Infant Loss Awareness

There are a number of different types and causes of infant loss. You will find several of them listed below:

Miscarriage - loss of an embryo or fetus before 20 weeks of gestation. Most miscarriages occur during the first 14 weeks of pregnancy. Miscarriages can be confirmed by ultrasound, blood work, pelvic examination. Sometimes there are no causes or explanations at all other times it could range from abnormal chromosomes to luteal phase defect. The most common symptoms for miscarriages are vaginal bleeding and cramping.

Missed Miscarriage - also known as a silent miscarriage, occurs when a fetus dies, but the body does not recognize the pregnancy loss or expel the pregnancy tissue. As a result, the placenta may still continue to release hormones, so the woman may continue to experience signs of pregnancy.

Blighted Ovum - A blighted ovum occurs when a fertilized egg implants in the uterus but doesn't develop into an embryo. It is also referred to as an an-embryonic (no embryo) pregnancy and is a leading cause of early pregnancy failure or miscarriage. A blighted ovum is diagnosed using ultrasound technology that can confirm the presence of a empty sac. Often it occurs so early that you don't even know you are expecting. A blighted ovum causes about one out of two miscarriages in the first trimester of pregnancy.

Chemical Pregnancy - A chemical pregnancy, or a very early miscarriage, occurs when a pregnancy is lost shortly after implantation, resulting in heavy bleeding. A chemical pregnancy is when a woman tests positive with a pregnancy test but miscarries before anything can be seen on ultrasound.

Ectopic Pregnancy - also known as eccyesis or tubal pregnancy, is a complication of pregnancy in which the embryo attaches outside the uterus. The fertilized egg can't survive outside the uterus. If left to grow, it may damage nearby organs and cause life-threatening loss of blood. In some cases, women who suffer from an ectopic pregnancy may lose an fallopian tube which makes trying to conceive even harder.

Molar Pregnancy - is the result of a genetic error during the fertilization process that leads to growth of abnormal tissue within the uterus. Molar pregnancies rarely involve a developing embryo, and the growth of this material is rapid compared to normal fetal growth.

Still Birth - is the birth of a baby who is born without any signs of life at or after 24 weeks of pregnancy. About 1 in 160 pregnancies ends in stillbirth in the United States.

Hypothyroidism - is a condition where the thyroid gland is under-active and mimics pregnancy symptoms which makes it hard to detect at times. Thyroid hormones affect the child brain and nervous system development. Left untreated can cause low IQ and problems with normal development. This could also affect conceiving a child as well.

MTHFR - is responsible for the breakdown of folic acid which creates folate. During pregnancy, women who test positive for mutated MTHFR gene may have a higher risk for miscarriages, preeclampsia or a baby born with defects such as spina bifida.

Please be patient as we are adding more causes. If you would like to suggest a cause submit it on the contact tab of the site or email us at support@mothersofunbornangels.com