Signs of miscarriage that you should be aware of during pregnancy

Pregnancy is an exciting period in life, but it can also be stressful¹. You need to listen your body and should  try to be aware of all the warning signs that can lead to trouble during pregnancy^1-4. For example, the signs that may occur during miscarriage^2-4.

About Miscarriage

Miscarriage, or pregnancy loss can happen during the first 24 weeks of pregnancy². For most women, a miscarriage is an individual event and will be followed by a successful pregnancy². Only around 0.5–1% of women may experience three or more miscarriages². 

Miscarriage can be described as²:

• Early – less than 12 weeks of pregnancy. This occurs in up to one in five pregnancies². 
• Late – between 12–24 weeks of pregnancy. This is less common and occurs in 1–2% of pregnancies².

The causes of miscarriage are often unknown². Nevertheless, near half of early miscarriages could be due to a chromosomal anomaly of fetus². There are several factors that have been associated with increased risk of pregnancy loss, including age, psychological state of the mother, very low or very high pre-pregnancy weight, stress, smoking and alcohol use².

Warning Signs of Miscarriage

Uncomplicated bleeding and cramping are the most common symptoms of miscarriage³. But you should remember that not all individuals with bleeding or cramping will experience pregnancy loss³.

• Bleeding: Bleeding during pregnancy is common³. The volume of vaginal bleeding with pregnancy loss varies depending on the stage of pregnancy and may include clots or tissue³. Generally, neither the volume of bleeding nor self-reported passage are enough to confirm a miscarriage³. You should contact your physician immediately  for further evaluation, which typically includes a pelvic ultrasound³.

• Cramping and pain: The pain that is associated with pregnancy loss is often crampy and can be mild to severe³. It is typically located in your abdomen or lower back⁴. The pain can be constant or intermittent and is often associated with vaginal bleeding³.

• Loss or reduction of symptoms associated with being pregnant, such as decreased breast tenderness, nausea and vomiting³.

If you experience any or all of these symptoms or signs, it is important that you contact your physician or other medical facility³.

Prevention

It is difficult to prevent a miscarriage⁴. Nevertheless you should focus on taking good care of yourself and your baby⁴:

• Do not miss your prenatal care appointments ⁴
• Avoid risk factors — such as smoking and drinking alcohol⁴
• Follow the advice of your physician⁴
• Keep any chronic conditions you may have under control⁴
• Limit your caffeine intake⁴. Based on medical research, two caffeinated beverages a day is associated with an increased risk of miscarriage⁴.