Concerned you may be miscarrying?

Miscarriage is when an embryo or fetus dies before the 20th week of pregnancy. It usually happens early in your pregnancy -- 8 out of 10 miscarriages happen in the first 3 months. Lots of people experience this kind of pregnancy loss. In fact, 10-20% of pregnancies end in miscarriage.

It can be difficult to know exactly why a miscarriage happened, but it’s almost never caused by something the pregnant person did. Normal activities like sex, exercise, working, and taking most medicines do NOT cause a miscarriage. Minor injuries, like falling, don’t generally cause a miscarriage either.

Miscarriages look different for everyone. Vaginal bleeding or spotting are the most common symptoms of miscarriage. Other common symptoms include severe cramping, severe belly pain, or dull lower back-ache or pressure. These signs may be caused by other conditions. To be safe, you should make an appointment with one of Planned Parenthood's expert providers. 

A Planned Parenthood provider will discuss your medical history and perform an ultrasound to evaluate the pregnancy. If the ultrasound rules out a miscarriage, they can refer you for any follow up care, if necessary. If a miscarriage is confirmed, they will discuss your options.

After a miscarriage, you may experience a range and mix of emotions. Take care of yourself physically and emotionally, and give yourself permission to grieve your loss if you need to. Your provider can talk with you, or help you find a counselor or support group in your area. 

If you want to get pregnant again, your provider can give you advice on planning your next pregnancy and help you figure out when it’s best to start trying again. If you don't want to get pregnant right now, they can also give you tips on preventing pregnancy and help you get birth control.