Almost 50% of pregnancies in Malaysia MISCARRY!!

Wednesday December 2, 2009
Lifeparenting Headlines, The Star

OBSTETRICIAN and gynaecologist Datuk Dr Nor Ashikin Mokhtar of the Primanora Medical Centre says that about 50% of pregnancies miscarry.

According to her, sometimes women aren’t even aware that they have had a miscarriage and because the foetus is completely expelled from the body, there isn’t even a need to have a D&C (dilation and cutterage).

What is the cause of a miscarriage?

“Most of the time we do not know. You could divide it into foetal causes and maternal causes. When it comes to foetal causes, perhaps most of the time there is something abnormal about the pregnancy or the foetus itself. So that’s the reason why it’s not continuing as it should be.

“The maternal causes can be as simple as a chronic maternal illness – for example, if the mother is suffering from uncontrolled diabetes, hypertension or some auto immune disease. These are some of the underlying causes that affect the pregnancy. Or if the womb itself is abnormal, whether it’s the cavity of the uterus so it can’t implant adequately, or the uterus is normal but there is weakness in the neck of the womb.

“If that’s the case there would usually be a miscarriage after the first trimester. Sudden emotional trauma and stress have been associated with an increased risk of miscarriage.”