A miscarriage is a term used to describe the spontaneous loss of a pregnancy, usually during the first 20 weeks, although most occur in the first trimester. Miscarriage is extremely common, and studies estimate that as many as 20% of pregnancies may end this way. It’s not always known why some women miscarry and others don’t, but unsurprisingly, any miscarriage can be extremely distressing and upsetting for a mother-to-be, their partner, and even wider family. Unfortunately, once you have had one miscarriage your risk of experiencing another may increase and around 1 in 100 women experience recurrent miscarriage (3 or more miscarriages in a row).
The good news is that studies show that the risk of miscarriage decreases as pregnancy progresses. Seeing a heartbeat at 8 weeks gestation increases the chance of a continuing pregnancy to 98%, and at 10 weeks, this increases to 99.4%.
A miscarriage can occur suddenly or over a number of weeks. Here are the 5 symptoms most commonly associated with a miscarriage as well as what you should do if you think you are having one.
1 – Bleeding
The most common sign of miscarriage is vagin*l bleeding. How this appears can vary, from light spotting or brownish discharge to bright red blood that is heavier.
2 – Cramps and Lower Abdominal Pain
The severity of this lower abdominal pain can vary, from period-like cramps to severe pain and labor-like contractions as your body seeks to eject the pregnancy.
3 – Clots and Pregnancy Tissue
You may even notice some clots in the blood that you pass. If you have had recurring miscarriages, your midwife or doctor may recommend that you try and keep any clots/tissue that you pass. This may be tested to see if it is possible to determine a cause for the miscarriage.
4- Discharge of Fluid from Your vagin*
It’s normal to have more vagin*l discharge than normal during pregnancy, but any very watery discharge, or leaking clear or pinkish fluid, could be a sign of miscarriage.
5 – No Longer Experiencing Pregnancy Symptoms
If you had previously been experiencing pregnancy symptoms, such as tender breasts, feeling/being sick or extreme fatigue, these may go away.
What to do if You Think You are Having a Miscarriage
It’s important to be aware that many women experience spotting/light bleeding during the first trimester, and this doesn’t necessarily mean that you are having a miscarriage. Implantation bleeding can occur when the egg implants itself into the lining of the uterus as part of the process. And a small number of women continue to have periods right through their pregnancy.
If you are concerned that you may be having a miscarriage, we recommend that you speak to your midwife or doctor to get advice and support. They will ask you some questions about the symptoms that you are experiencing and will be able to advise you on what you can expect to happen next, as well as give you practical information such as using pads to manage the bleeding, avoiding tampons, and directing you to external support groups.
If you would like more information about the symptoms of miscarriage, or if you have any concerns, please don’t hesitate to contact our discreet and friendly team at Partners in Obstetrics & Women's Health in New Lenox, Illinois at(815) 240-0554.
FAQs
vagin*l bleeding or spotting, commonly after the pain has started. pain in your shoulder tip. diarrhoea and vomiting. feeling very faint and lightheaded, and possibly fainting.
What are the first signs of having a miscarriage? ›
vagin*l bleeding or spotting, commonly after the pain has started. pain in your shoulder tip. diarrhoea and vomiting. feeling very faint and lightheaded, and possibly fainting.
How long do miscarriages last? ›
Most of the tissue passes within 2 to 4 hours after the cramping and bleeding start. Cramping usually stops within a day. Light bleeding or spotting can go on for 4 to 6 weeks. Two weeks after the tissue passes, your ob-gyn may do an ultrasound exam or other tests to make sure all the tissue has passed.
How long after cramping does miscarriage start? ›
Sometimes pain and bleeding may start straight away, but there may be a delay of 2 or 3 days, or even longer. Most women start to bleed within the first 24 hours. Bleeding and pain may last for up to 1-2 days before the miscarriage is completed. You may then experience period-like bleeding for the next two weeks.
Do I need to go to the hospital for a miscarriage at 5 weeks? ›
If you're in the early weeks of pregnancy: you'll probably be asked to go to the early pregnancy unit at your local hospital straight away. you'll have some tests and usually an ultrasound scan. your body usually completes the miscarriage naturally.
How can I confirm a miscarriage at home? ›
What are the signs of a miscarriage?
- cramping pain in your lower tummy, which can vary from period-like pain to strong labour-like contractions.
- passing fluid from your vagin*.
- passing of blood clots or pregnancy tissue from your vagin*.
It can be hard to distinguish between early pregnancy loss and a period. If bleeding is heavier than is usual, appears suddenly, or occurs with unusual abdominal cramping, this can indicate pregnancy loss. In the early stages, a person may not have known that they were pregnant.
What does a early miscarriage look like? ›
How It Looks: Miscarriage bleeding can resemble your period, but it's usually heavier. It might also contain clots and tissue. The color can be pink, red, or brown. Other Symptoms: Your period might come with predictable symptoms like cramping, sore breasts, and bloating.
What do miscarriage cramps feel like? ›
Cramping and pain
Miscarriage can also feel a lot like labor, adds R. Renee Gaiski, MSN, CNM, a nurse-midwife with Spectrum Health Pennock in Hastings, Michigan. "The cramping can be very intense, usually in the lower abdomen but sometimes wrapping around to the back or down the thighs," she explains.
How do you feel during a miscarriage? ›
Your womb will contract to help your baby and pregnancy tissue move out of your body. Some people describe these as strong period pains, other people who have given birth to a baby previously say they feel more like contractions in labour. You may have milder cramps or aches for a day or so afterwards.
Bleeding may continue for several weeks after a miscarriage but tends to be much lighter with a suction aspiration. Any bleeding may change in color from bright red to pink or brown. Lower abdominal cramping in the few days after treatment is also common.
What do miscarriage clots look like? ›
The clots that are passed are dark red and look like jelly. They might have what looks like a membrane inside, which is part of the placenta. The sac will be inside one of the clots. At this time, the developing baby is usually fully formed but still tiny and difficult to see.
Can a miscarriage start and stop? ›
The heaviest bleeding is generally over within three to five hours from the time heavy bleeding begins. Lighter bleeding may stop and start over one to two weeks before it completely ends.
What are 3 signs symptoms of a miscarriage? ›
The symptoms can include:
- Bleeding from the vagin* with or without pain, including light bleeding called spotting.
- Pain or cramping in the pelvic area or lower back.
- Fluid or tissue passing from the vagin*.
- Fast heartbeat.
Actual pregnancy tissue may not be discernible until after the eighth week. Then, the tissue may look like pink, white, or gray tissue. A person may also be able to see a fluid-filled sac in the passed tissue.
Does your water break when you have a miscarriage? ›
There are usually few symptoms before a miscarriage caused by cervical insufficiency. You may feel sudden pressure, your water might break, and tissue from the baby and placenta could leave your body without much pain.
Are there warning signs before a miscarriage? ›
Other miscarriage symptoms may include:
White-pink mucus coming from the vagin*. True contractions (very painful happening every 5-20 minutes) Tissue with clot like material passing from the vagin*. A sudden decrease in signs of pregnancy.
What does an early miscarriage look like? ›
Miscarriage blood can be light pink, red, or brown. It might resemble your monthly period or look like grainy coffee grounds. 6. If the loss occurs early in your pregnancy, there may be minimal clotting, but the farther the pregnancy has progressed, the clots might be denser and larger.
What are the symptoms of silent miscarriage? ›
But even though a silent miscarriage has occurred, pregnancy hormones are still high. This means a person may continue to experience pregnancy symptoms such as breast tenderness, nausea, and fatigue, though possibly to a lesser extent than before. A pregnancy test may continue to show a positive result as well.
