Research has it that most miscarriages happen during the first trimester of pregnancy. This is the period from conception up to 11 weeks. This is a vital period for the pregnancy week by week because it is a time when the fetus is being formed and implanted in the uterus. The eleventh week, however, marks the end of this tedious phase. It brings a close to terrible nausea, mood swings, and morning sicknesses. This, however, does not mean that you cannot miscarry at this point. As a matter of fact, there is evidence that most early miscarriages happen at around this time. Therefore, the chances are particularly high at this point. This is even more rampant in older women.
So what are the possible explanations to these miscarriages?
1. Chromosomal anomalies
By the time you are 11 weeks pregnant, the baby has already developed significantly. This means that the baby is becoming a separate entity from the mother. During the first trimester, 23 chromosomes from the mother and 23 more from the father combine to give the baby the 46 chromosomes it needs to survive. However, as the chromosomes are combining and dividing an abnormality can occur. This can be utterly detrimental to the fetus. For example, the fetus may end up with 47 chromosomes which can cause major defects in his/her development. This increases the risk of you giving birth to an abnormal child. On the darker side, a problem during the division of the chromosomes can result in a combination that is not convertible with life. When this happens, the fetus is unable to transit to the second trimester thus a miscarriage occurs.
2. Hormonal imbalances
For a pregnancy to thrive, some hormones must be there and inadequate levels at that. Estrogen and progesterone are some of these hormones. Of interest to us at this point is the latter: progesterone. This hormone helps suppress any further ovulation after pregnancy. This is in addition to thickening the uterine walls where the fetus is attached. The uterus has to be particularly strong to avoid ectopic pregnancies or generally to ensure the pregnancy is maintained. You don’t want your uterus to give up and leave the fetus crumbling down.
Now, this should point out why it is necessary to have progesterone in ideal quantities. The good thing is that progesterone deficiency can be treated through administration of supplements. This help top up the progesterone that is being produced by the body thus ensuring you have enough. High progesterone levels are what cause constipation towards the start of the second trimester.
An impending miscarriage can be signaled by vaginal bleeding and abdominal pains. The dangerous thing is that these symptoms can disappear after a short time. This means that you can dismiss them as normal. So when you get vaginal bleeding that is heavier than the usual spotting coupled with abdominal cramps, it is prudent to go to the hospital. This will help ascertain the underlying causes. If it is progesterone deficiencies, then you can get the supplements.
3. Lifestyle choices
The lifestyle of an expectant mother highly affects the unborn child. The expectant women should endeavor to remain healthy: both mentally and physically. You have probably heard that we are a product of eating. This is also similar when the mother takes alcohol and smokes like a chimney. These two can cause miscarriage. The chances of miscarrying at eleven weeks due to alcohol and smoking are even higher considering that at this point most women may not even be aware of their pregnancy. You may have heard of those women who go to the loo and baby pop. They didn’t know they were pregnant! Can you imagine?
Therefore, a woman who is trying to get pregnant should go slowly on alcohol and smoking to reduce this risk.
Another factor that can cause miscarriage at this stage is an excessive intake of caffeine. During the early stages of your pregnancy, you are bound to be anxious and overly worried. At this point, you crave for mugs and mugs of coffee. Caffeine could be good for the child, but an excess intake of caffeine can cause miscarriage. This means that you would be better placed avoiding coffee during this time.
Conclusion
Every pregnant woman yearns for the day when she will finally hold her baby in her hands. However, this dream can be cut short before the pregnancy hits three months. There is a high risk of losing the baby at eleven weeks due to things like chromosomal abnormalities, lifestyle choices, and hormonal imbalances. But these miscarriages can be avoided if women seek medical attention the moment they get symptoms like bleeding and abdominal cramps. In essence, there is a high risk of miscarrying stays at eleven weeks so you should be on the lookout for any red flags.
Also watch video on: 11 Weeks Pregnant: Track Your Baby’s Growth Here
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