risk of miscarriage Abortion risk in the first trimester: how to reduce it

Abortion risk in the first trimester: how to reduce it






Approximately 80% of natural abortions occur before week 12 of pregnancy and, although it is impossible to avoid them completely, taking some precautions can help reduce the risk of miscarriage in the first trimester of pregnancy.

During the first weeks of pregnancy, the division and implantation of the fertilized egg takes place and the first structures and vital organs of the baby are formed. In this period the embryo is more susceptible and therefore there is an increased risk of abortion.

The causes of an early abortion do not always come to be determined. In any case, there are some causes that are related to the mother and her health, such as her age, uterine alterations, the presence of infectious diseases, hormonal imbalances or disorders of the endocrine system.

On other occasions, abortions are caused by aspects related to the fetus and its formation, such as chromosomal failures produced at the time of fertilization or in the division of the blastocyst; or failures in the process of implantation of the embryo into the uterus of the mother.

Most causes can be prevented and / or controlled, thus reducing the risk of miscarriage.

Symptoms of abortion in the first weeks of pregnancy

The so-called threat of abortion occurs when certain symptoms appear that indicate the possibility of a miscarriage. How to know if you have an abortion? There are two signs to which you must pay special attention.

    Bleeding during the first 20 weeks of pregnancy. Some of the pregnant women who present this symptom in the first trimester suffer a spontaneous abortion. What happens to the rest? There are women who bleed during the first weeks due to implantation, which does not represent any danger. To learn more about this topic, we recommend that you continue reading in our post about bleeding in pregnancy.
    Abdominal pain or cramps If you feel pain but there has not been significant bleeding, consult your specialist in case it could be some other problem.

In case of any of these symptoms, contact your specialist, who will know how to treat you.

Causes of spontaneous abortion in the first trimester

Although it can occur in any pregnancy, the risk of abortion is greater when the woman is over 40 years because they increase the chances of the fetus suffering malformations or chromosomal alterations. There is also an increased risk of abortion due to family history or when the woman has suffered previous abortions.

Other factors that increase the risk of spontaneous abortion during the first trimester are the following.

    Diabetes. Women with diabetes have a higher risk of miscarriage, so they should inform their doctor if they plan to become pregnant.
    Polycystic ovaries. Women who suffer from polycystic ovary syndrome have more difficulty in becoming pregnant and more likely to have an abortion.
    Malformations or alterations in the uterus. Like the presence of a weak cervix.
    Sexually transmitted diseases. Venereal diseases such as gonorrhea or HIV increase the risk of abortion throughout pregnancy, especially in the first trimester.
    Cytomegalovirus. CMV is a type of herpes virus. Its presence in the mother's body increases the risk of miscarriage.
    Bad habits. Smoking, drinking alcohol, taking drugs or abusing caffeine increase the risk of miscarriage in the first trimester.
    Bad environmental conditions or exposure to harmful chemical substances. Whether for work or for any other reason, exposure to hazardous external elements always increases the risk of miscarriage, so it should be avoided as much as possible.

How to prevent an abortion

The majority of spontaneous abortions can not be prevented. Even so, that there is a risk of abortion does not mean that the pregnancy will not go on. In fact, most women with threatened abortion continue their pregnancy normally. In the event that these threats of abortion are repeated, there is a greater propensity to suffer a miscarriage.

In any case, to avoid it to the maximum, all pregnant women are advised to follow certain precautionary measures.

1. Prior control

As we have said, almost all causes of abortion are preventable and / or curable. Ideally, consult a doctor before planning pregnancy to identify any cause and treat it before the pregnancy occurs.

If you suffer from a chronic illness go to the doctor when you know the news or even when you consider getting pregnant. This way you will know what you have to pay special attention to and how to reduce the risk of abortion.

2. Visit your doctor

After the first medical visit you will have some notions to know how your pregnancy is going. Also on what are the prenatal controls to which you must submit, the main risks according to each quarter and the appointments to which you must go. If you have doubts, expose them to stay calmer.

3. Rest and rest

In these weeks you will notice changes in your body and one of them is tiredness. On the other hand, rest does not diminish the risk of abortion when it is produced by a genetic alteration but, if this has been produced by a failure in the implantation, it can contribute to retain the embryo and increase its possibilities of viability and development.

4. Take care of your diet

Carrying a healthy and balanced diet, controlling weight and giving up stimulants is key to overcoming the first trimester of pregnancy. Washing fruits and vegetables well before consuming them or avoiding eating products such as unprocessed sausages are some of the dietary guidelines that your doctor will give you when you confirm that you are pregnant.

Non-invasive prenatal test with results in three days

5. Medicines

Many medications increase the risk of miscarriage and cause adverse effects on the baby. If you are pregnant you should only take those that have been prescribed by your doctor. If you are taking medication continuously you should also inform you to readjust dose, continue or eliminate the treatment as you deem necessary.

6. Folic acid

Folic acid deficiency increases the risk of spontaneous abortion. Since in a pregnant woman the need for it increases enormously, the additional intake of folic acid supplements (always under medical supervision) can help reduce the risk of miscarriage in some cases.

7. Hormone therapy

Low levels of progesterone in the early stages of pregnancy can cause a miscarriage. If this is your case, your doctor will prescribe progesterone.

8. Learn to recognize some symptoms

If you suffer from a high fever, blood loss or abdominal spasms in the first weeks of pregnancy, go immediately to your doctor.

Maximum tranquility in pregnancy with the NACE test

The most common cause of a miscarriage is the presence of some genetic abnormality. Do you want to know how they can be detected? There are tests such as amniocentesis capable of detecting these anomalies. However, amniocentesis can not be performed until week 14, once that first trimester has passed. Luckily, there are alternatives.

The NACE non-invasive prenatal test guarantees the peace of mind you need at this special moment from the 10th week of pregnancy. It is a test that is performed from a sample of maternal blood and that detects the presence of chromosomal abnormalities such as Down syndrome, Patau syndrome or Edwards syndrome.

This test is an alternative to amniocentesis, a test with some risk of spontaneous abortion. The NACE test is also performed entirely in Spain, which allows the results to be delivered within 72 hours from the reception of the sample. Contact us for more information.