Miscarriage: Early Pregnancy Loss

Miscarriage: Early Pregnancy Loss

 

Miscarriage, also called spontaneous abortion, is pregnancy loss before 20 weeks. Most pregnancy loss occurs during the first 13 weeks of pregnancy and in most cases, miscarriages cannot be prevented. At least 1 in 10 pregnancies ends in a miscarriage, but it may be more because it may happen before the woman even knows she is pregnant.

Causes of loss

  • Problems with the developing baby’s chromosomes or genes.
  • Hormone problems, infections, accidents or abuse, and certain diseases such as diabetes and thyroid and immune disorders.
  • Smoking, drinking alcohol often, or using street drugs.

Healing your body

Based on how long you were pregnant, it may take up to 2 months for your body to recover. Pregnancy hormones may be in your body for 1 to 2 months after the miscarriage. Most women have their periods starting again 4 to 6 weeks after miscarriage.

It is safe to resume sexual intercourse after bleeding stops. It is possible to ovulate and become pregnant as soon as 2 weeks after a miscarriage. Be sure to use birth control to allow enough time for physical and emotional healing before trying to get pregnant again.

Emotional healing

Dealing with the emotions of grief from your loss will take time. Grief involves many feelings such as sadness, anger and guilt. Talk to family and friends or get support from others.

Your grief may be different from your partner’s. If you or your partner continues to feel troubled over time, talking with your doctor or a counselor may be helpful.

Do not blame yourself for the miscarriage. In most cases, it is not likely that it could have been prevented.

Follow up care

Schedule a follow-up visit with your doctor or OB-GYN clinic. Call within 3 days if you do not already have an appointment scheduled.

Most often, having a miscarriage does not mean a woman cannot have more children, or that there is anything wrong with her health.

Call your doctor right away if you have:

  • Increased bleeding, soaking more than 1 sanitary pad an hour for 3 hours in a row
  • Increased cramping
  • Fever over 100.5 degrees Fahrenheit
  • Severe pain in your abdomen or vaginal area
  • Foul-smelling vaginal discharge

Early pregnancy loss resources

Websites

Books

  • After Miscarriage: Medical Facts and Emotional Support for Pregnancy Loss, Krissi Danielsson, ISBN 978-1-558-32354-4.
    Parents’ questions about pregnancy loss are answered from both the medical and emotional point of view.
  • Coming to Term: Uncovering the Truth About Miscarriage, Jon Cohen, ISBN 978-0-618-27724-7.
    Cohen, whose wife lost a pregnancy, researched why miscarriage can happen. Myths about pregnancy loss are dispelled.

For Siblings (ages 4 to 8)

  • Molly’s Rosebush, Janice Cohn, illustrated by Gail Owens, ISBN 0-8075-5213-5.
    Molly’s mother has a miscarriage. The book has an introduction for parents about how to explain pregnancy loss to young children.
  • Remembering Our Baby, Patti Keough,ISBN 156-1-23140-1.
    www.centering.org
    Workbook with blank spaces for children to draw or write. Each page has a prompt about the loss of the baby.

© 2014 - October 16, 2020, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center.

This handout is for informational purposes only. Talk to your doctor or health care team if you have any questions about your care. For more health information, call the Library for Health Information at 614-293-3707 or email: health-info@osu.edu.