Pregnancy loss: 10 things to avoid

There are a number of infections that can cause miscarriage, stillbirth, or infant death. The easiest way to avoid catching any of these viral or bacterial infections is to practice good hand hygiene and socially distance from sick people.

We’ve known for years that smoking is a major health risk. It increases your risk of many kinds of cancer, lung disease, heart disease, high blood pressure, and stroke. Women who smoke are more likely to experience infertility and/or have a miscarriage, stillborn baby, preterm delivery, or low birth weight infant.

Infants born to women who smoke have a higher risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). Quitting tobacco may not only save the life of your baby; it may make sure you’re around for years of parenthood.

Food-borne illnesses like listeria are associated with an increased risk of miscarriage. Although pregnant women are routinely advised to avoid the foods that are the most common sources of dangerous bacteria, like undercooked meats and unpasteurized cheeses, they are not the only possible sources. For women who are pregnant or trying to get pregnant, safe food handling is even more important than usual.

Although some women fear the flu shot can cause miscarriage, study after study1 shows no increased risk of miscarriage after the flu shot. An inactivated influenza vaccine is recommended regardless of stage of pregnancy.

Women who get the flu while pregnant are at high risk—the H1N1 strain, in particular, is more likely to be fatal to pregnant women than the general population. Both maternal and fetal effects of Covid-19 infection during pregnancy are still unknown and are currently being assessed. High feverduring pregnancy is also associated with neural tube defects.

Like smoking, obesity has been linked to many health problems—from increased risk of heart disease, diabetes, and certain types of cancer, to pregnancy complications including premature birth, preeclampsia, gestational diabetes, and all types of pregnancy loss.

We don’t understand all the reasons that obesity is linked with pregnancy loss. But studies all over the world are finding the same results. Women who are obese have a much higher risk of losing their babies.2

Eating a healthy diet isn’t just a concern for women trying to lose weight. Research has found that a diet rich in fruits, vegetables, and whole grains can lower your risk of pregnancy complications.3

A 2011 study from Stanford University found that women were 50% less likely to have a baby with anencephaly while eating such a diet.4 A healthy diet is also associated with weight control and optimal blood sugar control for women with diabetes.

If you haven’t already started prenatal care, you should do so as soon as possible. A physical exam from a doctor or midwife may uncover health problems or pregnancy complications you aren’t aware of which could lead to a pregnancy loss if they go untreated—such as high blood pressure, gestational or type 2 diabetes, cervical or uterine abnormalities, or sexually transmitted infections.

Chronic health problems like lupus, diabetes, and high blood pressure are all associated with increased chances of pregnancy loss. If you have a diagnosed chronic illness, you’ll have the best odds for a healthy pregnancy if you keep your condition under optimum control both prior to conception and throughout pregnancy.

If you are pregnant or trying to get pregnant, consult your doctor about how to best control your condition, and be sure to follow all your doctor’s recommendations, including prescription or over-the-counter medications.

If you are considering pregnancy, start taking prenatal vitamins before you conceive. The benefits of folic acid are most crucial in the early stages of pregnancy, even before you may know you are pregnant. Adequate folic acid intake is essential to prevent neural tube defects in your baby, which can be fatal depending on severity.

It may seem crazy to recommend safe sex to women who are pregnant or trying to get pregnant, but the fact is that sexually transmitted infections, like chlamydia or syphilis, can cause miscarriage, stillbirth, neonatal death, infertility, and ectopic pregnancy.

Anyone who is sexually active is at risk for STIs. You’ll get screened when you start prenatal care, but you may want to get screened even before you start trying to conceive if you or your partner have more than one sexual partner. If you have multiple partners, you should use a condom, even while pregnant, and you should always use condoms with a new sexual partner until you have both been screened for STIs.

In the United States, women are advised to avoid consuming alcohol during pregnancy. The risk of fetal alcohol syndrome is the reason most people know about, but there is also a potential risk for miscarriage or stillbirth, especially with regular or excessive alcohol use.

Other countries have different recommendations for how much alcohol use is safe in pregnancy, but there is no known lowest safe amount, so it’s most prudent to abstain altogether in pregnancy. If you are a regular drinker or don’t think you can quit drinking, discuss this with a healthcare provider.