Can falling down the stairs really cause a miscarriage?

[Annie-Xmas]

As it happened in Gone With the Wind and a staple of every soap opera ever written, is this possible? Probable? Likely?

[pan1]

Any Trauma can cause the body to spontaneously abort a pregnancy. The body’s first job is to take care of itself and if it is threatened enough, it will stop supporting non-life essential functions - like pregnancy.

The body’s natural reactions are not always accurate and it can misinterpret small injuries as more severe than they are. So yes, it’s possible and not so very unlikely.

[CarnalK]

Just anecdotal, but my Father (an ob/gyn) always thought that was pretty ridiculous when portrayed in movies/tv. The body is not going to abort over an injury so the accident would have to do some pretty specific damage to the baby or detach the placenta or something. He would strongly disagree that it is was “possible and not so very unlikely”.

[Springtime_for_Spacers]

Also anecdotal but it happened to my Aunt.

[dracoi]

The trick is to avoid falling down the stairs while walking under a ladder with pieces of a broken mirror on Friday the 13th.

[Xema]

If this Wiki statement

A study of over 92,000 pregnant women found that most types of exercise (with the exception of swimming) correlated with a higher risk of miscarriage prior to 18 weeks. Increasing time spent on exercise was associated with a greater risk of miscarriage: an approximately 10% increased risk was seen with up to 1.5 hours per week of exercise, and a 200% increased risk was seen with over 7 hours per week of exercise. High-impact exercise was especially associated with the increased risk.

is accurate, then it’s fully plausible that a rough fall could precipitate a miscarriage that was already somewhat likely.

[Elendil_s_Heir]

@dracoi

The trick is to avoid falling down the stairs while walking under a ladder with pieces of a broken mirror on Friday the 13th.

Watch out for the black cat, too.

[CarnalK]

@Xema

If this Wiki statement
is accurate, then it’s fully plausible that a rough fall could precipitate a miscarriage that was already somewhat likely.

I don’t think that necessarily follows. “High impact” in the case of exercise doesn’t have anything to do with a physical trauma, unless you think they are talking about full contact hockey. They are more likely talking about repetitive stuff like aerobics.
From the “about” pages

Question: Can Falling During Pregnancy Cause a Miscarriage?

Answer:

The answer is not often at all in the first trimester. In early pregnancy, the uterus is low in the pelvis and very well protected by the mother’s pelvic bones. In the first trimester, falling down stairs during pregnancy or experiencing a similar physical trauma would be unlikely to affect the baby or the placenta.

Later on, direct abdominal injury seems like it could cause a miscarriage, but I still don’t know how much of a likely event it is.

[Mk_VII]

@Elendil_s_Heir

Watch out for the black cat, too.

Whilst on the way to the mailbox to renew your life insurance.

[badbadrubberpiggy]

@CarnalK

I don’t think that necessarily follows. “High impact” in the case of exercise doesn’t have anything to do with a physical trauma, unless you think they are talking about full contact hockey. They are more likely talking about repetitive stuff like aerobics.
.

The specifically mention high-impact, which makes me think it’s something to do with overheating & dehydration, both dangerous during pregnancy. I would assume that’s why swimming is excluded - you’re not likely to overheat.