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What are the signs of a miscarriage?
Signs of miscarriage, when to get care right away, what happens next, how your body recovers and where to find emotional support.
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In short
What are the signs of a miscarriage?
The most common sign of a miscarriage is vaginal bleeding, which can range from light spotting to heavy bleeding with clots. Other signs are cramping or pain in your lower belly and passing fluid or tissue from the vagina. Some miscarriages cause no symptoms. Light spotting can happen in a healthy pregnancy too, so contact your doctor about any bleeding.
Written by the Gyne team · Medical review: pending
Key takeaways
- Bleeding, cramping and passing tissue are the most common signs of a miscarriage.
- Heavy bleeding, severe pain, shoulder pain or feeling faint need emergency care.
- Most miscarriages happen because the pregnancy wasn't developing in a way that could continue.
- A miscarriage is not caused by work, exercise, stress, sex or something you did.
- Grief after a miscarriage is real, and support is there whenever you need it.
What does a miscarriage feel like?
It's different for everyone. Signs can include:
- Vaginal bleeding, from light spotting to heavy bleeding.
- Cramping or pain in your lower belly, sometimes like strong period pain.
- Pain in your lower back.
- Passing clots, or pink, gray or white tissue from the vagina.
- A sudden gush or leak of fluid from the vagina.
Does bleeding in early pregnancy always mean a miscarriage?
No. A small amount of bleeding early in pregnancy is common and does not always mean you are having a miscarriage.
Because it's hard to know the cause at home, contact your doctor or an urgent care clinic about any bleeding in pregnancy. They can check with an exam, a blood test for the pregnancy hormone hCG, or an ultrasound.
Can you have a miscarriage without bleeding?
Yes. Sometimes there are no signs at all, and the loss is found at a routine ultrasound. This is sometimes called a missed miscarriage.
Finding out this way can be a real shock. It's okay to ask for time to take in the news before making any decisions.
Why do miscarriages happen?
Early pregnancy loss is common. It happens in about 10 in 100 known pregnancies, and many more happen before someone knows they are pregnant.
Most early miscarriages happen because of a chromosome problem, which means the pregnancy wasn't developing in a way that could continue. Often no single cause is found.
Was it my fault?
No. In almost every case, a miscarriage is not anyone's fault. It is not your fault.
Working, exercising, stress, arguments, having sex, morning sickness or having used birth control pills before getting pregnant do not cause miscarriage. Many people search for a reason and feel guilt, and that is a normal part of grief, not a sign that you did something wrong.
What happens after a miscarriage is confirmed?
Once a miscarriage has started, it can't be stopped. Your doctor will talk with you about how the pregnancy tissue leaves your body, and you can often choose the option that feels right for you:
- Waiting for it to pass naturally, which often happens within about 2 weeks.
- Medicine that helps the tissue pass.
- A short procedure to remove the tissue.
How long does recovery take after a miscarriage?
Bleeding or spotting can last up to 2 weeks, and cramping usually eases within a few days. Your period usually returns within about 8 weeks, and it may take a few months to settle into your usual pattern.
If your blood type is Rh negative and you were 12 weeks or more along, you may be offered a shot of Rh immunoglobulin to protect future pregnancies. Your doctor will usually suggest a follow-up visit a few weeks later.
How do I cope with the grief?
There's no right way to feel. Sadness, numbness, anger, guilt and relief can all be part of it, and your feelings may be different from your partner's.
Lean on the people you trust, and tell them what you need. A support group or a grief counselor can help, especially if your grief isn't easing with time. Partners can grieve too, and support is there for them as well.
There's no rush to try again. You can get pregnant as soon as 2 weeks after an early miscarriage, and some people wait for one period first. Most people who have a miscarriage go on to have a healthy pregnancy, when and if they choose.
When to see a doctor
- Your bleeding is heavy and soaks a pad soon after you put it on: call 911 or your local emergency number.
- You have severe belly pain, pain on one side, shoulder tip pain, or you feel dizzy or faint: call 911 or your local emergency number.
- You have a fever of 100.4°F (38°C) or higher, chills, or bad-smelling discharge after a miscarriage.
- Bleeding lasts longer than 2 weeks, or gets heavier instead of lighter.
- Your period hasn't come back within 8 weeks.
- Your low mood or anxiety isn't easing. If you have thoughts of harming yourself, call or text 988 (the US crisis line) or your local crisis line.
- You've had 3 or more miscarriages and want to ask about tests.
How Gyne helps
After a pregnancy loss, Gyne removes all pregnancy content at once and stops pregnancy notifications. It helps you track bleeding, how you feel and the return of your period, keeps help lines like 988 in view, and lets you choose when, or whether, to return to cycle tracking or try again.
Pregnancy loss supportThis guide is general information, not medical advice. Only a doctor can diagnose a condition.