The riskiest part of pregnancy is the first trimester, specifically the first 13 weeks.
Understanding Pregnancy Risk
Pregnancy is divided into three trimesters:
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First Trimester (Weeks 1-13): This period carries the highest risk of miscarriage. The majority of miscarriages occur during these initial weeks. This is largely due to chromosomal abnormalities and developmental issues that are more likely to be fatal at this early stage.
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Second Trimester (Weeks 14-28): The risk of miscarriage significantly decreases during this trimester. While complications can still arise, they are less frequent than in the first trimester.
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Third Trimester (Weeks 29-40): While generally safer than the first trimester, the third trimester introduces different risks, such as premature birth, preeclampsia, and other potential complications affecting both mother and baby. However, the risk of miscarriage is exceptionally low.
The provided reference states that most miscarriages occur in the first 13 weeks of pregnancy and the chance of miscarriage drops to below 0.5% after about 20 weeks gestation. This clearly indicates the first trimester as the period with the highest risk.
While the third trimester presents its own set of potential dangers, the sheer volume of miscarriages in the first trimester makes it the statistically riskiest period of pregnancy.
