Miscarriage

A miscarriage is defined as a pregnancy that ends on its own before a woman reaches 20 weeks of pregnancy. However, it’s most likely to occur in the very early stages of pregnancy - miscarriages are uncommon after 12 weeks pregnant. This is one of the main reasons why many people wait to announce their pregnancy until they reach the end of the first trimester.

When a pregnancy stops growing, a woman may experience symptoms of bleeding and cramp-like pain. Some women may have no symptoms and unfortunately are told of the pregnancy loss at the time of an ultrasound - this is called a missed miscarriage.

Sadly, miscarriage is a common issue faced by many women and couples, with up to one in five confirmed pregnancies ending in miscarriage. This number could in fact be higher, as some women will miscarry without ever realising they were pregnant.

This is when your body shows signs suggesting you might miscarry—such as a small amount of vaginal bleeding or some lower abdominal pain. In some cases, the pain and bleeding will go away and you will go on to have a successful pregnancy. Regrettably, there is also a chance that your symptoms may worsen and you may go on to miscarry.

If you experience any of the above symptoms and suspect you may be miscarrying, please contact your fertility specialist or obstetrician as soon as possible. Time is of the essence here, so please don’t hesitate to reach out.

An incomplete miscarriage (as opposed to a complete miscarriage) is when some of the pregnancy tissue remains in the body. Bleeding and cramping may continue as the body tries to dispel what is left.

Often with an incomplete miscarriage, you will need some intervention to help your body pass the leftover tissue. This involves either medication or a medical procedure called a ‘dilation of the cervix and suction curettage of the uterus’ (otherwise known as a ‘D&C’).

A complete miscarriage is when all the pregnancy tissue passes spontaneously. This may be experienced as a few hours of heavy vaginal bleeding and cramping that then settles. If you become concerned about the amount of bleeding or strength of pain it is important to seek medical care through your nurse, fertility specialist, obstetrician or general practitioner. Alternatively, you can attend your local emergency department.

Sometimes when a pregnancy stops growing, it can remain in the uterus. Some women may experience a brownish discharge and notice that regular pregnancy symptoms (such as nausea) have subsided.

Other times nothing may seem out of the ordinary - until it is picked up on a routine ultrasound. This is why it is referred to as a missed miscarriage. The shock can be very hard to process, so please reach out to a counsellor for some extra support.

If you are diagnosed with a missed miscarriage, it is important you discuss treatment options with your fertility specialist or obstetrician. They will help steer you through this difficult time.

Unfortunately, some women may experience repeated miscarriages. Recurrent miscarriage is defined as someone who miscarries two or more times without any successful pregnancies in between.

Recurrent miscarriage can be distressing, especially if there is also delay in falling pregnant or subfertility requiring treatment. Our counsellors are there for you if you need a shoulder to cry on or some extra care.

If you have experienced recurrent miscarriage, it is also important you talk to a fertility specialist about potential causes. The sooner you have a treatment plan in place, the greater your chances of taking home your longed-for baby in the future.