Being pregnant is one of life’s greatest joys. But with that joy also comes anxiety and risks to the mother’s body and health. With the many symptoms of early pregnancy, for example back pain, breast tenderness, cramps, and mood swings, it’s easy to mistake signs of a miscarriage for the normal progression of gestation.
Technically, a miscarriage is a ‘spontaneous pregnancy loss before 20 weeks of gestation’ and it’s not as uncommon as you think. Between 15-25% of known pregnancies end in a miscarriage, the majority (80%) happening before the 12th week of gestation. The signs and symptoms of miscarriage can vary from person to person and also depend on how far along in the pregnancy the woman is. Here are five signs of miscarriage to look out for in your early pregnancy —
1. Discharge of tissue or fluid from your vagina.
On average, a miscarriage will take around two weeks to pass naturally. This means that in that time, blood clots and tissue from the uterus empty as the cervix dilates. Bleeding may start as light spotting or can be heavy like a gush of blood. The heaviest bleeding is generally over within 3 to 5 hours from the time heavy bleeding begins. Whereas, spotting or lighter bleeding may come intermittently for one to two weeks before ending completely.
2. Cramping or pain in your lower abdomen or tummy.
Cramps are very common during pregnancy as the body adjusts to a growing fetus. But if the pain becomes intense or extends to the pelvic area and lower back, it could be a warning sign of miscarriage, especially if accompanied by bleeding/spotting or contractions.
3. Abnormal vaginal discharge.
Aside from blood clots and tissues, the vagina can release foul-smelling discharge in the event of a miscarriage or infection. In the case of miscarriage, the discharge is usually blood-tinged (pink) or associated with bleeding. Foul-smelling discharge can also be a sign of a pelvic infection. This should be checked immediately to rule out a septic miscarriage.
4. Weight loss.
Losing weight is a sign that something isn’t right with the pregnancy. Expectant mothers normally gain between 25 and 35 pounds during a healthy pregnancy and will normally experience an increase in appetite, cravings, and bloating. Women who lose weight or whose appetite rapidly declines should immediately seek medical attention. As soon as possible, you must discover or rule out any issues with the pregnancy.
5. A loss of pregnancy symptoms.
Another common symptom of miscarriage is the disappearance of pregnancy symptoms. This could include a lack of nausea, more energy, less breast tenderness and a disappearance of cravings. Any and all indicate that something is wrong, particularly when accompanied by vaginal bleeding.
Remember, each and every woman experiences pregnancy differently — some may have all the symptoms and some may have none. Try to keep a pregnancy journal so that you and your doctor can keep track of your symptoms as you and your fetus grow. Things that are unnatural to your journey will be more easily noticed.
Most importantly, remind yourself that most women who miscarry go on eventually to have perfectly healthy pregnancies and deliveries. If you are currently pregnant and have any of these miscarriage symptoms, however, it is critical you reach out to your OB/GYN and let them know if you’re experiencing signs of a miscarriage so that they can determine next steps. Unfortunately, there usually isn’t anything that can stop an early miscarriage but remember, it’s very common and NOT YOUR FAULT.