It is the topic that is often left out, or just merely touched on in the pregnancy books. No one wants to talk about miscarriage but it is a fact of pregnancy and we should. The loss of a pregnancy is a sad and painful experience that no one ever wants to go through; however, miscarriage remains a reality for many women.

Miscarriage is the loss of a pregnancy sometime during the first 20 weeks of gestation (loss of pregnancy after 20 weeks is considered a stillbirth). With 15% to 20% of all confirmed pregnancies ending in miscarriage it remains fairly common. According to WebMD, 1in 4 women who become pregnant will have a miscarriage at some point in their lifetime.

So what causes a pregnancy to end in miscarriage? There are several factors that can cause or contribute to a miscarriage. The most common cause is chromosomal abnormalities, accounting for more than half of all miscarriages. Chromosomal abnormalities occur when there are problems with either the structure of the chromosomes or the number of chromosomes in the developing embryo. Embryos with chromosomal abnormalities would not develop normally so the body naturally terminates these pregnancies. Other contributing causes of miscarriage include: maternal disease, hormonal imbalances, immune system disorders, allogeneic factors (when the mother develops antibodies that target the leukocytes of her partner), anatomical factors (such as problems with the uterus or cervix), viral or bacterial infections that occur during pregnancy, recreational during use (including alcohol, smoking, or other drugs), environmental factors (such as exposure to toxins), and age (women over 35 have a significantly higher change of experiencing a miscarriage). Research has also shown that low folic acid levels just prior to conception or during the early weeks of pregnancy can also contribute to the occurrence of a miscarriage.

How can you tell if you are experiencing or have experienced a miscarriage? The following are common symptoms of a miscarriage, however, some miscarriages can go unnoticed and the only indication that a miscarriage has occurred is when the symptoms of pregnancy (like morning sickness or breast tenderness) cease.

  • Vaginal bleeding that is light or heavy, constant or irregular.
  • Abdominal, lower back, or pelvic pain
  • Tissue that passes from the vagina

Any time you experience cramping or vaginal bleeding during your pregnancy, especially early on, contact your doctor or midwife immediately as it could be a sign that you are experiencing a miscarriage. Not all early pregnancy bleeding and cramping is an indication you are miscarrying, however, it is always a good idea to get it checked out to be safe. Your doctor or midwife will do a pelvic exam and perhaps a blood test to confirm if you did indeed experience a miscarriage.

Miscarrying a pregnancy does not mean you will not be able to carrying a baby to term in future pregnancies. Only 1% of women experience three or more miscarriages. A miscarriage is usually a chance event and most women go on to have healthy full term pregnancies. If you have had multiple miscarriages your doctor will likely do some additional tests to determine if there is some other underlying cause for your miscarriages.

The loss of a pregnancy can be difficult to deal with emotionally. It is perfectly normal to experience feelings of shock, grief, depression, guilt, anger, failure, and vulnerability during the days, weeks, and months following the loss of your pregnancy. It is important to acknowledge your feelings and work through them. Here are a few tips on dealing with the loss of your pregnancy. If you are concerned about the way you feel talk with someone about your feelings.

  • Acknowledge that it is not your fault. Remember that miscarriages are fairly common and complications that lead to miscarriage can happen to anyone.
  • Give yourself time to heal. Don’t expect yourself to get over the loss immediately. Take the time to grieve.
  • Don’t expect your partner to grieve the same way as you. Each person deals with grief differently.
  • Don’t close yourself off. It may be difficult at first, but talk to close friends and family about your loss, they will likely be instrumental in helping you heal and move on.
  • Get support. There are support groups you can turn to for help or you can talk with a doctor or therapist.

If you have experienced a miscarriage it is important to remember you are not alone. Working through your grief is important. Educate yourself about the causes and risk factors of miscarriage, and do whatever you can to ensure a healthy pregnancy. However, remember that it is not always in your control, sometimes pregnancies end in miscarriage no matter what you do to try to prevent it.

Talk to your doctor or midwife if you have questions or concerns about your own pregnancy or if you need help working through the loss of your pregnancy.

Here are a view links to support groups available for women who have experienced a pregnancy loss.

(source: WebMD, Healthwise)