NBC4: Miscarriage Awareness

Recently, Hilaria Baldwin, the wife of actor Alec Baldwin, shared on her Instagram page that she thought she was having a miscarriage. The post went viral and opened up a nationwide discussion about miscarriages and just how common they are.

In the wake of the post, NBC4 anchor Darlene Hill spoke with Dr. Stuart Jones, Ob/Gyn with OhioHealth Riverside Methodist Hospital, about what miscarriages are and what can cause them.

“A miscarriage is when the baby stops growing in utero,” said Dr. Jones. He said miscarriages are not uncommon at all – about 15-20 percent of pregnancies end in miscarriage.

Miscarriages can occur from a variety of different factors.

“Reasons for miscarriages can be placental abnormalities in terms of where the baby implants, the uterus itself can be irregular, we can have polyps that can cause problems, fibroids that can cause problems. But I’d say the main reason would be the chromosome (of the baby),” Dr. Jones told NBC4.

What isn’t a factor? Age of the mother, family history of miscarriages or not, or how many children a woman has had before.

Dr. Jones said women often feel the miscarriage is their fault and it’s important to realize it is not.

“They wonder ‘Am I going to be able to have a baby again? Am I doing something wrong?’” said Dr. Jones. “They say ‘What did I do to create this?’ And they feel like it’s their fault. I make sure I take time to say ‘Listen, this is nothing you’ve done. This is nothing you’ve created. Don’t be ashamed of this.’ And people understand.”

Dr. Jones said if you’re pregnant and something doesn’t feel right, call your doctor. Signs can include spotting, unusal cramping, or pain in the abdomen and/or back.

Click here to find an Ob/Gyn physician near you. To learn more about women’s health and maternity services at OhioHealth, click here.