o Environment - Exposure to certain hazards or chemicals like mercury, pesticides, heavy metals, and paint thinners can lead to a miscarriage.

3. Third Trimester
At this stage of pregnancy, miscarriage is referred to as stillbirth. Here are some issues that can lead to this:
o Pregnancy complication - The separation of placenta from the womb and preterm labour can cause miscarriage in the third trimester.
o Birth defects - In some cases, structural or genetic birth defects can result in stillbirth.
o High blood pressure - Preeclampsia can cut the oxygen and nutrients supply to the fetus resulting in miscarriage.
o Uncontrolled diabetes
o Infection - If the fester or placenta has an infection, it can end the pregnancy.
o Problems with the placenta and umbilical cord - Insufficient supply of blood to the placenta or knotted/squeezed umbilical cord can end in a miscarriage.

Preventing a miscarriage
In most cases, preventing miscarriage is not possible. But, it is possible to reduce the risk of miscarriage and improve the chances of a healthy pregnancy. Here are a few tips to help you do the same:

1. Take folic acid
Daily intake of folic acid can help in reducing the risk of birth defects capable of causing a miscarriage. If you are planning to get pregnant, you can start taking Vitamin B every day.

2. Have a healthy lifestyle
You need to avoid risk factors like alcohol consumption, drug use, smoking, and second-hand smoke. Even the caffeine intake should be regulated to less than 300 mg per day. Apart from avoiding this, you can also improve your pregnancy health by exercising regularly, getting proper sleep, and eating a well-balanced and healthy diet.

3. Maintain a healthy weight
Being underweight, overweight, or obese can increase the risk of complications and miscarriage.

4. Take steps against infections
You need to wash your hands frequently to avoid illnesses like pneumonia and flu. Make sure that you are all caught up on your immunizations. At the BirthRight by Rainbow, we will ensure that you have all the immunization you need for your pregnancy.

5. Manage chronic conditions
Chronic conditions like diabetes, high blood pressure, or autoimmune disease should be properly treated or managed as it helps prevent miscarriages.

6. Practice safe sex
Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) can cause complications during pregnancy. So, before you start trying to be pregnant, you should get tested. During pregnancy, make sure to use barrier methods for every sexual encounter to reduce the risk for STD.
To know more about miscarriage and how you can prevent it, you can book an appointment with the best gynecologist in Vijayawada at the BirthRight by Rainbow