Are You Experiencing Recurring Miscarriages?

Are You Experiencing Recurring Miscarriages? Unfortunately, many women have a miscarriage at one time or another. The emotional upheaval of recurring miscarriages is very real and affects everyone in the family.

Miscarriages can happen for many reasons and most of them are due to factors that women cannot control. Having one miscarriage doesn’t mean a woman will have another miscarriage if she tries again. However, some women suffer more than one miscarriage. When a woman has three consecutive pregnancy losses before 20 weeks it is called recurrent pregnancy loss (RPL).

Almost two-thirds of women with RPL will eventually have a healthy pregnancy without intervention. To avoid recurring loss and the accompanying grief, women can choose to make some powerful adjustments to their daily lives. These changes work for both an RPL and women trying to hold a pregnancy.

Lifestyle Choices

As a rule of thumb, whatever is healthy for a woman will improve the chance of a healthy pregnancy. So, stopping or eliminating poor health habits can increase conception odds and prevent miscarriage.  Approximately 80% of all miscarriages happen in the first trimester when the baby is most delicate and vulnerable to outside influences. Stopping recreational activities such as smoking, alcohol, and drug use will lower the risk of miscarriage.

Being overweight has also been linked to an increased risk of miscarriage. So healthy weight loss, exercise, and stress reduction will help outcomes. While there is no proof that stress, anxiety, or depression causes miscarriage, birth workers often see an overlap between them and miscarriage.

For these couples, psychological counseling can help couples cope with the emotional pain of miscarriage and create a healthy environment for a future pregnancy.

Miscarriage may be related to elevated blood sugar levels, thyroid imbalances, or autoimmune issues. Treating medical conditions such as these can improve the chances of having a healthy, full-term pregnancy.

Women with blood clotting concerns may be tested and treated with low-dose aspirin and heparin. These medicines may be taken during pregnancy to lower the risk of miscarriage, but they should not be taken without medical supervision.

For these couples, with any of these concerns or others, psychological counseling can help. Talk therapy can help couples to cope with the emotional pain of miscarriage and create a healthy environment for a future pregnancy. Medications can be used safely for more severe cases.

Genetic Screening

In a select group of couples, chromosomal problems can be identified with genetic testing.  For these parents, the doctor might suggest fertility treatments, such as in-vitro fertilization (IVF). With this option, the embryos can undergo additional genetic testing prior to being implanted to help ensure a healthy pregnancy.

Surgery

Surgery is an option if there is an issue with their uterine tissues or tubes.  The extra tissue can be removed, fibroids removed, and scar tissue can be reduced or removed making for a better environment for the baby.

Reach out to your provider and discuss your journey to date and the appropriate next steps for you.  What is right for you may not be right for another family.  Find a provider(s) who will work with you and your needs.