Miscarriage

Miscarriage is the most common type of pregnancy loss. It usually happens within the first 13 weeks of gestation, but you can miscarry up until the 20th week. If you miscarry after 20 weeks, it’s known as a stillbirth. If you do miscarry before the 20th week, it is referred to as a spontaneous abortion (not to be confused with an elective abortion).

Types of Miscarriages

There are five different types of miscarriages a woman can experience. They are:

• Threatened Miscarriage- This includes uterine bleeding early in the pregnancy. It’s usually coupled with cramps or lower back pain. The cervix is closed, and the bleeding is the result of     implantation.
• Incomplete Miscarriage-This includes bleeding, abdominal or back pain. The cervix is open, and the bleeding and crams will continue if the miscarriage is not complete.
• Complete Miscarriage- This is when the embryo dies and passes through the uterus. Bleeding, pain and cramps usually go away pretty quickly afterwards.
• Recurrent Miscarriage (RM)- Three or more consecutive first trimester miscarriages.
• Missed Miscarriage- This happens without the woman knowing about it. Death occurs but the embryo does not pass through the uterus.

Miscarriage Statistics

Some studies report that miscarriages occur in about 20% of all pregnancies. However, many women miscarry before they even know they’re pregnant, mistaking it for an extra heavy menstrual cycle. Knowing this, the percentage of miscarriages actually jumps from 20% to 60% of all pregnancies. Plus, out of the women who do miscarry, 20% of them have recurring miscarriages. Recurring miscarriages affect about 1% of all couples trying to conceive.

20-30% of pregnant women experience some bleeding (brown or bright red in color) during the early stages of being pregnant due to implantation. About 50% of those cases ending in a normal pregnancy. So if you do bleed early on, check with your doctor to make sure everything is fine.

Causes of Miscarriage

There are a number of different reasons why miscarriages happen. The most common reason is chromosomal abnormalities, or in other words, something’s not right with the baby’s chromosomes. Most chromosomal abnormalities are the cause of a failing egg or sperm cell. Other problems can include:

• Hormonal problems
• Infections
• Maternal health problems
• Lifestyle (smoking, drug use, alcohol, etc.)
• Ectopic pregnancy
• Maternal age
• Maternal trauma

Miscarriage Symptoms & Signs

Warning signs that a miscarriage can or will happen include:

• Back pain that can range from mild to severe
• Weight Loss
• Pinkish white mucus
• Painful contractions that last 5-20 minutes
• Tissue with clots passing through the vagina
• Sudden decrease in signs of being pregnant
• Brown or bright red bleeding that can be with or without cramps