Q&A: Is there anything I can do to prevent a miscarriage?

The risk of miscarriage is about 20% in any pregnancy. The risk of it happening a second time, I suppose, would be 20% of 20% -- or 4%. A third time? 20% of 4% -- or 8/10 of 1%. The odds are with you.

Two miscarriages can happen as two such random events. Usually doctors begin a work-up after three miscarriages, to rule out genetic foul-ups between husband and wife, but there's certainly nothing wrong with checking some simple things after two.

Certain antibodies in the mother's blood can predispose to miscarriage, specifically, anti-cardiolipin, anti-nuclear antibody (ANA), and Lupus. If any or all of these were to be positive, some perinatologists have recommended a baby aspirin (anti-inflammatory) a day to cool down the bad effects of these. But that would be your doctor's call. Also, giving progesterone in the first trimester may add assurance if the progesterone is low, because progesterone is necessary for a healthy bed of tissue in which the pregnancy implants.