Are you experiencing lower back or abdominal pain and cramping, vaginal spotting or bleeding, and vaginal tissue or fluid leakage during pregnancy? Such symptoms point towards a miscarriage, often during the first trimester. While not entirely preventable, miscarriage risks can be mitigated with effective Bedford CARE Fertility treatments. Treatment begins with testing to establish your miscarriage risk factors, some of which are modifiable. Among the common miscarriage risk factors includes:

Age

Advancing age puts you at a higher risk of miscarriage due to the increased chromosomally abnormal eggs. At 35-40 years, the risks increase by about 10-20%, which further grows above 40 years. Chances of getting pregnant as you age significantly dwindle while miscarriage risk rises, a common infertility challenge that is unmodifiable. While you can’t stop aging, measures like egg freezing help enhance fertilization rate and, with healthier eggs use, increase chances of carrying to term.

Weight

Under or overweight individuals are at increased risk of miscarriage and also tend to struggle to get pregnant. Weight impacts your hormonal balance, affecting fetal development. Hormonal imbalance also impacts your uterus lining, affecting how the fertilized egg implants and develops into a fetus. Healthy weight before and during pregnancy can facilitate easier conception, mitigate miscarriage risk, and improve the chances of delivering a healthier baby.

Overall health

Concerns like poorly managed chronic conditions put a pregnant woman at an increased risk of a miscarriage. Common health conditions that increase miscarriage risk include kidney disease, over/underactive thyroid gland, diabetes, high blood pressure, lupus, and antiphospholipid syndrome. Chronic autoimmune concerns can result in antibodies entering the fetus’s system and hindering its growth, resulting in a miscarriage. Others, like diabetes and over/underactive thyroid, impact hormonal balance, affecting uterus health and fetus development. Ensuring chronic conditions are well controlled before and during pregnancy helps make the conception journey smoother for both the mother and unborn baby.

Lifestyle

Risky lifestyle behaviors like smoking, excessive alcohol consumption, and indulging in illicit drugs can lead to a miscarriage. The habits also impact your overall fertility, meaning you are likely to experience difficulty getting pregnant. Even after successfully getting pregnant and carrying to term, risks of stillbirth, low birth weight, and congenital disorders are high. Adopting a healthier lifestyle beyond a balanced diet and physical exercise helps mitigate infertility and pregnancy risks.

Previous miscarriage

Have you had two or more miscarriages, especially consecutive? In such cases, your pregnancy is termed high risk. While an apparent cause may not be determined, some issues like polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) or genetic variations in either partner could be the main culprit. Proper testing can help spot the problem and facilitate healthier pregnancy.

Cervical and uterine health

Your uterus and cervical health impact how fertilized egg implants, develops, and is held in utero to carry to term. For instance, cervical tissue weakness means the barrier is not as effective, which can even lead to preterm birth or miscarriage.

Carrying a pregnancy to term can be difficult, considering your risk factors. Nonetheless, with a healthier lifestyle and routine prenatal care, you can mitigate miscarriage risk and actualize your parenthood dreams. Visit CARE Fertility for all your fertility and pregnancy needs.

By Alexander James

Beau Alexander James: Beau, a mental health advocate, shares personal stories, coping strategies, and promotes mental health awareness and understanding.