Miscarriage is the spontaneous loss of a pregnancy before 20 weeks. Usually miscarriage happens because the fetus isn't developing as it should. Miscarriage is common. About 15% of pregnancies end in miscarriage, usually before the 12th week of pregnancy (during the first trimester).
Some miscarriages happen even before a woman knows she is pregnant. Miscarriage can be a traumatic, emotional experience. Most women who have miscarriages go on to have successful pregnancies later on. A second miscarriage occurs in only about 1% of women. However, some women may have multiple miscarriages.
Signs and symptoms that often happen with a miscarriage include:
Normal activities (like work, exercise, or sex) won't cause a miscarriage, nor will nausea and vomiting (even with severe morning sickness). Most often, a miscarriage happens because there is a problem with the baby's genes. But some health conditions can make the mother more prone to miscarriage, including:
Women with the following conditions or characteristics are at greater risk for having a miscarriage:
If you think you are having a miscarriage, see your doctor immediately. Your doctor will do a pelvic examination to check for any problems with your uterus and see if it has begun to dilate. Your doctor will do an ultrasound to check on the baby's heartbeat and see how it is developing. If you have miscarried, your doctor may do a blood test to make sure there's no tissue is left inside your uterus.
In most cases, there is no way to prevent a miscarriage. You can avoid known risks, such as:
Keep your body healthy by eating well, exercising regularly, and getting enough sleep. Your physician may also prescribe bed rest and progesterone if you have experienced previous miscarriages. Take thyroid and other medications as prescribed, and consider supplementing your diet with folic acid and vitamin D.
If you are threatening miscarriage, your doctor may tell you to rest and avoid sex and exercise. If your cervix is dilated and your uterus has started to contract, the miscarriage can't be stopped. In that case, your doctor may give you medication that causes your body to get rid of the placenta and tissue from the pregnancy. If any of the tissue remains inside your uterus, your doctor will perform a dilation and curettage (D&C), which involves dilating your cervix and gently suctioning out the tissue. If you have a history of unexplained miscarriages, in vitro fertilization, embryo transfer, or artificial insemination may be used to achieve a successful pregnancy.
If you have an underlying medical condition, or have had multiple miscarriages, your doctor may prescribe medication to encourage a successful pregnancy. This medication will depend on what your specific health problem is.
Dilation and curettage (D&C) can remove pregnancy tissue if it is not expelled naturally from the uterus. Other surgical procedures may help problems with the uterus.
Keeping your body healthy may lower your risk of a miscarriage. Before getting pregnant, it is a good idea to discuss the risks of miscarriage with a counselor, including the importance of staying healthy and avoiding caffeine, alcohol, and recreational drugs.
Miscarriage is a serious health issue. Ask your doctor about alternative therapies that may help you stay healthy during pregnancy. Never take any herb or supplement while you are pregnant without checking with your doctor first.
These nutritional tips can help you stay healthy before and during pregnancy:
Pregnant women may need these nutrients:
DO NOT use herbs during pregnancy unless you are under the care of a qualified health care provider. Work with your doctor to determine which herbs may be right for you.
No studies show that homeopathy can prevent miscarriage. However, homeopathic literature does have reports of women who have had successful pregnancies after miscarriage when being treated with homeopathy. An experienced homeopath would consider your individual case and may recommend treatments to address your underlying condition and support your overall health.
Many women who have one or two miscarriages go on to have successful pregnancies. Women have only a 1% chance of having another miscarriage after the first one. However, the risk goes up with each miscarriage. Possible complications include infected pregnancy tissue that could lead to pelvic abscess, septic shock, or even death.
Many women feel depression or guilt after a miscarriage. A support group or individual counseling may help to deal with these feelings.
Your doctor will monitor you until the miscarriage is complete. If you have had a miscarriage and become pregnant, you should see your doctor right away.
Andersen JT, Anderson NL, Horwitz H, Poulsen HE, Jimenez-Solem E. Exposure to selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors in early pregnancy and the risk of miscarriage. Obstet Gynecol. 2014;124(4):655-661.
Andersen JT, Petersen M, Jimenez-Solem E, et al. Clarithromycin in early pregnancy and the risk of miscarriage and malformation: a register based nationwide cohort study. PLoS One. 2013;8(1):e53327.
Andersen LB, Jorgensen JS. Jensen TK, et al. Vitamin D insufficiency is associated with increased risk of first-trimester miscarriage in the Odense Child Cohort. Am J Clin Nutr. 2015;102(3):633-638.
Axmon A, Rylander L, Stromberg U, Hagmar L. Miscarriages and stillbirths in women with a high intake of fish contaminated with persistent organochlorine compounds. Int Arch Occup Environ Health. 2000;73(3):204-208.
Cabrera C, Artacho R, Gimenez R. Beneficial effects of green tea--a review. J Am Coll Nutr. 2006;25(2):79-99.
Carmichael SL, Shaw GM, Yang W, et al. Correlates of intake of folic acid-containing supplements among pregnant women. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 2006;194(1):203-210.
Casikar I, Lu C, Reid S, Condous G. Does sympomatology at presentation correlate with successful expectant management of first trimester miscarriage: a prospective observational study. Aust N Z J Obstet Gynaecol. 2013;53(2):178-183.
Cox JT, Phelan ST. Prenatal nutrition: special considerations. Minerva Ginecol. 2009;61(5):373-400. Review.
Dawson-Hughes B. Calcium and protein in bone health. Proc Nutr Soc. 2003;62(2):505-509.
Ferri FF, ed. Ferri's Clinical Advisor 2017. 1st ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2017.
Fontani G, Corradeschi F, Felici A, et al. Cognitive and physiological effects of Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid supplementation in healthy subjects. Eur J Clin Invest. 2005;35(11):691-699.
Gallagher S. Omega 3 oils and pregnancy. Midwifery Today Int Midwife. 2004;(69):26-31.
Giakoumelou S, Wheelhouse N, Cuschieri K, Entrican G, Howie SE, Horne AW. The role of infection in miscarriage. Hum Reprod Update. 2016;22(1):116-133.
Girman A, Lee R, Kligler B. An integrative medicine approach to premenstrual syndrome. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 2003;188(5 Suppl):S56-S65.
Grande M, Borrell A, Garcia-Posada R, et al. The effect of maternal age on chromosomal anomaly rate and spectrum in recurrent miscarriage. Hum Reprod. 2012;27(10):3109-3117.
Harper M, Thom E, Klebanoff MA, et al. Omega-3 fatty acid supplementation to prevent recurrent preterm birth: a randomized controlled trial. Obstet Gynecol. 2010;115(2 Pt 1):234-242.
Ku CW, Allen JC, Malhotra R, et al. How can we better predict the risk of spontaneous miscarriage among women experiencing threatened miscarriage? Gynecol Endocrinol. 2015;31(8):647-651.
LaValle JB, Krinsky DL, Hawkins EB, et al. Natural Therapeutics Pocket Guide. 2nd ed. Hudson, OH:LexiComp; 2002:452-454.
Li L, Dou LX, Neilson JP, Leung PC, Wang CC. Adverse outcomes of Chinese medicines used for threatened miscarriage: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Hum Reprod Update. 2012;18(5):504-524.
Liu H, Shan Z, Li C, et al. Maternal subclinical hypothyroidism, thyroid autoimmunity, and the risk of miscarriage: a prospective cohort study. Thyroid. 2014;24(11):1642-1649.
Martonffy A, Rindfleisch K, Lozeau A, Potter B. First trimester complications. Prim Care. 2012;39(1):71-82.
Ronnenberg AG, Venners SA, Xu X, et al. Preconception B-vitamin and homocysteine status, conception, and early pregnancy loss. Am J Epidemiol. 2007;166(3):304-312.
Rotsein OD. Oxidants and antioxidant therapy. Crit Care Clin. 2001;17(1):239-247.
Rumbold A, Middleton P, Pan N, Crowther CA. Vitamin supplementation for preventing miscarriage. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2011;(1):CD004073. Review.
Sugiura-Ogasawara M, Ozaki Y, Katano K, Suzumori N, Kitaori T, Mizutani E. Abnormal embryonic karyotype is the most frequent cause of recurrent miscarriage. Hum Reprod. 2012;27(8):2297-2303.
Wang HK. The therapeutic potential of flavonoids. Expert Opin Investig Drugs. 2000;9(9):2103-2119.
Windham GC, Shaw GM, Todoroff K, Swan SH. Miscarriage and use of multi-vitamins or folic acid. Am J Med Genet. 2000;90(3):261-262.
Yoon JH, Baek SJ. Molecular targets of dietary polyphenols with anti-inflammatory properties. Yonsei Med J. 2005;46(5):585-596.
Reviewed By: Steven D. Ehrlich, NMD, Solutions Acupuncture, a private practice specializing in complementary and alternative medicine, Phoenix, AZ. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by the A.D.A.M Editorial team.
Learn more about A.D.A.M.'s editorial policy, editorial process and privacy policy. |
The information provided herein should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed medical professional should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. Links to other sites are provided for information only -- they do not constitute endorsements of those other sites. © 1997- 2024 A.D.A.M., a business unit of Ebix, Inc. Any duplication or distribution of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited.