It's probably the most common early pregnancy concern -- fear of miscarriage. And while miscarriages occur in up to 15% of pregnancies, the odds are still overwhelmingly in your favor that everything will be just fine. It's good to think about those numbers.

What causes a miscarriage anyway, and what can you do to decrease your risk? Read on to see.

What causes miscarriage?

There's a good article on Parents.com that breaks down what really does and doesn't cause miscarriage. Here are some highlights:

What does

  • Chromosomal problems
  • Certain medical conditions, like diabetes and thyroid disease, that might interfere with blood flow to the uterus
  • Excess alcohol, cigarette, or drug use

What doesn't

  • Too much exercise
  • Depression, or being in a bad mood
  • Everyday stresses

Ways to minimize your risk of miscarriage

While these certainly can't insure that you won't miscarry, they may be a help:

  • Don't smoke, avoid alcohol, and be moderate with your caffeine intake.
  • Check out all medications with your doctor.
  • Increase your folic intake (through a vitamin supplement or eating more foods like spinach, asparagus, and lentils.)

And sit tight through your first trimester -- your risk of miscarrying goes down after the first twelve weeks.

Talk to your doctor if you're anxious about miscarrying -- and if you have miscarried, connect with Miscarriage/Pregnancy Loss Support or Early Miscarriage Support to share with others and get encouragement