The perinatal nurse is educating a group of women on common causes of miscarriage, or spontaneous ...

ANS: A, B, C, D
Early spontaneous abortions have been linked to chromosomal abnormalities, infections, maternal anatomical defects, and immunological and endocrine factors. In some cases, no cause is found. Second-trimester spontaneous abortions can be caused by chronic infection, recreational drug use, maternal uterine or cervical anatomical defects, maternal systemic disease, exposure to fetotoxic agents, and trauma. In general, working during pregnancy is not a risk factor, although the nurse should assess the woman's work setting for environmental/work-related risks, such as fetotoxic agents or ionizing radiation.