Dr. Robin Ohringer of Cambridge, Massachusetts, is a practicing psychotherapist who works with children, adolescents, individuals, and couples. In full-time private practice for 22 years, Dr. Robin Ohringer counsels those who have infertility and pregnancy issues.
Miscarriage is defined as a pregnancy that spontaneously stops on its own within the first 20 weeks of pregnancy. It is estimated that 10 percent to 25 percent of all pregnancies end in miscarriage. Chemical pregnancies, when the pregnancy is lost right after impregnation, account for 50 percent to 75 percent of miscarriages.
The most common cause for miscarriages in the first trimester are chromosomal abnormalities. A damaged egg or sperm cell can cause the chromosomal abnormalities, as well as genetic defects. Chromosomal abnormalities account for about half of the miscarriages within the first trimester.
Recurrent miscarriage, or recurrent pregnancy loss, can be emotionally difficult. Parents that are affected by the loss of a pregnancy can feel grief, depression, anger, confusion, and emptiness. Seeking a therapist can help people come to terms with the loss of a pregnancy or a miscarriage.