Signs and Causes of Miscarriage

Pregnancy is one of the most exciting moments a woman can experience in her lifetime. However, some pregnancies, unfortunately, end unexpectedly. Miscarriage does not happen because one is unfit to become a mother. It happens because of scientific reasons that prohibit a woman to continue her pregnancy. A woman must watch out for signs of miscarriage so she knows when to go to the emergency room.

What is a miscarriage?

A miscarriage refers to the natural death of a fetus inside the mother’s womb. Miscarriages often happen in the first trimester or before the 20th week of pregnancy.

About 10 to 15 percent of pregnancy ends in miscarriage for women who are aware that they are pregnant. Sometimes, miscarriages happen too early that a pregnant woman has no chance to know that she is pregnant.

What causes a miscarriage?

Every miscarriage is different from another. Before knowing the signs of miscarriage you need to know what might cause it first. There are a lot of factors doctors might consider as the prime cause of a woman’s miscarriage. These include:

Chromosome abnormalities

Chromosomal abnormalities are the most common causes of most miscarriages. This happens when an embryo or a fetus receives disproportionate chromosomes. Irregular number of chromosomes (23 pairs) makes it difficult for the fetus to develop and survive. This phenomenon often leads to miscarriage.

Here are examples of chromosome abnormalities that might lead to miscarriages:

• Blighted ovum happens when a fertilized egg plants itself in the uterus but does not develop into a baby. Blighted ovum will cause you to bleed out during the first trimester of pregnancy. Bleeding out is your body’s way to get rid of the collected waste in your uterus.  Anembryonic pregnancy is another name for this chromosome abnormality.
• Molar pregnancy which is characterized by an abnormal growth of the trophoblasts, the cells that normally grow into the placenta and function to provide nourishment to the embryo.

There are two types of molar pregnancy: (1) Complete molar pregnancy where a fetus will not have a chance to develop at all. (2) Partial molar pregnancy where a fetus may have a chance to develop albeit abnormally and less likely to survive.

Uterus or cervix abnormalities

There are certain abnormalities in the cervix or uterus that might cause miscarriage, these include:

Septate uterus

Septate uterus is a congenital uterine abnormality that increases a woman’s risk of miscarriage. This congenital anomaly refers to a tissue (septum) that parts the uterus vertically into two. Metroplasty is a reconstructive surgery that repairs congenital uterine abnormalities such as the septate uterus.

Cervical insufficiency

Cervical insufficiency or incompetent cervix happens when the weak cervix dilates too early in the pregnancy. This causes miscarriages as well as premature births. Incompetent cervix often causes preterm birth in the second trimester of pregnancy.

A cervical cerclage is a medical procedure you can get where doctors stitch your cervix close. This procedure prevents late miscarriages and preterm birth from happening.

Asherman’s syndrome

Asherman’s syndrome results from the formation of scar tissues in the uterus due to previous procedures like curettage. Women with Asherman’s syndrome may have increased risk of miscarriage because the implantation of the embryo may not be good.

Before deciding to get pregnant, you need to undergo a medical procedure called hysteroscopy. Doctors do this procedure to examine and treat the scars in your uterus to prevent first-time or repeat miscarriages.

Medical Conditions

Other underlying medical conditions might also result in a miscarriage, such as:

• Severe medical conditions, such as uncontrolled diabetes, kidney diseases, hypertension, thyroid diseases, auto-immune diseases, and cardiovascular diseases.
• Sexually-transmitted infections such as TORCH infections that stand for: Toxoplasmosis, Other agents, Rubella, Cytomegalovirus, and Herpes simplex.

Lifestyle choices

One of the most common causes of miscarriage is an unhealthy lifestyle which includes:

• Smoking, excessive consumption of alcohol, and the use of illegal drugs.

Signs of miscarriage

Here are signs of miscarriage that you must watch out for.

Vaginal bleeding

This is one of the most common signs of miscarriage. However, not all vaginal bleeding leads to miscarriage. Bleeding in miscarriage starts with spotting or light bleeding and becomes heavier in every passing hour. Vaginal bleeding can be a sign of miscarriage if the bleeding gets heavier than lighter.

Cramps in the lower abdomen, pelvic area, and the back

This might be an indication of a miscarriage. The feeling of cramps shouldn’t be present in the time of pregnancy since you are not having your period. You might be having a miscarriage if you feel the same mentrual-like cramp during your pregnancy.

Vaginal discharge

This is a normal part of pregnancy. However, it might worrying if you see big clumps of tissues in your discharge. These clumps of tissues might also be accompanied by blood clots, which are basically placenta or products of conception.

When you no longer feel pregnant

Not feeling any pregnancy symptoms isn’t always a sign of miscarriage. On the other hand, if you feel that these symptoms unexpectedly went away, then it is best to consult your OBGYN immediately.

When to call the doctor

Call your local emergency hotline or your OB-Gyne immediately if the following signs of miscarriage worsens:

• Severe bleeding accompanied by dizziness or lightheadedness
• Big clots of blood or tissues in your vaginal discharge
• Extreme menstrual cramp-like pain that’s been increasing in intensity
• Severe pain in the lower abdomen, sides and the back. This severe pain is similar to that of women who are in labor or who are about to give birth.

Never dismiss any signs of miscarriage.

Key Takeaways

Having a miscarriage is one of the most devastating moments an expecting mother could ever go through. Knowing the causes and signs of miscarriage while you are pregnant is important. This is to prevent any kind of problem with your pregnancy.

Make sure to do all the necessary tests before deciding to get pregnant. This will help you see if there are factors that might negatively affect your pregnancy. If you’re aware about the risks, then taking these extra measures will help you have a safe and healthy pregnancy.

Learn more about Being Pregnant, here.