Miscarriage Doesn’t Mean You Won’t Have a Healthy Pregnancy Next Time!
Health Alert! Recent studies found caffeine — as little as 2 cups per day — can increase the risk of miscarriage.
Many mums who’ve suffered a miscarriage wonder if there was anything they could have done to prevent it, but it’s simply not their fault.
Most of these failed pregnancies are due to an abnormality in the developing fetus and are nature’s way of protecting us.
If you’re experiencing an ectopic pregnancy, for instance, the body may spontaneously expel the fetus to protect itself.
Miscarriages are not caused by exercise, sex, something you ate, or any other normal activity.
So unless you are deliberately looking for ways to cause a miscarriage, rest assured that it wasn’t your fault and that it’ll be safe to try for another pregnancy after your body has a bit of a rest.
What are the chances of miscarriage?
For a normal healthy young woman, the chances are 15-25% according to the latest statistics. The chances do increase with age however, up to about 50% if you’re over 45.
Most of these will happen during the first trimester. As you become further along in your pregnancy, the chances will decrease.
What are the symptoms of miscarriage?
If you notice any unusual back pain or abdominal pain that feels similar to a menstrual cramp, this may be an indication.
Other symptoms are bleeding, pink or grey colored mucus, contractions that occur at regular intervals, or any clots or unusual tissues passing from the vagina.
If you are experiencing any of these, they may be warning signs you may be about to miscarry, call your doctor, and rest as soon as you can to minimize the risk.
If you do miscarry, all fetal tissue must be removed from the body to prevent infection or excessive blood loss.
In most cases, the body will expel these itself, but in case this doesn’t happen, your doctor may advise a D & C (dilation and curettage) which will make sure everything is cleared away, and healing can begin.
Physical healing is easily handled by your body, but emotional healing is important as well. If you are feeling unhappy or feeling a sense of loss after a miscarriage, this is perfectly normal.
Find support wherever you can; friends, family, your partner, or your doctor may be sources of strength and comfort at this time. If you are still feeling depressed, there is help out there. If there are no local support groups near where you live, online forums offer good free online support.
And now the good news…
Pregnancy after miscarriage
The chances of achieving a healthy pregnancy next time around are excellent, about 20-25%, which is only slightly higher than someone who’s never miscarried.
If you miscarried early in the pregnancy, the chances may be lower still.
You may be wondering at this stage if there’s anything you can do to prevent miscarrying again.
Because most miscarriages are caused by fetal abnormalities, there isn’t much we can do to prevent these.
However, to ensure any future pregnancies are healthy, we can make sure we have a healthy diet which includes enough folic acid, regular exercise, and try not to worry and stress out too much.
There are certain situations to avoid as well, especially during the first trimester. Among these are contact sports or extremely vigorous activity, smoke-filled rooms, alcohol, and people with an infectious disease.