‘Miscarriage’ is a term used to describe the early loss of a pregnancy before 20 weeks of pregnancy. It usually happens in the first trimester.

Unfortunately, between 10 and 15 percent of known pregnancies end in miscarriage.  A ‘late’ miscarriage, which is much less common, may occur between weeks 13 to 24 of pregnancy.

Age makes a difference to risk levels –

• If a woman is under 30, she has a 1 in 10 chance of miscarriage
• If a woman is between 35 and 39, she has a 2 in 10 chance of miscarriage
• If a woman is over 45, she has a 5 in 10 chance of miscarriage

After 24 weeks, the delivery of a baby who has died in the womb is referred to as a stillbirth.

What are the signs of miscarriage?

The main sign of a miscarriage is vaginal bleeding. This may be followed by cramping and pain in the lower abdomen. Vaginal bleeding is the most common symptom of a miscarriage; it can vary from light spotting to a heavy bleed, heavier than a normal period. Some women are shocked by the volume of blood that they seem to lose. Other signs are cramping or abdominal pain. Some women describe simply not feeling pregnant anymore. They may have lost the pregnancy symptoms such as nausea or breast tenderness that they had previously been feeling.

We still don’t know why all early miscarriages occur. In some cases, however, it is due to a genetic or chromosomal problem in the developing baby.

Missed miscarriage

It is possible to miscarry without having any of the usual symptoms, such as bleeding or pain. This is called a missed miscarriage.

Can anything be done to avoid miscarriage?

There are some things you can do to bring down your risk of having a miscarriage.

• Quit smoking (if you smoked) and avoid secondhand smoke
• Avoid drinking alcohol in pregnancy
• Have gap between pregnancies to prevent any additional stress on your body and mind
• Don’t use street drugs while pregnant
• Stick to the recommended limit for caffeine

Being a healthy weight before pregnancy, eating a healthy diet and following guidance on what foods to avoid can also help.

Why You Need To Talk To Your Mom About Your Fertility? – Women’s Health

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