With all the changes going on in your body during pregnancy, it’s no surprise that occasionally you may worry if they mean something is wrong. A lot of changes and sensations are perfectly normal and shouldn’t concern you. However, there are some you should know about that may be signs of a possible miscarriage. Lets take a closer look at common miscarriage signs.
Common signs and symptoms of a miscarriage
Things that can cause a miscarriage in the first 8 weeks
The early stages of a pregnancy are important to starting your baby off on the right foot. However, there are some things out of your control that could lead to an early miscarriage. In fact, the loss of a pregnancy prior to 12 weeks happens about 10% of the time.
Here are some of the common reasons for a miscarraige in the first 8 weeks:
- Chromosomal abnormalities that lead to the arrest of embryo growth
- A hyperactive immune system where the embryo is 50% foreign to the mother’s immune system because it contains the father’s genetic makeup
- Infections such as bacterial vaginosis, HIV, gonorrhea, or cytomegalovirus are common culprits of an early miscarriage
- Anatomical abnormalities of the uterus
- Uncontrolled diabetes
- High blood pressure
- Thyroid disease with raised TSH levels increase miscarriage chances
- A predisposition to blood clotting
- Medications such as Misoprostol, Methotrexate, retinoids, and non-steroidal antiinflammatory drugs may increase chances of a miscarriage
- Food poisoning
- Exposure to harmful chemicals such as lead, arsenic, mercury, and pesticides
Signs of infection after miscarriage
If you have experienced a miscarriage, you will need to be on the look out for signs of infection. According to Gracen Lake, MD of EsourceResearch, infection can happen if the uterus doesn’t expel all materials. “After a miscarriage, some pregnancy tissue frequently stays in the uterus. If it isn’t removed by scraping the womb with a curette (a device like a spoon), you might experience prolonged bleeding,” she told Mom.com. The result might be an infection that is accompanies by chills, a high fever, and an unpleasant vaginal discharge.
