Because miscarriages can occur for various reasons it is difficult to often pinpoint the exact reason that a woman has had a miscarriage. Typically, if a woman has had three miscarriages in a row testing will be performed to try and discern a medical cause for the loss. When testing is able to reveal the cause of the miscarriage, such as diabetes, hormonal imbalance or low thyroid, treatment of these conditions will lead to a full term pregnancy.
Sometimes, miscarriages that occur after 14 weeks happen due to a weakened cervix. When the baby grows and places pressure on a weakened cervix it will spontaneously open and the baby will pass out of the uterus. When this is determined as the cause of miscarriage a future pregnancy can sometimes be completed by the doctor placing a stitch in the cervix around 12 weeks to keep it closed. The stitch is called a cerclage.
All pregnant women should avoid radiation, medication (unless cleared by your doctor), smoking and alcohol during pregnancy. Keeping a healthy diet, taking folic acid and regular prenatal visits are all part of a full term pregnancy.