Any Thing That Might Help Prevent a Miscarriage?

I had to use progesterone supps. for my second pregnancy. I miscarried the first time and they thought it was because of low progesterone.

I was pregnant with twins at 43 (with the help of IVF) and I was told to absolutely stay away from any form of caffeine and to keep the stress level down.

I always heard if you normally excersize then some, in moderation is fine. Having said that, when my doctors (and his partners) thought I was miscarrying (bleeding) I was told to put my feet up until things calmed down.

My thoughts are with you.

I think you are doing all you can and the fact that you are on folic acid is great. I agree with the post regarding caffeine. Here is an article I found. Of course this doesn't cause all miscarriages but it is a link to some. I wish you well and I also had a m/c last summer and then got PG in November and am currently 30 weeks so one doesn't mean you will have another.

http://www.cnn.com/2008/HEALTH/conditions/01/21/hfh.caffe...

there are some acupuncture points to "hold things in place," and acupuncture can help a lot with your general wellness as your pregnancy continues. I have a fabulous acupunturist who specializes in women's health - Maria Mulcahy - her practice is listed here:
http://www.andersonvillewellness.com/

I went through fertility treatments with all 4 of my kids, and my RE always gave me progesterone supplements during the first 12 weeks. You might want to call your doctor and ask if he/she can prescribe it for you. It won't hurt, but it might help. Other than that, I never had any restrictions, even to exercise, as long as I did everything in moderation. Remember though, that sometimes nothing you can do will make any difference, so try not to worry too much, and enjoy your pregnancy as much as possible.

Congrats and good luck!

There is nothing you can do to prevent a miscarriage, except avoid alcohol. Most miscarriages are nature's way of dealing with chromosomal abnormalities. Over 50% of embryos and higher once you are over 40 are chromosomally abnormal. Many don't implant and then some do and they don't then develop far, which is why 6-7 weeks is a very common time for miscarriages. I know this is really hard but try not to stress about it. Whatever will be, will be. Good Luck.

Hello and congrats.
I would suggest taking pre natal vitamins along with the folic acid. THey also have folic acid in them, but I took both with my last pregnancy and it doesn't hurt and besides you'll get all the nutition you need besides eating healthy. I would suggest no long walks just for a little while- get through the first trimester and just rest whenever you can.
GOod luck to you
S.

Not exercising will not prevent a miscarriage, but if it makes you feel better then by all means don't exercise. Exercise can be a great way to relax and relieve stress so you may feel better if you get back to your routine.

Most miscarriages are random and will not repeat so rest assured that it was probably a genetic problem with your little one and nothing you could have done/not done would have prevented it. Some women have recurrent miscarriages and may be given certain hormonal medications to sustain their pregnancy but that is not the norm. Caffeine intake is linked to miscarriage so cutting back on caffeine would be a great way to possibly prevent a miscarriage and to help you feel like you are doing something.

Congrats and your pregnancy and best wishes for your and baby's continued health.

As others mentioned, I would definitely ask to have your progesterone checked. Low progesterone is a very common cause of pregnancy loss and can be helped with suplemental progesterone. It should be started asap though so ask your doc right away. I myself have suffered 3 miscarriages so I'm no stranger to those first few agonizing weeks. Try to stay in the moment. Best of luck-keep us posted!

Get your HCG levels and your progesterone levels tested by your doctor right away. Those tests can be repeated every few days to see if your HCG numbers are doubling and your progesterone is where it should be. Call them right away.

Good luck!!
~M.

Last year I suffered two miscarriages and when it came to having a successful pregnancy I made a couple of changes.... I cut coffee/caffine out of my diet. I was getting a lot of natural folic acid.

Hi G.,
Celebrate the miracle of new life with a repeated sentence to create an environment of health and well-being for you and your baby - "I welcome life as it grows in my belly"
(this is from "Yoga for Pregnancy" by Judith Lasater).

The Bradley Method of Natural Childbirth contains a "tailor sitting" exercise to open the hips and bring circulation into the pelvic area that we also use in yoga. There is a wealth of information about childbirth provided.

Think stress reduction, positive thoughts, and connecting with your healthcare provider to have blood pressure etc monitored. I have worked fulltime through all 3 pregnancies while some people do take time off to relax and nurture their body during pregnancy.

www.birthlink.net provides resources, support groups in the Chicago area as a companion to mamasource.

Regarding exercise - nothing that provides stress or compression to the abdominal area - no situps, crunches...walking is very good...ACOG says during pregnancy "no skydiving...no scuba diving"...(I hope that this brings a smile to your face as you read this and know that you are already doing the right things!)

C.
____@____.com
PS. Be happy with your age - you have patience and maturity and a support network of spouse and friends who love you. There has never been a better time to be expecting a baby:-)

I too became pregnant shortly after a miscarriage, so all I did to prevent another one was lay on the sofa with my feet up. no walking no excercize. feet in the air. Probably not the reason the pregnancy stuck, but I sure enjoyed the opportunity to be lazy for a while. Truth is, if the fetus isn't developing correctly you will miscarry. Some stick some don't. I've always believed that it was God's way of letting me know that something wasn't right.

Hi G.,

Congratulations on your pregnancy! I just wanted to add that although yoga is wondeful during pregnancy, there are some contradictions. During the first trimester, no twists. They squeeze abdominal organs, not something you want to do right now. Yoga will help you feel good while pregnant and help your body function as well as keep you strong. When it comes to labor...oh you will never beileve how much it helps you but be sure to take a class with a good instructor, let him/her know you're pregnant. Good luck with everything.

You can't prevent a miscarriage. It is something that usually happens when their are chromosonal abnormalities with the developing baby or problems with implantation. A miscarriage is not your fault either. As long as you are eating healthy, not drinking alcohol anymore, and taking your prenatal, there is nothing more you can do. Also know, any alcohol that you had proir to your positive test does not affect your growing baby.
I'm so sorry for your previous loss. I know I will feel like you when I get pregnant again because I had a loss last July. Try to focus on the positive. Today you are pregnant! (you can't control what happens tomorrow) Try as much as you can to enjoy this time and not stress too much.

I wish you a happy heathy sticky baby that will grow and grow.

I belong to a site for women trying to conceieve called TheNestBaby.com. You have to be a member to post but it is free. There is a 3 day grace period from sign up to being able to post. This site is awesome and very helpful- especially those links I have provided below.

If you would like to talk with other women who have gone through what you are going through (sucessful pregnancy after a loss) try this website:

http://talk.thenestbaby.com/boards/ShowForum.aspx?ForumID...

To talk with others about your past pregnancy loss, try this link:

http://talk.thenestbaby.com/boards/ShowForum.aspx?ForumID...

Congratulations G.!!
I understand this is such a bittersweet time for you...you have been through such a horrible loss, I am so sorry. Now you don't want to go through that again! I personally had some miscarriages before the birth of my first baby, then I had 3 children. But I remember the fear that consumed me everyday! I looked in my underwear to see if I was bleeding, every little cramp I worried I was going to lose the baby.
This is normal, and God bless you, I wish that anyone here could just tell you the end of your pregnancy story, that in 8-9 months, you will be delivering your healthy baby.
Then you could handle this emotional rollercoaster a bit easier, eh?
You have been through a lot with your last pregnancy. Allow yourself to continue to mourn the loss of that baby if you still need to...but begin to celebrate the life of this baby. It sucks what you went through, I know.
You said you are very fit...unless your doctor told you to stop exercising because you are bleeding, etc. you should continue to exercise. It is good for you. Walking at least is a great way to keep you fit during pregnancy. You can continue the things you did before you got pregnant....but really should not start up new activities...yoga is great, but i would caution if you were not really a yogini prior to pregnancy, you should definitely ask your doctor first.

You could get your progesterone level checked (blood test), just ask your doc...and tell him/her you are worried about another miscarriage, and ask about the option of starting progesterone suppositories....they are vaginal suppositories.
They really cannot hurt, just messy:)

I hope you are well today. Celebrate this day that you are pregnant!! Yay for you!

K.
Baby Feat, LLC
www.babyfeat.net

Meditation, visualize your baby growing, your body feeding it. Keep hydrated and plenty of rest. Pray!!

I was going to say what others have already said. Get your progesterone level checked. I found that mine were low after my miscarriage and took progesterone supplements when I got pregnent with my second. It's not always the case though but something to look into. I didn't need the supplements for my second son.

Another thing to look into is your blood type and the father's. If you have type negative blood I believe you have to get a shot or something so your body doesn't "fight off" the fetus. I forget what it was. I know someone who had to get that done.

I wish I could say there is something you can do to prevent a miscarrige but there is very little and even then it's not guaranteed. Just think of it this way, you were able to get pregnant so everything is working. Sometimes if there is something wrong with the fetus it's your body naturally telling you something was wrong.

Good luck and sending sticky vibes your way. ~*~*~*~*~
Hope this one sticks!!!

The one piece of consistent advice I have heard is to radically reduce, even to cut out altogether, caffeine. Under "normal" circumstances they now say the equivalent of two cups of coffee a day is okay (which seems like a lot to me, but I guess given that what is nowadays a "small" coffee is about two cups, it might now seem like a lot after all.) But I think if there is risk of miscarriage the advice is NO caffeine. Double check with a doctor, of course, I'm just repeating what I've read in the baby books. I can recommend two books that answer a lot of these questions. The BabyCenter Essential Guide to Pregnancy and Birth and the Mayo Clinic Buide to a Healthy Pregnancy.

G.-Hi and congratulations!! Absolutely there are things that you can do to make your immune system and body stronger for baby!!

Make sure that your eating regimen has 6-8 servings of organic fruits and veggies-esp. your green leafy's. You will want to get some really good Omega 3's and 6's from coconut oil-by nutiva or now, avocados (one daily) and unrefined cod liver oil (follow directions) by Carlsons or NSI are the best. You will also want to incorporate Vitamin C on a daily basis and a whole food supplement. You can get all of the above mention at vitacost.com for a fraction for what you would buy it in a health food store. Watch your intake of red meat, dairy and processed foods and carbohydrates.

Exercise is very important-walking is wonderful and so is yoga when expecting. If you have any other questions-please feel free to contact me.

T. V
Detox coach and mother of 4 :)

G.

As a mom who suffered a miscarriage for no apparent reason,I would say no,there isn't much you can do to prevent,but lots you can do to somewhat curb the cause.My mother thought maybe I had fell while pregnant when I miscarried.Definitely listen to the doctor. Whatever they tell you as far as how much or little,exercise,housework,etc. I would listen. There are aLOT of wive's tales but thankfully they are just that!!!! tales. take it easy as possible.No heavy loads;groceries,laundry,garbage. Let the grocery clerk take your groceries out to the car and have someone help you carry them in at home. Take the stairs slow and easy. Small loads of laundry vs big. Due to your age, the doctor will be watching you very closely and will help with ideas as well as what is too much to do. Again,Good luck!!!! and enjoy yur pregnancy.......it's the best time of your life until that bundle of joy arrives!!!

I would talk to your doctor and have him/her check your progesterone levels. If it's low he/she can prescribe progesterone suppositories. They are messy, but worth it. I took them the entire 1st trimester 2x a day.

Stop worrying! Which is easier said than done, I know. The best thing you can do is get prenatal care through a doctor. there is NO evidence that exercise can cause a miscarriage. See Dr. Clapp's book Exercising through your pregnancy.

G.,

Just pray to God. I'm a firm believer in when it's "Your Time." Don't stress and just carry on with your life like usual. It will all work out. I can totally testify. I had my first and only child when I was 33. I am now 36. I had never been pregnant before. So keep the F. and don't stress.

If the fetus isn't healthy, there's nothing you can do to prevent it. If your body is having the issues, low dose aspirin (prevents blood clots) and projesterone (helps if yours is low) can help. Call your doctor and ask if they will prescribe.

Otherwise, eat well, don't do too much, but regular activities are fine.

G.,

I pray that all will go well with your pregnancy and you will deliver a happy, healthy baby! I also know you can do a lot nutritionally to help yourself and your baby.

I know there are a lot of reasons for miscarriages, but the following is one reason. If you are interested in consulting with some experts in the nutritional area, e-mail me privately and I will be happy to furnish you some phone numbers and also a testimony from a couple who had 2 miscarriages before a successful birth. They did a nutritional program prior to the 3rd pregnancy. This is part of their testimony which you can perhaps consult with your doctor about testing your progesterone levels if they have not done that.

This is a quote from the testimony:
"Progesterone is a hormone that is CRITICAL during pregnancy....ESPECIALLY the first trimester. Once pregnant, a women's progesterone level needs to go UP to support the baby. Our Doctor explained
that a "normal" level of progesterone is around 20. After Carmen's second miscarriage we had her progesterone level tested and it was only at 2! No wonder we were having
problems. Our Doctor said that we needed to take prescription progesterone supplement RIGHT AFTER CONCEPTION." The couple started a nutritional program with Shaklee supplements and when they went in for testing a month into the third pregnancy (which was a surprise), her levels were at 32 without using a progesterone supplement. That pregnancy was successful. The nutritional program had made a big difference.

I was pregnant at 32 years old and almost miscarried. The emergency room doctor had me stay home for a week with my feet up and only get up to use the bathroom. I now have a 4 1/2 year old healthy son. I wouldn't do any long walks or anything strenuous until the first trimester is over. Good luck with your baby. Also don't lift anything for awhile.

Hi G.!

I am sure you know that most miscarriages are not something that you can prevent unless there is a medical alternative. I too had my last child at the age of 42 and know of all the complications. Our bodies and the eggs we have are just plain and simple "old". With that being said, the possibility of carrying a viable pregnancy decreases. I don't know about you, but my doctors treated me like a senior citizen and I had great medical attention. I would turn to you OB and see what they can do to help. Good Luck and try to hang in there! It's not easy parenting at this age!

I also had a miscarriage after 3 years of trying, and then I got pregnant again a year later. I was fearful for the second baby and didn't want to get too attached in case I miscarried again. I was using progesterone cream with the second pregnancy too, which may have helped too. Around 19 weeks I started bleeding, which they thought was the placenta seperating. I then decided to name my little girl inside and I began to speak to her everyday, telling her to stay and how much I loved her. I did not even acknowledge her before that time out of fear. I work in health care and have seen so many people "control" their death by holding on for family members to arrive to the hospital or whatever the situation may be. I thought that maybe my little one could hold on for a few more weeks until she was out of there. I do not know what it is, but the will to live has a strong influence on the body. My little girl will now be 2 years old on Tuesday and her little brother will be 4 months. Her little brother came naturally, with no fertility medications and only after 2 months of trying. Just try not to be fearful and speak to your little one every day. I think fear pushes life away and love brings it closer.

Hugs,
V.

Hi G.!

Congrats on your pregnancy! I too had a miscarriage, and then had lots of trouble trying to get pregnant again. My DH and I went to a fertility specialist for help, and after all their testing was found to have low progesterone levels. So when I became pregnant through IUI, my Doctor prescribed Prometrium (sp?) to take the first trimester as low levels of progesterone "could have been" the cause of my first miscarriage. I was also a runner and always excercising, and when I found out that I was pregnant, completely stopped running as I didn't want to chance anything!

P.s I took prometrium in tablet form not suppository.
Good luck!
A.