Test Your Knowledge

All women should have yearly checkups with their obstetrician-gynecologist (ObGyn) to monitor their reproductive health. For women considering pregnancy, early prenatal care is important for their health and to ensure optimum conditions for pregnancy to occur.

Because most miscarriages are caused by chromosomal abnormalities, there is little that can be done to prevent miscarriage from occurring.  However, it is recommended that all women who are trying to conceive achieve a healthy lifestyle by:

• Exercising regularly
• Eating healthy
• Managing stress
• Maintaining a healthy weight
• Taking a daily folic acid supplement
• Avoiding the use of alcohol and recreational drugs (e.g., cocaine, ecstasy)
• Refraining from smoking

If a woman is pregnant, she can reduce the risk of miscarriage by:

• Receiving good prenatal care
  
  
• Not smoking or being around cigarette smoke
  
  
• Not drinking alcohol or using recreational drugs
  
  
• Checking with a physician before taking any prescription or over-the-counter medications
  
  
• Having someone else clean the cat’s litter box to help avoid toxoplasmosis
  
  
• Limiting or eliminating caffeine
  
  
• Avoiding environmental hazards, such as radiation and x-rays
  
  
• Getting proper treatment for chronic illness, such as diabetes and thyroid disease
  
  
• Avoiding contact sports or activities that have risk or injury
  
  
• Avoiding certain foods that may contain harmful bacteria (e.g., listeria) that can cause miscarriage, such as raw or uncooked meats, deli meats, liver, fish, raw shellfish, raw eggs, soft cheeses, unpasteurized milk and pate
  
  
• Washing all fruits and vegetables before consumption