You may have had a miscarriage if you experience one or more of the common signs, which include:
- Vaginal bleeding that can range from light spotting to heavy bleeding with clots. About 1 in 4 women experience bleeding during the first trimester. Heavy bleeding means soaking a sanitary towel every 15 minutes for over an hour. Not all bleeding means miscarriage, but it always needs medical attention.
- Lower abdominal pain or cramping, which may feel like strong period cramps or severe pain not relieved by painkillers.
- Passing fluid, tissue, blood clots, or pregnancy tissue from your vagina.
- A sudden loss of pregnancy symptoms, such as less nausea or breast tenderness.
Sometimes, there may be no obvious symptoms, especially in a missed miscarriage, when the pregnancy stops developing without bleeding or pain initially. If you notice any concerning signs like heavy bleeding, severe abdominal pain, or leaking fluid, it's important to contact a healthcare provider urgently for assessment. If these signs occur early in pregnancy, it is often during the first 13 weeks, though later miscarriages are also possible before 24 weeks gestation. In some cases, bleeding and pain could also indicate an ectopic pregnancy, which is a medical emergency requiring immediate care. If there is any suspicion of miscarriage based on symptoms, seek medical evaluation to confirm and get appropriate care.
