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How much bleeding after miscarriage


What Does a Miscarriage Look Like? Bleeding, Duration, and More

A miscarriage is a spontaneous pregnancy loss before 20 weeks of gestation. Some 8 to 20 percent known pregnancies end in miscarriage, with the majority happening before the 12th week.

The signs and symptoms of miscarriage vary from person to person. Symptoms may also vary depending on how far along you are. For example, a fetus at 14 weeks will be much larger than a fetus at 5 weeks of gestation, so there may be more bleeding and tissue loss with a later miscarriage.

Miscarriage symptoms may include:

  • spotting or bleeding from the vagina
  • abdominal cramping or pain in the lower back
  • passage of tissue, fluid, or other products from the vagina

Read on to learn more about identifying a miscarriage and what to do if you suspect you’re experiencing one.

Bleeding may start as light spotting, or it could be heavier and appear as a gush of blood. As the cervix dilates to empty, the bleeding becomes heavier.

The heaviest bleeding is generally over within three to five hours from the time heavy bleeding begins. Lighter bleeding may stop and start over one to two weeks before it completely ends.

The color of the blood can range from pink to red to brown. Red blood is fresh blood that leaves the body quickly. Brown blood, on the other hand, is blood that’s been in the uterus a while. You may see discharge the color of coffee grounds, or near black, during a miscarriage.

Exactly how much bleeding you’ll experience depends on a variety of circumstances, including how far along you are and whether or not your miscarriage is progressing naturally.

While you may see a lot of blood, let your doctor know if you fill more than two sanitary pads an hour for two or more hours in a row.

What does a missed miscarriage look like?

You may not experience bleeding or other symptoms with a miscarriage, at least at first.

A missed miscarriage, also referred to as a missed abortion, happens when the fetus has died but the products of conception remain in the uterus. This type of miscarriage is usually diagnosed via ultrasound.

Just as with the amount of blood you’ll see, the duration of a miscarriage will vary from person to person and even from pregnancy to pregnancy.

In many cases, a miscarriage will take around two weeks to pass naturally. Your doctor may prescribe the medication misoprostol (Cytotec) to help a miscarriage pass more quickly. Bleeding may start within two days of beginning the medication. For others, it may take up to two weeks.

Once the miscarriage has started, the tissue and heaviest bleeding should be passed in about three to five hours. After the fetus has passed, you may still experience spotting and mild tissue loss for one to two weeks.

It may be difficult to tell a very early miscarriage from a late period. In fact, many miscarriages happen before a person even knows they’re pregnant.

In general, a miscarriage will cause more intense symptoms than a menstrual period. For example:

  • Your menstrual flow may be relatively similar from month to month with heavy days and light days. A miscarriage can also have heavy and light days, but bleeding may be especially heavy at times and last longer than you’re used to.
  • Bleeding from a miscarriage may also contain large clots and tissue you don’t normally see during your period.
  • Cramps can be a part of your normal monthly cycle, but with a miscarriage, they may be particularly painful as the cervix dilates.
  • The color of blood during your period can range from pink to red to brown. If you see a color you’re not used to seeing, it may be a sign of miscarriage.

Always contact your doctor if you’re pregnant and experience bleeding. While a miscarriage can’t be stopped once it starts, you doctor can run tests to help determine if you’re experiencing the loss of your pregnancy or something else.

To diagnose a miscarriage, your doctor will likely perform an ultrasound to look for the baby’s heartbeat, if you’re far enough along to see a heartbeat. Your doctor may also order a blood test to check human chorionic gonadotropin (hcG) levels to see if they’re rising or falling.

If a miscarriage is confirmed, your doctor may suggest “expectant management” or waiting for the miscarriage to pass naturally. This generally happens within two weeks.

Incomplete miscarriage

The miscarriage may be incomplete if:

  • your bleeding is particularly heavy
  • you have a fever
  • an ultrasound reveals there’s still tissue in your uterus

If this is the case, your doctor may suggest a dilation and curettage (D and C), which is a surgical procedure done to remove remaining tissue. The procedure is done under general or regional anesthesia, and is considered safe. D and C doesn’t usually lead to long-term complications.

Threatened miscarriage

It’s important to report any bleeding or pain you experience in your pregnancy to your doctor. In some cases, you may have what’s called a threatened miscarriage, and there may be certain treatments that can help. These include:

  • hormone supplements if the bleeding is caused by low progesterone
  • a cerclage (stitch in the cervix) if the issue is with the cervix opening prematurely

Speak with your healthcare provider if you’re looking to get pregnant again after a miscarriage. While it may be safe to start trying after your first normal period, you may want to schedule a checkup depending on the cause or the number of miscarriages you’ve had.

The reason for loss isn’t always known, but around half of miscarriages are caused by issues with the baby’s chromosomes.

Other possible causes include:

  • uterine issues
  • hormonal imbalances
  • other health conditions, such as diabetes, autoimmune disorders, or polycystic ovary syndrome

After a miscarriage, you may have hcG in your blood for one to two months, which could lead to a false positive pregnancy test. In most cases, your period will return within four to six weeks, though you may start ovulating almost immediately following a miscarriage.

Speak with your doctor about birth control options if you don’t wish to become pregnant after a miscarriage.

Will I miscarry again?

Having one miscarriage doesn’t necessarily increases your chances of having another. The risk remains around 20 percent.

Two or more miscarriages is referred to as recurrent pregnancy loss (RPL). The risk of miscarriage after two losses is 28 percent. After three consecutive losses, it increases to 43 percent.

Only 1 percent of people experience three or more miscarriages. About 65 percent of those with unexplained RPL go on to have successful pregnancies.

Activities like exercise, work, morning sickness, and sex don’t cause miscarriages. Even things like smoking or drinking alcohol or caffeine, which can lead to other complications, are also unlikely to lead to early pregnancy loss.

A miscarriage can be physically painful, and it may also cause a variety of emotions. While your body may recover in a few weeks, be sure to take time to process your feelings, grieve, and reach out for help when you need it.

Bleeding, Clots, Timing, and Other Signs

Miscarriage is fairly common in the first trimester. It happens in about 10 percent of known pregnancies.

In some cases, miscarriage can occur before you know you’re pregnant. If this happens, you might not notice anything different from your usual period.

The further along you are in a pregnancy, the less likely it is that a miscarriage will feel like a period.

Continue reading to learn more about early miscarriage, including specific symptoms to watch for, when you should see a doctor, and more.

The most common symptoms of early miscarriage are cramping and bleeding.

However, spotting or light bleeding during early pregnancy aren’t always a sign of miscarriage. If this happens, watch for any other unusual symptoms.

Other symptoms of miscarriage

  • cramping in your abdomen or lower back (This could start out like period cramps, but the pain typically worsens over time.)
  • nausea
  • diarrhea
  • passing fluids, larger-than-normal blood clots, or tissue from your vagina

Timing

A miscarriage can happen any time after fertilization. If you didn’t know you were pregnant, it would be easy to mistake it for a period.

Both a period and a miscarriage can cause spotting to heavy bleeding.

After the first eight weeks or so, it’s less likely that you’ll mistake a miscarriage for a period.

Duration

You know how long and heavy your typical period is.

During a miscarriage, bleeding gets heavier and lasts longer than a period.

As your cervix starts to dilate, cramping may become more painful than typical period cramping.

Characteristics

Bleeding during miscarriage can appear brown and resemble coffee grounds. Or it can be pink to bright red.

It can alternate between light and heavy or even stop temporarily before starting up again.

If you miscarry before you’re eight weeks pregnant, it might look the same as a heavy period. Later, you’re more likely to notice fetal or placental tissue.

Menstruation products

Heavy bleeding, pieces of tissue, or large blood clots on your menstruation products could mean that you’re having more than a heavy period.

See a doctor if you’re soaking through a tampon or pad every hour for more than two consecutive hours.

You should call a doctor or other healthcare provider any time you experience unexpected pain or excessive bleeding.

These symptoms can result from an ectopic pregnancy. This occurs when a fertilized egg has implanted outside the uterus, possibly inside a fallopian tube. It’s a medical emergency.

You should also call a doctor if you experience bleeding alongside:

  • mucus
  • tissue
  • blood clots
  • what feels like uterine contractions

If you believe you’re having a miscarriage, ask your doctor the following:

  • Should I collect a sample of blood or tissue? (This isn’t always necessary.)
  • Should I go to an emergency room or make an office appointment?
  • Is it fine to drive myself, or do you recommend against it?

If it appears that you’ve had a miscarriage, your doctor will want to perform a physical exam.

Be sure to discuss all your symptoms, including the amount of:

  • bleeding
  • clotting
  • pain
  • any tissue that may have been expelled

Testing may include:

  • an ultrasound to check the uterus for signs of an embryo or a heartbeat
  • a blood test to check for human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), a substance that indicates pregnancy

There’s no way to stop a miscarriage in progress. If your doctor determines that you’ve experienced a miscarriage, they’ll want to check for:

  • signs of infection
  • uncontrollable bleeding
  • tissue that may be left in your uterus

It can take two weeks or more to completely expel the tissue naturally. Your doctor will review with you typical bleeding patterns to expect. If you have heavy bleeding lasting several days or any signs of infection, you may need medical treatment.

If your doctor isn’t sure that all of the pregnancy tissue has been cleared from your uterus, they may order an ultrasound to confirm.

Your doctor can prescribe medication, such as misoprostol (Cytotec), to increase uterine contractions to help you expel the tissue.

You’ll experience cramping and bleeding as you pass tissue and blood.

Most people pass the tissue within 24 hours after taking the drug. For others, it can take a few days to complete. Either way, it doesn’t require a hospital stay.

Your doctor may be able to prescribe pain medication to help ease your symptoms.

If your blood type is Rh negative, you’ll need an injection of Rh immunoglobulin. This may help prevent complications in a future pregnancy.

There are also a few surgical options to remove tissue from the uterus. This includes:

  • Vacuum aspiration. Your doctor inserts a thin tube that contains a suction device into your uterus. This can be done with local anesthesia in your doctor’s office.
  • Dilation and curettage (D&C). Your doctor dilates your cervix, and then uses an instrument called a curette to scrape your uterine lining. This can be done at a surgical center or operating room on an outpatient basis. Regional or general anesthesia can be used.

Both of these treatments have been well-studied and are considered safe. They each carry a very small risk of serious complications.

If you’ve experienced a miscarriage, it’s important to understand that it isn’t your fault.

In many cases, doctors are unable determine the cause. Here are some things that can contribute to miscarriage:

During the first trimester

As many as 80 percent of miscarriages occur in the first trimester.

When a miscarriage occurs in the first five weeks after fertilization, it’s called a “chemical pregnancy.” It’s so early that you might not have known you were pregnant.

Although your period may seem heavier than usual, there might not be any other noticeable sign of miscarriage.

Miscarriages in the first trimester often have to do with chromosome abnormalities that interfere with normal development. Missing or extra chromosomes are linked to 50 percent of all miscarriages.

Sometimes, a fertilized egg simply doesn’t develop into an embryo (blighted ovum).

It may help to know that having sex, exercising, morning sickness, and previous use of oral contraceptives don’t cause miscarriage. Even an accidental fall doesn’t necessarily cause it.

According to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG), smoking and alcohol consumption in the first trimester may result in a slightly higher risk of miscarriage. But the research on this is mixed.

It’s also worth noting that drinking less than 200 milligrams of caffeine per day doesn’t appear to increase the risk of miscarriage.

Some things that may increase the risk of early miscarriage are:

  • fibroids or other abnormalities of the uterus
  • hyperthyroidism or hypothyroidism
  • uncontrolled diabetes
  • use of cocaine or similar drugs

During the second trimester

About 2 to 3 percent of miscarriages occur during the second trimester.

Some things that may increase the risk are:

  • conditions that can cause blood clots
  • early preeclampsia or eclampsia
  • fetal abnormalities
  • fibroids or other abnormalities of the uterus
  • infection of the uterus
  • lupus
  • prior surgery of the cervix
  • trauma
  • uncontrolled diabetes
  • hyperthyroidism or hypothyroidism
  • high blood pressure
  • use of cocaine or similar drugs

During the third trimester

Losing a pregnancy starting from the 20th week of pregnancy and into the third trimester is considered stillbirth, not miscarriage.

In general, the risk of stillbirth increases with maternal age.

If you’ve experienced a miscarriage, it doesn’t mean you’ll have another, and it doesn’t mean you can’t have children.

Most people who experience a miscarriage can go on to have a successful pregnancy.

Miscarriage shouldn’t affect your ability to get pregnant. You can ovulate and become pregnant within two weeks of an early miscarriage.

If you don’t want to become pregnant again, you should use birth control right away.

About 1 percent of people have multiple miscarriages. If you’ve experienced several miscarriages, your doctor might recommend special testing.

Even if you’ve had three miscarriages in a row, there’s a 70 percent chance your next pregnancy will be successful.

Your doctor will probably advise you to avoid sex, tampons, and douches for two weeks. This will help prevent infection.

They may also want you to take a pregnancy test after about two weeks. This can help them determine whether your hormone levels are back to normal.

In the meantime, call your doctor if you:

  • are bleeding heavier than expected or notice that the blood stays bright red
  • are soaking through more than two maxi pads an hour for more than two hours
  • notice a foul-smelling discharge
  • experience abdominal tenderness or severe pain
  • have persistent cramping
  • develop a fever or chills

For the first few days, you may notice blood clots and tissue passing, but this should taper off after about a week. It will take about four to eight weeks for your regular period to return.

Mild exercise following an early miscarriage is usually fine, but check with your doctor. It may depend on how far along you were, as well as your overall health.

There are many emotions a person might have following a miscarriage. Some feel anger, sadness, or profound loss. Others might feel relieved.

These feelings may have to do with whether you knew you were pregnant or if you were trying to have a baby.

Pregnancy and miscarriage also cause hormone fluctuations, which can affect your emotions.

Everyone is different, so there’s no correct way to feel about experiencing a miscarriage. It may take some time for you to process everything.

You may find it helpful to talk to your partner, family, or friends about what you’re going through.

You may also consider looking into support groups for people who have experienced miscarriage. Sometimes it helps to talk to others who have been through the same thing.

Here are a few places to seek support:

  • your doctor’s office or local hospital for referrals to support services
  • clergy
  • Compassionate Friends, which has a searchable database of local chapters
  • March of Dimes Loss and Grief Forum
  • Share Pregnancy & Infant Loss Support which offers online support and information on how to find local groups

If grief continues to worsen after a few weeks, talk to a doctor about your options for treatment. You may benefit from grief counseling or treatment for depression.

Miscarriage isn’t your fault.

Physical recovery generally takes a few weeks. Everyone has their own timetable for emotional recovery.

There’s no need to rush yourself or to pretend to “get over it” for anyone else’s sake.

And if you need it, reaching out for support is a reasonable thing to do. You aren’t alone in this.

What to do after a miscarriage - recovering from a miscarriage

A miscarriage can be a difficult topic to talk about, but sometimes talking is the best way to come to terms with it and start healing from the whole experience.

Let's dive deeper into what happens to the body after a miscarriage, as well as learn how to deal with your own feelings.

A miscarriage is when an embryo or fetus does not survive in the uterus during the first 23 weeks of pregnancy. [1] Miscarriage is more common than most people think: every 4th pregnancy ends like this. Just because it isn't talked about often doesn't mean it's rare.

Talking about miscarriages can be difficult, because often it is a real grief. However, this topic is becoming less and less taboo, and many women come together in solidarity to share their experiences. This way they know they are not alone in their grief.

A miscarriage is a whole process: your body will be under a lot of physical and emotional stress both during and after the miscarriage. Therefore, we will look at how this situation changes your body in terms of periods, future pregnancies and emotions.

What is bleeding and discharge during a miscarriage?

The most common symptom of a miscarriage is vaginal bleeding during pregnancy. The severity of this bleeding can vary from person to person: sometimes it is heavy with blood clots, other times it can be just spots or brown discharge. This bleeding can last up to 2 weeks. Another symptom of a miscarriage is abdominal pain. They occur when the muscles of the uterus contract to push all the tissues of the embryo or fetus out of the cavity in the form of clots through the vagina.

Regardless of the amount of blood you have from your vagina during pregnancy, you need to see a doctor as soon as possible. While not all bleeding during pregnancy is a sign of a miscarriage (implantation bleeding is considered normal in the early stages of pregnancy), it's always best to see a doctor if you're concerned.

What will my first period be like after a miscarriage?

Having experienced a miscarriage, you may wonder how your body will react to it and if there will be any long-term consequences. Miscarriages rarely change the body forever, but you need to give the body time to get used to and return to its normal rhythm of life.

After a miscarriage, you can expect your period to return to normal in about 4-6 weeks, although recovery time varies from person to person and can take up to several months. [2]

Don't worry about the return of your period, instead give yourself time to rest while your body repairs and heals.

Getting pregnant after a miscarriage

Some women may immediately return to trying to conceive after a miscarriage, while others may take some time to "digest" the event. Some may even wonder if they even want to have children. Whatever your reaction to your own experience, it is important to recognize that there is no right or wrong way - we all cope differently.

If you still want to try again, it is usually recommended to wait until the symptoms of the miscarriage have passed to prevent infection. [3] You can also wait until your period starts again so that you can calculate your future pregnancy dates more accurately.

And remember: you can always consult your doctor about a new pregnancy, but most importantly, you decide when you are ready.

Dealing with your feelings after a miscarriage

The consequences of a miscarriage can be felt immediately after it or after a while - everyone mourns the baby in different ways. No matter how you react, it is important to understand that you did nothing wrong: miscarriage is not related to your personal strength or ability.

I hate to talk about this, but expressing thoughts and emotions can really help in the healing process. And even if at first it seems uncomfortable to talk to people about a miscarriage, you will be surprised how many women understand what you have gone through and are ready to provide support.

There are also many charities and associations dedicated to helping people with spontaneous abortions. So if you ever need comforting advice, there are many more people you can turn to besides friends and family.

Miscarriage is no doubt a difficult topic to discuss, but silence only reinforces the taboo and prevents many people from seeking support. Remember that you are not alone and that it is okay to speak up when you feel ready to do so.

To further discuss pregnancy, check out our articles on fertility treatments and what it's like to be childless by choice.

Medical disclaimer

The medical information contained in this article is for reference only and should not be used for any diagnostic or therapeutic purposes. Consult your doctor about a specific medical condition.

[Links]

[1] https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/miscarriage/

[2] https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/HealthyLiving/miscarriage#after-a-miscarriage

[3] https://www.miscarriageassociation.org.uk/information/worried-about-pregnancy-loss/trying-again/

Spontaneous abortion (miscarriage)

If the pregnancy is terminated naturally before the fetus reaches gestational age - this is called spontaneous abortion or miscarriage. More than half of miscarriages occur no later than 12 weeks of gestation due to fetal abnormalities. The rest falls on the period up to 20 weeks and is associated with pathologies of pregnancy. If the pregnancy is terminated in the second half, it is called preterm labor.

Spontaneous abortion, otherwise known as miscarriage, is one of the most common complications during pregnancy, accounting for 10-20% of diagnosed pregnancies, and is the rejection of a fetus weighing no more than 500 grams. and less than 22 weeks. Unfortunately, with such indicators, the fetus is not viable. Usually 80% of the total number of spontaneous abortions occurs before the 12th week of pregnancy.

Types of spontaneous abortion

1. Threat of miscarriage - characterized by mild uterine cramps, pulling pain in the lower abdomen and sometimes mild bloody discharge from the vagina.

2. A miscarriage that has begun - is characterized by more severe pain and profuse bleeding. At the same time, the tone of the uterus is slightly increased, and the internal os is closed.

3. Inevitable miscarriage - accompanied by dilatation of the cervix - a fetal egg can be distinguished - with profuse bleeding and severe cramps in the lower abdomen.

4. Incomplete miscarriage - part of the fetus comes out. The bleeding is so profuse that it can lead to the death of a woman.

5. Completed miscarriage - the fetal egg and the fetus itself are completely out. After that, the bleeding and spasms stop.

The etiology of miscarriage is due to many factors. Among them:

- genetic disorders;

- previous induced abortions;

- too little time has passed since the previous pregnancy;

- inflammatory infections in the mother, endocrine disorders;

- blood conflict between mother and fetus;

- taking hormonal contraceptives and certain medications;

- smoking during pregnancy and drinking alcohol;

- unknown causes.

To prevent miscarriage, it is necessary to give up bad habits, not to have abortions and to be regularly examined by a doctor.

Spontaneous abortion begins with the appearance of cramping, pulling pains, similar to pain during menstruation. Then bleeding from the uterus begins. At first, the discharge is slight or moderate, and then, after detachment of the fetal egg, abundant discharge with bloody clots begins. The appearance of these symptoms requires urgent hospitalization.

After examining a woman in a hospital, having determined the degree of detachment of the embryo, one of the following diagnoses will be made:

- a threat of pregnancy - detachment is only outlined or is completely insignificant. In this case, the pregnancy can be saved;

- a miscarriage that has begun - detachment is already quite decent with a pronounced pain syndrome. And in this case, the fetus can be saved;

- abortion in progress - detachment with displacement progresses, labor-like contractions begin. Pregnancy cannot be saved, cleaning is required;

- incomplete miscarriage - independent exit of a part of the fetus and membranes, curettage is necessary for the final curettage of the uterus;

- late abortion - premature delivery of an unviable baby.

After a spontaneous abortion, it is recommended to take a short break in planning and take preventive measures to avoid recurrence.

In case of repeated miscarriage, a thorough comprehensive examination is necessary to determine the causes of miscarriage and eliminate them.

A miscarriage is a severe psychological trauma, especially during the first pregnancy. But do not give up, with a competent approach to planning and bearing, the next pregnancy will certainly end with the appearance of a long-awaited baby.

Causes of spontaneous abortion

1. Doctors call various chromosomal pathologies one of the main reasons: monosomy, autosomal trisomies, polyploidy. They account for 82-88% of spontaneous miscarriages.

2. The second most common cause is disorders in the female genital area: endometritis - inflammation of the uterine mucosa - preventing the implantation of the fetal egg and its development and polycystic ovaries.

3. Hormonal disorders, namely progesterone deficiency.

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