A miscarriage can be a frustrating and painful experience for an expectant mother or couple. Worst of all is the guilt that often occurs, as parents wonder what they could have done to prevent this sad occurrence.

Unfortunately, research has not provided, definitively, an answer as to what causes miscarriages. However, there are some statistics regarding miscarriage that can be useful. They include:

- Around 1/5 of pregnancies end in miscarriage. Many of these occur before pregnancy is even detected; most occur in the first twelve weeks of pregnancy.

- During the second trimester, the miscarriage rate is around 3%.

- If you have had one miscarriage, your chance of having another miscarriage is around 13 percent.

- If you have had at least one live birth and at least one miscarriage, your chance of having another miscarriage is also around 10%.

- If you have had three pregnancies and three miscarriages, the chance that you will miscarry again is around 60%.

A variety of things may contribute to miscarriage. These may include:

- Chronic diseases, such as diabetes or thyroid problems. Kidney disease and lupus are also thought to contribute to higher miscarriage rates.

- Temporary illness. Some of the most dangerous temporary illnesses in terms of miscarriage include rubella (also known as German measles), as well as bacterial vaginosis. If you have previously had rubella or if you have had an MMR shot, you are much less likely to have rubella that would lead to a miscarriage. Bacterial vaginosis often has no symptoms, but your physician can detect it with a test.

- Chromosomal abnormalities. The majority of miscarriages are thought to be caused by chromosomal abnormalities. Unless you have had several miscarriages, you will likely not be tested for chromosomal abnormalities.

- Lifestyle choices. Smoking, alcohol abuse, large caffeine intake, chemical exposure, radiation exposure, and stress may all contribute to miscarriage.

Miscarriages cannot always be prevented. In most cases, a woman who has had a single miscarriage can go on to have a live birth. However, correctly managing chronic diseases, getting an MMR shot, and avoiding alcohol, caffeine, smoking and stress may all reduce your risk of having a miscarriage.

Posted in Pregnancy

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