5 Reasons Why Pregnant Women Get Miscarriage

There are a lot of factors why women lose their baby on their womb before it is due. A miscarriage usually occurs before the 20th week of pregnancy and is considered by many obstetricians as normal part of reproduction.

According to Medline Plus, signs of a miscarriage can include vaginal spotting, abdominal cramps, and fluid or tissue passing from the vagina. "The majority of the time miscarriage is a random, isolated event and we can't pinpoint a cause," says Dr. Henry Lerner, a clinical professor of obstetrics and gynecology at Harvard Medical School and author of Miscarriage: Why it Happens and How Best to Reduce Your Risks.

He also explained that the risks of having miscarriage are usually higher for first time moms compared to moms who have lost their babies through miscarriage in the past, "Since you got pregnant once, the odds are 80 percent that you will go on to have a healthy baby, and as many healthy babies after that as you want."

Here are five common causes of both single and recurrent miscarriage from Parenting:

Miscarriage Cause #1: Chromosomal Abnormalities

60 percent of miscarriages are caused by mismatched chromosomes. It is a result of a faulty chromosome being matched in a normal one that causes the embryo to have abnormality leading to miscarriage. 

Miscarriage Cause #2: Uterine Abnormalities and Incompetent Cervixes

Abnormally shaped or divided uterus can result into miscarriage for the reason that the embryo can't be implanted there or if it does implant, it cannot receive the nourishment it needs to survive. "Uterine anomalies account for about 10 percent of miscarriages," says Dr. Cowan. Another problem could also be a weakened or incompetent cervix. 

Miscarriage Cause #3: Immunologic Disorders

There are cases that the embryo is being rejected in the woman's body, "Antiphospholipid antibodies-antibodies that attack one's own tissue, including embryos-account for many miscarriages that physicians used to think were unexplainable," says Dr. Jonathan Scher, a fertility specialist in Manhattan and co-author of Preventing Miscarriage: The Good News.

Miscarriage Cause #4: Untreated Thyroid Illnesses (Both Hyper- and Hypo-Thyrodism) and Uncontrollable Diabetes 

"The effects of these conditions make it difficult for the embryo to survive," explains Dr. Scher.This is because of the fact that such illnesses will make the uterus an unfavorable environment for the embryo.

Miscarriage Cause #5: Unhealthy Lifestyle (Cigarettes, Alcohol, Drugs) and Environment

Studies show that smokers have twice the risk of having a miscarriage over non-smokers. "Nicotine crosses the placenta and interferes with blood supply and fetal growth," says Dr. Scher. Same thing goes with women who drink more than two alcoholic beverages a day. Working environments such as farms, operating rooms, dental offices and hospital laboratories-have a higher rate of miscarriage for unknown reasons.