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Signs of Miscarriage

The signs to look for and guidance about what to do if you think you might be having a miscarriage.

Nov 6, 2006

Miscarriages in the first trimester are common. There are several signs to look for if you are having a miscarriage. It is common to feel grief after a miscarriage.

Miscarriage occurs in approximately 10-15% of all pregnancies that are confirmed and even more often when women don't realize that they are even pregnant yet. The vast majority of miscarriages (over 90%) occur within the first 8 weeks of pregnancy. Does anyone know what causes a miscarriage?

Experts say that miscarriages have several known causes:

Hormonal imbalances
Immunologic causes (such as insulin-dependent diabetes)
Infections (such as chlamydia)
Viruses
Systemic Disorders (such as lupus)
Genetic factors

Some of the signs that you might be miscarrying often depend on how long you have been pregnant. Here are some guidelines you can follow:

Miscarriage prior to 6 weeks of pregnancy - The signs with a very early miscarriage are often bleeding that looks like a heavy period.

Miscarriage between 6-12 weeks of pregnancy - Signs of a miscarriage later in the first trimester include moderate pain/cramping as well as bleeding.

Miscarriage over 12 weeks of pregnancy - If you are having a miscarriage after the first trimester, you will likely have bleeding and pain that almost feels like the intensity of labor.

An absence of early symptoms are NOT necessarily a sign of miscarriage.

Another important aspect of figuring out whether you have had a miscarriage is if signs of pregnancy were present earlier in your pregnancy are no longer there. It can be confusing as you approach the second trimester and some of those early pregnancy symptoms go away. You might start to worry that you have had a miscarriage since you don't "feel pregnant" and it is too soon to feel the baby moving.

Some of these symptoms include breast tenderness and morning sickness. Often these signs tend to almost go away as you enter your second trimester. These symptoms are based on rapid hormonal changes that are taking place in the first trimester. In the vast majority of mothers, the absence of these symptoms have nothing to do with being signs of a miscarriage.

What is a "threatened miscarriage"?

Some mothers may actually have one or two signs of miscarriage, but wind up carrying their babies to term. This is known as a threatened miscarriage. This can happen, for example, when a mother has some mild cramping and light spotting early in her pregnancy.

What is an "incomplete miscarriage"?

Occasionally a woman experiences several signs of miscarriage (bleeding and severe cramping) but her body still has some tissue remaining in her uterus. This is what is referred to as an incomplete miscarriage. Most times your provider will recommend a D&C (dilation and curettage) in order to prevent you from getting an infection.

How will I know for sure if I have had a miscarriage?

If you have had signs of bleeding and cramping, your should contact your care provider. He or she will recommend an ultrasound to see whether or not your pregnancy is proceeding normally or that you have had a miscarriage. Vaginal ultrasounds can be done as early as 5-6 weeks of pregnancy.

Is it normal to grieve so much after a miscarriage?

It is not unusual for women who experience a miscarriage to feel incredible loss, no matter how weeks pregnant they might have been. Although friends, family and even health care professionals do not mean harm, their comments are often not helpful to a grieving mother. You might hear "It all happened for the best" or "It is so common" and even "Don't worry - you can have more children." These comments can be devastating to a woman who has just had a miscarriage.

Here are some important things to remember about grief:

Know that grief is a natural and slow process.
Cry as much as you need to.
Spend time with close friends or family who will listen and offer words of support.
Pray.
Know that you are not alone.
Know also that grief comes in waves and even when you think you are finished grieving, something will often trigger a memory of your loss and the grief comes back sometimes with just as much emotion and intensity.

For more information or support groups, contact Griefwatch and hopexchange.

Have you experienced a miscarriage? If so, I am so sorry for your loss. Tell us about how you coped in the discussion forum.

The copyright of the article Signs of Miscarriage in Pregnancy & Childbirth is owned by Brenda Lane. Permission to republish Signs of Miscarriage in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.

Comments

Aug 27, 2008 8:05 AM

Guest :

I had a miscarriage aged 40 after trying over two years to get pregnant. It was very early on (7 weeks) pre-empted by light spotting, an intense prickling/stabbing sensation in my lower abdomen followed by a rapid trailing off of b-HCG hormone. I think there was also some lower back pain which may have been related, but I didn't bleed heavily until after a laproscopy I had for what was suspected as an ectopic pregnancy. It didn't turn out to be ectopic but a pregnancy 'of unknown site' or perhaps what I have heard called a 'chemical pregnancy'.

At the age of 40 I knew time was running out for me, so the loss was devastating as I had to face facts that I was already well on the wrong side of 36 (apparently the age at which fertility reduces) and to get pregnant again may take months/years, if at all. I already knew my fertility was on the low side, even for 40, because I had been having tests, in consideration of IVF so things weren't looking good. The grief was intense but actually relatively short-lived because the way I coped with it was to have a plan of what to do next and acting on that plan. There is always next month afterall (for most) or in fact other scientific options which those struggling at a later stage in life, can consider. I did in fact try IVF once after that and unfortuntely that failed too, but then I went straight onto egg donation through a clinic in Spain because although a natural or IVF pregnancy was possible, time was ticking on. It took me a while to get my head around egg donation and the knowledge that any resultant child would not resemble me genetically, but then hey ho, life is imperfect. After my second attempt at embryo implantation via donation, it worked and I am now 9 weeks pregnant and praying every day that everything will go along OK.

So far everything is good, but I have persistence and mostly science to thank for the opportunity it has given me to be a mother. The road to parenthood is very tough for many people, but if you know that there are options, can accept that sometimes it may not be easy and you may need to be open to new things, you can get there because failure does not live with persistance. Best of luck to you all. xx

Aug 28, 2008 7:05 PM

Guest :

I experienced a miscarriage this June at 12 weeks. I dont know yet if i have coped with this. two weeks before the miscarriage, I started experiencing lower back pain. Then it happened. I dont understand why. No one seem to be able to conjur up any explanation. I am 22 yrs old....healthy... so im told. All you can do if you have had or is now experiencing this horrid pain, is allow yourself to go through the emotions. Dont let it stay within. It can be a killer.

Sep 29, 2008 11:29 AM

Guest :

I am still going through my miscarriage. This is my 5th miscarriage. At my OB/GYN's I tend to get the "ok. Let's get back to business, let's order the full chem, and get past these "issues". For some reason, because she's being strong about it, and avoiding the whole thing I feel I can look past it too. It's on my mind, but since she's not dwelling on it, I'm not either, and we're looking towards the future.

Sep 29, 2008 11:35 AM

Brenda Lane :

Your ob-gyn is doing her job, but remember you are more than just a baby machine. People are entitled to feel and experience loss. Miscarriage is loss. A loss of hope as well as a a loss of a baby. Even if you decide to focus on strategies to keep your baby to term with your doctor, it doesn't mean you can't or shouldn't grieve those other losses.

Sep 29, 2008 6:59 PM

Guest :

ok so i am 21 i have a son who will be 3 this dec. and a son who will be 1 this dec.....both c-sections....i never stopped bleeding after i had my second son and lately the bleeding has gotten really heavy and i've had these extreme pelvic pains that feel like an ice pick stabbing me so painful to the point i can't even move sometimes and crying in agony.... what could be wrong with me.. i knwo i should have been to the doc by now but i have no insurance and i went to the er one of the times i had this huge gush of blood full of what looked to be blood clots...and the hospital after sitting there for 6 hours put me ina room for 5 mins and the doc came in i told her what was going on and she sent me home w/o even doing a pregnancy test...she told me that there was nothing she could do for me that i needed an obgyn but with no insurance i can't go because they want payment upfront ...i'm lost and confused and don't know what to do please help!~Amanda~

Oct 5, 2008 8:47 PM

Guest :

i had cramps and bleeding heavy and its has not slowed down

Oct 5, 2008 11:27 PM

Guest :

Amanda -

What you are going through is definitely not normal and should be looked at right away. The ER cannot deny you medical service, so my first trip would be back to the ER and demand that the proper test be ran to make sure that you are okay. If you've been bleeding consistantly for a full year then it sounds like something terrible went wrong during your second C-section. Your body is giving you all of the warning signs that something is not right. GO AND DEMAND THAT YOU ARE TREATED. You have two kids to be their for - DON'T TAKE NO FOR AN ANSWER.

Best of luck.

Oct 5, 2008 11:32 PM

Guest :

Keisha -

I am 8 weeks pregnant and have been experiencing sharp pains in my abdomen and very light spotting. I had a miscarriage 6 months ago so I remember the onset systems of a miscarriage all too well and I am devestated about what's about to take place.

Oct 8, 2008 9:23 AM

Guest :

Amanda-
I am not sure where you live but you need to see an OBGYN. I know you do not have insurance but you may want to try to call planned parenthood for help. You have 2 small children to think about and they need their mother to be alive and healthy. Who delivered your last child? Did you go to your follow-up? Maybe you should contact that doctor to see if there is any help for you or some very low payment plans. I do not know your work situation but you should apply for medical assistance through your county social services office which you could even do for your children if you have not already. Bleeding for so long could cause infection and probably already has. I bled for 11 weeks before and it caused infection, I was about 19 years old when this happened do not think I was pregnant but I was dumb and used tampons the whole time which caused the infection. Doctor gave me antibiotics and things cleared up. More than likely you are not pregnant, you may have a very bad infection but I am not a doctor. You may also want to start taking iron with so much blood loss, but the fact is you need to see a doctor and fix this. Good luck to you and God bless.....Steph

Oct 10, 2008 1:21 PM

Guest :

Earlier this year 02/05/08 I found out I was 7 months pregnant I am 42 years old and was stunned as I had not been trying to get pregnant in the least. In the one day I knew I was pregnant I was ecstatic. The next morning I miscarried it was a horrible feeling.

This past monday I took 2 pregnancy tests and both were positive as I was 11 days late. That night I had some bleeding no cramping then the bleeding stopped. This morning I took another pregnancy test and it was negative. I am confused so tomorrow I am going into the doctor's office and having a pregnancy test done. I will be devastated if I am not pregnant because since February I have wanted to get pregnant.

Rosie

Oct 23, 2008 6:35 PM

Guest :

I'm new to this site but found it helpful. I have a beautiful and healthy 2 1/2 year old. She was born at 31 weeks so the thought of having another child was very risky for my husband and I. I recently had a positive pregnancy test the day of my missed period. 4 days later I started bleeding and the next day began gushing blood. I had blood work done and my HCG levels were 5. The doctors kept telling me that it was possible I wasn't even pregnant which was very degrading. As a woman, I know my body and was sure that I was preganant...enough to get me excited and hopeful. The doctors then called back and said that I most likely had a chemical pregnancy. My advice is to wait until a week after your missed period. The feeling of being told that you are no longer pregnant is very hurtful and depressing. Good luck to all who have had the same feeling and are still trying. I feel the pain and agony.

Oct 26, 2008 9:26 AM

Guest :

Hi my name is Tovah and about a month ago I thought I was pregnant cause I went two months without my period. Anyway I was on the shot from Jan up until June. July, August, and September I went without having a period, and me and my kids father have been having unprotected sex. October my period finally came on and I bleed almost two weeks. I mean heavy bleeding. I have never bleed like this before. Anyway after the bleeding finally stopped I took a home pregnancy test twice and it read negative both times. The reason for my comment is I feel like I'm pregnant because it feels like something is moving inside of me. Can you please tell me what's going on.

Dec 2, 2008 12:22 PM

Guest :

hello, me n my partner have bn trying for a baby for 6months i havent bn stressing about it but last month i missed my period so i took some test and 3 came back positive so i went to my docoter and did a urine test it was negative i was so dissapointed so i brought more test n still negative so i looked it up people told me you cant get a false positive but i knew i was pregnant i had most of the signs so i thght mayb im 2 early so i waited 2 do a test again well i started 2 get slight cramping 2days later i was bleeding but it was very diffrent to my period so i went to the hospital they did a blood test and came back negative but i know in my heart i was pregnant i was so hurt it was like someone teasing me the nurses was so unhelpful i dont know weather it was a period or a m/c plz help me??

13 Comments