
How often do miscarriages occur?
Sources
vary on the frequency of miscarriages. The March
of Dimes reports that approximately 1 in 4 pregnancies end
in miscarriage; some estimates are as high as 1 in 3. For more
information see the statistics
page.
What
causes a miscarriage?
Could
stress or working too hard have caused my miscarriage?
Many
women experience stressful events during pregnancy, and they
have perfectly healthy babies in spite of the trauma
. Countless others
continue their normally hurried work pace without slowing down,
and while they may feel tired, they are not at risk of a
miscarriage. See the myths of miscarriage.
Why
do some doctors call miscarriages "abortions"?
Do
not confuse the word abortion
with
the term that describes the elective procedure, which is called
a “therapeutic abortion.” The word “abort” simply means
“to end prematurely,” so abortion and miscarriage are
medically interchangeable terms. Doctors refer to a
miscarriage
as
a “spontaneous abortion
.”
Will I ever be able to have a baby if I've suffered a
miscarriage?
Approximately
90% of women who have had one miscarriage, go on to have a
normal pregnancy and a healthy baby next time.
I've
had two miscarriages, what are my chances of having a healthy
baby?
An
estimated 60% of women who have suffered two miscarriages have a
healthy subsequent pregnancy. Even for women who have three
miscarriages in a row, there is more than a 50% chance of a
healthy baby in the fourth pregnancy.
Is
there anything I can do to increase my changes of having a
healthy baby next time I become pregnant?
Avoiding
possible causes of miscarriage when considering or planning for
your next pregnancy is important. Especially focus on those that
you can control such as quitting smoking
, treating genital
infections, refraining from recreational drug use
, and controlling
diabetes
. For more see the causes
of miscarriage.
My
family thinks I should "be over" my miscarriage by
now, but I'm still grieving. Is this normal?
There
is no set time for grief to take place. As a parent, you never
entirely get over the loss of your baby. However, it is
generally noted that grief can last between 6 months and 4
years.
That does not mean that the pain is over when the grief
is over, it means that you have been able to accept your loss
and move toward healing. See the grief page
for more.
Answers
adapted from the book Hope is Like the
Sun © Copyright
2004.
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