A miscarriage is a traumatic event. Knowing what signs and causes indicate a miscarriage, as well as what risks to avoid, provides security and hope (and sometimes, unfortunately, sad certainty).
What is a miscarriage, and how common are miscarriages?
Miscarriages are caused by the rejection of a fertilised egg cell in the first two weeks of pregnancy.
The risk of miscarriage is highest in the first trimester, decreasing to 3% after the 22nd week.
What are the signs of a miscarriage?
Consult your gynecologist if you notice signs of a miscarriage to reduce stress.
- bleeding
- Drawing in the lower abdomen
- Sudden disappearance of typical pregnancy symptoms such as breast tenderness or nausea
- lower back pain
- Fever and purulent discharge
- Labor-like pains when the pregnancy is more advanced
- Premature leakage of amniotic fluid (later in pregnancy)
The first two points, in particular, can happen even if the pregnancy is healthy, and it is normal for the belly to stretch in the first few weeks. Bleeding does not have to be a bad thing.
What Are the Causes of a Miscarriage?
Miscarriages can be caused by malformation of fertilized cells, chromosomal disorders, and genetic disorders.
However, some causes of a miscarriage, especially in advanced pregnancies, are also due to external circumstances and can even be prevented in some cases:
- Maternal infections, for example toxoplasmosis, rubella, hepatitis
- Tumors such as fibroids in the uterus
- Hormonal diseases and maternal hormonal imbalance
- a weakness of the corpus luteum and thus a weakness of the pregnancy-maintaining hormone
- Malformations of the internal female genital organs, such as the uterus
- Immunological rejection reactions against the fertilized cell
- Hereditary chromosomal changes
- Mental causes, such as great grief or shock
- External accidents and injuries
- Unhealthy lifestyle (smoking, alcohol, drugs, etc.)
- Severe overweight
- Development of a hydatid mole: An amniotic sac develops, but no embryo
- A gestosis or pregnancy poisoning
Regular check-ups with a gynaecologist can reduce the risk of miscarriage.
Are there risks of miscarriage?
Factors that can increase the risk of miscarriage should be taken into account when deciding whether to have one
.High-risk pregnancies at an advanced age (from 35 years)
- Previous miscarriages
- Frequent number of previous pregnancies
- Consumption of stimulants such as a lot of caffeine, cigarettes, alcohol and drugs
- pre-existing conditions such as diabetes
- Diseases, malformations or problems with the uterus and/or fallopian tubes, e.g. B. Endometriosis
- Fibroids, benign tumors, can prevent the egg cell from implanting
- Mental illness
- Hormonal diseases
- metabolic diseases
- Blood clotting disorder
High-risk pregnancy: what does it mean?
Stress and low progesterone levels can lead to miscarriage or premature labor, so it is important to get checked out.
What can you do to prevent a miscarriage?
Preventive measures include strict bed rest and hospital stay to reduce miscarriage risk.
- Check-ups that rule out anomalies, pre-existing conditions and infections
- Live a healthy lifestyle, including a healthy diet and appropriate exercise
- Refrain from stimulants such as tobacco, drugs and alcohol
- Reduce physical and mental stress
- Take hormonal therapies (if necessary) that have a pregnancy-preserving effect
- Take good nutritional supplements such as folic acid and magnesium
- Maintain mental balance, especially if you’ve had a miscarriage in the past
Fears of pregnancy can be difficult to let go of, leading to unhealthy stress for mother and child.
Infections: Often the reason for a miscarriage
Infections can weaken the lactic a, leading to miscarriages. cid shield that protects the vagina from bacteria, fungi and viruses. Bacterial vaginosis, for example, affects 15-20% of pregnant women and can travel up to the cervix and cause a miscarriage.
Can Too Much Stress Cause a Miscarriage?
Reduce stress and seek help if necessary to reduce the risk of miscarriage.
What happens after a miscarriage?
Visit gynecologist if suspected of miscarriage; two options: with curettage or without curettage.
Works Cited
“Fehlgeburt: Anzeichen, Ursachen and Risiken.” familie.de, 25 July 2022, http://www.familie.de/schwangerschaft/schwangerschaft-fehlgeburt.
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