What Can Increase the Risk of Miscarriage

Certain factors can increase your risk of miscarriage. However, most miscarriages have natural and unpreventable causes. These include;

body trauma
exposure to harmful chemicals or radiation. Exposure to other detrimental environmental factors — such as lead, certain pesticides, solvents, or arsenic — may increase the chances of miscarriage.
Deficiencies in certain vitamins, such as B and D, can increase a woman’s risk of miscarrying.
drug use
alcohol abuse
excessive caffeine consumption
Smoking. Smoking increases the risk of miscarriage, probably because it “interferes with blood and oxygen flow to the fetus.
two or more consecutive miscarriages
being underweight or overweight
chronic, uncontrolled conditions, like diabetes
problems with the uterus or cervix
certain sexually transmitted diseases — such as gonorrhea and chlamydia — can be problematic if they cause scarring in the fallopian tubes.
Age. Women who are over 35 years old have a higher risk of miscarriage than women who are younger.
psychological stress may play a role in miscarriage

Signs and Symptoms of Miscarriage

Call your doctor right away if you experience any of these symptoms below during your pregnancy. It’s also possible to have these symptoms without experiencing a miscarriage.

heavy spotting. Light bleeding (or spotting) and mild cramping in early pregnancy are relatively common.
vaginal bleeding
discharge of tissue or fluid from your vagina
severe abdominal pain or cramping
mild to severe back pain

Myths about Miscarriage

Exercise and sexual intercourse do not cause miscarriages.
Working won’t affect the fetus unless exposed to hazards.
Using the birth control pill before pregnancy.

What happens after Miscarriage

Physical recovery. Your body’s recovery will depend on how far along your pregnancy was before the miscarriage. Avoid having sex or using tampons for at least two weeks after having a miscarriage.

Helpful support after miscarriage. Take your time to grieve for your loss, and ask for support. You may also experience symptoms such as trouble sleeping, low energy, and frequent crying. Seek counseling from a therapist. Join an in-person or online support group to talk with others who have been through the same situation.

Treatment. It depends on the type of miscarriage you experienced. A complete miscarriage requires no treatment. Your oby/gyn doctor will determine what you need. Here are some treatment options if there are some tissues left in the body;
- expectant management, which is where you wait for the remaining tissue to pass naturally out of your body
- medical management, which involves taking medications to help you pass the rest of the remaining tissue
- surgical management, which involves having any remaining tissue surgically removed

Looking forward

It’s a good idea to wait until you’re both physically and emotionally ready before trying to conceive again. You may want to ask your doctor for guidance or to help you develop a conception plan before you try to get pregnant again.

“You can start trying after your next period,” says Dr. Hodes-Wertz, a reproductive endocrinologist and fertility specialist at the New York University’s Langone Fertility Center in New York City. By then, the tissue from the miscarriage will have been expelled and your cervix will have had the opportunity to close. Waiting until after your period makes it easier to calculate the due date of your next pregnancy.

We can destigmatize pregnancy loss through outreach, education and candid communication.