If you think you are having a miscarriage

Am I having a miscarriage?

The most common symptom of impending miscarriage is vaginal bleeding, but not all pregnancies with bleeding end in miscarriage. Around half of pregnancies with early vaginal bleeding go on to term and end with a healthy baby.

Other possible symptoms of impending miscarriage include lower abdominal cramping, and less commonly, a gush of clear fluid from the vagina with or without bleeding.

If you have any of these symptoms, you will want to see your doctor or midwife as soon as you can. Because bleeding carries the threat of miscarriage though, your doctor will want to watch you more carefully over the next few days. This can be followed with ultrasound or blood tests.

If it is a miscarriage...

We are very sorry to tell you, but if you are having a miscarriage, there is not really anything anyone can do about it. Although it is almost certainly not happening because of something you have done, it will be happening for good reasons.

Bleeding at the beginning of a miscarriage can be light, continuing over several days. Mild lower abdominal or lower back aches might accompany the bleeding. As the miscarriage progresses, the bleeding will get heavier and the cramping can get more painful.

As the cervix dilates (opens), tissue can be passed. This tissue could be invaluable in determining the cause of the miscarriage. If you think you have passed fetal tissue, put it in a clean container and bring it with you to your doctor or midwife. Rarely, you might notice a gush of clear fluid from the vagina, without pain or bleeding.

It is important to be certain all the tissue relating to the pregnancy is removed, either naturally, or with a D&C (a "curette"). If the cervix is open and tissue has been passed, the completeness of the miscarriage can be followed with blood tests. Sometimes the body does not totally expel all the products of conception. This is when a D&C will be performed to complete the process.