The loss of a pregnancy takes its toll on a woman both physically and emotionally. Many women find themselves searching for answers to questions about their feelings and their bodies' reaction to the miscarriage. It's important to understand that this is common and may occur no matter how early the pregnancy ended even if it was only a few weeks along.

Please take a moment to read this important information.

What is a miscarriage?

A miscarriage is the spontaneous loss of an embryo or fetus during the first 20 weeks of pregnancy. 80 percent of women who miscarry do so in the first trimester. Many miscarriages occur very early, often going unnoticed before a woman even realizes she is pregnant.

What Causes a Miscarriage?

The most common cause of miscarriage is a chromosomal abnormality of the fetus. Because of this chromosomal abnormality, the fetus is unable to survive. Other causes may be factors related to the mother's health such as infection, diabetes, high blood pressure, and problems with the immune system. Abnormalities of the uterus or cervix can also cause miscarriage.

What happens to my body after a miscarriage?

During the miscarriage process, the uterus begins to bleed and cramp to pass the pregnancy tissue from within. Sometimes a dilation and curettage (D & C) may be necessary or recommended to help empty the uterus of retained tissues. This procedure can be done in the office with local anesthesia or as an outpatient procedure. The cervix is gradually dilated and the tissue is gently removed using a curette and sometimes a suction device.

On rare occasions infection can occur after a miscarriage or a D & C. If you have heavy bleeding, fever, chills or severe pain, call your doctor immediately.

Will a miscarriage affect my ability to get pregnant again?

Most women who have had a miscarriage go on to have successful pregnancies later. Even women with repeated miscarriages have a 70 to 85 percent chance of carrying another pregnancy to term.

At what point is it safe to get pregnant again?

The answer to this question depends on your physical and emotional condition. This is something you will want to discuss with your physician.

Should I be afraid of having another miscarriage?

Having a miscarriage triggers a variety of emotions. Many women become fearful of getting pregnant again, others feel responsible for the loss of their pregnancy. With that in mind, it is important to understand what doesn't cause a miscarriage.

Miscarriage is not caused by exercising, intercourse, working, or lifting heavy objects. Nausea and vomiting in early pregnancy, even if severe, will not cause a miscarriage. Finally, it is unlikely that a fall, a blow, or an accident will cause miscarriage. The fetus is unlikely to be harmed by an injury unless the injury is serious enough to threaten your own life. Most importantly, remember that miscarriages do not occur because of something you did or did not do.