A miscarriage is the loss of a pregnancy during the first 23 weeks. It’s important to remember that miscarriages are common & often happen for reasons beyond your control. Most women go on to have healthy pregnancies afterwards.
At Boots, we've got advice to help you understand miscarriage.
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The most common sign of a miscarriage is vaginal bleeding. This can range from light spotting or brown discharge to heavier bleeding with bright red blood or clots. Bleeding may come and go over a few days.
It’s important to know that light bleeding in the first trimester (first 3 months of pregnancy) can be quite common and doesn’t always mean a miscarriage. However, if you’re pregnant and have bleeding from your vagina or you have pain in your belly, make sure to call your doctor, nurse or midwife right away.
If you have had 3 or more miscarriages in a row, and feel concerned, you can also go directly to an early pregnancy unit for extra support. Other signs of a miscarriage can include:
Sometimes, pregnancy can develop outside the womb, a condition known as an ectopic pregnancy. This serious issue can lead to internal bleeding. If you notice any of these signs, it's important to seek medical attention immediately.
It’s not always possible to know why a miscarriage happens, and that uncertainty can be hard to cope with. However, it’s important to remember that miscarriages are rarely caused by anything you did or didn’t do. Most people who experience a miscarriage go on to have healthy pregnancies in the future.
Most early miscarriages are due to chromosomal abnormalities. This means the baby’s chromosomes didn’t develop as expected.
In later pregnancy, miscarriages are more likely to be linked to health conditions that are not well managed, like diabetes, certain infections, or issues with the shape of the womb or cervix.
Certain factors can increase the chance of miscarriage, but this does not mean that it will necessarily happen. Many people with these risk factors still have healthy pregnancies.
If you’ve experienced miscarriage(s) in the past, your risk of another does increase slightly.
Research shows that black, indigenous, and other people of colour have a higher miscarriage risk than white women.
Having a BMI below 19 or above 25 can slightly raise the risk of miscarriage, with higher risks for those with a BMI over 30. Managing a healthy weight before and during pregnancy can help lower this risk.
The risk of miscarriage increases as you age, especially after 35. While incidence rates might seem high, many people in their 30s and 40s still have healthy pregnancies.
Many believe certain activities may cause miscarriage, but there is no evidence that links the following activities to an increased risk during pregnancy; exercise, lifting, prolonged work, sex, flying, and eating spicy food.
Some medications can increase the risk of miscarriage. Always check with your doctor before taking any medication (prescription, over-the-counter, herbal, or supplements) if you’re planning to conceive or are pregnant. Never stop prescribed medication without consulting your doctor.
Everyday stress is unlikely to cause a miscarriage, though prolonged high levels of stress may be linked. Taking time to manage everyday stress and take care of your mental health during pregnancy is just as important as your physical health.
If you experience vaginal bleeding or other symptoms of miscarriage, your GP or midwife may refer you to an early pregnancy unit for further tests. If you’re more than 18 weeks pregnant, you’ll likely be referred to the maternity unit for care.
In very early pregnancies (under 6 weeks), it can be difficult to confirm a miscarriage right away, so testing to confirm this diagnosis may be delayed.
If you’ve had 3 or more miscarriages in a row, doctors may suggest further tests to find out why. In about half of cases, no specific cause is found, but you’ll likely be offered extra care, like early scans, to help reassure and support you in future pregnancies.
After a third miscarriage, genetic testing on the baby might be recommended to check for chromosomal abnormalities (chromosomes are packages of DNA). If any issues are found, you and your partner may also undergo testing.
This process, called karyotyping, can help specialists provide guidance on your chances of a successful pregnancy, and whether treatments like IVF may be an option. This is part of genetic counselling, which offers expert advice on managing future pregnancies.
If no pregnancy tissue remains in your womb, you won’t need any further treatment. However, if some tissue is still present, there are a few options to help your body through the process. Your doctor will guide you in choosing the option that’s best for you.
If you don’t want to wait or if the miscarriage doesn’t complete naturally, medication can help. This involves taking tablets that cause the cervix to open and allow the tissue to pass. Pessaries, placed in the vagina, are typically used and dissolve within a few hours.
You may experience cramping and bleeding, like a period, which can last for up to 3 weeks.
Contact your healthcare professional if bleeding has not started within 48 hours of taking the medicine.
Most people are sent home for the miscarriage to complete. If the bleeding becomes very heavy while you’re at home, make sure to contact your hospital.
You should also take a home pregnancy test after 3 weeks to confirm the miscarriage is complete. If it shows you're still pregnant, contact a healthcare professional as you may need to have further tests.
This approach involves waiting for the tissue to pass naturally. If you’ve had a miscarriage in the first trimester, you can wait for 7 to 14 days for the miscarriage to complete on its own. As the bleeding and pain ease, it usually signals that the process is over. You’ll be advised to take a home pregnancy test in 3 weeks to confirm.
If the bleeding or pain doesn’t start or continues after 14 days, your healthcare team may suggest another scan for further guidance. Be sure to contact them urgently if you experience heavy bleeding, severe pain or develop a fever.
In some cases, surgery may be recommended to remove any remaining tissue, especially if you experience continuous heavy bleeding, signs of infection, or if other methods haven’t worked.
The procedure uses suction to clear the womb and can be performed under local or general anaesthetic, depending on your preference and what’s suitable for you.
Miscarriage can be a deeply emotional experience, and it's completely normal to feel overwhelmed. Whether you find comfort in talking about your feelings or prefer to process things privately, there’s no right or wrong way to grieve.
It’s normal to experience a range of emotions. Grief can come in waves, and everyone processes it differently.
Some people may feel a sense of relief when the process is over, especially if it was prolonged or unclear. Others may find the emotional impact takes more time to work through, and that’s okay.
Some people experience other emotions and difficulties, including:
It's important to know that help and support are available. Your GP can refer you to counselling or talking therapies through the NHS.
Physically, you might feel more tired or run down than usual, and recovery can vary. For some, it may take just a few days, while others may need weeks. Factors like how much bleeding you experienced or how long the process lasted can affect this. If you're concerned about your recovery, make sure to contact your GP.
Most people will have their first period within 4 to 8 weeks after a miscarriage, and it may be heavier or longer than usual. It might take a bit of time for your cycle to return to normal.
You should avoid having sex until all of your miscarriage symptoms have gone.
There’s plenty of help and advice available through The Miscarriage Association, a charity that supports people through baby loss.
