Miscarriage: the signs, what happens and where to find support

If you think you might be having a miscarriage, or you’ve just been told you are, there’s a lot to take in. This explains the signs, what happens next and where to find support. Read as much or as little as you need.

What a miscarriage is

Miscarriage means losing a pregnancy before 24 weeks. Most happen in the first 12 weeks. It happens more often than many people realise. Miscarriage UK estimates that about 1 in 5 pregnancies end in miscarriage.

Many people think of their pregnancy as their baby from the very start, and feel it as a real loss however early it happens.

It’s not your fault

Often no cause is found. Before 12 weeks, the most common reason is a problem with the baby’s genes.

Both Tommy’s and Miscarriage UK are clear that it’s very unlikely anything you did, or didn’t do, caused your miscarriage. Being active doesn’t cause miscarriage, and there’s no clear evidence that sex does either. Going back over every detail of the last few weeks is a very common reaction, but it doesn’t mean you were to blame.

Signs of a miscarriage

The main sign is bleeding from your vagina. It can be anything from pink or brown spotting to heavy red bleeding with clots. Other signs include:

cramps or pain low in your tummy, or in your lower back
a sudden gush or trickle of fluid from your vagina
passing clumps or strands of tissue
pregnancy symptoms, such as feeling sick or sore breasts, suddenly stopping (though these can also fade after the first trimester anyway)

Some people have no signs at all and only find out at a scan. This is called a missed miscarriage.

Bleeding doesn’t always mean a miscarriage: light bleeding is common in the first 12 weeks. But it always needs checking. See spotting in early pregnancy.

What to do and when to get help

If you have any bleeding, or pain that’s severe, on one side, or not easing after resting for 30 to 60 minutes, or pain in the tip of your shoulder, contact your maternity unit or an early pregnancy unit straight away, or NHS 111 if you can’t reach them. If you haven’t seen a midwife yet, contact NHS 111 or your GP surgery.

Call 999 if the 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. Also call 999 if you have sudden, severe tummy pain and feel faint or dizzy, even without bleeding.

Use pads or period pants, not tampons or a menstrual cup. Noticing how heavy the bleeding is, and any clots, helps you describe it. You are not wasting anyone’s time.

At the early pregnancy unit

You’ll be asked about your symptoms, any past pregnancies and your health. You’ll usually have an ultrasound scan, which in early pregnancy is often an internal (transvaginal) scan. It can show where the pregnancy is and whether there’s a heartbeat.

You might also have blood or urine tests. If the pregnancy can’t be seen yet, you may have blood tests 48 hours apart (see pregnancy of unknown location).

Sometimes it’s too early to be sure, and one scan can’t always give a certain answer. You may be asked to come back for a second scan a week or two later. The wait is hard. If your bleeding or pain gets worse before then, contact the unit straight away, or call 999 if it’s heavy or severe.

Before you go home, you should be told when to come back and what to look out for, and given a number to call day or night.

Being told the news

Being told you’re having a miscarriage, or have had one, can be very hard to hear, even if you’d feared it. Shock, grief, emptiness and guilt are all common.

You should be treated with dignity, given time to ask questions, and given information to take home. Unless you need treatment urgently, you don’t usually have to decide what happens next there and then.

What happens next

If the miscarriage hasn’t fully passed, there are usually 3 options: waiting for it to happen naturally, taking medicine, or a procedure. What’s offered depends on your symptoms and how many weeks pregnant you are, and you should be able to choose. Read more in miscarriage treatment: waiting, tablets or surgery.

If you were 14 weeks pregnant or more, your care team will talk you through what happens, which may mean giving birth. Sands also supports people after pregnancy loss, with a free helpline on 0808 164 3332.

Support for you and your partner

There’s no right way to feel. Support is there whenever you want it:

Miscarriage UK: 0303 003 6464, 9am to 8pm on Monday, Wednesday and Friday, and 9am to 4pm on Tuesday and Thursday. It also has live chat.
Tommy’s midwives: free on 0800 0147 800, 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday. They’re trained in bereavement support.
Your GP can refer you for NHS counselling.

Partners can be deeply affected too, and Tommy’s midwives support them as well.

If you 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.

Questions people ask

Can you have a miscarriage without bleeding?

Yes. Some people have no bleeding or pain and only find out at a scan. This is called a missed miscarriage.

How do I know if it’s a miscarriage or just spotting?

You can’t tell from the bleeding alone, so get checked. A scan is usually how you find out.

Could I have caused my miscarriage?

It’s very unlikely. Exercise doesn’t cause miscarriage, there’s no clear evidence that sex does, and most early losses are linked to the baby’s genes.

Can a miscarriage be stopped?

Sadly, once a miscarriage has started, it can’t be stopped. But bleeding doesn’t always mean a miscarriage. If you’re bleeding, a scan shows the pregnancy is in your womb, and you’ve had a miscarriage before, you may be offered progesterone, which may help some pregnancies continue.

How long does a miscarriage take?

It varies. Waiting for it to happen naturally usually takes about 2 weeks, but can take longer. Afterwards, cramps usually ease within a few days, and bleeding usually stops within 2 to 3 weeks.