Miscarriage

A miscarriage is the loss of an unborn baby before the 20th week of pregnancy. Most miscarriages occur in the first 3 months of pregnancy. A miscarriage may happen before a woman knows that they're pregnant.

• Any questions you have about the loss of your baby.
• How to work through your grief.
• Plans for future pregnancy.

What are the causes?

Many times, the cause of this condition is not known.

What increases the risk?

Certain medical conditions

• Conditions that affect hormones, such as:
  • Thyroid problems.
  • Polycystic ovary syndrome.
• Diabetes.
• Autoimmune disorders.
• Infections.
• Bleeding problems.
• Obesity.

Lifestyle factors

• Smoking, vaping, or use of other products with tobacco or nicotine in them.
• Being around people who smoke.
• Drinking alcohol or taking certain substances.
• Having large amounts of caffeine.

Problems with the body

• Scars in the uterus.
• Growths, such as fibroids, in the uterus.
• Problems in the body that are present at birth.
• Infection.
• A cervix that opens and thins before your due date.

Personal or medical history

• Having had a miscarriage before.
• Being younger than age 18 or older than age 35 when you become pregnant.
• Being around a harmful things, such as radiation.
• Having lead or other heavy metals where you live or work.
• Use of some medicines.

What are the signs or symptoms?

• Blood or spots of blood coming from the vagina.
• Pain or cramps in the belly or low back.
• Fluid or tissue coming out of the vagina.

How is this diagnosed?

• A physical exam.
• Ultrasound.
• Lab tests, such as blood tests or urine tests.

How is this treated?

Treatment is not needed if all the pregnancy tissue came out of your uterus.

• Dilation and curettage (D&C). This removes the remaining tissue from the uterus.
• Medicines. These may be given to help your body remove the last of the tissue.
• Antibiotics.

Follow these instructions at home:

Medicines

• Take your medicines only as told.
• If you were given antibiotics, take them as told. Do not stop taking them even if you start to feel better.

Activity

• Rest as told by your provider. Ask your provider what activities are safe for you.
• If able, have someone help with home and family duties during this time.

General instructions

• Watch how much tissue comes out of the vagina.
• Watch the size of any blood clots that come out of the vagina.
• Do not have sex or douche until your provider says it is okay.
• Do not put things, such as tampons, in your vagina until your provider says it is okay.
• To help you and your partner with grieving:
  • Talk with your provider.
  • See a counselor.
• When you are ready, talk with your provider about:
  • Things to do for your health.
  • How you can be healthy if you get pregnant again.

Where to find more information

• The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists: acog.org
• U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Women's Health: hrsa.gov/office-womens-health

Contact a health care provider if:

• You have a fever or chills.
• There's bad-smelling fluid coming from your vagina.
• You have more bleeding instead of less.
• More tissue or blood clots come out of your vagina than you were told to expect.
• You become light-headed or weak.

Get help right away if:

• Heavy bleeding soaks through 2 large pads an hour for more than 2 hours.
• You faint.
• You feel sad all the time.
• You think about hurting yourself.

• Go to your nearest emergency room.
• Call 911.
• Call the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline (free and confidential):
  • Call 1-800-273-8255 or 988.
  • Text 741741.