Miscarriage Q&As
Published by Bupa's health information team, May 2009.
Answers to questions about miscarriage
This section contains answers to common questions about this topic. Questions have been suggested by health professionals, website feedback and requests via email.
- Is there anything I can do to reduce my risk of having a miscarriage?
- When can I try for another baby after a miscarriage?
- Can having a stitch in my cervix reduce my risk of having a miscarriage?
- Did my miscarriage happen because of something I did?
- What's a missed miscarriage? Is it a 'real' miscarriage?
Is there anything I can do to reduce my risk of having a miscarriage?
There are a number of things you can do to reduce your risk of having a miscarriage. If you're pregnant or are planning a pregnancy, you shouldn't drink alcohol in the first three months of pregnancy if possible. You should also not eat certain foods, such as soft and blue cheeses and pâté, which may contain bacteria and make you ill. Check that all ready-made meals are thoroughly cooked before eating. If you're going on holiday, don't visit any countries where malaria is present.
Explanation
Drinking alcohol while you're pregnant has been shown to increase your risk of having a miscarriage. If you choose to drink alcohol during pregnancy, you should drink no more than one to two units once or twice a week. One unit equals half a pint of ordinary strength lager or beer, or one shot (25ml) of spirits. A small glass (125ml) of wine is equal to one and a half units. Although there is no absolutely safe level of alcohol consumption during pregnancy, there is no evidence to suggest that this low level of alcohol causes any harm to your unborn baby. You shouldn't get drunk or binge drink while you're pregnant, as this can be harmful to your baby.
Listeriosis is an illness with mild, flu-like symptoms which can be caused by Listeria bacteria in certain foods. Listeriosis can cause miscarriage. To reduce your risk of Listeria infection, you shouldn't eat or drink:
- milk which isn't pasteurised or UHT
- ripened soft cheese such as Camembert, Brie and blue-veined cheese
- pâté (any type, including vegetable pâté)
- undercooked ready-made meals
It's safe for you to eat hard cheeses (such as Cheddar), cottage cheese and processed cheese.
Malaria in pregnant women increases the risk of miscarriage. You shouldn't visit any countries where there is a risk of malaria while you're pregnant. If you have to travel to a country where malaria is present, speak to your GP for advice before you travel.
Further information
- Miscarriage Association
01924 200799
www.miscarriageassociation.org.uk
Sources
- Alcohol consumption and the outcomes of pregnancy. Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, 2006, RCOG Statement No. 5. www.rcog.org.uk
- Antenatal care - routine care for the healthy pregnant woman. National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE), 2008, Clinical Guideline 62. www.nice.org.uk
- Listeria factsheet. Health Protection Agency. www.hpa.org.uk, accessed 27 May 2008
When can I try for another baby after a miscarriage?
You will probably be fertile in the first month after miscarriage. However, the best time to try again for another baby is when you and your partner feel physically and emotionally ready.
Explanation
Most miscarriages occur as a one-off event and there is a good chance you will have a successful pregnancy in the future. If your miscarriage has finished then you won't need any further medical treatment. If your miscarriage is incomplete - that is, there is still some pregnancy tissue in your womb (uterus) - you will need treatment before trying for another baby. Your doctor may advise you to wait until you have stopped bleeding before you have sex.
You will probably have a period within four to six weeks after your miscarriage. As ovulation occurs before your period, you will be fertile during this time. If you don't want to become pregnant, you should use contraception.
Losing a pregnancy is a deeply personal experience that affects everyone differently. It can affect you, your partner and other members of your family. The best time to try again for another baby is when you and your partner feel physically and emotionally ready. If you have any concerns about trying for another baby, it can help to talk to your GP or a counsellor.
Further information
- Miscarriage Association
01924 200799
www.miscarriageassociation.org.uk
Sources
- Early miscarriage: information for you. Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists. 2008. www.rcog.org.uk
Can having a stitch in my cervix reduce my risk of having a miscarriage?
Some women can have more than one miscarriage. If you have a miscarriage in the second or third trimester of pregnancy, this may indicate a weakness in your cervix which allows it to dilate too soon. If you're at high risk of miscarriage, your gynaecologist (a doctor specialising in women's reproductive health) may suggest that a stitch is inserted in your cervix (a cervical stitch or cerclage) to keep it closed during your pregnancy and reduce your risk of miscarriage. Evidence to support this technique currently remains limited and research suggests that it shouldn't be used if you're only at a low or medium risk of miscarriage.
Explanation
Recurrent miscarriage can sometimes be caused by having a weak cervix. If you have a miscarriage in the second or third trimester of pregnancy, this may indicate a weakness in your cervix which allows it to dilate too soon. The insertion of a stitch into your cervix gives it more support and may reduce the chance of it dilating during these stages of your pregnancy. If you have a history of miscarriage, your gynaecologist may suggest you have a cervical stitch. This is usually performed after 18 weeks' pregnancy. A cervical stitch can also be used in an emergency situation if you appear to be at risk of having a miscarriage.
You should seek routine antenatal care early in your pregnancy if you have a history of second- or third-trimester miscarriage. Seek medical help immediately if you have painful or regular womb contractions or vaginal bleeding during the second and third trimester of pregnancy.
A cervical stitch can carry some risks such as bleeding, infection and miscarriage. Your gynaecologist will explain these to you.
Further information
- Miscarriage Association
01924 200799
www.miscarriageassociation.org.uk
Sources
- Drakeley AJ, Roberts D, Alfirevic Z. Cervical stitch (cerclage) for preventing pregnancy loss in women. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2003, Issue 1. Art. No: CD003253. www.cochrane.org
- Huy NVQ. Cervical stitch (cerclage) for preventing pregnancy loss in women: RHL practical aspects (last revised: 1 September 2007). The WHO Reproductive Health Library; Geneva: World Health Organization. www.who.int
- Laparoscopic cerclage for prevention of recurrent pregnancy loss due to cervical incompetence. National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE), 2007, Interventional Procedure Guidance 228. www.nice.org.uk
Did my miscarriage happen because of something I did?
That's very unlikely. Miscarriages are very common and the things that most often cause miscarriages can't be prevented.
Explanation
It's very unlikely that your miscarriage happened because of something you have done. Miscarriages are very common. The main cause of miscarriage is a problem with the way your genetic material (chromosomes) combined when the sperm fertilised the egg. This is often due to chance - so there's nothing you can do to prevent it. Also, once a miscarriage starts, there isn't anything you can do to stop it.
Some of the things that haven't been shown to increase your risk of miscarriage include:
- being under stress
- doing moderate exercise during pregnancy
- having sex during pregnancy
So having a stressful day, going to the gym or having sex won't have caused your miscarriage.
You might find it helpful to talk about your miscarriage with someone who has had a similar experience.
Sources
- Early miscarriage: information for you. Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists. 2008. www.rcog.org.uk
- Antenatal care - routine care for the healthy pregnant woman. National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE), 2008, Clinical Guideline 62. www.nice.org.uk
What's a missed miscarriage? Is it a 'real' miscarriage?
Yes. A missed miscarriage is where the developing baby dies but the pregnancy tissue stays in the womb (uterus). Sometimes there aren't any symptoms, and some women don't realise they have had a missed miscarriage until they have a routine scan.
Explanation
A missed miscarriage is one where the pregnancy issue isn't expelled from the womb.
Women who have a missed miscarriage sometimes continue to have pregnancy symptoms, such as feeling tired, because pregnancy hormones are still being produced by the placenta. Many women who have a missed miscarriage only find out during a routine scan.
Some women do have symptoms, and these can include:
- decreasing pregnancy symptoms, such as tiredness and feeling sick
- discharge from the vagina that starts off brown in colour and then becomes bright red
If you have a missed miscarriage, it's important that the pregnancy tissue is removed from your womb to prevent you getting an infection.
Your doctor may recommend medicines or surgery to remove the tissue. Or, you can wait for your womb to expel the pregnancy tissue, this is called 'expectant management', and it can take several weeks.
With expectant management, it can take time for the bleeding to start as the tissue starts to be expelled, and it's normal for the bleeding to carry on for about three weeks. The bleeding may be heavier than your period and you may also get a cramping pain. You should seek urgent medical attention if:
- you're concerned about the pain or the amount of bleeding
- you start having vaginal discharge with an unpleasant smell
- you start feeling faint
- you get flu-like symptoms, such as a high temperature
- you have pain in your shoulders
Sources
- Missed miscarriage. Women's health information. www.womens-health.co.uk, accessed 17 July 2008
- The management of early pregnancy loss. Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists. 2006. www.rcog.org.uk
- Early miscarriage: information for you. Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists. 2008. www.rcog.org.uk
Related topics
- Common pregnancy symptoms
- Preparing for pregnancy
- Routine care during your pregnancy
- What to expect during pregnancy
This information was published by Bupa's health information team and is based on reputable sources of medical evidence. It has been peer reviewed by Bupa doctors. The content is intended for general information only and does not replace the need for personal advice from a qualified health professional.
Publication date: May 2009
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