When couples finally learn that a pregnancy that they have been trying for finally happened, they are going to be over the Moon. They have been trying to get pregnant with a baby girl or a baby boy, and those 2 lines on the pregnancy test mean the world! However, there is always one lurking fear that comes in the back of the woman’s mind, more so than her man’s. That is will the pregnancy that they have been trying for end in a miscarriage.
Unfortunately, about 20% of pregnancies end in miscarriage. And of those miscarriages, 80% of pregnancies before 13 weeks ends in a miscarriage. A miscarriage after 24 weeks pregnant is a stillbirth which is a nightmare that a few women must endure.
However, it is believed that the rate of miscarriage is much higher than 20% because many women very likely miscarry so early on that they had no idea that they were pregnant in the first place. Therefore, the pregnancy would be lost in a period, so there would be no reason for these women to believe that they were ever pregnant in the first place.
Causes of Miscarriage
Unfortunately, sometimes the environment of the embryo was not healthy enough to support its development, and there will be more discussed about that a little later on. Hormonal problems such as progesterone deficiency are causes as well, which will also be discussed later.
However, in the majority of cases, a damaged embryo that would not be able to develop into a normal baby would be lost. It is believed that the higher odds of that happening are embryos created through IVF, but not always. Sometimes a natural conception may not be healthy and a baby could not result from it.
Chromosomal abnormalities can also be a major cause for a miscarriage to happen. However, in cases where chromosomes break off such as in cases of Down Syndrome, Trisomy 13 and 18 the pregnancy could still progress. However, babies who have Trisomy 13 and 18 usually pass away later on during the pregnancy, or shortly after birth.
Symptoms of Miscarriage
It is crucial for couples to understand the most common miscarriage symptoms. Therefore, they can seek out medical help as soon as possible. Miscarriage symptoms usually have some distinct symptoms like abdominal cramping and vaginal bleeding. However, these symptoms do not always indicate a miscarriage is happening. If you have had a positive pregnancy test, and are now having signs of miscarriage, get medical help right away. Listed below are signs of miscarriage to look out for.
Vaginal Bleeding
Vaginal bleeding is the most common sign of miscarriage, and this can range from light spotting or heavy bleeding that is even heavier than a normal period. It usually consists of large or small clots, a brown discharge, or other tissue that may not even be identifiable. However, if there is ever bleeding during pregnancy, get medical help right away.
Back Pain
The pain you have while a miscarriage is happening is from your back, such as how it can be felt during labor. The pain from your lower back, which is the lowest part of your spinal cord will be severe.
Severe Pain
Stomach pain, and pain in the genital area is also a warning if it is happening at all during the pregnancy. Especially if the pain is radiating out of one side of the abdomen. This should always be investigated as an emergency, and always look for any aches, pains or twinges that are like PMS pains. Most miscarriage symptoms begin with twinges in those areas.
No More Morning Sickness
If you have been having a lot of pregnancy sickness in the first trimester, it usually dies down after the 13th week of pregnancy. However, if it disappears out of the blue long before that, it can be a sign of a hormonal drop and the pregnancy coming to an end.
Severe Sickness
Some women are lucky to not have too much sickness in the first trimester despite the rising hormone levels. However, if you wake up one day and think you were hit with the norovirus, that could be a bad sign. Maybe it is just that you did end up with a stomach bug, but unfortunately, sickness like that out of nowhere can indicate a loss is on the way due to the hormonal drop affecting you that way.
No Symptoms
Sometimes there are no symptoms of a miscarriage, and a pregnancy loss would therefore be detected on an ultrasound scan. That is called a missed miscarriage where the body thinks the pregnancy is still happening. A “D and C” will likely have to be performed in this case.
Prevention of Miscarriage
In a case where chromosomal abnormalities or a damaged embryo are the cause of a miscarriage, nothing can be done to prevent that. However, miscarriages due to poor environment for the embryo or hormonal issues can be prevented.
Unfortunately, the one important mineral that is often lacking in people’s diets is zinc. Zinc deficiency can be the cause of pregnancy loss. It is extremely important to consume zinc to maintain a healthy pregnancy. Some good sources of zinc are lean meat, whole grains, and egg yolks. If you are concerned about not getting enough zinc, be sure to take a supplement.
Another cause of pregnancy loss is low progesterone levels. Sometimes pregnancies are lost in a period due to low progesterone levels, which is also known as the luteal phase defect. In order to keep your progesterone levels high is to make sure you consume a lot of foods with vitamin B6 and magnesium.
Foods such as nuts, seeds, and egg yolk are rich in B vitamins. Dark green leafy vegetables, legumes and nuts are filled with magnesium. However, if low progesterone is a problem, you will have to use progesterone supplements as well.
Also, the lining of your uterus has to be strong in order to maintain a pregnancy.
Otherwise, the embryo will not stay attached. So in order to ensure that your lining is good, you have to make sure you are getting enough vitamin C and bioflavonoids.
You can find loads of vitamin C through citrus fruits, and berries have plenty of bioflavonoids.
If you want to take herbal remedies that have been known to prevent miscarriages, be sure to work with a naturopath that can safely give these ideas to you. However, there are some herbs that have been known to prevent miscarriages from happening.
- Chaste tree- Chaste tree can help boost progesterone levels.
- Rehmannia- Rehmannia helps to reduce inflammation and antibodies.
- Cramp bark - Cramp bark prevents uterine spasm
- Black haw - Black haw also helps reduce spasms in uterus
Again, if you want to go through the herbal remedy route, consult a specialist that can help you.
However, even though some miscarriages can be prevented from diet, in many cases it cannot be if there are abnormalities with the fetus. The good news is that if a miscarriage happens once, it does not mean it will happen again. Here is to hoping you have a healthy pregnancy and healthy baby!
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