During pregnancy the trauma of having a miscarriage is unbearable for any woman. She desperately looks for reasons around her to understand why she lost her baby. Apart from the medical help she needs her family also needs to provide her emotional support to help bear with the loss. When you are planning a baby it is very important to educate yourself on what the various nuances of pregnancy and what all measures should be taken to avoid having a miscarriage or any other related mishap.

Here are some top reasons for miscarriages during pregnancy:

1. Defect in the fetus: It is important for you to know that not all pregnancies can give rise to a healthy baby. Miscarriages that happen during the first trimester can be attributed to the fact that the fetus had some major chromosomal defects and could not have grown to a full grown baby and hence was naturally rejected by the body itself. This can be taken as nature’s way of rejecting the fetus. Again a chromosomal defect may have nothing to do you with you or your partner. Fertilization of an egg and birth of a healthy baby are two entirely different things and should never be confused. When an egg is fertilized the genetic make up of the fetus is formed after a few weeks and if the chromosomal matching is not viable for survival of the baby the body rejects the fetus.
2. Abnormalities in the uterus: When the miscarriage happens in the second trimester generally the reason lies in the woman concerned. There are many instances when the uterus is either not shaped appropriately or the uterine lining is not proper to sustain the implantation of the embryo and provide it with proper nourishment. In such cases although the embryo does get implanted in the uterus the nourishment it requires is not fulfilled and as the pregnancy advances the uterus is unable to sustain the growing fetus. This is unfortunately generally diagnosed only after to undergo a miscarriage, but it can be treated with proper medical advice.
3. Abnormality in the cervix: Apart from the uterus any abnormality in the cervix can also lead to miscarriages. This too gets diagnosed only during the second or sometimes the third trimester as the fetus grows. Due to a weak cervix the body is unable to sustain the growing fetus and begins to bulge that leads to a miscarriage. However this is not a condition that cannot be cured. A simple surgery can be performed wherein the cervix is stitched up so that it does not cause a miscarriage.
4. Thyroid disorders: Thyroid disorders too can lead to a miscarriage as it makes the uterine conditions unviable to sustain a pregnancy. In this case the doctor prescribes a thyroid profile to be performed and the give the woman the required dose of the thyroid hormonal medication. Once under control it generally does not come in the way of a pregnancy and would not continue to cause miscarriages until and unless the right dosage is not taken.

Pregnancy is a very special time for any woman. The very idea of having your baby grow within you can be extremely overwhelming. Utmost care needs to be taken during this stage to ensure that both the mother and the baby get complete nutrition. During pregnancy the dietary requirements of a woman change drastically and it is essential to be aware of what nutrients your body needs and in what quantities.

1. Remember that though you are eating for two now, the other member for who you are eating is a tiny baby and not some sumo wrestler. Prevent gorging during as all that extra weight is not healthy at all. You will put on weight but let that be healthy weight and not unhealthy one. The calorie intake during this time per day goes up by just 300 calories per day so continue to count calories when you eat.
2. Add lots of fiber to your diet. Consume lots of vegetables, green leafy vegetables, fruits, whole grains, oats, pasta, cereals, rice and wheat bread. Also consume low-fat dairy products to get the required amount of calcium without the unnecessary fats eat lean meat, eggs, nuts and fish for a rich protein intake.
3. Pregnancy is one time when your body’s requirement for vitamins and minerals goes up quite a bit. This can be taken care of with proper nutritional supplements. There are some prenatal vitamins available in the market too. However never self prescribe any supplement to yourself. Ask your doctor about these supplements and let her decide whether you need one or not.
4. Consume around 1300 mg of calcium per day during pregnancy. This can be achieved by having calcium-rich foods along with s calcium supplement. At this time you should consume around 27 mg of iron too.
5. Apart from iron and calcium it is very essential to consume folic acid too. Legumes, dark leafy vegetables, beans, peas and veal are good sources of folic acid. Folic acid is one supplement women are asked to consume from the prenatal stage itself. During pregnancy folic acid helps prevent neural disorder in the fetus. A pregnant lady requires around 0.4 mg of folic acid a day.
6. Vitamin A is another essential supplement a woman needs during pregnancy. Include foods like apricots, apples, carrots, pumpkin, turnip greens, sweet potatoes etc. However Vitamin A consumption should also be only under the supervision of your doctor as excessive Vitamin A can cause some malformations in the baby too.
7. Alcohol and smoking should be avoided at all costs. They are associated with causing malformations in a baby and it is not worth risking.
8. Saccharin is advised to be avoided as it can permeate through the placenta and reach the fetal tissue.
9. Reduce your daily fat intake and consume only a low-fat diet. The total fat consumed in a day should not be more than 30% of your total calorie intake per day to ensure good health during pregnancy.

Morning sickness is a part and parcel of pregnancy for most women. Generally it subsides after the first trimester but for some it may just go on till the baby comes. Morning sickness can be of various types and may differ from on woman to another. It may be a slight queasy feeling or sever vomiting too. The degree of nausea may differ but as it causes discomfort during pregnancy and adequate care should be taken to lessen it as much as possible.

These few tips may help lower the morning sickness and make it slightly more bearable:

1. When you get up in the morning don’t jump out of bed. Take some time to get up. Sit on the bed, relax for a few minutes, and stretch yourself a bit. When you feel comfortable only then should you step out of bed.
2. Depending on the time when you feel maximum bouts of morning sickness try to limit your food intake at those time periods. Let the stomach be a little empty as a full stomach is more prone to throw up than an empty one.
3. Try to eat small meals at regular intervals. Do not eat large portions at one go; chances are you will throw up immediately. Do not stay hungry but eat little in each meal.
4. Increase your intake of water considerably as it helps curb the feeling of nausea. Also have lots of liquids like juices and herbal tea to keep you well hydrated.
5. Alcohol and caffeine are not recommended in pregnancy and specially if you have morning sickness.
6. Do not exert yourself. Pamper yourself and take small breaks and rest for a while several times a day. When lying down keep a pillow under the legs and the head to prevent nausea.
7. Avoid any sudden movements. After you are done with your meal take time to sit at the table to let the food settle in the stomach. It is believed that gravity also helps in letting the food stay in the stomach.
8. Once you have identified any particular smells that make you feel queasy just avoid them altogether.
9. Avoid brushing your teeth immediately after a meal as this may induce vomiting at times.
10. Take early morning walks as the fresh air intake helps in settling the morning sickness.
11. Take a light meal like a sandwich before you go to sleep at night.
12. Keep your room and house as airy as possible as all the fresh air would make you feel less nauseous.
13. If you get up during the night you can have a small cracker or biscuit to avoid getting up with nausea the next day.
14. Preferably stay away from medications for nausea as there have been instances when they caused sever harm to the fetus.
15. Stop smoking as not only does it harm you and the baby but also causes nausea.
16. Avoid spicy food as it may increase the feeling of morning sickness during pregnancy.