A miscarriage is the loss of your baby before 24 weeks. Early miscarriages happen in the first 12 weeks of pregnancy. Late miscarriages happen between 12 and 24 weeks. Show
Most of the time there’s no clear reason why it happens, but it’s very unlikely to be caused by anything you did or didn’t do. About 1 out of 5 pregnancies miscarry. Since many miscarriages aren't recorded the figure might be higher. When to get medical helpAlways get medical help if:
If you're registered, contact your midwife or local maternity unit. If you’re not registered, contact your GP or the NHS 24 111 service. What causes a miscarriage?Doctors think most miscarriages are caused when the building blocks controlling the development of a baby (the chromosomes) aren’t right. Babies with too many or not enough chromosomes won't develop properly. This leads to a miscarriage. Miscarriages can also be caused by:
Early miscarriagesAn early miscarriage happens in the first 12 weeks of pregnancy. Most women who miscarry do so in the first 12 weeks of their pregnancy. Many women have a miscarriage before they even know they’re pregnant. If this happens it can feel like a late period with heavy bleeding. Symptoms of an early miscarriageYou might be having an early miscarriage if:
BleedingHaving some light bleeding's fairly common in the first 12 weeks of pregnancy and doesn't necessarily mean you're having a miscarriage. If you start bleeding, you should always contact your GP or midwife and get advice about what to do. What happens during an early miscarriageIf you’re in the early weeks of pregnancy:
Depending on your stage of pregnancy, you may deliver a small baby. That can be a shock and is an understandably upsetting time. Late miscarriagesA late miscarriage happens after 12 weeks and before 24 weeks. For many parents who lose their baby after a late miscarriage, the word ‘miscarriage’ doesn't properly express the impact of their loss. The loss of a baby at any time's a terrible shock and a late miscarriage can be especially hard. Symptoms of a late miscarriageYou might be having a late miscarriage if:
Always get medical help if:
Contact your midwife or local maternity unit if you’re registered with them. If you’re not registered, contact your GP or phone the NHS 24 111 service. What happens during a late miscarriageIf you’re later on in pregnancy:
While you deliver your baby you're likely to have heavier bleeding and labour-like pains. Making difficult decisionsIf you're having a miscarriage, your doctor or midwife will:
You may have many difficult decisions to make at this time and will have overwhelming emotions. Take your time. Your midwife or doctor can help, and there are many organisations that can support you, your baby’s father and your family. Get support from SANDS Get support from SiMBA After a miscarriageDepending on your circumstances and stage of pregnancy, your midwife or doctor may ask if you'd like to see or hold your baby. Some parents decide they don't want to see their baby, and others choose not to for faith or cultural reasons. This is a decision only you can make. It can be very hard when you're feeling overwhelmed. Whatever you decide is okay. If you’re worried about what your baby looks like, your midwife or doctor can describe them to help you decide. If your symptoms continueYou’ll probably have some bleeding for a week or two. If you continue to have symptoms after your miscarriage, it may mean that some of the pregnancy tissue's still in your womb. Some women may need medicine or a short operation to treat this. If you’re worried about seeking treatment, maybe a friend can come with you. Having support's really important at this difficult time. Taking time off workMany women will want to take time off work after having a miscarriage. If you have a miscarriage before the end of the 24th week, you’re entitled to:
If you lose your baby after the end of the 24th week, you’re entitled to:
Speak to your employer about which choices may be right for you and your family. Working Families has more about your rights at work after a miscarriage Repeated miscarriagesMost women go on to have a successful pregnancy and a healthy baby after a miscarriage. But unfortunately, some women have repeated miscarriages. If you've had:
What happens when you miscarry at 16 weeks?From 16 to 20 weeks
This is often called a 'late miscarriage'. You might pass large shiny red clots that look like liver as well as other pieces of tissue that look and feel like membrane. It might be painful and feel just like labour, and you might need pain relief in hospital.
Will I know if I miscarry 16 weeks?Most women less than 20 weeks of pregnancy do not notice any symptoms of a fetal demise. The test used to check for a fetal demise in the second trimester is an ultrasound examination to see if the baby is moving and growing. Fetal demise is diagnosed when the ultrasound examination shows no fetal heart activity.
Can you have a silent miscarriage at 16 weeks?Late miscarriage, also called second-trimester or mid-trimester loss, refers to a miscarriage that happens when a baby dies between 14 and 24 weeks of pregnancy. If a baby dies before 14 weeks but the miscarriage itself happens later, that is usually considered to be a missed or silent first-trimester loss.
What does a miscarriage in second trimester feel like?Symptoms of miscarriage in the second trimester tend to be similar to those in the first trimester—bleeding, cramping, and loss of pregnancy symptoms. These signs may be experienced to a greater magnitude than in the first trimester or may be completely absent.
|