 |
print the page |  |
email the page |  |
|
- Miscarriage definitions
- Miscarriage facts
- Why miscarriage happens
- Risk factors for miscarriage
- Recurrent miscarriage
- Miscarriage warning signs
- Avoiding miscarriage
- What to do if miscarriage is suspected
Some definitions about the types of miscarriage:
- Complete miscarriage - the whole foetus and placenta have been expelled from the uterus
- Incomplete miscarriage - some, but not all the pregnancy tissue has been miscarried; the woman will either be given a drug to help pass out the rest of the pregnancy tissue or have a simple surgical procedure - a dilation and curette (D&C)
- Inevitable miscarriage - cramping and bleeding have started and miscarriage is about to occur; foetal or placental tissue may have already passed through the cervix and out of the body
- Missed abortion - the embryo has died or it never formed into a foetus, but there have been no signs of miscarriage; an ultrasound scan may reveal the dead embryo, the absence of an embryo or the absence of the sac (the tissue in the uterus may have to be surgically removed by a D&C or with a specific drug)
- Recurrent miscarriage - miscarriage that has occurred more than once, for different reasons and at different times of the pregnancy
- Threatened miscarriage - bleeding occurs but the foetus is still live and pregnancy continuing, with no pregnancy tissue being passed through the cervix (the cervix is closed); bleeding is common in the early part of pregnancy and only about 50% of these cases progress to miscarriage
There is a lot of misinformation about miscarriage and this section hopes to dispel some of them. Women who do miscarry, often feel scared, fearful, sad and confused about it, which are all normal emotions to experience in that situation.
Miscarriage is very common in pregnancy and women may not realise it unless it happens to them:
- At least 1 in 6 pregnancies will be a miscarriage, particularly in the first 12 weeks of the pregnancy
- After 12 weeks, the risk of miscarriages reduces greatly, to about 2% about a 1 in 50 chance)
- The most common reason for miscarriage is a chromosomal abnormality in the foetus, which means that the foetus would not survive the pregnancy
- Miscarriage is basically nature's way of removing any foetus that would not survive due to some type of abnormality
Advertisement
Miscarriage mostly occurs when the body detects that the foetus is chromosomally abnormal, would not last to be born alive and the pregnancy is totally unviable. Chromosomal abnormalities are responsible for about 65% of all miscarriages. These types of miscarriages are not preventable and are simply a way of getting rid of an unviable foetus.
Other reasons for miscarriage include:
- Blighted ovum - a pregnancy test is positive, but there is no foetus (although there is a fertilised egg and sac, it does not develop)
- Cervical impotence - a weakened cervix can open and spontaneously release the unborn foetus
- Embryo has difficulty implanting in the uterus - this is when the embryo cannot stick to the wall of the uterus and is expelled out
- Hormonal imbalance - if the hormones that are circulating are not in balance and correct for the pregnancy, then this can result in miscarriage
Another possible reason for preventable miscarriage, which evidence is only starting to emerge as a possible cause, is due to certain chemicals which can affect the foetus. These chemicals are:
- Bisphenol A (BPA) - this class of chemicals is found just about everywhere in modern life, from plastic water bottles, lining of cans, plastic containers (especially heating any type of plastics), cosmetics, hair dye, curtains
- Phthalates - this is another class of chemicals which is again found just about everywhere, from cosmetics, hair dye, perfume, laundry liquids, shampoo, conditioner, hair products, dishwashing liquid, soaps, body lotions
Emerging evidence from a number of studies is starting to suggest that exposure to these chemicals can precipitate miscarriage or even birth defects because they affect the hormones in an adverse way (they are called endocrine disrupters) and so can have a devastating effect on the unborn foetus.
Advertisement
There are several well known risk factors for miscarriage (which are not preventable):
- Abnormally shaped uterus - some women have a uterus that is not normal and this can affect the probability of a pregnancy to be viable and sustained
- Age of the father - recent research suggests that the age of the father has an impact on the pregnancy; older men have less viable sperm and less sperm than younger men, so there is a higher probability that the pregnancy may result in miscarriage
- Age of the mother - miscarriage also seems to occur more frequently in older women; the older a woman is when she is trying to conceive, the higher the incidence of miscarriage. The risk of miscarriage for a woman in her late 30's is 20-25%; the risk of miscarriage for a woman who is 44 is 50%
- Autoimmune disorders - these disorders (lupus, ME), where the body's immune system attack the body, may also disrupt the development of the placenta and cause miscarriage
- Bicornuate uterus - the uterus of some women is divided into two and shaped like a heart and if the placenta implants in the division of the uterus, it may not get enough blood to sustain the unborn baby and miscarriage may occur
- Diabetes - women with poorly controlled diabetes have an increased risk, especially if blood sugar levels are high in the first trimester, it could cause foetal abnormalities, which could cause miscarriage
There are also a number of well known risk factors that are preventable:
- Certain prescription medications - there are a number of medications that should not be taken when a woman is pregnant, to avoid miscarriage and possible defects
- Drinking - drinking any alcohol during pregnancy is not advised, as the alcohol can be absorbed by the unborn foetus and cause birth defects and even miscarriage
- Not enough folic acid (folate) - folic acid (folate) is well known to prevent birth defects and possibly miscarriage
- Smoking - this is another well known preventable factor for miscarriage and smoking should be ceased during pregnancy
- Taking recreational drugs - any type of recreational drugs should be avoided during pregnancy as they can cause birth defects and even miscarriage
Recurrent miscarriage is defined as miscarriage that occurs more than once. Some women repeatedly miscarry on numerous occasions. If a woman miscarries on one occasion, there is no guarantee that she will not miscarry again and again. Conversely, there are cases of women who have miscarried several times and then who go on to have a completely normal pregnancy, producing a healthy baby.
Two of the most common reasons for recurrent miscarriage (in addition to the ones above) are:
- Underlying blood clotting problem - this will hinder the implantation of the placenta in the uterus and may prevent normal development of the placenta
- Issue with the parent's chromosomes - as they can pass on some type of chromosomal abnormality (and it can be a latent abnormality where both parents are carriers of the abnormal gene but do not display any symptoms)
Another possible reason for multiple, recurrent miscarriage could be the exposure to the endocrine disrupter chemicals - bisphenol A (BPA) and phthalates. Since many women are exposed to these chemicals on a daily basis, this could mean that they are exposing their unborn foetus to these chemicals that are disrupting the natural hormonal processes (hormone imbalance is a known risk factor for miscarriage), which could result in miscarriage. This research is only just emerging and more research needs to be completed to confirm this.
There are several warning signs which generally present when a woman is about to miscarry the unborn foetus:
- Back pain and discomfort - sometimes this is a sign of miscarriage, especially if it is accompanied by bleeding
- Bleeding - this is often the first (and sometimes only) sign that a miscarriage is occurring; any bleeding during the first 24 weeks of pregnancy could be a warning sign that miscarriage may be happening and should be investigated
- Stomach cramps or pain - the uterus cramps to open the cervix and push out the pregnancy tissue; this may also be the only sign of miscarriage
As miscarriage is for the most part, nature's way of ensuring the baby is born healthy and viable, this means that most of the time, miscarriage is generally unpreventable.
Some women may feel guilty about having a miscarriage, but they should know that there is little that they could have done to prevent the miscarriage. In general, if a miscarriage is going it happen, it will happen because the pregnancy was unlikely to be viable.
There are some strategies that women can use to help reduce the risks of miscarriage:
- Try to ensure pregnancy happens before age 35 (for both mother and father as men's sperm deteriorates the older they get) - although this is not always possible
- Do not smoke during pregnancy
- Do not drink during pregnancy - any amount of alcohol may aversely affect the unborn foetus
- Avoid recreational drugs during pregnancy
- Avoid taking prescription medication, unless you are closely monitored by a medical doctor who advises that this medication is required and necessary
- Diabetics should follow their doctor's advice very closely during pregnancy
- If either the mother or father has an underlying medical condition, reduce risks by seeking advice from a medical professional first
- Avoid exposure to chemicals, paints and pollution
- Use organic as much as possible (not just food, but cosmetics, skin products, household cleaners and garden products too)
- Only use glass or ceramic in the oven and microwave
- Use glass or ceramic and not plastic for water and hot beverages
- Do not heat up plastics of any kind
- Use only glass bottles for your water when exercising (either outsides or at the gym)
- Eat a healthy diet that ensures adequate levels of all essential nutrients
- Keep fit by exercising daily for at least 30 minutes to a comfortable level - never over extend yourself or do anything that causes any pain
- Avoid any genetically modified foods (see the article, what to avoid during pregnancy for more information)
What to do if miscarriage is suspected
If you experience any of the symptoms of miscarriage or have any concerns, seek immediate medical treatment at your local hospital.
If the bleeding is really severe or pain is very bad, call an ambulance immediately.
references
- Co-op America: Greener Paths for Plastic, Jan/Feb 2006. Accessed 21 November 2008
- Department of Health and Human Services: Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) - Polystyrene, Toxological Profile. http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/toxprofiles/tp53-c2.pdf - accessed 30 December 2008
- Department of Health and Human Services: Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) - Vinyl Chloride, Toxological Profile. http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/toxprofiles/tp20.html - accessed 30 December 2008
- Environmental Working Group. Bottled Water Quality Investigation: 10 Brands, 38 Pollutants. October 2008. Accessed 21 November 2008
- Greenpeace. Austrian Study Finds Eating GE Corn May Reduce Fertility. 12 Nov 2008. Accessed 30 December 2008
- MotherLove.com - Bodycare Ingredients to Avoid. Accessed 28 November 2008
- Stoppard M. New Pregnancy and Birth: A Practical Guide for All Parents To Be. Dorling Kindersely, UK, 2007
