Could There Be A Link Between Breastfeeding and Miscarriage?

I did not try to conceive while breastfeeding my daughter, but I have often read that while it is not impossible to conceive while breastfeeding, your chances are reduced. It is probably for the same reason that if you have recently had a baby and are breastfeeding, you may be at a higher risk for early miscarriage if you become pregnant again.

Read more (from "Belly Tales")

Ovulating While Breastfeeding

From the article:

"...after not menstruating for so many months, it takes the body a few tries to get the delicate hormone balance back up to speed again. The first few cycles either don’t release an egg, or if an egg is released, the corpus luteum, which is responsible for secreting enough progesterone to maintain the pregnancy until the placenta can take over, isn’t quite up to the task. This is called a luteal phase defect, and it’s a very common cause of early miscarriages. In women who are breastfeeding, the process of returning to normal ovarian cycles takes even longer."




Picture compliments of:

MyKidzMom

Treating A Common Infection Could Reduce Risk Of Miscarriage

I never wanted to take any kind of medication while I was pregnant. However, if you have an infection called "Bacterial Vaginosis", treating it with antibiotics could save your pregnancy. Read More:

Miscarriage risk cut by antibiotics
Treating pregnant women for a mild vaginal infection can reduce their risk of miscarriage and premature birth (news.bbc.co.uk)

According to the article:

"UK researchers found treating the condition early on in pregnancy could reduce the risk of both miscarriage and premature birth.

They said it may be advisable to screen women for the condition before they became pregnant, so they could receive treatment."

If you think you might have a vaginal infection, you should talk with your doctor about getting it treated especially before you become pregnant.

Preventing Miscarriage and Pre-term Birth with Good Dental Hygiene

The first time I heard about the connection between good dental hygiene and pregnancy complications I almost didn't believe it. I thought maybe it was a ploy by the dental industry to drum up business! But after I reading about it, everything seemed to make sense. Even though your mouth is a long way away from your reproductive system, what goes on in it can affect your entire body. Here is an article that tells more:


Reduce Risk for Preemies and Miscarriage with Good Dental Hygiene

From the article:

"It has been suggested that a labor-inducing chemical found in oral bacteria called prostaglandin, may trigger early delivery. High levels of the chemical are found in women with advanced periodontal disease. A study recently published in the Journal of Clinical Periodontology suggested that some bacteria associated with periodontal disease actually increased the risk of premature deliveries. In the same study the presence of certain oral bacteria had a protective effect against early delivery or low birth weight babies."

Obesity and Birth Defects

One of my previous posts talked about how obesity may be a factor in miscarriage. Another article from the same site talks about how obesity may also be a factor in birth defects and other pregnancy complications:

Birth Defects Linked To Being Overweight Before Pregnancy

From the article:

"Weight before pregnancy matters much more than people realize, even health professionals," says Richard J. Deckelbaum, M.D., Professor of Nutrition at Columbia University, New York, and chairman of the March of Dimes Task Force, speaking at a press conference. "For the moms, there are serious complications such as gestational diabetes, dangerously high blood pressure, and hospitalization; and for the babies, prematurity, serious birth defects and other severe problems. And when these babies grow up, they are more likely to suffer from obesity, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and other health problems. Obesity is particularly dangerous for women of childbearing age because it creates a life cycle of serious problems that can be passed from generation to generation."

Progesterone Supplementation To Prevent Miscarriage

I recall having my progesterone tested when I was going through fertility treatments. It did test a little low on the last half on my cycle. When I underwent fertility treatments, I received progesterone shots, but I miscarried anyway. When I finally got pregnant with my daughter, I was somehow able to carry my pregnancy to term with no medical intervention. I guess that's one illustration why progesterone supplementation is controversial. Here are a few articles on the subject:

babymed.com

www.naprotechnology.com

Miscarriage Poetry

I remember writing poetry when I was in school. I wish I had the time to do more of that. It really can be very cathartic to put into words how you feel after a traumatic experience like miscarriage. Here is a site with 48 miscarriage poems:

www.helium.com

Here is an excerpt from one poem:

by Chris Dixon


Silent losses I have suffered.
Ones that most can't see.
From the moment I knew she was there,
she was a part of me.

They said she was a fetus,
but I know thats not true.
They did not feel the things I felt,
or know the things I knew...

Chromosomes and Miscarriage

Here is a short narrative with pictures on how chromosomes may be abnormal and may result in miscarriage:

Abnormal Chromosomes (www.mhhe.com)