While there is nothing especially magical about the transition from the first trimester of pregnancy to the second trimester of pregnancy, the fact of the matter is that the threat of miscarriage does decrease during the second trimester. Actually, the threat of miscarriage decreases, and continues to decrease, almost from the very early days of pregnancy. It is estimated that as many as 1 in 5 pregnancies end in miscarriage, often before the mom even knows that she is pregnant. It is also estimated that less than 1 in 100 pregnancies end with the death of the baby after the 20th week of pregnancy (which is, technically, a stillbirth rather than a miscarriage).

As pregnancy progresses, the threat of miscarriage decreases. During the second trimester, a miscarriage is most often due to an incompetent cervix. This is a condition in which a woman’s cervix is not strong enough to hold the baby in place. In many cases, there are no symptoms of having an incompetent cervix. However, when an incompetent cervix is detected in time, there is a way to decrease the threat of miscarriage. A stitch can be placed in the cervix, which is known as a cervical cerclage. This can help to hold the baby in place until it is time for delivery.

A miscarriage is relatively rare the further on that pregnancy progresses. Miscarriages late in the second trimester are sometimes due to either a problem with the placenta or a problem with the umbilical cord. In some very rare cases, miscarriage during the second trimester may be caused by a maternal illness, such as diabetes or hypertension, if these illnesses aren’t being managed properly.

While the threat of miscarriage does decrease during the second trimester, you should still be cautious. If you are showing symptoms of a second trimester miscarriage, you should contact your health care provider immediately. In some cases, your health care provider may wish you to go on bedrest in hopes of preventing the miscarriage. However, there is no proven solution to stopping a miscarriage once it starts. Even bedrest does not, usually, prevent the miscarriage from occurring.

Posted in Pregnancy

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