Common Causes of Miscarriage and Hannah Williams Success Story

Even though there can be different causes of miscarriage, one thing that remains true is it can happen to anyone. Some scientists hypothesize that every woman (who has engaged in unprotected intercourse with the opposite sex) will go through at least one miscarriage in her life. It is just difficult to prove because they might not know that they were pregnant in the first place, and treat it like their usual cycle.

For most people, the causes of miscarriages are never clear, either because there is a possibility of more than one factor or the fact that it is indecipherable.

Symptoms of miscarriage are not very different from your regular menstrual symptoms, especially the initial indications. While heavy vaginal discharge and mild spotting are relatively common and harmless during pregnancy, accompanied by continuous cramping and deeper colored blood, should be a reason for concern.

For people with terrible premenstrual syndrome (PMS), some pregnancy symptoms might feel similar to what they feel before their periods. As stated above until and unless it is accompanied by painful cramps and deep red blood it shouldn’t be a cause of concern.

Before delving into the causes of miscarriage remembers, you must contact your OB-GYN (or obstetrician-gynecologist) in case of a miscarriage scare, self-diagnosis, at the end of the day, can lead to more stress.

Chromosomal issues are usually the cause of miscarriage in the first trimester. While there are different types of chromosomal defects in the embryo that can cause miscarriages, the crux of the matter is, this kind of miscarriage occurs when the embryo is not viable for a full-term pregnancy.

Almost 50 percent of all miscarriages are due to chromosomal issues, and these are not hereditary ones. The likelihood of these types of miscarriage is higher for pregnant people over the age of 35.

When it comes to causes of miscarriage, ‘pre-existing conditions is the most well-known and widely spoken about. These are also the ones that are most likely to be diagnosed as the causes of miscarriage, in case you have one.

Pre-existing medical conditions can range from diabetes and high blood pressure to PCOS, STDs, infections, etc.

While it goes without saying, the risk of miscarriage due to these maternal health conditions also goes up with age. If you have any such medical condition, it is advisable to work closely with a doctor at every stage of pregnancy and consult extensively before trying to get pregnant.

An abnormally shaped womb or womb with fibroids can be the cause of miscarriage as well.

A weak cervix, which is sometimes known as cervical incompetence, can also cause miscarriages. This condition can be caused by surgeries, injuries, and even premature birth-related issues.

The above causes are usually the reason for recurrent miscarriages. And for both of them it is extremely important to not be swayed by online opinions and DIY cures, and closely pay attention to your doctor’s advice.

• Sexual intercourse (until and unless severely traumatic) is not one of the causes of miscarriage.
• Exercising or traveling during pregnancy does not cause miscarriage.
• Going to work or doing household chores is a not cause of miscarriage either.

Hannah Williams is a Buzzfeed video producer and content creator. On May 11th, 2019 Buzzfeed uploaded a video title “I Had A Miscarriage” featuring Hannah in it. At this time Hannah already had two young sons and was trying for a third child.

Hannah experienced flu symptoms, including severe nausea (that she describes as being similar to morning sickness) before she started spotting. And within a day from when she first noticed the discharge, she started bleeding pretty heavily and realized that she might be miscarrying.

In a candid cut from when she realizes she is having a miscarriage, she says, “...there’s no way I can fathom that I am still pregnant. There’s no way.” It is a heart-wrenching moment as she sobs and films herself, contemplating whether she should film it at all.

According to Hannah, one of the major issues regarding the miscarriage that she had was how unprepared she was for anything to go wrong. She had two successful pregnancies before this, and at age 29 she wasn’t a high risk. The fact that such tragedy could happen to her, out of nowhere, and due to no good reason was something completely unfathomable to her.

And that is usually the case with most women that have miscarriages. Their minds are busy trying to rationalize it and to try and decipher the causes of miscarriage.

At one point in the video, Hannah records herself saying, “I just want to know what happened. I just, I want to know what I did wrong.” This was right after she came back from the Emergency Room, and the physician had confirmed that she was not pregnant anymore.

There are tons of comments under the video telling Hannah that she hadn’t done anything wrong. And there is often nothing anyone can do or could have done, in case of nonviable pregnancies.

A lot of time women internalize miscarriages as some kind of failure on their part, some taboo subject that should not be breached. And this was the main reason why Hannah decided to film herself through this process. She wanted people to talk about miscarriage, and what to expect in case someone has one. She keeps emphasizing in the video, “I wish someone had talked to me about this.”

Hannah’s story and her video is an important reminder of how much we need these live video experiences to understand the nature of miscarriage. Oftentimes, the focus is too much on finding the causes of miscarriage and people forget to focus on a healthy recovery.

Hannah has since then had another successful pregnancy, and given birth to her third son, Henry.

Surprisingly, according to her, the third baby wasn’t necessarily her success story, but rather it was the fact that after her miscarriage she was able to mentally recover. She could focus on her present, spend time with her two sons, and be grateful for the life and family she already has rather than the one she might have had.

Not everyone’s story can be like Hannah’s, not everyone has a support system like hers, or the luck that she had afterward.

But the point of the video was to convey the fact that miscarriages are a regular part of life. A tragedy, yes, but not the end of hope! What’s most important is - people talk about it and spread awareness. And importantly, not lose themselves in self-doubt and self-hatred.

And a final reminder to people who have miscarried: you are a living, breathing person who has their entire life ahead of them (some of you might already have kids who need you). Your physical and mental well-being should be a priority, not arbitrary social expectations. So, be kind to yourself, and take care.