Miscarriage is the spontaneous loss of a baby in the womb before reaching 20 weeks of gestation. Even though the medical term is spontaneous abortion, miscarriage is not the same as abortion. It is estimated that 15-25% of detected pregnancies end in miscarriage.
This number can go up to 50% because a miscarriage can occur very early in the pregnancy before you even know you are pregnant. However, 80% of miscarriages happen in the first three months of pregnancy.
Symptoms of Miscarriage
Signs and symptoms of miscarriage can vary, depending on the stages of pregnancy that have been passed. In some cases, miscarriage occurs quickly before you even realize the pregnancy itself. Here are some common symptoms of miscarriage:
- Vaginal bleeding, from mild to severe.
- Cramps in the stomach or back area.
- Abdominal pain.
- Mucus or fluid discharge from the vagina.
- Weight loss
- Fever is accompanied by the symptoms mentioned above.
Bleeding due to miscarriage can occur from mild to severe.
Causes of Miscarriage
Most cases of miscarriage occur when the baby in the womb has a fatal genetic disorder. Usually, these problems have nothing to do with activities that the mother does or does not do.
1. Miscarriage due to genetic or chromosomal problems
Not growing and developing the fetus should be the most common cause of miscarriage. About 50% of miscarriages are related to a missing or extra chromosome in the baby. This can happen by chance when the process of growing and dividing embryo cells and not passed down by parents.
2. Mother's health condition during pregnancy
In some cases, the mother's health condition can trigger a miscarriage. Some health conditions are uncontrolled diabetes, infections, thyroid disease, and uterine and hormonal problems.
Miscarriage Risk Factors
Many factors can increase a person's risk of having a miscarriage, including the following:
- Pregnants over the age of 35 years have a higher chance of miscarriage, which is 20%. This risk opportunity figure will also continue to rise with age. Women aged 40 and 45 have a 40% and 80% chance of miscarriage.
- Having two or more miscarriages in a row carries a higher risk.
- Chronic conditions, such as uncontrolled diabetes.
- Smoking, consumption of alcohol, and illegal drugs.
- Have an underweight or overweight.
Having an ideal body weight before pregnancy can be one way to prevent pregnancy complications that might occur.
Daily activities such as sports, sexual activity, and work performed by pregnant women will not trigger a miscarriage. However, adjustments still need to be made during pregnancy. Even though it is not a rare case, miscarriage is still a trial that is not easy for those who experience it. By knowing several factors related to miscarriage, it is hoped that miscarriage can be faced, addressed, and handled appropriately.
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References:
Mayo Clinic Staff. (2021). Miscarriage. [online]. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/pregnancy-loss-miscarriage/symptoms-causes/syc-20354298
WebMD Editorial Contributors. (2022). Miscarriage. [online]. https://www.webmd.com/baby/guide/pregnancy-miscarriage