FACTS ABOUT MISCARRIAGES.

A miscarriage could be explained as the loss of a fetus before the 20th week of pregnancy. Miscarriage is a spontaneous abortion. The word "spontaneous" is the key word here because the condition is not an abortion in the common definition of the term.

According to research, 50% of all pregnancies end in miscarriage. Mostly, it often occurs before a woman misses a menstrual period or even knows she is pregnant.

Most miscarriages occur within the first three months of pregnancy. Miscarriages are less likely to occur after 20 weeks gestation.

SYMPTOMS:

• Bleeding
• Severe cramps
• Abdominal pain
• Fever
• Weakness
• Back pain

WHAT CAUSES MISCARRIAGE?

Most miscarriages happen when the unborn baby has fatal genetic problems. Most at times, these problems are unrelated to the mother.

Other causes of miscarriage include:

• Infection
• Medical / Health conditions in the mother, such as diabetes, thyroid disease etc
• Hormonal issues
• Immune system problems
• Physical problems in the mother
• Uterine abnormalities

A woman has a higher risk of miscarriage if she is over 35 years of age.

CERVICAL INSUFFICIENCY:

Wikipedia defined cervical insufficiency (cervical incompetence) as a medical condition in which a pregnant woman’s cervix begins to dilate (widen) and efface (thin) before her pregnancy has reached term.

A miscarriage from an incompetent cervix usually occurs in the second trimester.

Symptoms may occur before a miscarriage caused by cervical insufficiency. They may include; feel of sudden pressure, her "water" may break, tissue from the fetus may be expelled without much pain.

 An incompetent cervix can usually be treated with a "circling" stitch in the cervix in the next pregnancy, usually around 12 weeks. The stitch holds the cervix closed until it is pulled out around the time of delivery. A stitch may also be placed even if there has not been a previous miscarriage if cervical incompetency is discovered early enough.

CAN YOU GET PREGNANT FOLLOWING A MISCARRIAGE?

Yes. 85% of women who have miscarriages have subsequent normal pregnancies and births. Having experienced a miscarriage does not necessarily mean you have a fertility problem.

If you experience two to three miscarriages in a row, it’s advised you stop trying to conceive, use a form of birth control, meet your health care provider for diagnostic tests so as to determine the cause of your miscarriages.

Determine the timing of your next pregnancy from your health care provider after all checkups to prevent another. Its recommended one takes time to heal physically and emotionally before trying again. Counseling is advised and pregnancy support groups to help with emotional healing.

CAN I PREVENT A MISCARRIAGE?

Miscarriages cannot be prevented, it’s spontaneous and often occurs due to an abnormal pregnancy. It is advised a woman goes for a general checkup before conception so as to reduce chances of miscarriages and treat underlying health problems.

Sometimes, treatment of a mother's illness can improve the chances for a successful pregnancy.