Things You Didn't Know About Miscarriage

Because miscarriage is so common, you need to be aware that it could happen to you,' says Teresa Berg, M.D., director of Maternal-Fetal Medicine at the University of Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha. 'And just because you've had one doesn't mean you're not going to have another.'

Here's what you need to know to minimize your risk and, if needed, move forward.

Miscarriage happens more often than you think
The figure often cited is that about 15% of pregnancies end in miscarriage, which is also called 'early pregnancy loss' and 'spontaneous abortion.' But with the extra-sensitive, early-response pregnancy tests available these days, that number may be as high as 30% of all pregnancies, Dr. Berg says.

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Miscarriage happens early in pregnancy
The definition of miscarriage is a pregnancy lost before 20 weeks, but almost all miscarriages occur before the 12-week mark, says Dr. Berg. (That's why expecting parents are often told to wait until the second trimester to start spreading the news.) A pregnancy lost after 20 weeks is usually referred to as stillbirth.

You may not know you've miscarried
'You can miscarry within the first 10 days of conception and not even recognize that you've had a pregnancy loss,' says Dr. Berg. 'You may think it's just a period.' Bleeding is a common symptom of miscarriage, so is severe cramping. If you have either symptom and you know you're pregnant, see a doctor or go to the emergency room to avoid two possible complications of miscarriage: hemorrhage and infection.

It's not the mother's fault
Most miscarriages occur because of genetic abnormalities in the embryo, Dr. Berg says. There's really no way to predict or prevent them. They just happen.

Older women are more likely to miscarry
Miscarriages become even more common as women get older. That's because as eggs age, the chances of genetic abnormalities increase.

Fertility treatments may raise your risk
But if they do, it's probably a small increase and it may be hard to determine if it's due to the treatments or to other factors-many women undergoing fertility treatment are older, or have other conditions that affect fertility. If you're 40 and trying to get pregnant, you'll have a better chance of carrying a baby to term if you use a donor egg from a younger woman, says Dr. Berg.

Your weight matters
Being too thin or overweight can both increase the risk of a miscarriage, says Dr. Berg. Diabetes, a common complication of obesity, can also increase the risk, but only if the condition is poorly controlled. 'Women who are checking their blood sugar and have [blood sugar] that's in a normal range have a risk no different than someone who doesn't have diabetes,' she says.

Smoking is a known risk factor
Women who smoke have a higher chance of miscarriage so add this to the long list of reasons not to smoke-whether you're pregnant or not.

Sex doesn't cause it
You've likely heard the old wives' tale that intercourse can increase the risk of losing a baby. Well, it doesn't. Neither does exercise nor continuing to work, Dr. Berg says.

One miscarriage doesn't mean you'll have more
Many, many women who've had a miscarriage go on to have one or more children. In fact, doctors usually don't look for an underlying reason for miscarriage until you've had two or more, she says. (So, yes, you can suffer more than one.)

It's normal to grieve after a miscarriage
Feelings of loss are common after a miscarriage, even one that happens very early on. 'Women can attach to a pregnancy even if they haven't seen anything on an ultrasound or felt the baby move,' Dr. Berg says. 'There is a grieving process.' Some women have significant depression and depression-like symptoms and fathers can grieve, too. Support groups from organizations like the March of Dimes and Resolve can help, and so can the support of close family and friends.