Pregnancy Loss

Also called: Miscarriage, Spontaneous abortion, Stillbirth

You're pregnant and expect to be changing diapers one day. Then, suddenly, the pregnancy is over. Whatever name it is called - miscarriage, ectopic pregnancy, stillbirth - you lost your baby. Pregnancy loss can happen in different ways. With a miscarriage, pregnancy suddenly ends before 20 weeks. It usually happens because of genetic problems in the fetus. An ectopic pregnancy occurs outside the uterus and the fetus cannot survive. In a molar pregnancy, a mass or growth forms inside the uterus at the beginning of a pregnancy; often there is no fetus. After 20 weeks, losing a pregnancy is called stillbirth. Similar losses - and grief - can also be the result of newborn death or prenatal death from trauma. Counseling may help. Later, if you do decide to try again, work closely with your health care provider to lower the risks. Many women who lose a pregnancy go on to have healthy babies.