Miscarriages are truly terrible events. The phrase “miscarriage” implies that something went wrong throughout the pregnancy. However, this is rarely the case. The majority of miscarriages occur when the fetus does not develop normally.
Miscarriage is a common occurrence, but that doesn’t make it any less painful. Thus, it is significant and beneficial for parents to know what causes it and at what risk could a pregnant woman be.
What can you read in this article?
- Chances of miscarriage
- Risk of miscarriage by week
- What causes miscarriage
Chances of miscarriage
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Miscarriage occurs in 10 to 20% of all known pregnancies. However, the actual figure is likely greater because many miscarriages happen early in pregnancy before you even realize you’re expecting.
Genes or Chromosomes problem
The majority of miscarriages occur when the fetus does not develop normally. Extra or missing chromosomes are linked to almost half of all miscarriages. Chromosome abnormalities are most typically caused by faults that happen by chance when the embryo divides and grows, rather than difficulties inherited from the parents.
Chromosome problems can lead to:
- Blighted ovum
A blighted ovum means no embryo is formed.
- Intraurine fetal demise
Before any signs of pregnancy loss appear, an embryo develops but stops developing and dies.
- Molar/partial molar pregnancy
A molar pregnancy is marked by aberrant placental growth and the absence of embryonic development.
When the mother’s chromosomes remain but the father delivers two sets of chromosomes, this is known as a partial molar pregnancy. A partial molar pregnancy is frequently linked to placental anomalies and an unhealthy fetus.
Maternal Health conditions
A mother’s health condition may cause miscarriage in some situations:
- Uncontrolled diabetes, thyroid disease
- Infections
- Hormonal problems
- Problems in the uterus or cervix
Risk of miscarriage by week
Pregnancy loss can happen before a woman even realizes she is pregnant. A pregnancy loss happens when a fetus dies before the 20th week of pregnancy. A stillbirth is a pregnancy loss that occurs after 20 weeks of pregnancy.
Here are risks of miscarriage by week as detailed by Medical News Today.
1. Weeks 3-4
Implantation normally takes place three weeks following a woman’s last period and a week after ovulation. They might be able to acquire a positive result on a home pregnancy test by week four.
As many as 50–75 percent of pregnancies end before a positive pregnancy test is obtained. The majority of people will never even realize they are pregnant.
2. Week 5
At this moment, the rate of miscarriage varies greatly. According to a 2013 study, the likelihood of losing a pregnancy beyond week 5 is 21.3 percent.
3. Weeks 6-7
According to the same study, after week 6, the rate of weight reduction lowers to 5%. An ultrasound can usually detect a heartbeat around week 6 in the majority of cases.
4. Weeks 8-13
The rate of miscarriage appears to be 2–4% in the second half of the first trimester.
5. Weeks 14-20
A miscarriage is rare between weeks 14 and 20, with less than 1% of pregnancies ending in miscarriage.
A stillbirth is a pregnancy loss that occurs after week 20, and it might cause a person to go into labor. Stillbirth is uncommon, and it is becoming more so as modern technology allows extremely tiny newborns to survive outside the womb.
However, according to a research group in the United Kingdom, a baby born at 22 weeks has a slim chance of survival. Each week, the likelihood grows.
Why miscarriage after heartbeat
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If you already observe a baby’s heartbeat on ultrasound, the odds of miscarriage are actually pretty low. After the baby’s heartbeat is visible, there is a 5 -10 percent risk of miscarriage after heartbeat.
Only if the fetal heart rate is a decent value does this apply. Low heart rates can indicate that there is an issue and that a miscarriage is on the way. Furthermore, the presence of a heartbeat does not always imply that a miscarriage will not occur later.
This guideline only applies if you’re having a safe pregnancy with no bleeding, cramps, spotting, or other signs of pregnancy.
The heart rate is another thing to consider. It is deemed normal if the baby’s heart rate is greater than 120 beats per minute. If its heartbeat is too sluggish or too quick, you should be concerned.
Even if the heart rate is normal, other disorders that impact the baby and/or pregnancy, such as poor maternal health, drug/alcohol use, hormone issues, or uterine structural abnormalities, can still damage the baby and/or pregnancy.
READ MORE:
What To Do After A Miscarriage: Healing, Care And Precautions
11 Things You Should Know About Grief After Miscarriage Or Baby Loss
What causes miscarriage
Here are some of the most common causes of miscarriage that parents need to know:
1. Abnormalities in the chromosome
One common cause of miscarriage is abnormalities in the chromosome. 60% of miscarriages are caused by chromosomal abnormalities or mismatched chromosomes. Chromosomes are tiny parts of the cell that carry our genes, so if there’s a problem within the chromosomes, a miscarriage will happen.
Thankfully, couples these days can get tested for chromosomal problems which might be causing a miscarriage to happen, and it can be treated with the help of a specialist so that you can get pregnant, and not suffer another miscarriage.
2. Uterine problems
An abnormally shaped uterus or other similar conditions is also a common cause of miscarriage. For the most part, you’ll only know that you have uterine problems if you’ve suffered a number of miscarriages. In these cases, the uterus can sometimes be too weak or incomplete, and can thus cause a miscarriage once the baby develops.
This condition can be remedied through surgery, so it’s best to coordinate with your doctor to see what options you have.
3. PCOS (Polycystic Ovary Syndrome)
PCOS is now becoming a more common cause of miscarriages. Women who have PCOS have high levels of testosterone, which can cause irregular ovulation and menstruation. PCOS prevents the lining of the uterus from maturing properly, thereby causing miscarriages.
Thankfully, there have been treatments that were developed in order to treat PCOS and help women get pregnant.
4. Immune problems
There are some rare cases wherein the woman’s body rejects the fertilized egg, and treats it like a foreign object, causing antibodies that are part of the immune system to act against this ‘foreign object’. Most of the time, the fertilized egg sends signals to the woman’s body that tells it to not treat it like a foreign body, or a germ. But in rare cases, the immune system reacts negatively and attacks the fertilized egg, causing a miscarriage.
While it’s still a mystery why this happens, some doctors have had success in treating cases like this with aspirin, heparin, or certain steroids.
5. Cigarettes, drugs, alcohol, etc.
Substance abuse plays a large role when it comes to pregnancies. If you’re a smoker or a drinker, then there’s a huge chance that these bad habits might be causing you to not get pregnant as these drugs can interfere with placental growth and thereby cause a miscarriage.
Adopting a healthier lifestyle is a great way to help you get pregnant, and prevent miscarriages. Plus, you’ll also need to be healthy once you’re pregnant, so it’s better to start as early as possible.
6. Bacterial infections
Bacterial infections can also play a role in causing miscarriages. Bacteria can sometimes infect the woman’s uterine lining, which makes it impossible for an embryo to develop properly.
Sadly, there are no symptoms to this type of disorder, and the only way of knowing would be to get tested. Thankfully, this condition can easily be treated with antibiotics.
7. Other risk factors
Miscarriage may also be caused by a number of factors, including age, previous miscarriages, chronic conditions, weight, uterine or cervical problems, smoking, alcohol and illicit drugs, and invasive prenatal tests.
Symptoms of a miscarriage
The majority of miscarriages happen before the baby reaches the 12th week of pregnancy. Among the symptoms of a miscarriage are:
- Vaginal spotting or bleeding
- Abdomen or lower back pain or cramp
- Fluid or tissue passing from your vagina
If you’ve passed fetal tissue from your vaginal area, put it in a clean container and take it to your doctor’s office or the hospital for testing.
How to prevent miscarriage
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The majority of miscarriages occur when there is a problem with the pregnancy. Treatment alternatives may be available if your doctor conducts tests and discovers a problem.
If you have a medical condition, treating it can help you have a more successful pregnancy. Before you try to have a baby, one step you may do is to get as healthy as possible by:
- Exercising regularly
- A healthy, well-balanced diet
- Not taking alcohol, drugs, and cigarettes
- Reducing consumption of caffeine
- Seek regular prenatal care.
When to call the doctor
Any bleeding that a pregnant woman has during her pregnancy should be discussed with her doctor. It is advised to immediately seek medical attention and go to the hospital if the bleeding is severe or painful.
Other signs to keep an eye on include:
- Cramping
- Decrease in pregnancy symptoms
- Loss of experiencing movement of the fetus
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