13 things to avoid during pregnancy that could cause miscarriage

Are you interested in knowing things to avoid during pregnancy that could cause miscarriage? Read on to know how you can stay safe during your pregnancy!

What is a miscarriage?

A miscarriage, or spontaneous abortion, is when a pregnant woman loses her fetus in the first 20 weeks of pregnancy. A miscarriage can be brought on by underlying medical conditions. However, sometimes the pregnant woman might be unknowingly doing the things to avoid during pregnancy that cause miscarriage.

SYMPTOMS OF MISCARRIAGES

There are many signs that can point to the termination of a pregnancy. Even if you have religiously obeyed the things to avoid during pregnancy that cause miscarriage and you see the following symptoms, please go to the doctor to rule out spontaneous abortion.

Show

The show is the pinkish mucus that indicates to a woman that she is about to be in labour. If you see this before the 20th week of pregnancy, it could be a sign of a miscarriage.

Cramps

Just like labour, the cramps are usually mild in the beginning but progressively get worse. The cramps are usually worse in the lower abdomen and back, and it could present like lower waist pain.

Bleeding

Bleeding could trickle in lightly and progressively get worse until there is a heavy flow of blood. It could also come with lots of blood clots. Once there are cramps and spotting—that is drops of blood on the underwear—the woman should go the doctor immediately to rule out a miscarriage.

Fever and fatigue

Fever in itself isn’t always a sign of a miscarriage, but if it accompanied by any of the other symptoms, then the pregnant woman should be concerned.

CAUSES OF MISCARRIAGE

Below are things to avoid during pregnancy that could cause miscarriage. Although most of these things are out of the control of the pregnant woman, she could learn to manage these if they are present.

Fibroids

Fibroids are benign, noncancerous, abnormal growth in or on a woman’s uterus. The closer the fibroid is to the center of the woman’s uterus where the baby is, the higher the tendency of a miscarriage. Also, the size of the fibroid can affect a pregnancy.

If you have fibroids, you should try and check with a doctor when you plan on having a child. Fibroids come with painful menstruation, longer menstruation duration, and lower back pain. If you have experienced any of these symptoms, check with your doctor before you get pregnant.

Please note that fibroids are sometimes genetic. So, if you have any family member who has suffered from fibroids, you should go for a medical examination. Obesity and early puberty are also risk factors.

Infections

Some infections like toxoplasmosis (which is found in cat feces), rubella, and chlamydia, can also trigger miscarriages. Some of them come with symptoms and others have no symptoms at all. It is ideal for you to go for routine checkups so that you can be on the safe side always.

Fever

If you get sick, which usually occurs within the first three months of pregnancy and you are running a very high temperature, please report to the doctor. A temperature of 38.90c and above could be damaging to your unborn baby.

Illness

Those with diseases in the heart, liver, kidney, hormonal diseases, diabetes, obesity, high blood pressure, etc., are prone to having miscarriages. If you have these diseases and plan to get pregnant, then you should do so under the close observation of your medical personnel.

This is to make sure that pre-existing conditions don’t hurt your baby. Your doctor could also tweak your medication to make sure the drugs don’t hurt your baby.

Age

A woman who is above 35 years is more prone to having miscarriages. Pregnancy above the age of 35 is called geriatric pregnancy, and this needs to be closely monitored by your medical personnel.

Previous miscarriages

Someone who has had a previous miscarriage is more likely to miscarry her baby again than someone who has no history of miscarriages. This is also true for those whose former miscarriage was not properly investigated and treated.

Things to avoid during pregnancy that cause miscarriage could also include lifestyle options and food. Here are some of your choices that could cause a miscarriage:

Drug use

The use of hard drugs like cocaine, marijuana, methamphetamine and heroin can cause miscarriages. Hard drugs are not safe during pregnancy.

Smoking

Smoking could terminate a pregnancy. This is how smoking can harm an unborn baby: In the first trimester, smoking or exposure to cigarette smoke can cause chromosomal problems which can then result in a miscarriage.

Improper food hygiene

Uncooked or improperly cooked meat could contain bacteria called listeria. Listeria can cause miscarriages. Also, it can make the pregnant woman very sick with food poisoning, which is also risky to the fetus.

Alcohol

This is one of the major things to avoid during pregnancy that cause miscarriage. Alcoholic beverages can not only cause miscarriages but they can harm the baby and cause developmental problems like Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS).

Stress

Pregnant women need lots of rest. Stress is detrimental to both the health of the mother and the growth of the baby.

Improper child spacing

Leaving too much time or too little time from one baby to the other can cause a miscarriage. Too little space, like three months after the first birth, will not allow the mother’s body rest from the previous birth. The body is overwhelmed with stress and so the mother could miscarry. Also, a woman needs to recover totally from a previous miscarriage before conceiving again.

Air pollution and unsanitary living conditions

Excessive inhalation of polluted air, like nitrogen dioxide from burning gas or coals, can cause miscarriages. Make sure to stay in well-ventilated areas. Avoid unsanitary living conditions to cut down on the risk of getting infections.

If you stay away from these things to avoid during pregnancy that cause miscarriage, there’s a high chance that your baby will be born healthy!

This article was first published on AfricaParent.com