eli5 What is a miscarriage? Doctor malpractice involved? Just bad luck? Does the baby always die? Does the mom always die? Bad health choices?
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Miscarriage is when a pregnancy ends naturally (i.e. the unborn baby dies) before 20 weeks gestation. After that it’s considered stillborn.
It is usually just bad luck and not from something anyone has done (such as bad health choices). The most common cause of miscarriage is genetic mutations that are not compatible with life. About 20% of known pregnancies end in miscarriage, but it is a bit of a taboo topic and so not many people talk about it. But it is much more common than you would think. Most miscarriages happen in the first trimester, and for this reason women are cautioned not to announce their pregnancy early on to avoid having to share their disappointment and grief with everyone if a miscarriage does occur.
An early miscarriage is a bit like a heavy period, while a later one could involve more obvious / well formed products of conception. The mum does not die most of the time but there can be complications such as blood loss and infection that need to be treated. Often, women will need a small surgery to remove any remaining products of conception.
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