Miscarriage is when a woman loses a pregnancy in the first 20 weeks, before the foetus is mature enough to survive outside the womb. (Losing a pregnancy after week 20 is called pre-term delivery, or stillbirth.) Most miscarriages are unavoidable and a result of deadly genetic or chromosomal problems in the foetus, problems that are usually not related to the mother. Other times miscarriages are brought about by external factors such as infection, stress, malnutrition, maternal trauma or drug or alcohol use. Experts say miscarriage is not commonly caused by activities such as sex, lifting heavy objects, working out, or nausea and vomiting. While having a miscarriage can be a sad and traumatic event, miscarriages are fairly common, especially early on in a pregnancy. About 80 percent of all known miscarriages occurring in the 7th to 12th week. Somewhere between 10 and 20 percent of all known pregnancies end in miscarriage. In many cases a woman may have a miscarriage without even knowing she was pregnant. It is estimated that about 50 percent of all fertilised eggs are lost. If you are having a miscarriage, or if you think you may be at risk for one, it is important to contact your health care provider.
BabyCenter Australia®
“Understanding Miscarriage”
"Doctors aren’t able to pinpoint the reason for most early miscarriages, but it seems that babies who are abnormal in some way tend to miscarry. Probably at least half of all miscarriages in the first trimester of pregnancy are the result of chromosomal abnormalities that prevent the baby from developing normally." …read the full article
Birth.com.au
“Miscarriage”
"If you experience any bleeding during your pregnancy you should contact your local doctor, midwife or obstetrician (if you have booked with one). Otherwise you can contact your local hospital or the maternity hospital where you intend to have the baby" …read the full article
Mayo Clinic
“Understanding Miscarriage”
"Miscarriage is a relatively common experience — but that doesn’t make it any easier. Ending a pregnancy without a baby to hold in your arms is heartbreaking. Take a step toward emotional healing by understanding what can cause a miscarriage, what increases the risk and what medical care might be needed." …read the full article
iVillage
“Miscarriage: What you need to know about pregnancy loss”
"Miscarriage is the most common pregnancy loss, followed by ectopic pregnancy and stillbirth. Others are a birth defect, especially one that is severe, as is the death of a newborn. Also, some birth mothers and surrogate mothers who gave up their babies for adoption, and some women who’ve had abortions experience pregnancy loss." …read the full article
Better Health
“Miscarriage Explained”
Pathology tests are sometimes performed after a miscarriage but generally no cause can be identified. This can add to feelings of distress and disbelief, and may lead to feelings of guilt. However, doctors agree that a miscarriage is rarely caused by anything the mother did – or didn’t – do (for example: drank alcohol, ate a particular food, had sex or did not rest enough). In the majority of cases, the next pregnancy proceeds to full term. …read the full article
Open Doors provides counselling and support for miscarriage and other types of pregnancy loss, including abortion related grief. The impact of early pregnancy loss is often underestimated and can affect relationships and future parenting, especially where there has been little permission to grieve. Open Doors has been providing specialised counselling for pregnancy loss since 1984 and is an indepenedent non profit centre.