Miscarriage is the loss of a pregnancy before 20 weeks of gestation.
It is estimated that 10-20% of pregnancies end in miscarriage. But in reality this number is probably higher because some people miscarry before they even know they are pregnant.
In some cases a pregnant person will experience vaginal bleeding and pass the pregnancy tissue naturally. For others, the fetus stops developing but the body does not expel the tissue on its own. In this case you can take medication to help your body have contractions and expel the tissue; or have a brief surgical procedure called a D&C (dilation and curretage) to remove the pregnancy tissue.
Usually miscarriage is caused by chromosomal abnormalities in the fetus that cause the fetus to stop developing normally. Exercise and stress do not cause miscarriage. Miscarriage is not your fault. It does not mean there’s something wrong with your body. The majority of people who experience miscarriage go on to have healthy babies.
