Miscarriage: Understand the Risks in Early Pregnancy

Understanding the risks can help you feel more prepared and take steps to minimise them. Let’s look at the common causes of miscarriage and what are the risk factors during your early pregnancy.
Experiencing a miscarriage is heartbreaking, and it’s natural to wonder why it happened. Often women who go through it feel confused, maybe even blaming themselves—but it’s important to remember that most miscarriages are beyond anyone’s control.

Understanding the risks can help you feel more prepared and take steps to minimise them. Let’s look at the common causes of miscarriage and what are the risk factors during your early pregnancy.

Losing pregnancy before reaching the 20th-week milestone can be defined as miscarriage. We know, having a miscarriage is the most distressing situation. But, it is important to realise that a miscarriage is a natural process, often out of anyone's control.

Most miscarriages happen in the early pregnancy stage i.e. the first trimester. To get through early pregnancy more confidently, you must understand the potential risks and should take precautions.

Before moving on to the risks and precautions, let us get some insights into the miscarriage symptoms. Here are a few symptoms:

• Vaginal bleeding
• Cramps or abdominal pain
• Passing tissue or fluid from the vagina.

But sometimes, women don't even experience any such symptoms at the beginning stage. Even without any indications, miscarriages can happen suddenly.

Pregnancy is a beautiful journey but unfortunately, it does come with some risks. Knowing these risks helps you handle them better or even prevent them in many cases. A miscarriage is one of the most significant of these risks.

Factors like advanced maternal age, hormonal imbalances, and genetic reasons often play a role in miscarriages. Even nutritional deficiency and certain medical conditions can affect embryo development. Here is the list of some specific nutrient deficiencies that you need to take care of:

Vitamin D3: It helps in calcium and phosphorus absorption, which are helpful for immune system development and foetal bone growth.

Folate: Folate or Vitamin B9 deficiency increases the risks of spina bifida. It plays a key role in DNA synthesis and cell division during early pregnancy.

Calcium: You need calcium for bone and teeth development. Calcium deficiency during pregnancy can affect the mother's bone density.

Iodine: Iodine is important for the nervous system and foetal brain development. Iodine deficiency can lead to intellectual disabilities.

Women should not always feel responsible for such a mishap but even the father's health directly contributes to the baby's health, especially through sperm quality and genetic conditions.

Do not be stressed out as studies show that only 10-20% of known pregnancies end in miscarriage during the first trimester. We know going through it is disheartening beyond words, but understanding that it is a natural process can bring peace to expecting mothers and their families.

"1-month foetus miscarriage" is one of the most searched phrases on Google among expecting parents and it is understandable why. The risks are high and the fear comes with the happy news of a positive pregnancy. So let's understand why it could happen and what the odds are.

Most women experience miscarriage symptoms during the 2nd to 3rd week of pregnancy. Moreover, around 50-70% of miscarriages happen due to chromosomal issues. These issues can occur due to 2 reasons.

• Aneuploidy: It is a genetic disorder where an abnormal number of chromosomes are present. It can be an extra or a missing chromosome.
• Structural Abnormality: These abnormalities include duplications, deletions, or translocation of chromosomes.

Such chromosomal issues can cause birth defects, intellectual disability, and problems with the physical development of newborns.

The age of the woman also plays a major role in the success of a pregnancy. Older women have a higher risk of miscarriages. Below, we will help you out with some insights into the effect of age and its correlation to the risks of pregnancy loss.

• As the age of a woman increases, the fertility rate decreases. This directly impacts the chances of a successful pregnancy.
• You know that chromosomal abnormalities are one of the major causes of miscarriage. The eggs produced in older women are prone to such situations.
• Older women are more likely to have chronic health conditions like diabetes, and high BP and thus, another case for a miscarriage.

All in all, you must understand that older women need close monitoring during pregnancy. It can help them to identify the risks in the early stages and plan accordingly for a successful pregnancy.

The Impact of Previous Miscarriages

We know you will now think twice and manage all the risks associated with miscarriage. But what about the women who have experienced previous miscarriages? They should not be much worried but they still are at a higher risk of having another one. 

In severe cases, some women even experience two or more miscarriages which can have a significant impact on their mental health. 

But do not lose hope!! Many women who have gone through multiple miscarriages can still have successful pregnancies. Be strong and hopeful and you will get through this tough journey. 

Moreover, you must follow your doctor’s advice and most of the doctors recommend a karyotyping test for miscarriages to know about the cause of frequent pregnancy loss. This test can help find out if chromosomal abnormalities are the root cause of the issue. As the risk of a miscarriage in the first trimester is high, pregnant women must take proper precautions in the early stages and be away from any such chances of multiple miscarriages.

Miscarriages can happen due to chronic medical conditions like high blood pressure, thyroid disorders, diabetes, and auto-immune diseases. These health issues can impact the development of the foetus or uterus resulting in pregnancy loss.

With the assistance of a healthcare provider, one can manage these health conditions before and during pregnancy. This can significantly reduce the risk of miscarriage. Pregnant women must stay careful about their pregnancy and should take prescribed medicines to ensure the proper growth of the foetus.

Keep a check on autoimmune diseases like lupus or antiphospholipid syndrome, these can play a significant role in miscarriages too. In such cases, the immune system attacks healthy cells by mistake which leads to problems like blood clotting, premature pregnancies, and even pregnancy loss.

Apart from autoimmune diseases, uncontrolled hypertension can contribute to the risk of pregnancy loss too. It reduces the blood flow to the placenta and thus, impacts the foetus' growth. 

It is well-known that the risk of miscarriage at 11 weeks is high so pregnant women should take proper care and consult their doctors frequently.

Are chronic conditions the only culprit? No. Many other things can negatively impact a pregnancy such as nutritional deficiency, Vitamin D3 Deficiency, the husband's medical condition, lifestyle factors, and even external threats like infections and environmental toxins.

Lifestyle Factors: Smoking, Substance Abuse, and Caffeine

Apart from age and chronic conditions, lifestyle can also impact the health of a pregnancy. Smoking, substance abuse, and taking excessive caffeine can cause complications in pregnancy. These lifestyle choices can affect your foetus’ growth and are one of the most common reasons for miscarriage. 

Smoking during pregnancy can reduce the oxygen flow to your baby which leads to potential developmental issues. Having alcohol and drugs can also impact foetal growth and result in miscarriage.

Moreover, pregnant women must not consume more than 200 milligrams of caffeine in a day. Taking excessive caffeine can increase the risk of miscarriages, especially in the earlier stages. 

All in all, along with taking proper precautions, reducing the intake of caffeine and avoiding bad habits like smoking and drinking are essential for a healthy pregnancy.

Infections and Environmental Toxins

External threats like infections can also become a factor in pregnancy loss. If you don't get proper treatment, it can ultimately lead to a miscarriage. Most of the bacterial or viral infections impact the reproductive system or even the overall immune system. Speaking of the most common, Rubella is a viral infection that can cause severe congenital abnormalities during pregnancy.

Similarly, sexually transmitted infections like syphilis, herpes, and chlamydia can disrupt placenta functioning and lead to foetal death. Moreover, exposure to environmental toxins like pesticides, chemical solvents, industrial smoke, etc. can increase the risk of miscarriage in the early pregnancy stages.

Thus, proper treatment and regular screening are crucial for pregnant women to reduce the risk of miscarriage. 

Anatomical abnormalities in pregnant women can also play a significant role in miscarriages. Issues like uterine fibroids, abnormally shaped uterus, and polyps can cause difficulties in embryo growth and lead to pregnancy loss. 

Among these anatomical issues, an abnormally shaped uterus is a major concern. Some women are born with a septate uterus, in which a wall of tissue divides the uterine cavity. Bicornuate uterus (heart-shaped uterus), and unicornuate uterus (one side of the uterus is developed) are certain conditions that cause difficulties in embryo development.

Addressing these anatomical problems requires medical consultation and surgical methods like fibroid removal and repairing uterine anomalies can reduce the overall risk of miscarriage.

While miscarriage is a challenging experience, understanding the factors that contribute to it empowers you to take control of your health during your pregnancy journey. By prioritising prenatal care, opting for a healthy lifestyle, and addressing any underlying medical conditions, you significantly increase your chances of a successful pregnancy. 

Most miscarriages are caused by chromosomal abnormalities beyond your control. However, proactive steps can minimise other potential risks. Embrace this knowledge with optimism, and don't hesitate to seek guidance from your healthcare provider throughout your pregnancy.