Knowledge | Separating myth from fact: four common misconceptions about miscarriage
“We were afraid to read anything about pregnancy risks because we thought we might ‘jinx it,’” Christopher Blake recalled of his wife’s first pregnancy. Only after an unexpected miscarriage did they realize that avoiding the subject could not prevent it.
Blake is now CEO of First Candle, an organization supporting families who have lost a baby through miscarriage or other causes. He said: “During the second pregnancy, we went to the other extreme—obsessively researching and rushing to the emergency room whenever anything felt wrong. Neither extreme is healthy.”
Accurate information about miscarriage can be difficult to obtain, and even some doctors may not provide complete answers. Zev Williams, MD, director of a pregnancy-loss program at Montefiore Health System/Albert Einstein College of Medicine, noted that this information gap leaves many people vulnerable to rumors and misconceptions. It is time to clarify some of the most common myths:
Myth 1: Miscarriage is rare
Many people believe miscarriage is very uncommon. In a national survey of more than 1,000 adults, over half believed the miscarriage rate was below 5%. In reality, about 20% of known pregnancies end in miscarriage. This excludes pregnancies that end before a woman realizes she is pregnant, so the actual number may be higher.
After experiencing two miscarriages, Alison Jacobson discovered how many people around her had gone through the same thing. “I did not even know my mother had miscarried,” she said. “It seems to be a secret no one wants to discuss.”
Myth 2: A miscarriage happened because you did something wrong
“The most common—and most incorrect—thing we hear is women blaming a miscarriage on something they did,” said Daniela Carusi, MD, director of surgical obstetrics at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston.
Some people wonder whether stress, lifting something heavy, excessive exercise, sex, or even an argument caused the miscarriage. In fact, these do not cause miscarriage. Dr. Carusi noted: “It is actually very difficult to cause a miscarriage intentionally.”
True risk factors include advanced age, severe infection, uncontrolled diabetes, thyroid disease, kidney disease, immune disorders such as lupus, and severe trauma such as a car crash.
Whether caffeine causes miscarriage remains debated. Some studies suggest high intake may pose a risk, while others find no harm. On balance, doctors recommend limiting caffeine to no more than 200 milligrams per day—about one medium cup of coffee—which is considered relatively safe.
Smoking, alcohol, and drug use, especially cocaine, can significantly increase miscarriage risk, but they do not cause most miscarriages. More than about 60% of spontaneous miscarriages result from abnormalities in the embryo’s DNA, such as missing or extra chromosomes. These may stem from inherited parental conditions or random mutations in the sperm or egg.
In many cases, doctors cannot determine the exact cause.
Myth 3: A miscarriage means you cannot become pregnant again
The opposite is true. Nearly 90% of women who have had a miscarriage eventually become pregnant and deliver a healthy baby. Physical recovery usually takes several weeks, and menstruation generally resumes within 4 to 6 weeks.
However, about 1% of women experience three or more consecutive miscarriages. Doctors may then recommend further evaluation, such as hormone testing, assessment of uterine structure, or chromosomal screening.
In rare cases, miscarriage or abortion may lead to scar tissue in the uterine lining and affect future pregnancy. “Although this is a risk, it can usually be treated,” Dr. Carusi said.
Myth 4: You should “move on quickly”
“Miscarriage is also a death, but many people do not understand that,” Jacobson said. After a miscarriage, women may feel guilt, loss, shock, or even that they have let their partner down.
Insensitive responses from family and friends often make things worse. “‘It was not a real baby anyway,’ ‘You can get pregnant again,’ or simply saying nothing—these responses only deepen the wound.”
Eileen Beard, a senior advisor at the American College of Nurse-Midwives, said this misunderstanding comes from the common belief that grief should pass quickly. “But if you ask a woman who has miscarried, whether she is now 20 or 80, she can often still remember it clearly because it was profound and life-changing for her.”
Grief is therefore valid, and support is essential. Research shows that talking with others who have experienced miscarriage can reduce loneliness. Joining a support group, communicating with a partner, and seeking psychological support can all aid healing.
Whether and when to try for another pregnancy should be decided based on individual recovery and after thorough discussion with a doctor and partner.
Knowledge | Separating myth from fact: four common misconceptions about miscarriage
Knowledge | Separating myth from fact: four common misconceptions about miscarriage
“We were afraid to read anything about pregnancy risks because we thought we might ‘jinx it,’” Christopher Blake recalled of his wife’s first pregnancy. Only after an unexpected miscarriage did they realize that avoiding the subject could not prevent it.
Blake is now CEO of First Candle, an organization supporting families who have lost a baby through miscarriage or other causes. He said: “During the second pregnancy, we went to the other extreme—obsessively researching and rushing to the emergency room whenever anything felt wrong. Neither extreme is healthy.”
Accurate information about miscarriage can be difficult to obtain, and even some doctors may not provide complete answers. Zev Williams, MD, director of a pregnancy-loss program at Montefiore Health System/Albert Einstein College of Medicine, noted that this information gap leaves many people vulnerable to rumors and misconceptions. It is time to clarify some of the most common myths:
Myth 1: Miscarriage is rare
Many people believe miscarriage is very uncommon. In a national survey of more than 1,000 adults, over half believed the miscarriage rate was below 5%. In reality, about 20% of known pregnancies end in miscarriage. This excludes pregnancies that end before a woman realizes she is pregnant, so the actual number may be higher.
After experiencing two miscarriages, Alison Jacobson discovered how many people around her had gone through the same thing. “I did not even know my mother had miscarried,” she said. “It seems to be a secret no one wants to discuss.”
Myth 2: A miscarriage happened because you did something wrong
“The most common—and most incorrect—thing we hear is women blaming a miscarriage on something they did,” said Daniela Carusi, MD, director of surgical obstetrics at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston.
Some people wonder whether stress, lifting something heavy, excessive exercise, sex, or even an argument caused the miscarriage. In fact, these do not cause miscarriage. Dr. Carusi noted: “It is actually very difficult to cause a miscarriage intentionally.”
True risk factors include advanced age, severe infection, uncontrolled diabetes, thyroid disease, kidney disease, immune disorders such as lupus, and severe trauma such as a car crash.
Whether caffeine causes miscarriage remains debated. Some studies suggest high intake may pose a risk, while others find no harm. On balance, doctors recommend limiting caffeine to no more than 200 milligrams per day—about one medium cup of coffee—which is considered relatively safe.
Smoking, alcohol, and drug use, especially cocaine, can significantly increase miscarriage risk, but they do not cause most miscarriages. More than about 60% of spontaneous miscarriages result from abnormalities in the embryo’s DNA, such as missing or extra chromosomes. These may stem from inherited parental conditions or random mutations in the sperm or egg.
In many cases, doctors cannot determine the exact cause.
Myth 3: A miscarriage means you cannot become pregnant again
The opposite is true. Nearly 90% of women who have had a miscarriage eventually become pregnant and deliver a healthy baby. Physical recovery usually takes several weeks, and menstruation generally resumes within 4 to 6 weeks.
However, about 1% of women experience three or more consecutive miscarriages. Doctors may then recommend further evaluation, such as hormone testing, assessment of uterine structure, or chromosomal screening.
In rare cases, miscarriage or abortion may lead to scar tissue in the uterine lining and affect future pregnancy. “Although this is a risk, it can usually be treated,” Dr. Carusi said.
Myth 4: You should “move on quickly”
“Miscarriage is also a death, but many people do not understand that,” Jacobson said. After a miscarriage, women may feel guilt, loss, shock, or even that they have let their partner down.
Insensitive responses from family and friends often make things worse. “‘It was not a real baby anyway,’ ‘You can get pregnant again,’ or simply saying nothing—these responses only deepen the wound.”
Eileen Beard, a senior advisor at the American College of Nurse-Midwives, said this misunderstanding comes from the common belief that grief should pass quickly. “But if you ask a woman who has miscarried, whether she is now 20 or 80, she can often still remember it clearly because it was profound and life-changing for her.”
Grief is therefore valid, and support is essential. Research shows that talking with others who have experienced miscarriage can reduce loneliness. Joining a support group, communicating with a partner, and seeking psychological support can all aid healing.
Whether and when to try for another pregnancy should be decided based on individual recovery and after thorough discussion with a doctor and partner.
Source:
Collected online