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Miscarriage (also called "spontaneous abortion") is the loss of a pregnancy in the first 20 weeks.  About 10 to 20 percent of known pregnancies end in miscarriage, and more than 80 percent of these losses happen before 12 weeks.  This doesn't include situations in which you lose a fertilized egg before a pregnancy becomes established.  Studies have found that 30 to 50 percent of fertilized eggs are lost before or during the process of implantation – often so early that a woman goes on to get her period at about the expected time.  

What’s important to remember: Miscarriage is not your fault. And while many parents may not talk openly about having one, know that it happens much more often than you may realize. 

Miscarriages are not caused by moderate exercise, falls, sex, stress at work, fights with a spouse or morning sickness. Rather, a miscarriage is simply biology’s way of ending a pregnancy that’s not going right. The loss of the embryo or fetus and its expulsion from the uterus can be caused by many factors, ranging from genetic defects in the growing baby to immune reactions by the mother’s body. Often, the cause of a miscarriage is never pinpointed at all. And in nearly every case, there’s nothing the mother did wrong to cause the miscarriage or could have done differently to prevent it. 

Most miscarriages can’t be prevented. So unless your healthcare provider has diagnosed a specific risk factor — such as a thyroid imbalance or blood clotting disorder — he or she will generally recommend simply leading a healthy lifestyle, which includes:

• Getting chronic conditions under control before conception
• Keeping your weight gain in a healthy range
• Taking a prenatal vitamin that includes folic acid and other B vitamins; research has shown that some women have trouble conceiving and/or sustaining a pregnancy because of a folic acid or vitamin B12 deficiency that can be treated with appropriate supplementation
• Taking steps to avoid and treat infections such as STDs
• Staying away from cigarettes and alcohol
• Take only medications that get the OK from your practitioner

If you’ve had two or three miscarriages, your healthcare practitioner will probably run extensive tests to see if he can find a cause. Around half the time, he won’t be able to find a single reason you’ve had multiple miscarriages. But sometimes he may discover an untreated health problem, such as an autoimmune disease (where the mother’s immune system attacks the embryo), thyroid problem, misshapen uterus or one of a few very rare disorders that can make your body reject pregnancies. You and your partner may be tested, too, for blood-clotting disorders (some women produce antibodies that attack their own tissues, causing blood clots that can clog the maternal blood vessels that feed the placenta). An ultrasound, MRI or CT scan may be performed on your uterus, your uterine cavity may be assessed with hysteroscopy, and the miscarried fetus itself can be tested for chromosomal abnormalities. If he does pinpoint one of these causes, he’ll be able to help reduce your chances of future miscarriages with treatments, including surgery to correct cervical or uterine issues and medications to manage hormonal imbalances. 

The good news: Most women who’ve had a miscarriage (even more than one) eventually go on to have a healthy pregnancy, although you may need to manage future pregnancies differently.  According to the American Congress of Obstetrics and Gynecology, even after four consecutive losses around 65 percent of women go on to carry their next pregnancy to term.  Whether it’s your first or fifth, in the aftermath of a miscarriage it’s important to take care of both your body and mind. After a miscarriage, check in with your healthcare provider and allow yourself time to grieve. Then when you’re ready, find someone to talk to (whether it’s a support group or a friend who’s been through the same thing). Sharing your feelings openly with your partner may help too. Remember: You’re in this together. 

Stillbirth is when a baby dies in the womb after 20 weeks of pregnancy. Most stillbirths happen before a woman goes into labor, but a small number happen during labor and birth. Stillbirth affects about 23,600 babies each year in the United States. This means stillbirth affects about 1 in 160 pregnancies (less than 1 percent) 

In about half of all cases, the cause of stillbirth is unknown. The causes of a stillbirth that are understood include: 

• Birth defects, with or without a chromosomal abnormality
• Problems with the umbilical cord; with a prolapsed umbilical cord, the cord comes out of the vagina before the baby, blocking the oxygen supply before the baby can breathe on its own. Or, the cord can knot or wrap tightly around a limb or the baby's neck prior to delivery.
• Problems with the placenta, which nourishes the baby; in a placental abruption, the placenta separates too soon from the uterine wall.
• Conditions in the mother like diabetes or high blood pressure, particularly pregnancy-induced high blood pressure or preeclampsia
• Intrauterine growth restriction or IUGR, which puts the fetus at risk of dying from lack of nutrition
• Severe lack of nutrition
• Infections during pregnancy
• Exposure to environmental agents such as pesticides or carbon monoxide 
• A personal or family history of blood clotting conditions like thrombosis, thrombophebitis, or pulmonary embolism

Many stillbirths happen without warning in women without any risk factors. But women at risk for stillbirths -- such as those with diabetes or high blood pressure -- should be watched closely. The baby will usually be checked during the last weeks of pregnancy. If this exam shows something out of the ordinary, early delivery may prevent a stillbirth. Sometimes, there may be a need for an emergency C-section.

All pregnant women should keep track of the baby's movements several times every day, regardless of other risk factors. This is especially important after the 26th week. If the baby kicks or moves less often, see a doctor right away or go to the hospital. 

Your chances of having a healthy baby are better if you take good care of your health before you get pregnant and you get early, regular, prenatal care. Your doctor will check for infections, review your medical history, and make sure you are treated for any problems.These steps can help you have a healthy pregnancy:

• Exercise, eat well, and take 400-800 micrograms of folic acid daily, starting at least one to two months before getting pregnant.
• Avoid alcohol and smoking.
• Take only medications prescribed by your doctor. Never stop any medication without first discussing it with your doctor.
• Drive carefully and wear a seatbelt.
• Install a carbon monoxide detector in your home to prevent carbon monoxide poisoning.
• Avoid food poisoning and other infections. Stay away from ready-to-eat foods such as deli meats and fast foods. If you must eat these foods, be sure they're heated thoroughly. Don't eat soft unpasteurized cheeses, raw foods, or undercooked meats.

Grief is all the feelings you have when someone close to you dies. Having a stillborn baby is a painful loss for a family. But there are things you can do to help you grieve, heal and remember your baby. 

After birth, do what feels right for you and your family. You may want to spend time alone with your baby and other family members. You can name your baby, hold your baby and take part in cultural or religious traditions, like baptism. Some families take photos of their baby, make footprints or save locks of hair because these keepsakes help them remember their baby. 

Parents who have a stillbirth need time to grieve. You and your partner may cope with grief in different ways. This may cause problems for the two of you. You also may need help dealing with others as you grieve. Ask your health care provider to help you find a counselor who can help you cope with your baby’s death. 

Having a stillbirth may make you more likely to have postpartum depression (also called PPD). PPD is a kind of depression that some women get after having a baby. Tell your health care provider if you think you may have signs of PPD. 

Talking about your feelings may help you deal with your grief.  Visit our Facebook page where families who have lost a baby can talk to and comfort each other.  Sharing your story may ease your pain and help you heal. 

Sometimes a baby who seems healthy dies during sleep. This is called sudden infant death syndrome or SIDS.

In most cases, a parent or caregiver places the baby down to sleep and returns later to find the baby has died. It's no one's fault. SIDS can happen even when you do everything right.

Although SIDS is rare, it is one of the most common causes of death in babies between 1 and 12 months of age. Most babies who die of SIDS are between the ages of 2 and 4 months. 

Doctors don't know what causes SIDS. It seems to happen more often in premature and low-birth-weight babies. It also is seen more often in babies whose mothers didn't get medical care during the pregnancy and in babies whose mothers smoke. SIDS may also be more likely in babies who were part of a multiple pregnancy (for example, twins or triplets) or whose mothers are younger than 20.

When babies sleep on their bellies, they may not breathe well. Not too long ago, side sleeping was said to be okay. But babies placed on their sides can easily roll onto their bellies and could have trouble breathing. 

Researchers are studying the possibility that SIDS may be caused by problems with how well the brain controls breathing, heart rate and rhythm, and temperature during the first few months of life. More research on this is needed. 

Doing certain things may help protect a baby from SIDS and/or other deaths related to sleep:

• The most important thing you can do is to always place your baby to sleep on his or her back rather than on the stomach or side.
• Don't use tobacco, alcohol, or drugs while you are pregnant. And don't expose your baby to secondhand smoke during or after your pregnancy.
• For the first 6 months, have your baby sleep in a crib, cradle, or bassinet in the same room where you sleep. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that you don't ever sleep with your baby in the same bed, especially if you smoke or have used alcohol, illegal drugs, or medicine that makes you sleep very soundly (sedatives). Never sleep with a baby on a couch or armchair. And it is not safe to place your baby on a couch to sleep. The safest place for a baby is in a crib, cradle, or bassinet that meets safety standards.
• Keep soft items and loose bedding out of the crib. Items such as blankets, stuffed animals, toys, and pillows could suffocate or trap your baby. Dress your baby in sleepers instead of using blankets.
• Make sure that your baby's crib has a firm mattress (with a fitted sheet). Don't use bumper pads or other products that attach to crib slats or sides. They could suffocate or trap your baby.
• Don’t let your baby sleep in a stroller, swing, car seat or baby chair for any length of time. Try to lay him on a flat surface on his back.
• Keep the room at a comfortable temperature so that your baby can sleep in lightweight clothes without a blanket. Usually, the temperature is about right if an adult can wear a long-sleeved T-shirt and pants without feeling cold. Make sure that your baby doesn't get too warm. Your baby is likely too warm if he or she sweats or tosses and turns a lot.
• Breastfeed your baby and have your baby immunized.
• Consider giving your baby a pacifier at nap time and bedtime. This may help prevent SIDS, though experts don't know why. If you breastfeed, wait until your baby is about a month old before you start giving him or her a pacifier.
• Touch is important, so try to get some skin-to-skin time with your baby.

There is no sure way to prevent SIDS, and no exam or test can predict whether a baby is likely to die of SIDS. Don't rely on breathing (apnea) monitors, special mattresses, or other devices marketed as a way to reduce your baby's risk of SIDS. None of these items have been proved to lower the risk of SIDS. The American Academy of Pediatrics does not advise their use.

Remember, SIDS is rare. Be as safe as you can, but don't let fear keep you from enjoying your baby. Tell your baby's caregivers what you expect them to do. Don't assume that they know what to do to help keep your infant safe during sleep. 

Each member of your family may respond to the loss of the baby in a different way. These different ways of coping with the baby's death can strain a marriage and a family. Along with feeling grief, family members may be struggling with feelings of guilt. Support from family, friends, your doctor, and possibly other health professionals is very important for everyone. You might find it helpful to:

• Join a grief support group. Ask your doctor if one for parents who have lost babies to SIDS is available in your area.
• Get help from a counselor, a psychologist, or a psychiatrist. Many families benefit from group counseling to help them deal with the tensions that arise after the loss of a baby.
• Talk with a close family member, a friend, or a spiritual adviser.
• Visit our Facebook page where families who have lost a baby can talk to and comfort each other.  Sharing your story may ease your pain and help you heal.  

• Heaven's Little Angel Facebook page
• WebMD
• March of Dimes
• What To Expect
• October 15th