There is no absolutely guaranteed way to avoid miscarriage. Miscarriage is a spontaneous event that can be caused by any number of unavoidable factors, from genetic issues to uterine malformations. Sometimes, the loss of the fetus cannot be predicted or controlled. There are, however, a number of other factors that are known to cause an increased risk of miscarriage, and close attention to these activities can help parents avoid miscarriage.
Strenuous exercise other than swimming when performed early in the pregnancy is known to increase the risk of miscarriage. Caffeine, cigarettes, and alcohol in excess are all thought to pose an increased risk, too. Many drugs, including antidepressants and cocaine, have been linked to spontaneous abortions. Abstaining from these risky activities can help avoid miscarriage.
Certain illnesses are also linked to an increased rate of spontaneous abortion, but it may not be within the mother's power to do anything about these disorders. Untreated diabetes can cause miscarriages, but well-managed diabetes is very safe, so it is important to keep an eye out for any symptoms during pregnancy. Hormone imbalances can cause miscarriages, but these can almost always be resolved by a doctor.
High blood pressure and polycystic ovarian syndrome are both linked to loss of the fetus, and can both be treated with some success. Other diseases, such as rubella, chlamydia, herpes, and lupus, cannot usually be resolved in a way that decreases the risk to the pregnancy, and so mothers with risky conditions such as these must be particularly careful to look for signs of miscarriage.
Problems such as stress can lead to a miscarriage. Very serious trauma, such as being hit or getting in a car accident, are also causes. For these reasons, it is important to be emotionally and physically cautious during pregnancy.
If it is essential to avoid miscarriage for health or psychological reasons, it might be advisable to avoid pregnancy altogether. Many people are at a heightened risk for miscarriage due to age or family history. Sometimes, increased risk will be identified by a demonstrated inability to carry a pregnancy to term. If miscarriage poses a serious risk to the mother, alternate family building strategies might be a better choice.
It may be possible for a doctor to estimate the risk of miscarriage and prescribe additional precautions based on the individual factors. It may also be possible to stop a spontaneous abortion from occurring if the symptoms are identified quickly enough. Once bleeding starts, it is almost certainly too late to save the fetus. Being aware of the risk factors and having a plan for dealing with complications are really the best ways to avoid miscarriage. Unfortunately, this is a medical problem that cannot always be avoided.
