In 2011 The Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists Modified the Definition of Miscarriage
Miscarriage is when the pregnancy is lost before the fetus reaches viability. This includes all pregnancy loss from time of conception to 24 weeks.
Recurrent miscarriage is when you lose 3 or more pregnancies in a row. Statistically speaking, this affects 1% of couples and it’s estimated that 1-2% of pregnancies miscarry before 24 weeks.
The Causes of Miscarriage
There is no one reason why a miscarriage happens, and there are cases where no explanation can be found. 1 in 4 women will endure a miscarriage and three of the reasons a miscarriage may occur are:
1. Genetic abnormalities passed on to the embryo
A genetic cause is perhaps the most common cause of miscarriage. Chromosomal abnormalities of the fetus occur when there is an error in the transmission and division of the chromosomes. If this occurs, it means that the fetus will either have too few or too many chromosomes, which usually means that unfortunately the fetus is incompatible with life and the pregnancy miscarries.
What should be noted is that these sorts of errors happen randomly and rarely are the reason behind recurrent miscarriage. On the off chance that a parental chromosome abnormality is found you and your partner can be referred to a Clinical Geneticist.
2. An abnormality in the woman’s anatomy (for example: polyps and fibroids)
Thanks to recent advances in medical science there is a now a non-invasive method of reliably detecting abnormalities in the shape of the uterus. At our clinics in St Leonards and Penrith, OMNI provides patients with the latest 3D/4D ultrasound scans that provide clear pictures of the shape of the uterus.
With the help of this new technology, the skilled team at OMNI are able to ascertain the presence of a uterine structural abnormality. If such an abnormality exists OMNI can arrange for corrective surgery if applicable.
3. Blood clotting disorders
That a woman’s blood becomes thicker during pregnancy has been known for quite some time, what was not known until fairly recently is that blood clotting disorders can cause recurrent miscarriage.
Blood clots can occur in the blood vessels of the placenta. If this happens, blood flow to the baby is decreased and has one of two outcomes: the first is that it can lead to miscarriage; the second is that, if the pregnancy proceeds, the baby may be smaller than he or she should be.
Professor Condous has developed a new test which is around 80% accurate in reassuring women that their pregnancy is progressing well.
OMNI Ultrasound & Gynaecology Care and Your Pregnancy
OMNI specialises in investigating recurrent miscarriage, and it is important to note that recurrent miscarriage does not mean that you cannot have a successful pregnancy. An interesting point is that the prognosis for a future successful pregnancy in women whose miscarriage is usually better than woman whose miscarriage has a recognised cause.
Talk to your obstetrician about getting an ultrasound from OMNI today, or book an appointment with us today