After a miscarriage: your body, your feelings and support

Recovering from a miscarriage happens in two ways: in your body, and in how you feel. The physical side often settles within days or weeks. The emotional side can take much longer, and that’s normal.

Your body in the first few weeks

You might have cramps, a bit like period pain, for a few days. Paracetamol or ibuprofen can help.

Bleeding usually settles within about 2 weeks, though it can go on for up to 4 weeks, especially if you were further along. It should get lighter and may turn brown. Stick to pads or period pants until the bleeding stops, as tampons and menstrual cups can raise the risk of infection.

If your miscarriage happened naturally or with medicine, you may be given a pregnancy test to do at home 3 weeks later, to check the pregnancy hormone has fallen.

Periods, sex and contraception

Your first period usually comes 4 to 8 weeks after a miscarriage, and your cycle might take a few months to settle.

Wait to have sex until the bleeding and other symptoms have stopped, because of the risk of infection.

You can get pregnant again before your first period. If you don’t want to yet, you can start contraception straight away. Starting the combined pill, or having an implant fitted, within 5 days of the miscarriage protects you immediately. When you’re ready to think about another pregnancy, see trying again after a miscarriage.

If your loss was later in pregnancy

After a loss in the second trimester, bleeding can last longer, up to around 6 weeks. Your breasts may also fill with milk a few days afterwards. A well-fitting bra, a cold pack wrapped in a cloth and pain relief can help, and you can ask your doctor or midwife about medicine to stop your milk.

Going back to work

You don’t have to tell your employer, but if you feel able to, they can offer support, including time off.

After a loss before 24 weeks, there’s no right to statutory maternity, paternity or parental bereavement leave or pay. You can take sick leave in the usual way. This is likely to count as pregnancy-related sickness, which is protected under equality law, so your employer should record it separately and not count it towards absence reviews.

Partners don’t yet have a right to bereavement leave after a miscarriage. If you’re an employee, you can take reasonable unpaid time off to help in an emergency, such as when your partner is unwell. Many employers also offer compassionate leave, so it’s worth asking.

A new right is planned. The government plans to give employees in England, Scotland and Wales who have a pregnancy loss before 24 weeks, and their partners, up to 2 weeks’ unpaid leave from April 2027. The law still needs to go through Parliament, so the details and date could change. Check GOV.UK for the latest.

How grief can feel

There’s no right way to feel. You might feel heartbroken, numb or angry, or all of these in one day. For some people the hardest part comes straight away. For others it hits weeks later, when the hospital visits have stopped and the world expects you to be back to normal. There’s no deadline for feeling better.

For partners

Partners grieve too, sometimes differently. Many feel powerless. Friends and family often check on the person who was pregnant and don’t think to check on you, and you might put your own feelings aside to be the strong one, only for them to surface later. Try to let each other grieve in your own ways, and keep talking.

Remembering your baby, if you want to

Some people find it helps to mark their loss, now or later. Others don’t, and both are fine. You might keep a scan photo or keepsakes in a memory box, plant something, or light a candle on your due date. In England you can apply for a baby loss certificate, and Scotland and Northern Ireland have similar schemes.

After a later loss, hospital staff can help you spend time with your baby if you’d like to, and take photos or hand and footprints.

When grief needs more support

Depression and anxiety after a loss are not unusual, for you or your partner. If you’re struggling, or low mood or worry isn’t easing, talk to your GP or early pregnancy unit about counselling. In England, you can also refer yourself to NHS Talking Therapies, as long as you’re registered with a GP.

If you ever feel you can’t keep yourself safe, call 999 or go to A&E. You can also call NHS 111 and choose the mental health option or Samaritans on 116 123.

Support organisations

Miscarriage UK: helpline 0303 003 6464, plus live chat and support groups.
Tommy’s: free midwife helpline 0800 0147 800, Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm.
Sands: support after miscarriage at any stage. Helpline 0808 164 3332.
Cruse Bereavement Support: free helpline 0808 808 1677 for anyone grieving.

When to get help

Contact your GP, early pregnancy unit, the hospital that cared for you, or NHS 111 if you have a high temperature or flu-like symptoms, smelly discharge, bleeding that’s getting heavier or lasting longer than expected, or tummy pain that painkillers aren’t helping. These can be signs of an infection.

Call 999 if bleeding is heavy (soaking a pad soon after putting it on), or comes with severe tummy or shoulder pain, or with feeling sick, faint or dizzy; and for sudden, severe tummy pain with feeling faint or dizzy, even without bleeding.

Questions people ask

How long does it take to recover from a miscarriage?

Physically, often days or a few weeks. Emotionally, it can take much longer, and that’s normal.

Was it something I did?

It’s very unlikely. Most early miscarriages happen because of a problem with the baby’s genes, and in almost all cases it has nothing to do with anything you did or didn’t do. Being active doesn’t cause miscarriage.

My pregnancy test is still positive. Is that normal?

For a while, yes. If it’s still positive 3 weeks on, contact your early pregnancy unit or GP. See positive pregnancy test after a miscarriage.