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Miscarriage

Information on the symptoms, signs and causes of a miscarriage and advice on understanding and coping with miscarriage


Discuss miscarriage on our forums, right now! Or, post a comment below.

If a pregnancy ends within the first six months it is known as a miscarriage. Miscarriages are quite common in the first three months of pregnancy. Probably at least one in six clinically recognised pregnancies ends this way. At this stage a miscarriage usually happens because there is something wrong with the baby. A later miscarriage may be due to the placenta not developing or working properly, or the cervix being weak and opening too early in the pregnancy.

An early miscarriage can be rather like a period, with bleeding and a similar sort of aching pain, maybe occurring on and off, happening at the time when a period would have been due. With a later miscarriage, bleeding is likely to be accompanied by pains that feel more like the pains that come with labour.

If you bleed or begin to have pains, you should contact the person who is giving you antenatal care, either at the hospital or your GP's surgery. You may be told to lie down quietly or to come into hospital immediately. Sometimes the bleeding stops by itself and your pregnancy will carry on quite normally. But if a miscarriage is going to happen, there is very little that anyone can do to stop it.

After a miscarriage, you may have a 'D and C' (that is, dilatation and curettage) to empty the womb. This is done under anaesthetic. The cervix is gently widened and the lining of the womb scraped or sucked away. The cervix narrows again afterwards.

One miscarriage will not affect your chances of having a baby in the future. Even after three miscarriages you still stand a good chance of carrying a baby to term. If you have three or more miscarriages, you should be referred for further investigations. In some cases, all investigations will be normal and no precise cause found.

A miscarriage can be very difficult to come to terms with. You may feel disappointed, angry, or even guilty, wondering what you did wrong. Some people fear that the miscarriage may have been caused by making love, though this is extremely unlikely. In fact, whatever the cause, it is very rarely anyone's fault.

You will almost certainly feel a sense of loss. You need time to grieve over the lost baby just as you would over the death of anyone close to you, especially if the miscarriage has happened later in pregnancy. Many people find it helps to have something to remember their baby by. In early pregnancy you might be able to have a picture of a scan. After about four months you could ask for a photograph of the baby. If your miscarriage is very late you may be able to see and hold your baby, if you wish, as well as having a photograph. Talking also helps. Talk about your feelings with your partner and those close to you.
Author : Department of Health: The Pregnancy Book 2004 - 2005

Your Comments

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Natli - I really do know what you're feeling. I miscarried at 7 weeks last June and I remember the terrible feeling of loss and the fear of it happening again. For me, I also had a desperate desire to be pregnant again straight away and I really wanted to talk to other people that had gone through the same thing. You're not alone - I ended up chatting to two women that had also miscarried in the past and both expressed the same sadness and fear.

If it's any encouragement to you, I was pregnant again 2 months later and I'm due to give birth next week. I bled for about 4 weeks after my miscarriage - longer than many women - but I was still physically ready to conceive after my next period. I was amazed! I found the first 12 weeks hard and I constantly had to stop myself from worrying that it would happen again as stress and anxiety certainly doesn't help! But all has been well. I really hope and pray that you will have a similar experience and find yourself pregnant again as soon as you're emotionally and physically ready to start trying.
added by Beedee [Wed 7th May 2008 @ 17:46:55]
Went for my scan yestaday and found out id had a miscarriage at 8 weeks. I dont know what to do or what to think, im scared to go bak to the hospital, i don't know whats going to happen and now im scared to get pregnant agen incase it happens again. I dont know what the best way to remove it and could really do with advise. this is the worst feeling a woman could feel.
added by Natli [Fri 25th Apr 2008 @ 08:40:59]
I have found out this morning that the baby has died. I am now sitting here with the beginning pains of a miscarriage. It's hideous and I don't know what to do I don't just want to sit on the toilet and let it happen and flush my baby away. My poor husband is downstairs bravely looking after our gorgeous 11 month old daughter and I'm just having to suffer alone.
added by lornski [Thu 17th Apr 2008 @ 07:34:38]
i had a miscarriage last July when i was 6 weeks then i was told i had pcos and wouldn't be able to fall pregnant again i'm now 8 weeks pregnant hang in there i will happen hope all goes well 4 ya
added by british [Thu 3rd Apr 2008 @ 08:28:25]
im deeply depressed im 24 and lost my baby in july this year i was 3 months pregnant it was a missed miscarriage i cant help thinking of the baby i lost i had small service and have two scan pics which i keep in my purse. iv been trying to get pregnant since september and it just aint happening. i have period 1st of every month this month i took test a day befor period was due but it was neg but my period never came im now ten days late.
added by crystal24 [Wed 12th Dec 2007 @ 12:56:17]
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