10 Things You Should Know About Miscarriages (2023)

FAQs

What You Should Know About miscarriage? ›

Miscarriage is the spontaneous loss of a pregnancy before the 20th week. About 10 to 20 percent of known pregnancies end in miscarriage. But the actual number is likely higher because many miscarriages occur very early in pregnancy — before you might even know about a pregnancy.

Certain types of uterine infections and sexually transmitted infections (STIs) can also play a role. Problems with the uterus or cervix such as fibroids and cervical insufficiency, which is when the cervix dilates too soon during pregnancy, can also lead to miscarriage.

A woman early in her pregnancy may have a miscarriage and only experience bleeding and cramping for a few hours. But another woman may have miscarriage bleeding for up to a week. The bleeding can be heavy with clots, but it slowly tapers off over days before stopping, usually within two weeks.

Weeks 0 to 6

These early weeks mark the highest risk of miscarriage. A woman can have a miscarriage in the first week or two without realizing she's pregnant. It may even seem like a late period.

A 2019 review of medical studies suggests that sleeping on your back carries risks, but it doesn't seem to matter whether you sleep on your right or left side. These studies do have some flaws, though. Third trimester pregnancy loss is very uncommon. Therefore, there aren't many cases from which to draw conclusions.

A UK case-control study showed that caffeine consumption of more than 300 mg/day during pregnancy approximately doubles the risk of miscarriage, and this effect is driven by coffee consumption [30].

Most miscarriages - 8 out of 10 (80 percent) - happen in the first trimester before the 12^th week of pregnancy. Miscarriage in the second trimester (between 13 and 19 weeks) happens in 1 to 5 in 100 (1 to 5 percent) pregnancies.

While excessive stress isn't good for your overall health, there's no evidence that stress results in miscarriage. About 10% to 20% of known pregnancies end in miscarriage. But the actual number is likely higher because many miscarriages occur before the pregnancy is recognized.

How many miscarriages does it take to have a healthy baby? ›

Miscarriage is usually a one-time occurrence. Most women who miscarry go on to have healthy pregnancies after miscarriage. A small number of women — 1 percent — will have repeated miscarriages. The predicted risk of miscarriage in a future pregnancy remains about 20 percent after one miscarriage.

Having a miscarriage can be devastating, but having one after another is often a very traumatic experience. If you have had 3 or more miscarriages in row, you should be referred to a specialist unit dedicated to managing recurrent miscarriage. You can have tests and investigations to find a possible reason.

Even after having three miscarriages, a woman has a 60 to 80 percent chance of conceiving and carrying a full-term pregnancy. Often women decide to continue trying to get pregnant naturally, but in certain situations a doctor may suggest treatments to help reduce the risk of another miscarriage.

No sex, tampons, or douching for 2 weeks.

We recommend waiting until after 2 normal periods to attempt pregnancy again.

Not all miscarriages are physically painful, but most people have cramping. The cramps are really strong for some people, and light for others (like a period or less). It's also common to have vaginal bleeding and to pass large blood clots up to the size of a lemon.

In many cases, a miscarriage will take around two weeks to pass naturally. Your doctor may prescribe the medication misoprostol (Cytotec) to help a miscarriage pass more quickly. Bleeding may start within two days of beginning the medication. For others, it may take up to two weeks.

Most miscarriages happen between 6 and 8 weeks gestation. We know that most of these occur due to a major genetic abnormality in the fetus. The sperm and the egg (which are known as gametes) each contain half the genetic material necessary for a complete person.

No Fetal Heartbeat After Seven Weeks Gestation

If you are past seven weeks pregnant, seeing no heartbeat may be a sign of miscarriage.1 By this point a transvaginal ultrasound should be able to reliable detect a heartbeat or lack thereof. But there are many exceptions to the "heartbeat by seven weeks" rule.

More than 80% of miscarriages occur within the first 12 weeks of pregnancy. After 12 weeks, the rate decreases rapidly (Dante et al, 2013; Houry and Salhy, 2014).

Is it safe to sleep on the stomach while pregnant? There is no evidence to suggest that sleeping on the stomach during the early weeks of pregnancy causes harm. The uterine walls and amniotic fluid cushion and protect the fetus.

Can staying up all night cause miscarriage? ›

They found that after 8 weeks of pregnancy, women who worked two or more night shifts the previous week had a 32% increased risk of miscarriage compared with women who did not work night shifts. Additionally, the more night shifts a woman worked, the greater the risk of miscarriage.

Miscarriage is not caused by the activities of a healthy pregnant woman, such as jumping, vigorous exercise, and frequent vaginal intercourse. Trauma causes miscarriage only very rarely. Stress and emotional shock do not cause miscarriage either.

This one is a bit up in the air, but it is sometimes advised that women avoid grapes during their pregnancy. This is because grapes contain resveratrol, a toxic compound that could cause poisoning or other pregnancy complications.

Eating watermelon during pregnancy is generally considered safe. However, this fruit is moderately rich in carbs and low in fiber, a combination that can cause blood sugar levels to spike ( 1 ).

Compared with nonuse, use of a hot tub or whirlpool bath after conception was associated with a twofold increased risk of miscarriage (adjusted hazard ratio (aHR) = 2.0, 95% confidence interval: 1.3, 3.1).

Pineapple is safe to eat while pregnant. But you may want to limit how much of it you eat. The most common species of pineapple in the US, the Smooth Cayenne, has a high acid content. Heartburn and acid reflux are common when pregnant, and acidic foods can make these problems worse.

Eventually, the pregnancy tissue (the fetus or baby, pregnancy sac and placenta) will pass naturally. This can take a few days or as long as 3 to 4 weeks.

Experts believe at least half of early pregnancy losses are due to genetic abnormalities. Other causes include blood clotting disorders, thyroid imbalances and structural problems in the uterus.

What does 1 in 4 mean miscarriage? ›

One in four pregnancies ends in miscarriage—that's not one in four women will have a miscarriage, but that in all pregnancies, 25 percent of them will end in grief.

Having an occasional crying spell isn't likely to harm your unborn baby. More severe depression during pregnancy, however, could possibly have a negative impact on your pregnancy.

Easing Your Miscarriage Fears

Try to remember that your fears are normal, but that this phase will pass. Take time to practice mindfulness, meditation, and take some time for yourself. This could include any stress-reducing activities you enjoy like yoga or going for a walk.

The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) recommends it, stating that exercise does not increase the risk of low birth weight, premature delivery, or miscarriage in women with normal pregnancies.

After a miscarriage, how soon can you try to get pregnant again? In the United States, the most common recommendation was to wait three months for the uterus to heal and cycles to get back to normal. The World Health Organization has recommended six months, again to let the body heal.

Is It Easier to Get Pregnant After a Miscarriage? It's unclear whether fertility increases after a miscarriage, but there is some evidence that it may be higher in the first few months.

Recurrent early miscarriages (within the first trimester) are most commonly due to genetic or chromosomal problems of the embryo, with 50-80% of spontaneous losses having abnormal chromosomal number. Structural problems of the uterus can also play a role in early miscarriage.

The most commonly identified causes include uterine problems, hormonal disorders and genetic abnormalities.

Don't put anything in your body, including a tampon, and don't have sex for about 1-2 weeks. It can take longer for you to heal emotionally, especially if you knew you were pregnant when you miscarried. You might have many different feelings, such as anger and sadness, that can last for some time.

Do I need to see a doctor after an early miscarriage? ›

Call your doctor or midwife right away if you have symptoms of a miscarriage. Getting medical advice and care can lower your chance of any problems from the miscarriage. Your doctor or midwife will check to see if you: Might be losing too much blood or getting an infection.

Even though the pregnancy will not continue, caring for the body is still essential for healthy miscarriage recovery. Hydration, good nutrition, light exercise, and sleep will help the body heal. Consider trying a new physical activity that brings you joy or allows for an emotional release, such as boxing.

It's common to feel tired, lose your appetite and have difficulty sleeping after a miscarriage. You may also feel a sense of guilt, shock, sadness and anger – sometimes at a partner, or at friends or family members who have had successful pregnancies.

If you miscarry early outside of a hospital, for example at home, your pregnancy might come away naturally. Some women pass the remains in a toilet and simply flush it away, while others want to take a closer look. Both reactions are completely natural.

Dilation and curettage (D&C) is a procedure to remove tissue from inside your uterus. Health care providers perform dilation and curettage to diagnose and treat certain uterine conditions — such as heavy bleeding — or to clear the uterine lining after a miscarriage or abortion.

If you miscarry at home or somewhere else that's not a hospital, you are very likely to pass the remains of your pregnancy into the toilet. (This can happen in hospital too.) You may look at what has come away and see a pregnancy sac and/or the fetus – or something you think might be the fetus.

The pregnancy tissue will pass between four to six hours after taking the medicine, during which time you may be in hospital. After a few hours, if the pregnancy hasn't passed, you may be sent home to wait. This will depend on where you are and which hospital you are in.

In the long-term, no. There is no evidence that suggests that you are more fertile after one or more miscarriages. However, some studies do suggest that in the short-term, couples may be more likely to conceive after miscarriage if they conceive within 3 months, compared to those who wait longer than three months.