ABORTIONS A miscarriage, or spontaneous abortion, is an event that results in the loss of a fetus before 20 weeks of pregnancy. It typically happens during the first trimester, or first three months, of the pregnancy. The incidence of spontaneous abortion is about 20% of all confirmed pregnancies. About 80%of these abortions occur before 12 weeks of pregnancy. TYPES SPONTANEOUS ABORTIONS There are different kinds of miscarriages, including: THREATENED ABORTION -You’re bleeding and there’s the threat of a miscarriage, but your cervix hasn’t dilated. Your pregnancy will likely continue without any problems. INEVITABLE ABORTION- You’re bleeding and cramping. Your cervix is dilated. A miscarriage is likely. INCOMPLETE ABORTION- Some tissue from the baby or the placenta leaves your body, but some stays in your uterus. INCOMPLETE ABORTION-Some tissue from the baby or the placenta leaves your body, but some stays in your uterus. COMPLETE ABORTION-All the pregnancy tissues leave your body. This type of miscarriage usually happens before the 12th week of pregnancy. MISSED ABORTION/ BLIGHTED OVUM- The embrio dies or was never formed, but the tissues stay in your uterus. RECURRENT ABORTION-You lose three or more pregnancies in a row during the first trimester. This type of miscarriage only affects about 1% of couples trying to have a baby. WHAT CAUSES ABORTION About half of all miscarriages that occur in the first trimester are caused by chromosomal abnormalities — which might be hereditary or spontaneous — in the father's sperm or the mother's egg. Chromosomes are tiny structures inside the cells of the body that carry many genes, the basic units of heredity. Genes determine all of a person’s physical attributes, such as sex, hair and eye color and blood type. Most chromosomal problems occur by chance and are not related to the mother’s or father’s health. Miscarriages are also caused by a variety of unknown and known factors, such as: Infection. Exposure to environmental and workplace hazards such as high levels of radiation or toxic agents. Hormonal irregularities. Improper implantation of fertilized egg in the uterine lining. Maternal age- greater than 35 years or less than 20 years. Uterine abnormalities. Incompetent cervix. (The cervix begins to widen and open too early, in the middle of pregnancy, without signs of pain or labor.) Lifestyle factors such as smoking, drinking alcohol, or using illegal drugs. Disorders of the immune system including lupus, an autoimmune disease. Severe kidney disease. Congenital heart disease Diabetis that is not controlled. Thyroid disease. Radiation. Certain medicines. Severe malnutrition. Note: There is no proof that stress, or physical or sexual activity causes miscarriage. SYMPTONS Symptoms of a miscarriage include: Bleeding that goes from light to heavy Severe cramps Pain in abdomen Weakness Worsening or severe back pain White-pink mucus discharge To be continued