How to miscarry a child

4 Common Causes of Miscarriage

Written by Annie Stuart

Reviewed by Dan Brennan, MD on August 09, 2022

In this Article

• What Are the Common Causes of Miscarriage?
• Abnormal Chromosomes
• Medical Conditions
• Lifestyle
• Environmental Hazards
• Medications
• Food Poisoning
• What Doesn’t Cause Miscarriage?
• Miscarriage Prevention

What Are the Common Causes of Miscarriage?

If you're pregnant, you may be concerned about the risks of a miscarriage or pregnancy loss. (It’s called “miscarriage” when the pregnancy ends before the 20th week). Most of the time, this happens for reasons you have no control over. In fact, it's often difficult to pinpoint the exact cause. Learning what causes it may help put your mind at ease and help you improve your chances for having a healthy, full-term pregnancy.

Here's an overview of some of the most common causes of pregnancy loss.

Abnormal Chromosomes

When a miscarriage happens in the first 12 weeks, more than half the time it’s because of a problem with the baby's chromosomes. Chromosomes contain the genes that determine your baby's unique traits, such as hair and eye color. A baby can't grow normally with the wrong number of chromosomes or with damaged ones.

An abnormality in a unborn baby’s chromosomes could cause one of several problems. Among the most common are:

• Blighted ovum(anembryonic pregnancy). No embryo develops.
• Molar pregnancy. Both sets of chromosomes come from the father, while none come from the mother. The placenta doesn’t grow normally, and the fetus doesn’t develop.
• Partial molar pregnancy. The father gives two sets of chromosomes in addition to the set from the mother. The embryo may start to develop but soon stops.

Several other chromosomal abnormalities can cause the loss of a pregnancy. These include trisomy 13, 18, 21 (Down syndrome), monosomy (Turner's syndrome), and other sex chromosome issues.

Here are some other things to keep in mind about abnormal chromosomes:

• There's no way to prevent chromosome problems from happening.
• As you get older, especially after age 35, your risk for chromosome problems specifically, and pregnancy loss in general, goes up.

Miscarriages from chromosome problems usually don't happen again in future pregnancies.

Medical Conditions

A pregnancy loss often results from a problem with the mother’s health. Some of these include:

• An infection such as cytomegalovirus or rubella
• Poorly controlled long-term diseases such as diabetes or high blood pressure
• Thyroid disease, lupus, and other autoimmune disorders
• Problems with your uterus or cervix, such as fibroids, an abnormally shaped uterus, or a cervix that opens and widens too early, called cervical insufficiency
• STD infections such as chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis, or HIV
• Blood clotting issues that block blood vessels carrying blood flow to the placenta

Lifestyle

Your habits as the mom-to-be can increase the risk of a pregnancy loss. Here are some habits that are dangerous for a developing baby:

• Smoking. Some studies show an increased risk to a pregnancy even if only the father smokes.
• Heavy drinking
• Using illegal drugs

Environmental Hazards

In addition to secondhand smoke, certain substances in your environment at home or at work could put your pregnancy at risk. These include:

• Lead in old water pipes or paint in homes built before 1978
• Mercury released from broken thermometers or fluorescent light bulbs
• Solvents such as paint thinners, degreasers, and stain and varnish removers
• Pesticides for killing insects or rodents
• Arsenic found near waste sites or in some well water

Be sure to talk with your doctor about this. You may find your risks are not as great as you think.

Medications

Several prescription and over-the-counter medications can raise your chances of miscarriage and pregnancy loss, including:

• Misoprostol. It's used for conditions such as peptic ulcers and rheumatoid arthritis
• Methotrexate, a medication for rheumatoid arthritis
• Retinoids. They're used for skin conditions such as eczema and acne
• Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) for pain and inflammation

Food Poisoning

Several types of food poisoning during pregnancy can raise your risk for miscarriage or pregnancy loss.

• Listeriosis. Typically found in unpasteurized soft cheeses such as blue, Brie, or queso fresco, and raw or undercooked seafood
• Salmonella. Usually found in raw or undercooked eggs
• Toxoplasmosis. Most often caused by eating infected raw meat

Some food poisoning illnesses, including listeriosis and toxoplasmosis, can infect your unborn baby even if you don’t have symptoms yourself.

Follow your doctor’s guidelines about cooking and foods to stay away from while you’re pregnant.

What Doesn’t Cause Miscarriage?

You may worry that certain activities or emotions might raise the risk to your pregnancy. But if your pregnancy isn’t considered high-risk, the following things are generally safe:

• Working
• Sitting or standing for reasonable amounts of time
• Exercise (talk with your doctor about what level of exercise is right for you)
• Having sex
• Air travel
• Eating spicy food
• Having an emotional shock or scare
• Stress or depression

Miscarriage Prevention

Although there's no sure way to prevent miscarriage or pregnancy loss, you can take steps to help ensure a healthy pregnancy:

• Have a pre-conception checkup.
• Have regular prenatal visits so your doctor can help prevent and treat any problems early. Make taking care of existing health problems a priority. Your efforts will give your baby the best chance for health.
• Curb dangerous lifestyle habits. If you can't stop on your own, talk with your doctor about getting help to stop.
• Ask your doctor about your risk from the environment and how to protect yourself.
• Ask your doctor whether you should see an obstetrical specialist, such as a perinatologist, especially if you have more than one miscarriage. These doctors specialize in complicated pregnancies.
• Take a daily multivitamin.
• Limit caffeine.
• Eat a healthy, balanced diet.
• Avoid certain foods that can carry bacteria.
• Maintain a healthy weight.
• Be aware that you can do everything "right" and still have a miscarriage. Try not to add guilt or self-blame to your emotional burden. Between working with your doctor and making healthy lifestyle changes, you can rest easy knowing you've done everything you can to have a healthy pregnancy.

Next Article

4 Common Causes of Miscarriage

Written by Annie Stuart

Reviewed by Dan Brennan, MD on August 09, 2022

In this Article

• What Are the Common Causes of Miscarriage?
• Abnormal Chromosomes
• Medical Conditions
• Lifestyle
• Environmental Hazards
• Medications
• Food Poisoning
• What Doesn’t Cause Miscarriage?
• Miscarriage Prevention

What Are the Common Causes of Miscarriage?

If you're pregnant, you may be concerned about the risks of a miscarriage or pregnancy loss. (It’s called “miscarriage” when the pregnancy ends before the 20th week). Most of the time, this happens for reasons you have no control over. In fact, it's often difficult to pinpoint the exact cause. Learning what causes it may help put your mind at ease and help you improve your chances for having a healthy, full-term pregnancy.

Here's an overview of some of the most common causes of pregnancy loss.

Abnormal Chromosomes

When a miscarriage happens in the first 12 weeks, more than half the time it’s because of a problem with the baby's chromosomes. Chromosomes contain the genes that determine your baby's unique traits, such as hair and eye color. A baby can't grow normally with the wrong number of chromosomes or with damaged ones.

An abnormality in a unborn baby’s chromosomes could cause one of several problems. Among the most common are:

• Blighted ovum(anembryonic pregnancy). No embryo develops.
• Molar pregnancy. Both sets of chromosomes come from the father, while none come from the mother. The placenta doesn’t grow normally, and the fetus doesn’t develop.
• Partial molar pregnancy. The father gives two sets of chromosomes in addition to the set from the mother. The embryo may start to develop but soon stops.

Several other chromosomal abnormalities can cause the loss of a pregnancy. These include trisomy 13, 18, 21 (Down syndrome), monosomy (Turner's syndrome), and other sex chromosome issues.

Here are some other things to keep in mind about abnormal chromosomes:

• There's no way to prevent chromosome problems from happening.
• As you get older, especially after age 35, your risk for chromosome problems specifically, and pregnancy loss in general, goes up.

Miscarriages from chromosome problems usually don't happen again in future pregnancies.

Medical Conditions

A pregnancy loss often results from a problem with the mother’s health. Some of these include:

• An infection such as cytomegalovirus or rubella
• Poorly controlled long-term diseases such as diabetes or high blood pressure
• Thyroid disease, lupus, and other autoimmune disorders
• Problems with your uterus or cervix, such as fibroids, an abnormally shaped uterus, or a cervix that opens and widens too early, called cervical insufficiency
• STD infections such as chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis, or HIV
• Blood clotting issues that block blood vessels carrying blood flow to the placenta

Lifestyle

Your habits as the mom-to-be can increase the risk of a pregnancy loss. Here are some habits that are dangerous for a developing baby:

• Smoking. Some studies show an increased risk to a pregnancy even if only the father smokes.
• Heavy drinking
• Using illegal drugs

Environmental Hazards

In addition to secondhand smoke, certain substances in your environment at home or at work could put your pregnancy at risk. These include:

• Lead in old water pipes or paint in homes built before 1978
• Mercury released from broken thermometers or fluorescent light bulbs
• Solvents such as paint thinners, degreasers, and stain and varnish removers
• Pesticides for killing insects or rodents
• Arsenic found near waste sites or in some well water

Be sure to talk with your doctor about this. You may find your risks are not as great as you think.

Medications

Several prescription and over-the-counter medications can raise your chances of miscarriage and pregnancy loss, including:

• Misoprostol. It's used for conditions such as peptic ulcers and rheumatoid arthritis
• Methotrexate, a medication for rheumatoid arthritis
• Retinoids. They're used for skin conditions such as eczema and acne
• Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) for pain and inflammation

Food Poisoning

Several types of food poisoning during pregnancy can raise your risk for miscarriage or pregnancy loss.

• Listeriosis. Typically found in unpasteurized soft cheeses such as blue, Brie, or queso fresco, and raw or undercooked seafood
• Salmonella. Usually found in raw or undercooked eggs
• Toxoplasmosis. Most often caused by eating infected raw meat

Some food poisoning illnesses, including listeriosis and toxoplasmosis, can infect your unborn baby even if you don’t have symptoms yourself.

Follow your doctor’s guidelines about cooking and foods to stay away from while you’re pregnant.

What Doesn’t Cause Miscarriage?

You may worry that certain activities or emotions might raise the risk to your pregnancy. But if your pregnancy isn’t considered high-risk, the following things are generally safe:

• Working
• Sitting or standing for reasonable amounts of time
• Exercise (talk with your doctor about what level of exercise is right for you)
• Having sex
• Air travel
• Eating spicy food
• Having an emotional shock or scare
• Stress or depression

Miscarriage Prevention

Although there's no sure way to prevent miscarriage or pregnancy loss, you can take steps to help ensure a healthy pregnancy:

• Have a pre-conception checkup.
• Have regular prenatal visits so your doctor can help prevent and treat any problems early. Make taking care of existing health problems a priority. Your efforts will give your baby the best chance for health.
• Curb dangerous lifestyle habits. If you can't stop on your own, talk with your doctor about getting help to stop.
• Ask your doctor about your risk from the environment and how to protect yourself.
• Ask your doctor whether you should see an obstetrical specialist, such as a perinatologist, especially if you have more than one miscarriage. These doctors specialize in complicated pregnancies.
• Take a daily multivitamin.
• Limit caffeine.
• Eat a healthy, balanced diet.
• Avoid certain foods that can carry bacteria.
• Maintain a healthy weight.
• Be aware that you can do everything "right" and still have a miscarriage. Try not to add guilt or self-blame to your emotional burden. Between working with your doctor and making healthy lifestyle changes, you can rest easy knowing you've done everything you can to have a healthy pregnancy.

Next Article

Friends told about a woman who could have thrown a child from the 13th floor - Moscow 24, 04.12.2020

04 December 2020, 19:33

Society

In New Moscow, a woman allegedly threw her friend's baby out of the window. After falling from the 13th floor, the two-month-old baby died. The suspect has already been detained, the Investigative Committee is investigating. We tell what is known about the incident and how her acquaintances and colleagues speak about the suspect.

The death of a two-month-old baby

Photo: Moscow 24

The tragedy occurred on the afternoon of November 4 in the Solntsevo Park residential complex in the TiNAO. A two-month-old baby was thrown from the 13th floor. According to preliminary data, the mother of the child and her friend were in the apartment at that moment. "In TiNAO, a child was thrown out of the window of an apartment building, he died," the Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation said.

“It happened near a cafe opposite ours,” Denis, an employee of the establishment, told Moscow. “There are patrol cars, a lot of police officers, an ambulance. walk around as investigations are underway."

Denis reported that for some time the baby's body was covered on the pavement. The criminalist measured the distance at which the body is from the house, and clarified other details. Police officers interrogated people in a cafe near which the tragedy occurred.

A girl, Ksenia, who lives near the scene of the incident, also confirmed in a dialogue with Moscow 24 that the child's body was not immediately removed.

The police questioned everyone who entered and left the entrance.

Xenia

After the incident, the Moscow prosecutor's office organized an investigation, and a criminal case was initiated under the article "Murder of a minor child."

Acquaintances - about the suspect

Photo: Moscow 24

According to the preliminary version, an acquaintance of the child's mother, who was at that moment in the apartment, could have thrown the child out of the window. According to media reports, 30-year-old Daria came to visit a friend, there was a strong quarrel between them, after which Daria allegedly threw the child out of a window on the 13th floor. According to one of the sources, the woman went into the bathroom where the child was sleeping, picked him up and threw him out the window.

Daria couldn't explain why she did it. She is allegedly seven months pregnant and is reported to be suffering from a polymorphic psychopathic disorder that causes hallucinations. The father of the child, who was not at home at the time of the crime, suggested that the woman could be in a state of drug intoxication.

One of the eyewitnesses told the media that after the incident, the mother of the dead baby ran out into the street and bent over his body. Now she is in shock, she called an ambulance. It is reported that the baby's mother has already testified against her friend. Suspected Daria was taken away for interrogation.

At the same time, acquaintances of the suspect told Moscow 24 that they knew nothing about her mental illness, which was reported in the media.

We were in the same class. I can say that at school she was an ordinary girl, she did not notice any oddities.

a former classmate of the suspect

A former colleague with whom Daria worked in the store noted that she had never noticed aggression in a woman and could not believe that she had done such a thing. “She was normal, a workaholic, I would say,” said a colleague.

I'm shocked, I would never have thought that she could do such a thing... It's a nightmare. I talked to her at work, she was calm, friendly, smiling. Aggression did not see from her, an ordinary person.

former colleague of the suspect

Now the prosecutor's office is conducting an inspection, after which an assessment will be made of the actions of the child's parents. Suspect Daria is being interrogated by law enforcement agencies.

A woman was detained in Moscow who could have thrown a child out of a window on the 13th floor

Natalia Loskutnikova, Anastasia Pavelko

Loskutnikova Natalia

accident society

“I was shouting from the balcony that I would throw the child off.

On Monday, 27-year-old Pavel Kotelevsky staged a brawl on the balcony of a high-rise building, threatening to throw his two-year-old daughter to the ground. Eyewitnesses spread blankets to save the child. Meanwhile, policeman Nikolai Konovalov was able to get into the apartment through the neighbor's balcony and detain the inadequate man. Now the girl's father faces up to 15 years in prison, the child himself was not physically hurt. According to the neighbors, the family was dysfunctional and was "registered". For more details, see the Gazeta.Ru article.

In Moscow, the police detained a man who threatened to throw his daughter off the balcony of an apartment building. This was reported on Monday, September 12, by TASS , citing a source in law enforcement agencies.