After knowing in depth the causes and types of abortion, we will talk about the natural abortion prevention. When you suffer a miscarriage one of the most recurring questions is, Could it have been prevented?
Natural abortion is caused by unintended causes, so it is very difficult to prevent. It is not in our hands to avoid it, but to try decrease the chances of having a miscarriage. That is, following the recommendations of a healthy pregnancy from the beginning of pregnancy and even from its planning.
There are risk factors linked to spontaneous abortion that should be tried to minimize. An abortion is less likely to occur if timely prenatal care is received and if exposure to environmental hazards such as X-rays, alcohol, drugs, etc. is avoided.
However, there are women who take all precautions and also suffer a miscarriage in the first few weeks, even if they have not done anything harmful. No one is exempt from having it, so it is advisable to take certain precautions when looking for pregnancy and during the first weeks of pregnancy.
When talking about prevention we can talk about two moments: prevention prior to pregnancy and prevention once pregnancy has been achieved and there is a threat of abortion.
Pre-pregnancy prevention
Congenital abnormalities of the fetus
More than half of abortions are due to fetal causes. Most of the time, due to congenital anomalies of the fetus. That is, chromosomal failures produced at the time of fertilization or in the division of the blast (the cells of the embryo before implantation) that cause the pregnancy to be interrupted in the first weeks of gestation. In these cases, it is not possible to prevent abortion from happening.
Mother diseases
Natural abortion can also occur due to maternal causes as uterine alterations, immunological, systemic, infectious diseases, or external aggressions.
In the case of systemic diseases related to abortion, prevention is in treat diseases before seeking pregnancy and especially monitor the state of the mother during pregnancy. Obesity, hypertension or poorly controlled diabetes may increase the risk of having a miscarriage.
On the other hand, at the beginning of pregnancy a blood test is performed that reveals if the mother has suffered infectious diseases that could end the life of the fetus such as toxoplasmosis or rubella, among others. From there, appropriate measures are taken to avoid them if you have not had them.
Women who receive adequate prenatal care have better prognoses in their pregnancies, for themselves and for their babies.
Prevention against a threat of abortion
That there is a threat of abortion does not mean that pregnancy will not continue. In about half of the abortion threats, pregnancy thrives, so you don't have to get worse.
What yes, it is necessary to follow the medical recommendations to the letter. While there is not enough high-quality evidence to support a bed rest policy to prevent spontaneous abortion, as a precaution doctors usually they advise absolute rest and prohibit sexual intercourse.
It is believed that in pregnancies in which there has been a genetic failure, rest does not prevent the termination of pregnancy, but when it is a failure in implantation, it can contribute to retaining the embryo.
Along with rest, some doctors prescribe progestogens to prevent miscarriage. They are drugs based on progesterone, a female sex hormone essential for the successful implantation of a fertilized egg.
However, its use as a preventive treatment against spontaneous abortion is quite controversial, since there is no evidence to support the routine use of progestogen to prevent spontaneous abortion in pregnancies in the first trimester or in the first half of the second. Yes it could be in case of recurrent abortions.
Precautions to take in pregnancy to reduce the risk of natural abortion
- Avoid the use of alcohol, tobacco or drugs
- Follow an adequate diet rich in calcium and take folic acid
- Perform moderate exercise
- Avoid consuming unprocessed meat and sausage products: they must be cooked to more than 65 degrees or have been previously frozen at 10 ° C below zero for 3 days or more and slowly thawed. (The ham is cured, not cooked)
- Wash fruits and vegetables well before eating
- Be very careful if there is contact with cats. Avoid contact with feces. Cats can only get the toxoplasmosis parasite if they have been in contact with soil or have eaten infected meat.
- Avoid deli and uncured cheeses.
- Do not take any medication that is not prescribed by the doctor
- Avoid exposure to environmental toxins such as pesticides, toxic substances, etc.
- Avoid exposure to X-rays
- keep a healthy weight
- Go to all prenatal checkups and expose any questions or concerns to the doctor
- Go to the hospital immediately if there is a high fever, blood loss and / or abdominal spasms
