If a pregnant woman has a miscarriage, her baby dies and she gives birth to it before it is properly formed. if a woman who is going to have a baby has a miscarriage, she gives birth before the baby is properly formed and it dies abortion, stillbirth stillbirth. or spontaneous abortion Spontaneous expulsion of an embryo or fetus from the uterus before it can live outside the mother. More than 60% are caused by an inherited defect in the fetus, which might result in a fatal abnormality. Other causes may include acute infectious disease, especially if it reduces the fetus's oxygen supply; abnormalities of the uterus that have physical or hormonal origins; and death of the fetus from umbilical-cord knotting. The main sign of impending miscarriage is vaginal bleeding