No matter what stage of pregnancy a woman is in, when a miscarriage happens, it is a devastating loss for both moms and dads-to-be. As difficult as it may be, these individuals should not feel alone.
Selena Zanotti, M.D., of Cleveland Clinic, says that miscarriage actually is more common than most people think.
“The estimated rate is anywhere from eight to 20 percent, but it’s actually a lot more,” said Zanotti. “Some studies that have really looked at early pregnancies have found that it can be up to 40 or 50 percent of those early pregnancies that may end in a miscarriage before implantation happens.”
Zanotti said that even though it may seem like the numbers are rising, the high percentage of miscarriages is really due to the fact that pregnancy tests have become so advanced that more women are learning of pregnancies earlier than before.
Risk Factors
Most miscarriages happen before a woman is 10 weeks pregnant and are often due to a genetic abnormality that prevents the pregnancy from continuing.
Women who are older than 35 carry a greater risk for miscarriage, because they have fewer viable eggs.
Some diseases such as diabetes and certain autoimmune diseases can increase a woman’s risk of having a miscarriage.
Lifestyle choices such as smoking, drinking alcohol in excess and using illicit drugs also can cause miscarriage.
Taking Time to Grieve
Zanotti says that recent studies have shown that couples who wish to try again don’t need to wait a specific amount of time, but that it’s important to make sure they are emotionally ready to try again.
“I think the most important thing is that a couple is ready to try again,” she says. “No matter how early a miscarriage is, it’s a loss and every couple takes different time to grieve through that and be ready to proceed.”
Zanotti says many couples find it helpful to talk to friends and family about their miscarriage, because they often learn that they are not alone and can get emotional support from those who have been through it.
