One of the most painful things a woman can go through is a miscarriage. Just the thought of having a baby and the joy of having it grow in your womb is incredible and this leads to unimaginable pain when one miscarries. 

For some, miscarriages may be genetic. Also, miscarriages are seldom caused by something a woman did wrong so if you’ve had one, never blame yourself. 

According to Agatha Mutamba, a midwife at the Rwanda Military Hospital, miscarriages may be caused by chronic illnesses such as diabetes, uterine fibroids, scar tissues in the uterus and severe trauma.  She advises that during pregnancy, women should avoid drugs like alcohol, tobacco and caffeine as these put one at a high risk of getting a miscarriage. According to the Planned Parenthood website, women who are underweight or overweight have a greater risk of miscarrying than other women.

Also, women who have had two or more miscarriages in a row are at a greater risk of having future miscarriages and should therefore always seek medical advice whenever planning their next pregnancy. A woman’s risk of miscarrying increases as she ages according to this website.                  

Mutamba advises that if a pregnant woman starts having vaginal bleeding, severe cramping and abdominal pain and pressure then she should see a gynecologist to examine their condition because these could be signs of a miscarriage.

Regular exercising, eating healthy and taking folic acid could prevent or lower the risk of miscarriages according to the midwife.

"Pregnant women should also avoid being stressed and maintain healthy weight to avoid miscarriages. Never prescribe for yourself medication but seek medical advice from a doctor especially a gynecologist before taking any medications during pregnancy. Some drugs can lead to a miscarriage,” she said.

Although sometimes it’s not easy to avoid a miscarriage but once you detect these signs, seek medical advice right away. Ensure that you keep your body healthy, what you do and what you eat in order to have a safe pregnancy.