What are the signs of miscarriage?

A miscarriage can be one of the most devastating experiences of a woman’s life. It refers to the loss of pregnancy at any time before the 20th week. Data shows that around 15% to 20% of all the confirmed pregnancies end in a miscarriage. However, the figure could actually be much higher, as many of the miscarriages occur in the very early stages, when women are not even aware of the fact that they are pregnant. Therefore, they misread the signs of miscarriage and believe that they are going through menstrual problems.

What are the signs of miscarriage?

It is important for all women to know what the early signs of miscarriage are, so that they can seek immediate medical help, if necessary. Some of the most common signs of miscarriage include:

• Cramps in the abdomen
• Diarrhea
• Discharge from the vagina, which could be pinkish or dark brown in color  
• Feeling of weakness
• Passage of blood clots or tissue from the vagina
• Severe abdominal pain
• Spotting without any pain
• Vaginal bleeding

There are several women who have experienced some of the signs of miscarriage during pregnancy, but have gone on to have normal and healthy babies. Therefore, it is not necessary that you are going to have a miscarriage in case you face one or two of them. The important part is to make sure that you do not leave these signs unchecked. Make sure that you keep your doctor informed, in case you notice any of these signs.

At times, you may not really face any signs of miscarriage, but instead may notice a decrease in the usual pregnancy symptoms like nausea, morning sickness, breast tenderness, lack of fetal movement and so on. The absence of pregnancy symptoms is also a major cause for concern and you need to let your doctor know about it immediately.

Bleeding is one of the first signs of miscarriage and therefore it is hardly surprising that most pregnant women panic at the first sight of it. According to studies conducted on pregnancy and miscarriage, up to 25% of all pregnant women have bleeding at some point in pregnancy and only about half of them have a miscarriage. Do bear in mind that the type of bleeding as well as the severity of the other symptoms you experience may vary, depending on the phase of pregnancy.

In case the miscarriage occurs before the 6th week the signs of miscarriage resemble those of a heavy period. After that, till the 13th week, signs of a miscarriage also include moderate pain and cramps. Between the 14th and 20th week, you are likely to experience heavy bleeding and pain that almost feels like the intensity of labor.

A miscarriage can have a severe psychological impact on any woman. There are several support groups and forums that can help you to get over the traumatic experience and lead a normal life.

Submitted by N on August 22, 2011 at 11:51

Read more questions in Pregnancy Miscarriage