Miscarriage is like a nightmare for a pregnant woman. Approximately 15% of pregnant women experience a miscarriage. Some of it occurs due to chromosomal abnormalities, and some other reasons are advancing age, obesity and medical issues. Miscarriage is an emotional trauma; it becomes very hard and also takes time to move on from it. So, how to reduce the chances of miscarriage?
Many times in miscarriage the women don’t even realize that she is pregnant. Most the time miscarriage occurs because the foetus isn’t developing normally. So, let’s understand the ways how to reduce the chances of miscarriage and have a healthy pregnancy.
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What is a Miscarriage?
Miscarriage is a term used when you lose your baby before 20 weeks. Many miscarriages happen in the first 12 weeks. This situation is very devastating for both mom and dad to be. In many cases, women don’t even know that she is pregnant. Miscarriage doesn’t mean that you cannot have a baby in the future. So, whenever you feel that you are pregnant, take good care of yourself. Even if you are planning, you should be a lot more careful about doing things.
What are the Reasons of Miscarriage?
First Trimester- Around 80% of miscarriages happen in first trimester i.e. from week 1 to week 13. Reasons of miscarriage in first trimester are-
- Genetic Abnormalities
- Ectopic Pregnancy
- Blood Clots
- Placental Problems
Second Trimester- Losing pregnancy between weeks 13 to 24 comes in second trimester miscarriage. This type of miscarriage is very rare and happens due to extreme health conditions. Reasons of miscarriage in second trimester are-
- Infection
- Thyroid disease
- Problems with Uterus or Cervix
- Lifestyle factor
- Environmental factor
Third Trimester- Miscarriage during third trimester is more commonly known as stillbirth. Some of the reasons of miscarriage in third trimester are-
- Pregnancy complications
- Birth defects
- High blood pressure
- Uncontrolled diabetes
- Infection
- Problem with umbilical cord
9 Ways to Prevent Pregnancy Loss
1. Wash your Hands-
You might feel this is such a small thing to do, but these small things only help to prevent pregnancy loss. Many types of bacteria and germs can enter your body through hands and these can be one of the reasons for miscarriage, stillbirth or infant death. Therefore, keep your hygiene level at the topmost priority.
2. Be Careful in Kitchen-
It is not necessary that as soon as you know that you are pregnant, you hire a maid for the kitchen. You can work in the kitchen as long as your body allows. You need to be careful in the kitchen for what you are eating, as a food-borne illness like listeria increases the chances of miscarriage.
Things to take care of when you are in the kitchen are-
Wash your hands before and after handling raw food
Refrigerate leftovers promptly.
Cook meat, fish and eggs at the recommended temp.
3. Quit Smoking-
You all have seen the warning signs coming with cigarettes. It is very true that smoking is injurious to health. During pregnancy both active and passive smoking is dangerous, it can increase the risk of cancer, heart disease, lung disease, and stroke. Women who smoke in their pregnancy have more chances of miscarriage, infertility and stillbirth.
4. Be Active-
It is a myth that exercise can cause miscarriage. Exercising or being active in pregnancy is very good for a healthy pregnancy. Just make sure that you do not hurt yourself while exercising. Start with a beginner’s level and then increase it.
5. Lose some Weight-
If you feel you are already overweight, it is advised that you lose some weight before you start planning. Pregnancy also brings with it weight gain. Excess weight gain during pregnancy can increase the risk of heart disease, premature birth, gestational diabetes and pregnancy loss. Therefore, maintain your weight before and during pregnancy.
6. Start Prenatal Care-
Prenatal care is very important to ensure a healthy pregnancy. Do not miss any appointment with the doctor. Be aware of the problems which could lead to pregnancy loss such as- high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, uterine abnormalities.
7. Do not forget your Medicine-
When you come to know that you are pregnant. The doctor prescribes you some medicines like folic acid and multivitamins. They help to provide the body with enough nutrients and make sure that you do not have any deficiency. If you already have some problems like high blood pressure, diabetes etc. it is good to let your doctor know about them so that he can give you medicine for them as they can increase the chances of miscarriage.
8. Avoid Drinking-
Just like smoking is injurious for health. Drinking is also injurious for health, especially during pregnancy. Alcohol increases the chances of miscarriage and the risk of fetal alcohol syndrome. Since it is not yet clear, about the minimum safe amount of drinking alcohol, it is recommended to completely avoid the alcohol in pregnancy.
9. Take Folic Acid-
According to research, a pregnant woman should take around 400 mcg of folic acid. Folic acid helps to reduce birth defects, which leads to miscarriage. Even if you are planning to have a baby, it is good if you start consuming folic acid, as it helps in a healthy pregnancy.
Symptoms of Miscarriage
After understanding the causes of miscarriage and how to prevent it, let’s learn about the symptoms of miscarriage-
- Spotting
- Vaginal Bleeding from light to heavy
- Cramps
- Belly or Back Pain
- Fever
- Vomiting
- Weakness
- Weight Loss
- Contractions
- Leaking of fluid from vagina
Conclusion
Above are some of the ways in which you can reduce your chances of miscarriage. But remember, in many cases miscarriage cannot be prevented. It happens due to chromosomal abnormality, which prevents the healthy development of the foetus. The chances of repeated miscarriage are very low. So, just switch to a healthy lifestyle and take utmost care of yourself. Maintain a proper body weight, eat the right food and exercise.
Related Article-
- Foods to Avoid in the First Month of Pregnancy
- When to Stop Sex During Pregnancy?
- How to Stay Fit During Pregnancy (Healthy Diet + Exercises)
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