If you are pregnant, you may be feeling a little anxious or worried about a miscarriage . A miscarriage is the loss of a baby before 20 weeks of pregnancy. Most of the time, this happens for reasons beyond your control. In fact, it is often difficult to pinpoint the exact cause. But being aware of the possible causes can help ease your fears and increase your chances of having a healthy pregnancy.
Main cause: Abnormal Chromosomes in the baby
More than half of miscarriages that occur within the first 12 weeks of pregnancy are caused by a problem with the baby's chromosomes. Simply put, chromosomes are little packages of genes that determine everything from your baby's hair color to the color of their eyes. So, if these chromosomes are out of order or damaged, the baby won't be able to grow properly.
There are several things that can happen with this type of chromosomal abnormality:
- Blighted Ovum (Anembryonic pregnancy ): This is when an embryo does not develop.
- Molar Pregnancy: This is a very strange situation. The baby receives both sets of chromosomes from the father and none from the mother. As a result, the placenta does not develop properly and the baby does not develop.
- Partial Molar Pregnancy: In this case, in addition to the chromosome set from the mother, the fetus receives two sets of chromosomes from the father. Although the fetus begins to develop a little, it stops before long.
- Other abnormalities: In addition to this, other chromosomal problems such as trisomy 13, 18, 21 (Trisomy 13, 18, 21 - Down syndrome is one of these), and monosomy (Monosomy - Turner's syndrome) can cause miscarriages.
The important thing is, there is no way to prevent these chromosomal problems from occurring. And it is not your fault .
But remember, as a mother ages, especially after age 35 , the risk of these chromosomal problems and miscarriage in general increases slightly. The good news is that just because a chromosomal problem caused a miscarriage in one pregnancy, it doesn't mean it will happen again in the next. Most of the time, it doesn't.
How the mother's health conditions affect
Sometimes a miscarriage can be caused by a health problem in the mother. It is very important to talk to your doctor about these things.
| Health status | A simple explanation of how it works |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled chronic diseases | Diseases such as poorly controlled diabetes or high blood pressure can affect the baby's blood supply. |
| Problems with the uterus or cervix | Things like uterine fibroids, an abnormally shaped uterus, or cervical insufficiency may prevent the baby from latching on properly. |
| Infections | Infections such as cytomegalovirus and rubella, as well as sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) such as chlamydia and gonorrhea, also increase the risk. |
| Thyroid and other diseases | Thyroid disease, autoimmune disorders such as lupus, and blood clotting issues can also increase the risk. |
Lifestyle and environmental influences
As a future mother, some of your habits and the environment you live in can also affect your baby.
Unhealthy habits
- Smoking: Not only does the mother smoke, some studies have shown that the risk may also increase if the father smokes.
- Excessive alcohol consumption : It is best to completely stop drinking alcohol during pregnancy.
- Illegal drug use: These directly harm the baby's development.
Risks in the environment
Some chemicals in the workplace or home environment can also be dangerous.
- Lead: Can be found in old water pipes and old paints .
- Mercury: Can be released from broken bamboo wicks and fluorescent bulbs.
- Solvents: Things like paint thinners and grease removers.
- Pesticides: Those used to kill insects or rodents.
- Arsenic: Can be found near sewage treatment plants or in some well water.
If you have any doubts about this, definitely talk to your doctor . It may not be as big a risk as you think.
Risks caused by certain medications and foods
We also need to be careful about certain medications and foods during pregnancy.
| Risk type | Examples and descriptions |
|---|---|
| Medications | Medications such as Misoprostol, Methotrexate (a medicine for arthritis), Retinoids (medicines for skin conditions), and NSAIDs (pain relievers) can be risky. Tell your doctor about any medications you are taking. |
| Food Poisoning |
|
Some of these food poisonings may not cause symptoms in you, but they can still infect your baby. That's why it's important to follow your doctor's advice about food and drink during pregnancy.
Things that don't cause miscarriages (don't be afraid of this!)
There are a few things that many mothers worry about unnecessarily. Unless your doctor has classified your pregnancy as high-risk, the following are generally safe. Don't worry about them causing a miscarriage.
- Working (if it's not too strenuous)
- Exercising as usual (but talk to your doctor about the level of exercise that is right for you)
- Having sex
- Use in flights
- Spicy food dishes
- Sudden shock, fear
- Stress or depression (although these are not direct causes of miscarriage, it is very important to take care of your mental health)
Take-Home Message
- The majority of miscarriages are caused by random problems with the baby's chromosomes. These cannot be prevented, and they are not your fault.
- There are things you can do to have a healthy pregnancy. Work closely with your doctor before and throughout your pregnancy.
- Keep your pre-existing medical conditions (such as diabetes and high blood pressure) under control. Completely avoid habits like smoking and alcohol.
- Understand that things like work, regular exercise, and sex do not cause miscarriages. Don't create unnecessary fear.
- Miscarriage can happen even if you do everything "right." So never blame yourself. This is a very emotional experience, so get support from your doctor, family, and friends.
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