{"id":11576,"date":"2021-02-09T12:10:40","date_gmt":"2021-02-09T18:10:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/naturalwomanhood.org\/topics\/miscarriage\/"},"modified":"2025-10-15T12:30:02","modified_gmt":"2025-10-15T17:30:02","slug":"fausse-couche","status":"publish","type":"topics","link":"https:\/\/naturalwomanhood.org\/fr\/topic\/miscarriage\/","title":{"rendered":"Fausse couche et perte de grossesse"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

It\u2019s the unspoken grief that so many women carry in their hearts: the pain of losing a child due to miscarriage (before 20 weeks gestation) or stillbirth (after 20 weeks gestation). While it is often only talked about in hushed voices behind closed doors and is sometimes treated as a taboo subject, pregnancy loss is, unfortunately, not rare: it is estimated that 10 to 25%<\/a> of pregnancies end in miscarriage and 0.6% end in stillbirth (which still translates to more than 20,000 stillbirths each year). This means that many women experience the physical and emotional pain of pregnancy loss but feel unsure of how to talk about their loss or how to grieve, because it is a topic that is not discussed enough. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

What is a miscarriage?<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

According to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG)<\/a>,<\/span> miscarriage is defined as the loss of a pregnancy during the first trimester.<\/span> Most miscarriages occur before the 12th week<\/a>, while about<\/span> 1-5 percent of miscarriages occur in the second trimester<\/a>.<\/span> Signs and symptoms<\/span><\/a> of pregnancy loss include bleeding from the vagina or spotting, cramps similar to menstrual cramps, and severe belly pain. (Women who are experiencing these symptoms or who are concerned about the possibility of miscarriage, should contact their health care provider.) <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

What causes a miscarriage?<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Although it depends on each individual woman\u2019s experience, many feel a sense of guilt after a miscarriage, and blame themselves for the pregnancy loss. They may go over the events of the recent weeks, searching for a reason why the miscarriage happened. They often fear that the heavy box they lifted or the exercise class they took was the causal factor. However, the reality is, there are many factors completely outside the mother\u2019s control that may have contributed to the pregnancy loss. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

For example, according to the<\/span> American Pregnancy Association<\/span><\/a>, about 50-75% of all miscarriages occur right after implantation, which is sometimes called a \u201cchemical pregnancy<\/a>.\u201d Additionally, ACOG<\/span> estimates<\/span><\/a> that about half of all miscarriages are caused by an abnormal number of chromosomes in the embryo. This is merely one example of the many circumstances outside of a woman’s control that can contribute to the loss of a pregnancy. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you or someone you know is experiencing feelings of guilt or blame for a miscarriage, it can be helpful to talk to a healthcare professional to see if you are able to identify why the miscarriage occurred. This may help alleviate those feelings of guilt. Additionally, you or your loved one may find it helpful to talk to a counselor to help you work through any feelings of guilt, blame, or shame.  <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

What puts me at risk for a miscarriage?<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

There are<\/span> several factors<\/span><\/a> that increase a woman\u2019s risk for miscarrying a pregnancy, including:<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n