Vim & Vigor - Fall 2019 - UVA - 19

Association, 85 percent of women who've
had one miscarriage will go on to have a
subsequent successful pregnancy.

Miscarriage Symptoms

Although some women might experience light spotting early in pregnancy,
it's important to report any abdominal cramping or bleeding to your doctor immediately.
"Often it turns out to be nothing,
but any kind of pain or bleeding in the
first trimester needs to be reported and
investigated. Don't just wait it out,"
Gersh says. Some conditions, such as
ectopic pregnancy, which is when the
fertilized egg attaches itself outside the
uterus, can be life-threatening for the
mother if left untreated.

Reasons It Happens

Many women wrongly blame themselves
when they suffer a miscarriage, thinking
it was related to stress, sex or exercise.
None of those have been shown to cause
miscarriage. Two exceptions would be
if a woman has a diagnosis of placenta
previa (low-lying placenta) or cervical
insufficiency (the cervix dilates too
quickly), in which case doctors advise
avoiding sexual intercourse.
Below are some of the most common
causes of miscarriage.
3 Chromosomal problems. Issues
with chromosomes account for about
60 percent of miscarriages. These
might include a blighted ovum (an
embryo implants but doesn't develop),
a molar pregnancy (a tumor forms in
the uterine lining) or a translocation
(chromosomes become attached or
fragments of chromosomes break off
and trade places). A chromosomal issue
is not typically identified unless parents receive genetic testing or a sample
is analyzed by a lab, which can happen
if the patient has a dilation and curettage procedure to remove tissue from
the uterus. But Gersh stresses that
even if the cause is genetic, "it's not

necessarily the sign of an underlying
recurring problem."
3 Anatomical issues. Some conditions, such as a septate (divided)
uterus or cervical insufficiency, can
lead to miscarriage but can often be
remedied with surgical procedures
before trying to conceive again.
3 Infection. Sexually transmitted diseases and listeriosis, a food-poisoning
illness where bacteria can be passed
to the developing embryo or fetus, are
two examples of infections that could
cause miscarriage.

Risk Factors

The following factors can increase the
chances of losing a pregnancy.
3 Age. Women ages 35 and older are
more likely to miscarry.
3 Recurrent miscarriages. Having
two or more miscarriages increases the
chance of having a future one.
3 Environmental toxins. These
include cigarettes, alcohol, recreational
drugs and exposure to chemical solvents (such as paint thinners).
3 Health issues. Certain diseases,
especially when poorly managed, might
affect a woman's ability to carry a
pregnancy to term. These include autoimmune disorders, such as diabetes,

EVENT

Pregnancy and
Infant Loss Support
At this six-week support group
led by UVA social workers,
you can share experiences
and find support to promote
healing after a loss. To register
for the fall group starting
Aug. 13, email Kaitlyn Harlow
at keh2v@virginia.edu.

thyroid disease and antiphospholipid
antibody syndrome, which can cause
blood clots. Hormonal concerns, like
polycystic ovarian syndrome and luteal
phase defect, which can lead to low
levels of progesterone, an essential
pregnancy hormone, can also increase
miscarriage risk. ■

Healing
for Women
Having a miscarriage puts a woman at
risk of depression, which can be intensified by the hormonal fluctuations that
occur after a pregnancy. Here are some
ways to support yourself.
Don't minimize grief. "It is something of a great magnitude, and it's a
big emotional hit. The first thing is to
acknowledge that what happened was
not minimal," says OB-GYN Felice Gersh,
MD, a member of the American Board
of Obstetrics and Gynecology.
Get professional support. Many
women find it helpful to see a therapist
who can help them work through feelings of shock, sadness and anger.
Surround yourself with people
who get it. If your friends have never
experienced a miscarriage, they might
have trouble relating. The Compassionate
Friends (compassionatefriends.org), a
nationwide organization dedicated to
parental bereavement, connects parents
with online and in-person groups.
Practice self-care. Whether this
means meditating, exercising regularly
or spending time in nature, find what
soothes you. Dr. Gersh specifically
recommends massage because of its
ability to decrease stress hormones like
cortisol and increase feel-good ones like
serotonin. "Progesterone and estrogen
levels went up during pregnancy, and
now they're coming down-there's a lot
to deal with from the hormonal point of
view," she says.

FALL 2019

19


http://www.compassionatefriends.org

Vim & Vigor - Fall 2019 - UVA

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Vim & Vigor - Fall 2019 - UVA

Contents
Vim & Vigor - Fall 2019 - UVA - Cover1
Vim & Vigor - Fall 2019 - UVA - Cover2
Vim & Vigor - Fall 2019 - UVA - Contents
Vim & Vigor - Fall 2019 - UVA - 2
Vim & Vigor - Fall 2019 - UVA - 3
Vim & Vigor - Fall 2019 - UVA - 4
Vim & Vigor - Fall 2019 - UVA - 5
Vim & Vigor - Fall 2019 - UVA - 6
Vim & Vigor - Fall 2019 - UVA - 7
Vim & Vigor - Fall 2019 - UVA - 8
Vim & Vigor - Fall 2019 - UVA - 9
Vim & Vigor - Fall 2019 - UVA - 10
Vim & Vigor - Fall 2019 - UVA - 11
Vim & Vigor - Fall 2019 - UVA - 12
Vim & Vigor - Fall 2019 - UVA - 13
Vim & Vigor - Fall 2019 - UVA - 14
Vim & Vigor - Fall 2019 - UVA - 15
Vim & Vigor - Fall 2019 - UVA - 16
Vim & Vigor - Fall 2019 - UVA - 17
Vim & Vigor - Fall 2019 - UVA - 18
Vim & Vigor - Fall 2019 - UVA - 19
Vim & Vigor - Fall 2019 - UVA - 20
Vim & Vigor - Fall 2019 - UVA - 21
Vim & Vigor - Fall 2019 - UVA - 22
Vim & Vigor - Fall 2019 - UVA - 23
Vim & Vigor - Fall 2019 - UVA - 24
Vim & Vigor - Fall 2019 - UVA - 25
Vim & Vigor - Fall 2019 - UVA - 26
Vim & Vigor - Fall 2019 - UVA - 27
Vim & Vigor - Fall 2019 - UVA - 28
Vim & Vigor - Fall 2019 - UVA - 29
Vim & Vigor - Fall 2019 - UVA - 30
Vim & Vigor - Fall 2019 - UVA - 31
Vim & Vigor - Fall 2019 - UVA - 32
Vim & Vigor - Fall 2019 - UVA - 33
Vim & Vigor - Fall 2019 - UVA - 34
Vim & Vigor - Fall 2019 - UVA - 35
Vim & Vigor - Fall 2019 - UVA - 36
Vim & Vigor - Fall 2019 - UVA - 37
Vim & Vigor - Fall 2019 - UVA - 38
Vim & Vigor - Fall 2019 - UVA - 39
Vim & Vigor - Fall 2019 - UVA - 40
Vim & Vigor - Fall 2019 - UVA - 41
Vim & Vigor - Fall 2019 - UVA - 42
Vim & Vigor - Fall 2019 - UVA - 43
Vim & Vigor - Fall 2019 - UVA - 44
Vim & Vigor - Fall 2019 - UVA - 45
Vim & Vigor - Fall 2019 - UVA - 46
Vim & Vigor - Fall 2019 - UVA - 47
Vim & Vigor - Fall 2019 - UVA - 48
Vim & Vigor - Fall 2019 - UVA - 49
Vim & Vigor - Fall 2019 - UVA - 50
Vim & Vigor - Fall 2019 - UVA - 51
Vim & Vigor - Fall 2019 - UVA - 52
Vim & Vigor - Fall 2019 - UVA - 53
Vim & Vigor - Fall 2019 - UVA - 54
Vim & Vigor - Fall 2019 - UVA - 55
Vim & Vigor - Fall 2019 - UVA - 56
Vim & Vigor - Fall 2019 - UVA - Cover3
Vim & Vigor - Fall 2019 - UVA - Cover4
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/manifest/vimvigor_2021fall
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/manifest/vimvigor_2021summer-uva
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/manifest/vimvigor_2021spring-uva
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/manifest/vimvigor_2020winter-uva
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/manifest/vimvigor_2020summer-uva
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/manifest/vimvigor_2020spring-uva
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/manifest/vimvigor_2019winter-uva
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/manifest/vimvigor_2019fall-uva
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/manifest/vimvigor_2019summer-uva
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/manifest/vimvigor_2019spring-uva
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/manifest/vimvigor_2018winter-uva
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/manifest/vimvigor_2018fall-uva
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/manifest/vimvigor_2018summer-uva
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/manifest/vimvigor_2018spring-uva
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/manifest/vimvigor_2017winter-uva
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/manifest/vimvigor_2017fall-uva
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/manifest/vimvigor_2017summer-uva
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/manifest/vimvigor_2017spring-uva
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/manifest/vimvigor_2016winter-uva
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/manifest/vimvigor_2016fall-uva
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/manifest/vimvigor_2016summer-uva
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/mcmurry/vimvigor_2016spring-uva
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/mcmurry/vimvigor_2015winter-uva
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/mcmurry/vimvigor_2015fall-uva
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/mcmurry/vimvigor_2015summer-uva
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/mcmurry/vimvigor_2015spring-uva
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/mcmurry/vimvigor_2014winter-uva
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/mcmurry/vimvigor_2014fall-uva
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/mcmurry/vimvigor_2014summer-uva
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/mcmurry/vimvigor_2014spring-uva
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/mcmurry/vimvigor_2013winter-uva
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/mcmurry/vimvigor_2013fall-uva
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/mcmurry/vimvigor_2013summer-uva
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/mcmurry/vimvigor_2013spring-uva
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/mcmurry/vimvigor_2012winter-uva
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/mcmurry/vimvigor_2012fall-uva
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/mcmurry/vimvigor_2012summer-uva
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/mcmurry/vimvigor_2012spring-uva
https://www.nxtbookmedia.com