What is the earliest you can have a miscarriage

Miscarriage | NHS inform

A miscarriage is the loss of your baby before 24 weeks. Early miscarriages happen in the first 12 weeks of pregnancy. Late miscarriages happen between 12 and 24 weeks.

Most of the time there’s no clear reason why it happens, but it’s very unlikely to be caused by anything you did or didn’t do.

About 1 out of 5 pregnancies miscarry. Since many miscarriages aren't recorded the figure might be higher.

What causes a miscarriage?

Doctors think most miscarriages are caused when the building blocks controlling the development of a baby (the chromosomes) aren’t right. Babies with too many or not enough chromosomes won't develop properly. This leads to a miscarriage.

Miscarriages can also be caused by:

issues with your placenta
cervical weakness - when your cervix (neck of your womb) starts to open

Early miscarriages

An early miscarriage happens in the first 12 weeks of pregnancy. Most women who miscarry do so in the first 12 weeks of their pregnancy.

Many women have a miscarriage before they even know they’re pregnant. If this happens it can feel like a late period with heavy bleeding.

Symptoms of an early miscarriage

You might be having an early miscarriage if:

you're bleeding from your vagina
you've cramps in your lower abdomen – these can feel like bad period pains
there's fluid or tissue coming from your vagina
your breasts are no longer tender and any morning sickness has passed

Bleeding

Having some light bleeding's fairly common in the first 12 weeks of pregnancy and doesn't necessarily mean you're having a miscarriage.

If you start bleeding, you should always contact your GP or midwife and get advice about what to do.

What happens during an early miscarriage

If you’re in the early weeks of pregnancy:

you’ll probably be asked to go to the early pregnancy unit at your local hospital straight away
you’ll have some tests and usually an ultrasound scan
your body usually completes the miscarriage naturally

Depending on your stage of pregnancy, you may deliver a small baby. That can be a shock and is an understandably upsetting time.

Late miscarriages

A late miscarriage happens after 12 weeks and before 24 weeks.

For many parents who lose their baby after a late miscarriage, the word ‘miscarriage’ doesn't properly express the impact of their loss. The loss of a baby at any time's a terrible shock and a late miscarriage can be especially hard.

Symptoms of a late miscarriage

You might be having a late miscarriage if:

you're bleeding from your vagina – this can be heavy and you might have blood clots
you've strong, cramping pains

Always get medical help if:

you're bleeding
your baby’s movements have changed or you haven’t felt any movements for a while.
your waters break and your baby's born very quickly

Contact your midwife or local maternity unit if you’re registered with them. If you’re not registered, contact your GP or phone the NHS 24 111 service.

What happens during a late miscarriage

If you’re later on in pregnancy:

you may be asked to go to the maternity ward
you’ll have some tests and usually an ultrasound scan
you're likely to go through labour in hospital and might have your labour induced

While you deliver your baby you're likely to have heavier bleeding and labour-like pains.

Making difficult decisions

If you're having a miscarriage, your doctor or midwife will:

talk to you about what will happen next
help you, and your partner if you have one, decide what you’d like to do

You may have many difficult decisions to make at this time and will have overwhelming emotions. Take your time. Your midwife or doctor can help, and there are many organisations that can support you, your baby’s father and your family.

Get support from SANDS

Get support from SiMBA

After a miscarriage

Depending on your circumstances and stage of pregnancy, your midwife or doctor may ask if you'd like to see or hold your baby.

Some parents decide they don't want to see their baby, and others choose not to for faith or cultural reasons. This is a decision only you can make. It can be very hard when you're feeling overwhelmed. Whatever you decide is okay.

If you’re worried about what your baby looks like, your midwife or doctor can describe them to help you decide.

If your symptoms continue

You’ll probably have some bleeding for a week or two. If you continue to have symptoms after your miscarriage, it may mean that some of the pregnancy tissue's still in your womb.

Some women may need medicine or a short operation to treat this.

If you’re worried about seeking treatment, maybe a friend can come with you. Having support's really important at this difficult time.

Taking time off work

Many women will want to take time off work after having a miscarriage.

If you have a miscarriage before the end of the 24th week, you’re entitled to:

take sick leave
any sick pay you'd normally qualify for

If you lose your baby after the end of the 24th week, you’re entitled to:

take maternity leave
any maternity pay you qualify for

Speak to your employer about which choices may be right for you and your family.

Working Families has more about your rights at work after a miscarriage

Repeated miscarriages

Most women go on to have a successful pregnancy and a healthy baby after a miscarriage. But unfortunately, some women have repeated miscarriages.

If you've had:

1 or 2 miscarriages - you're not more likely than anyone else to have another one
3 or more miscarriages - your GP can refer you to a specialist to see whether there’s a specific cause

Miscarriage Rates by Week: Causes and Risks

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Medically reviewed by Holly Ernst, PA-C — By Rena Goldman on October 3, 2018

Overview

Miscarriage is a word used to describe the early loss of a pregnancy before 20 weeks of pregnancy. It usually happens in the first trimester.

Unfortunately, between 10 and 15 percent of known pregnancies end in miscarriage.

You may have heard of couples waiting to announce a pregnancy until the risk of having a miscarriage is lower. The further you are into the pregnancy, the less likely you are to miscarry.

Read on to learn about what causes miscarriages and the risk for miscarriage during pregnancy.

Causes

Dr. Kaylen Silverberg, a Texas-based fertility specialist, says miscarriages are very common.

“Women think that when they have one miscarriage, they are doomed to miscarry again,” he says. However, the likelihood of having recurrent miscarriages (at least 2 or 3) is low, only occurring in about 1 percent of women.

Studies have shown an increased risk for miscarriage in women who have had recurrent miscarriages in the past. Conversely, some studies indicate that having a successful pregnancy before a current pregnancy may decrease the risk for miscarriage in the current pregnancy.

Several factors have to be accounted for in these cases, however. This includes maternal age and other medical conditions present. Most doctors will begin to investigate for a cause after you have had two to three losses. This will include reviewing your medical history in detail and performing certain tests.

Here are the five most common miscarriage causes.

Genetics

When the sperm and egg meet, the cells come together. They then begin to divide to start forming the genetic material that makes up a person.

Each of us is supposed to have 46 total chromosomes. That’s 23 from one parent and 23 from the other. If something goes wrong when the cells are dividing, a chromosome may be missing or repeated.

About 50 percent of all first trimester miscarriages are because of chromosomal abnormalities. This can occur more frequently in women who are considered advanced maternal age, or greater than 35 years old at pregnancy term.

Infections

Uterus or cervix infections can be dangerous to a developing baby and lead to miscarriage. Other infections that may pass to the baby or placenta can also affect a developing pregnancy and may lead to loss.

Some of these infections include:

listeria
parvovirus B19
toxoplasma gondii
rubella
herpes simplex
cytomegalovirus

Anatomic problems

This refers to defects of the uterus cavity. If a woman’s uterus didn’t form correctly when she was developing, it may be unable to support a healthy pregnancy.

Clotting disorders

Clotting disorders are conditions that cause your body to form more blood clots than normal. Examples include lupus anticoagulant and antiphospholipid syndrome.

In the case of pregnancy, blood clots can form in the placenta. This prevents nutrition and oxygen from getting to the baby-to-be, and prevents waste from being carried away.

Risk rates

The first trimester of pregnancy is considered weeks 0 to 13. About 80 percent of miscarriages happen in the first trimester. Losses after this time occur less often. March of Dimes reports a miscarriage rate of only 1 to 5 percent in the second trimester.

Weeks 0 to 6

These early weeks mark the highest risk of miscarriage. A woman can have a miscarriage in the first week or two without realizing she’s pregnant. It may even seem like a late period.

Age plays a role in a woman’s risk factor. One study indicated that compared to women younger than 35:

Women ages 35 to 39 have a 75 percent increase in risk
Women ages 40 and older are at 5 times the risk

Weeks 6 to 12

Once a pregnancy makes it to 6 weeks and has confirmed viability with a heartbeat, the risk of having a miscarriage drops to 10 percent. According to a 2008 study, the risk for miscarriage falls quickly with further gestational age. However, this was not specifically studied in patients with other risk factors for miscarriage.

Weeks 13 to 20

By week 12, the risk may fall to 5 percent. But keep in mind that it doesn’t really fall below that because complications can happen during pregnancy.

Signs and symptoms

The most common signs of a miscarriage are bleeding and cramping that are felt in the abdomen, pelvis, or lower back.

Some women have spotting (light bleeding) during pregnancy. A few drops or light flow of brown or dark red doesn’t necessarily mean trouble. But call your doctor right away if you see bright red blood, particularly in large amounts.

Cramping can also happen in normal pregnancies. But if it’s severe or occurring more on one side of the pelvis, you should call your doctor.

Prevention

The majority of miscarriages are the result of genetic abnormalities or other health factors that are beyond our control. For that reason, there isn’t a whole lot you can do for prevention.

The best thing you can do is to keep yourself as healthy as possible before trying to conceive and throughout your pregnancy. Here are some tips to staying healthy during pregnancy:

Eat a well-balanced diet.
Exercise regularly.
Avoid alcohol, recreational drugs, and cigarette smoking.
Reduce caffeine to 200 mg or less per day.
Get regular prenatal visits.

If you’re worried about your risk of having a pregnancy affected by chromosomal issues, you can speak to your doctor about genetic testing before trying to conceive. A blood sample will be taken from one or both partners, and then sent to a laboratory to be evaluated for major genetic disorders. This testing and other evaluation are generally done after someone has recurrent losses.

The takeaway

The experience of a miscarriage can be physically and emotionally painful. But it’s important to remember that it’s not your fault. Talk to trusted friends and family, and ask for help when you need it.

Your doctor may be able to recommend a support group or therapist in your area. There are also many online organizations and support groups like March of Dimes that offer a safe place to share your story and grieve with others.

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Rena Goldman is a journalist and editor who lives in Los Angeles. She writes about health, wellness, interior design, small business, and the grassroots movement for campaign finance reform. When she’s not glued to a computer screen, Rena likes to explore new hiking spots in Southern California. She also enjoys walking in her neighborhood with her dachshund, Charlie, and admiring the landscaping and architecture of LA homes she can’t afford. Follow her on Twitter: @ReeRee_writes

Last medically reviewed on October 3, 2018

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Our experts continually monitor the health and wellness space, and we update our articles when new information becomes available.

Current Version

Oct 3, 2018

Written By

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Medically Reviewed By

Holly Ernst, PA-C

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Medically reviewed by Holly Ernst, PA-C — By Rena Goldman on October 3, 2018

Early miscarriage - symptoms and how to prevent it

The term "early miscarriage" refers to a spontaneous abortion that occurs in the first 6-8 weeks of pregnancy. It can occur before 20 weeks of pregnancy for reasons related to the natural states of the fair sex. According to statistics, the logical outcome of every fifth pregnancy is a miscarriage. However, quite often a woman does not even know that she was pregnant by the time the fetus is rejected by the body. nine0003

In addition, a curious pattern was revealed: more often than a natural one, a pregnancy induced artificially ends in a miscarriage. For example, in vitro fertilization, unfortunately, does not always lead to a successful pregnancy and the birth of a baby on time.

Why can an early miscarriage occur?

Here are the most common causes, each of which significantly increases the risk of miscarriage: nine0003

the expectant mother has certain infectious diseases, as well as STDs;
intoxication of a woman's body for various reasons, including as a result of her living in an ecologically unfavorable region;
all kinds of metabolic disorders in the body;
hormonal disruptions, including those caused by a malfunction of the thyroid gland;
various neoplasms in the uterus and others, as well as the cervix, pathologies; nine0012
maintenance by the future mother of a life far from a healthy lifestyle. May include drinking alcohol, smoking, taking psychotropic and narcotic drugs, as well as malnutrition;
obesity;
immune status disorders;
cardiac diseases;
diabetes mellitus;
too early for pregnancy or, conversely, the patient's overly mature age at times increases the risk of miscarriage; nine0012
all kinds of pathologies of chromosomes and genes;
prolonged exposure to stress or severe psycho-emotional trauma in a woman.

The timing of a miscarriage may depend, among other things, on the patient's genetic predisposition to miscarriage. Finally, often its specific cause remains unexplained to the end.

Symptoms of miscarriage

A pregnant woman should urgently seek medical help if she has the following warning signs: nine0003

bleeding from the vagina;
spotting discharge from the genital tract. They can have both light pink and intense red or brownish tint;
convulsions;
severe pain in the lumbar region;
abdominal pain, etc.

All of the above signs can be symptoms of a miscarriage. Timely provision of qualified medical care is the key to maintaining pregnancy. nine0003

Life after miscarriage

If a woman could not bear the pregnancy - an early miscarriage crossed out all her plans - then she needs to calm down and take all measures to prevent such complications in the future. Usually obstetricians-gynecologists recommend planning a new pregnancy no earlier than six months after a miscarriage. During this time, a woman needs to be examined and find out if she has any pathology in her body that could lead to an abortion. It can be various STDs and infectious diseases. In the presence of chronic diseases that can provoke spontaneous abortion, it is necessary to throw all your efforts into their treatment. nine0003

Gynecologists of the corresponding department of our private clinic in Ryazan will help you find out what could have caused the miscarriage, as well as make recommendations on how to prepare for pregnancy. They usually include a set of physical exercises suitable for a woman, a diet rich in everything necessary for bearing a healthy baby, no stress, and measures to maintain a normal body mass index. Can't recover or get pregnant after a miscarriage? Contact "ON CLINIC in Ryazan" - here you will definitely be helped! nine0003

Spontaneous miscarriage and miscarriage

Over the past 10 years, the number of spontaneous miscarriages has been growing rapidly. The International Histological Classification Organization (FIGO) has declared the situation with an increase in the frequency of miscarriages an epidemic.

Spontaneous miscarriage is the termination of pregnancy before the fetus reaches a viable term (up to 22 weeks of pregnancy and fetal weight 500 g.).
Most miscarriages (about 80%) occur before 12 weeks of pregnancy. Moreover, in the early stages up to 8 weeks of pregnancy, the cause of miscarriage is chromosomal abnormalities in 50% of cases. It turns out that nature eliminates the defective product of conception. And these causes are difficult to prevent, especially in the presence of hereditary diseases. Fortunately, accidental breakdowns are much more common than genetically determined ones. Therefore, subsequent pregnancies usually end happily. nine0068 But the remaining 50% of miscarriages have completely real and avoidable causes. They can be easily identified at the stage of preparation for pregnancy by a gynecologist.

What are the reasons?

- chronic diseases: inflammatory diseases of the uterus and appendages, polycystic ovary syndrome, uterine fibroids, endometriosis, malformations of the genital organs.
- infections: toxoplasmosis, listeriosis, genital tuberculosis, sexual infections - chlamydia, mycoplasma, ureaplasma, syphilis. nine0064 - antiphospholipid syndrome.
- endocrine diseases: diabetes, thyroid disease.
- metabolic disorders in the body: obesity, folic acid deficiency, iron deficiency, vitamin D deficiency.
- male factor.
Of course, these causes are identified and eliminated before the planned conception.

There are harmful factors that can affect the development of the fetus in the early stages of pregnancy and lead to miscarriage:

- alcohol consumption. nine0064 - use of caffeine (4-5 cups of coffee per day).
- smoking (more than 10 cigarettes a day).
- drug use.
- taking medications with a teratogenic effect (for example: aspirin, nise and others from this group of drugs; antifungals; antidepressants; some antibiotics and a number of other drugs).
- toxins and occupational hazards: ionizing radiation, pesticides, inhalation of anesthetic gases.

What are the signs of possible pregnancy loss? nine0069

These are complaints of pain in the lower abdomen and lower back, bloody discharge from the genital tract. It is necessary to consult a doctor to rule out an ectopic pregnancy and conduct an additional examination (hCG test, blood test for progesterone, ultrasound).
In the early stages of pregnancy, with dubious ultrasound data or suspected non-developing (missing) pregnancy, expectant management is chosen with a repeat examination by a gynecologist, ultrasound, tests after 7-10 days. If the diagnosis was made and the fact of uterine pregnancy was confirmed, with a threatened miscarriage, preservation therapy is carried out in an outpatient day hospital. A miscarriage that has begun requires hospitalization in the gynecological department. In the case of a non-developing pregnancy, an abortion is performed. nine0003
In accordance with the clinical treatment protocol approved by the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation dated 07.06.2016. Preference is given to drug therapy aimed at terminating pregnancy with prostaglandin analogues (misoprostol) with or without prior use of an antiprogestin (mifepristone). In case of need for surgical treatment (with incomplete miscarriage with infected miscarriage), it is recommended to use aspiration curettage (with an electric vacuum source or a manual vacuum aspirator). What has a significant advantage over curettage of the uterine cavity because it is less traumatic and can be performed on an outpatient basis. nine0003
All women who have had a miscarriage need treatment to prevent complications and prevent recurrent miscarriages. Why is rehabilitation therapy necessary?

According to the decision of the XVIII World Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists , the diagnosis of chronic endometritis should be made to absolutely all women who have had an undeveloped pregnancy. Two out of three miscarriages according to Professor V.E. Radzinsky are caused by this disease. When examining the material from the uterine cavity, infectious pathogens were isolated: ureaplasmas, mycoplasmas, streptococci, staphylococci, Escherichia coli, viruses (herpes, HPV). Therefore, it is very important to carry out treatment immediately after the termination of pregnancy. nine0064 If time is lost, it is necessary to carry out additional diagnostics: a biopsy of the endometrium with a histological examination and a study for infections, including tuberculosis. Then, taking into account the results obtained, symptomatic anti-inflammatory therapy is carried out (immunomodulators, antibacterial drugs, physiotherapy, gynecological massage, mud therapy). In parallel, an examination is prescribed to identify other causes of miscarriage (male factor, chronic maternal diseases, genital infections, antiphospholipid syndrome). nine0064 In the medical center "Mifra-Med" at the level of modern requirements of medicine, all the possibilities for a complete adequate examination have been created: all types of tests, ultrasound, hysteroscopy, aspiration biopsy, consultations of narrow specialists (endocrinologist, therapist, neurologist, urologist). Our gynecologists of the highest category Melko O.N., Novitskaya E.L., Tikhonova T.N. and urologist of the highest category Kanaev S.A. have sufficient experience in the rehabilitation and preparation of couples for the next pregnancy with a successful outcome. Treatment is carried out in a day hospital with the use of drugs, physiotherapy, gynecological massage, prostate massage.
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