Pregnancy is the most cherished time in a woman’s life, and every expecting mother dreams of a healthy and safe delivery for her baby. However, miscarriage is the most common complication in pregnancy that can occur in any woman.

Miscarriage is defined as the loss of pregnancy before 20 weeks of gestation, and affects about 20-30% of clinically recognized pregnancies. Several factors are known to cause miscarriage, but a strong link between pregnancy and this condition has been discovered surprisingly recently.

In this article, we explore this link and how it can help women prevent the devastating experience of miscarriage in their pregnancy.

What is the Link Between Pregnancy and Miscarriage?

Studies have shown that the link between pregnancy and miscarriage is related to chromosomal abnormalities. Chromosomes are the structures in the cell that carry genetic information or DNA, which determines our physical and biological characteristics.

Usually, during conception, the egg from the mother and the sperm from the father combine to form a fertilized egg or zygote that develops into an embryo. The embryo contains 46 chromosomes, half of which come from the mother and half from the father. If at any stage during embryonic development, there are abnormalities or changes in the number or structure of chromosomes, it can lead to miscarriage.

About half of miscarriages are due to chromosomal abnormalities, where there are too many or too few chromosomes or there are structural changes.

These abnormalities occur spontaneously during conception and are not related to any health conditions or environmental factors. It is important to understand that chromosomal abnormalities happen randomly and are not preventable. It is nature’s way of ensuring that only healthy embryos develop to term and any abnormal ones are discarded early.

Other Causes of Miscarriage

In addition to chromosomal abnormalities, several other factors can cause miscarriage in pregnancy. These include:.

: 1. Age

Women over the age of 35 have a higher risk of miscarriage due to declining quality and quantity of eggs as they age.

: 2. Lifestyle

Smoking, alcohol, drugs, and caffeine can increase the risk of miscarriage.

: 3. Health Conditions

Chronic illnesses like diabetes, thyroid disorders, and auto-immune diseases can make a pregnancy high-risk and increase the risk of miscarriage.

: 4. Infections

Several infections like rubella, toxoplasmosis, and bacterial vaginosis can cause miscarriage if left untreated.

: 5. Hormonal imbalances

Imbalances in hormones like progesterone and estrogen, which are critical for pregnancy, can cause miscarriage.

How to Reduce the Risk of Miscarriage?

Although chromosomal abnormalities are not preventable, several steps can reduce the risk of other causes of miscarriage:.

: 1. Healthy Lifestyle

Avoid smoking, alcohol, drugs, and caffeine during pregnancy. Eat a healthy and balanced diet to ensure adequate nutrition.

: 2. Regular prenatal care

Regular visits to the obstetrician during pregnancy can detect underlying health conditions and infections early, which can be treated to prevent miscarriage.

: 3. Manage chronic illnesses

If you have any chronic illnesses, like diabetes or thyroid disorders, work closely with your doctor to manage them during pregnancy.

: 4. Hormone therapy

If you have hormonal imbalances, your doctor may prescribe hormone therapy to maintain hormonal levels during pregnancy.

Conclusion

Miscarriage is a heartbreaking event for any expectant mother.

While the link between pregnancy and miscarriage is primarily due to chromosomal abnormalities, other factors like age, lifestyle, health conditions, infections, and hormonal imbalances can also cause miscarriage. Understanding these factors can help women reduce the risk of miscarriage and have a healthy and safe pregnancy.