What are the symptoms of miscarriage?
The usual symptoms of miscarriage are vaginal bleeding and lower abdominal cramps. You then pass some 'tissue' from the vagina. In many cases, the bleeding then gradually settles. The time it takes for the bleeding to settle varies. It is usually a few days, but can last two weeks or more. For most women, the bleeding is heavy with clots, but not severe - it is more like a heavy period. However, the bleeding can be severe in some cases.
In some cases of miscarriage, there are no symptoms. The baby dies, but remains in the uterus. You may have no pain or bleeding. This may not be found until you have a routine ultrasound scan. This may be referred to by doctors as a 'missed miscarriage'.
The typical pain with a miscarriage is crampy lower abdominal pain. If you have severe, sharp, or one-sided abdominal pain, this may suggest ectopic pregnancy (a pregnancy that develops outside the uterus). A ruptured ectopic pregnancy is a potentially life-threatening situation that needs emergency surgery. You should call an ambulance or go to your nearest Accident and Emergency department if you are worried that you may have an ectopic pregnancy.
Do I need to go to hospital?
You should always report any bleeding in pregnancy to your doctor. It is important to get the correct diagnosis as miscarriage is not the only cause of vaginal bleeding. If you bleed heavily or have severe abdominal pain, call an ambulance immediately.
Most women with bleeding in early pregnancy are seen by a doctor who specialises in pregnancy. This is often in an Early Pregnancy Assessment Unit in your local hospital. It is usual to have an ultrasound scan. This helps to determine whether the bleeding is due to:
- A 'threatened' miscarriage (the baby will be seen to be alive).
- A miscarriage.
- Some other cause of bleeding (such as an ectopic pregnancy).
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tanya, 7 months
i had sex with my bf then came on my period the following day. however 2 weeks after that finished i came on again. this period was different though as it was much more painful than any other one ive had previously and lasted for 14 days, the blood was a lot darker and heavier and just not usual. im not sure if that is a miscarriage due to the fact i had a period but im not sure and its confused me. furthermore tho 2 weeks after after tht ended i came on my period again...which i think would have been my normal cycle. is there anyone who would be able to shed any light on this at all?
Report this commentsarah, 8 months
my sister in law is 7 weeks pregnant. After finally persuading her to go to the doctors as she is saying she is cold all the time and dosent feel like the pregnancy will continue she went. She has been sent to the early assesment clinic and they done blood tests and did a scan which they did not say much as the scan was being done. She has been referred to birmingham centre hospital. She is very confused as we all are as we really dont know what is happening. is it because the pregnancy is inevitable that it will result in miscarriage or is there something else or has it already happenend but why didnt they say what was going on. I have had a miscarriage before myself at 18 wks but things werent like this i was told during a emergency scan that we had lost the baby and had to deliver the baby, but dont understand why she has got to wait till nxt thursday to go why are they leaving it. very confused.
Report this commentnicky, 8 months
I agree with Lynne; a miscarriage certainly does not feel like a 'period' at all; i know every woman is different and everyone has different symptoms, i have recently had one and the pain and anguish is not comparable to anything. I am heartbroken. Good luck to everyone, pregnant or not. x
Report this commentdee, 8 months
my waters broke at 13 weeks and i lost my baby at 15 weeks and 3 days. He/she was perfect, we have been trying for a baby for 5 years and we are both so gutted about this. Can anyone please tell me how many weeks it will take my body to give a negative pregnancy test result. As i want to be sure if i fall pregnant i am not reading a result from the baby i have lost. I would like to say the West Suffolk Hospital was lovely and so kind. Good luck to all the women who misscarry xx
Report this commentLynne, 9 months
Whoever said that a miscarriage is like a heavy period has obviously never had a miscarriage.
Report this commentyasmin, 10 months
heya my name is yasmin me and my x bf were having sex an he didnt pull it out quick enuff so he finished oof inside me? i didnt come on my period last month so i thought i was pregnant and i have all the syptoms of being pregnant and to day i come on my period and have pains in my belly im scared i have had a miscarry cn u help me
Report this commentema, about 1 year
hi there i came out off hospital yesterday after bleeding fresh blood im 7 weeks pregnent an thinking i have lost the baby.doctor said it looks like signs misscarry ya no bleeding,clots, they said i could be having a threatend misscarriage cuz my cervix is still closed but any way they sent me home to wait till tuesday when i find out if im still pregnent or not which i completly disagree with as the feelings an emotions you get when waiting you cant describe,so keeping my fingers crossed.
Report this commentNicola Doherty, about 1 year
Hi, I found out that I was pregnant a couple of weeks ago and no sooner did I find out I started spotting, quite lightly, although the colour kept changing from day to day from bright red to dark brown. Last night it seemed to have stopped, but I got up this morning and the blood just poured from me with clots, one particulary large one. I phoned the emergency doctor as it it saturday and the nurse I spoke to has organised a scan for me on monday and told me to ring back if I have any pain, which I don't. Since I spoke to her though I have passed what looks like tissue, and its now the evening and the blood loss is not as heavy but still passing tissue. I don't even know how many weeks pregnant I am. Does this mean I am definately losing the baby? It certainly looks that way, but its just a waiting game until monday
Report this commentBrittany, about 1 year
umm ok had sex he finished in me seven times in hopes of concieving but i started my period a week after on normal schedule and it was an unusual period...a bit heavy on first two days then light spotting the next three days then RIGHT after that i had CRAMPS all the time discharge and some signs of what i thought was pregn. i had sore nipples a week after three weeks before period(not the breast just the nipple) and then after that liike a week or two later i had and still have sore breast and nipples and i statred my period a week early...i started yesterday night with a light brown spotting and i had this HORRIBE pain in my stomach an inch above the belly button for two hours and i wanted to cry soo badd it hurt worse then anything i have had before. then i woke up had normal period bleeding and REALLY bad cramps today im afraid did i have a miscarriage??????????PLEASE HELP
Report this commentkelley, about 1 year
hi, me and my boyfriend have been trying for a baby for some mounths now ... and i had the sore boobs so that was a good sign. but then i started bleeding 2weeks early before my period was due. witch is not right as i always come on when i am supposto...could it be a early misscarrage? or could i just have come on early? so far ive bin bleeding for 5 days...any 1 help?
Report this commentcarolyn, about 1 year
My friend has told me that she has lost a bubble or sack, could this be a miscarriage, she has been vomiting and had diareah, the doctor said she could have a bowel infection, could you help?
Report this commentelaine lerari, about 1 year
i am almost 7 weeks pregnant and i have bleeding lighlty for 3 days and the last 3 days have been quite heavy is this a micariage i have a scan tomorrow
Report this commentava, about 1 year
hello i just missed my period on 29th of january and take a pregnancy test witch was positive. the only promblem is that im feeling crapms when i press on my stomach also, iam bleeding and the colour of the blood is brownish. i feeling abdaminal cramps as if my period is coming
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Bell, about 1 month
i recently had a miscarridge nearly 2 month ago after bleeding which was a brown colour but wasnt heavy at all then one night, early morning i woke up with severe cramps and heavy bleeding which contained large blood clots...i knew it was a misacridge as they told me there was a risk of misacridge due to bleeding around the sack where the baby is...before i miscarried i had rlly painfull abdominal cramps and bleeding after the day i found out i was pregnant. i do feel worried about getting pregnant again as this really scares you. if you are worried go to the doctors and they should send you for an emergency scan just to be on the safe side...its one of the most devestating things that can ever happen as i was really excited and baught clothes and other bits but then its feels as though something has been ripped from inside..i hope one day i ill be able to move on as i am only young now...but good luck to those who are pregnant and those who are not
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