Miscarriage Statistics: Are all Miscarriages Preventable?

For every four couples who welcome new babies into the world each year, theres one which wont, falling victim to that dreaded word  miscarriage.

The issue has come back to the fore recently after the release of study published in the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology which found that women who consumed more than 200 mg of caffeine a day (thats 2 cups of coffee) can double the risk of miscarriage.

What now? Give up your daily Cappuccino fix and youll be fine? Well, that seems to be the message to come out of this research if you believe what you read in the media. The coverage has almost entirely focused on the headline-grabbing 2 Coffees a Day Can Cause a Miscarriage and has virtually ignored the fact that there are many more causes of miscarriage. Unfortunately, not all miscarriages are as easily controllable (ie make that a decaf instead) let alone understood by modern medicine. So here is a list based on recent research papers (2007-2008) on the so-called uncontrollable versus the preventable miscarriages.

Uncontrollable Miscarriages:

- Age

Well theres nothing much you can do about your age. The older you are, more chances you have of conceiving embryos with chromosomal abnormalities including Downs Syndrome. The miscarriage risk after 6 weeks gestation at age 40 is 42% by opposition to 25% at 35. The average miscarriage statistic is 15% across all age groups

- Chromosomal Abnormalities:

Nothing much can be done here either. Indeed chromosomal abnormalities are the underlining factor behind a staggering 70 per cent of all miscarriages that occur before 6 weeks gestation and 50% of losses which take place between 6 and 10 weeks inot the pregnancy.

Preventable Miscarriages:

- Caffeine

Reduce your intake to less than 200 mg of day. Thats the equivalent of two or more cups of regular coffee, between 5 and 6 cups of tea and five 340ml (12-ounce) cans of caffeinated fizzy drinks.

- Smoking, alcohol and recreational drugs

Goes without say really. Give them up yesterday if youre serious about having a child.

- Avoid toxic chemicals: Cleaning detergents and even petrol fumes when filling up your car

- Dont eat large fish such as tuna which contain high levels of mercury.

- Dont consume undercooked meat of fish such as sushi which contain harmful bacteria to the foetus.

- Get vaccinated for rubella or chicken pox before you get pregnant as these vaccinations can cause birth defects and contribute to miscarriages.

- Stay away from soft cheeses like gorgonzola or brie

- Take prenatal vitamins.

- Lose weight

Obesity is fast emerging a leading cause of miscarriage - not mention birth defects.

- Eat Healthily

- Stress

Easier said than done when youre already anxious I know, but a recent British study found that stress can increase the risk of miscarriage.

- Hot tubs

They too should be avoided although more definite studies need to be done on that topic.

- Microwave Ovens

More research is needed here too to be conclusive but the medical advice today is to stand at least 170 cm (5 feet) away from a microwave oven.

The uncontrollable and preventable miscarriages aside, it is important to remember that there are a number of things your doctor can do to determine the underlining causes of your miscarriage especially if it is recurrent: tests to determine if there are chromosomal problems between you and your partner, blood tests to find out if autoimmune disease, diabetes or hormonal imbalance may be the problem and the list goes on.

The best advice to come out of the medical establishment is that if youve suffered a single miscarriage, no matter how painful and heartbreaking it is, keep on trying to conceive because at the end of the day the odds are usually stacked in your favour.

About The Author Jodi Panayotov is the author of 'In Vitro Fertility Godddess' which has been described as a "must read for anyone trying to have a baby but who is having trouble making one" by ABC Radio. http://invitrofertilitygoddess.com/