Coping with miscarriage

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Losing your baby is a hugely distressing and frightening experience, and sadly very common. One in five pregnancies will end in miscarriage and over a quarter of women who become pregnant experience at least one miscarriage.

Here's help with understanding and dealing with your loss.

What is miscarriage?

A miscarriage is the spontaneous loss of a baby, and most miscarriages happen within the first few days and weeks after you conceive. Many women won't even realise they've miscarried or were pregnant if it happens very early. However, it is quite common to have some bleeding or 'spotting' early in your pregnancy. That doesn't necessarily mean you're losing your baby. Known as a 'threatened miscarriage' the bleeding often stops and you go on to have a normal pregnancy.

It is possible to miscarry any time up until the 24th week of pregnancy. If a woman starts to lose her baby after the 20th week it's called a pre-term birth and it may be possible to save the baby thanks to major developments in neo-natal care.

If a baby is born after the 24th week and it doesn't survive labour, this is known as stillbirth. Remember, most women who miscarry go onto to have a healthy pregnancy next time.

Read on to find out what happens when you miscarry

Where next?
- The facts about miscarriage
- Readers tips for coping with miscarriage
- Life after miscarriage
- Why am I bleeding? Find out what else it could be
- Find out all about depression
- Ten ways to fight depression
- The truth about fertility and ovulation