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  • How do I know if I'm having a miscarriage?

The most common signs of a miscarriage are bleeding and cramping. Call your doctor if you think you’re having a miscarriage.

What are the signs of miscarriage?

Sometimes, there are no miscarriage symptoms and you don’t find out until an ultrasound, or you don’t feel pregnant anymore. Usually there are signs and symptoms. They include:

  • vaginal bleeding or spotting

  • severe belly pain

  • severe cramping

Other things that are less serious than miscarriage can also cause these symptoms. But if you think you might be having a miscarriage, see your doctor right away just to be safe.

What happens during a miscarriage?

Miscarriages are different for every person, but there are some common symptoms.

Not all miscarriages are physically painful, but most people have cramping. The cramps are really strong for some people, and light for others (like a period or less). It’s also common to have vaginal bleeding and to pass large blood clots up to the size of a lemon. Heavy miscarriage bleeding can be scary or surprising, but it’s usually normal.

The bleeding and cramping can end quickly, or it may last for several hours. Your doctor can give you medicine and tips on how to manage pain and cramps during your miscarriage.

No matter how fast it happens or whether or not it hurts, miscarriage can be upsetting. Keep in touch with your doctor about what’s going on and how you’re feeling. Your doctor can let you know what is and isn’t normal, and give you resources for emotional support if you need it.

What can I expect to feel after having a miscarriage?

There’s no one way that all people feel after having a miscarriage. You may feel a mix of emotions, including disappointment, despair, shock, guilt, grief, and relief — sometimes all at the same time. All of these feelings are really normal, and usually fade as time passes.

Take care of yourself physically and emotionally, and give yourself permission to grieve your loss if you need to. Grief and sadness are very normal responses to miscarriage. Try to surround yourself with supportive and loving people who will let you grieve and comfort you. If you have a partner, they may be grieving the loss and dealing with a range of emotions, too. Talking about your feelings and supporting each other can help you both cope.

The amount of time it takes to emotionally heal after a miscarriage is different for everyone. Give yourself as much time as you need to grieve. Most people feel better when they have someone supportive to talk to. Even if you don’t think there’s anybody in your life you can lean on, know that you’re not alone. Your nurse or doctor can talk with you, or help you find a counselor or support group in your area. There are also many online support groups, where you can connect with others who are going through the same thing as you. All-Options has a free hotline that gives you a private space to talk about your feelings after a pregnancy loss.

If you want to get pregnant again, your doctor or local Planned Parenthood health center can give you advice on planning your next pregnancy and help you figure out when it’s best to start trying again. They can also give you tips on preventing pregnancy and help you get birth control if you don’t want to get pregnant right now.

What if I’ve had more than 1 miscarriage?

If you’ve had 2 or more miscarriages in a row, your doctor might want to do some tests to help figure out if something specific is causing problems with your pregnancies. The tests will check for any hormonal imbalances, genetic disorders, or other problems. Some conditions can be treated to help you have a healthy pregnancy in the future.

More questions from patients:

What does a miscarriage look like?

Miscarriages look different for everyone, but there are some common symptoms. They include:

  • vaginal bleeding or spotting

  • severe belly pain

  • severe cramping

  • dull, lower-back ache, pressure, or pain

  • a change in vaginal discharge

Other things that are less serious than miscarriage can also cause these symptoms. But if you think you’re having a miscarriage, visit your doctor, your local Planned Parenthood health center, or a hospital right away to be safe.

If it’s a miscarriage, your symptoms may end quickly or last for several hours. The cramps are really strong for some people, and really light for others. The bleeding can be heavy, and you can pass large blood clots up to the size of a lemon.  

Sometimes, there are no signs of a miscarriage and you don’t find out until you have an ultrasound, or you don’t feel pregnant anymore.

No matter how fast it happens or whether or not it hurts, going through a miscarriage can be really hard. Keep in touch with your doctor about what’s going on and how you’re feeling. Your doctor can let you know what is and isn’t normal, and give you resources for emotional support if you need it.

Will I see the embryo or fetus during a miscarriage?

You may or may not.

A fertilized egg develops into an embryo at the start of the 6th week of pregnancy. Before 8 weeks, the embryo is small and will look white or tan. If you have a miscarriage at this stage, you might not notice the embryo with the bleeding and clots.

If the pregnancy is 8 weeks or more, you may see the embryo. At 8 weeks, the length of the embryo is about 1/4 inch (7mm) to 1/2 inch (14 mm).

The embryo develops into a fetus after 10 weeks. At 10 weeks, fetus length is about 1 inch (21 mm) to 1.5 inches (40 mm).

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