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Ask the expertsWhat steps should be taken after a miscarriage? Do you think it is necessary to go to the doctor? Doctor's responseMiscarriage is the loss of a pregnancy before the 20th week of development. Greater than 95% of losses occur before the 12th completed week. When a miscarriage occurs this early, often if all of the products of conception (placenta, fetus) have passed, and if the bleeding is minimal, and if the woman experiences normal menstrual cycles, than she may not need to see a doctor. However, if there is fever, continued bleeding, abdominal or pelvic pain, history of an ectopic pregnancy or if the woman is at increased risk for an ectopic, or if this is her third consecutive pregnancy loss, then a doctor visit is certainly warranted. Whenever there is a doubt, a physician consultation is a good idea. A miscarriage is the loss of a pregnancy during the first 23 weeks. The main sign of a miscarriage is vaginal bleeding, which may be followed by cramping and pain in your lower abdomen. If you have vaginal bleeding, contact a GP or your midwife. Most GPs can refer you to an early
pregnancy unit at your local hospital straight away if necessary. You may be referred to a maternity ward if your pregnancy is at a later stage. But bear in mind that light vaginal bleeding is relatively common during the first trimester (first 3 months) of pregnancy and does not necessarily mean you're having a miscarriage. There are potentially
many reasons why a miscarriage may happen, although the cause is not usually identified. The majority are not caused by anything you have done. It's thought most miscarriages are caused by abnormal chromosomes in the baby. Chromosomes are genetic "building blocks" that guide the development of a baby. If a baby has too many or not enough chromosomes, it will not develop properly. In most cases, a miscarriage is a one-off event and most people go on to have a successful pregnancy in the future. Preventing a miscarriageThe majority of miscarriages cannot be prevented. But there are some things you can do to reduce the risk of a miscarriage. Avoid smoking, drinking alcohol and using drugs while pregnant. Being a healthy weight before getting pregnant, eating a healthy diet and reducing your risk of infection can also help. What happens if you think you're having a miscarriageIf you have the symptoms of a miscarriage, you'll usually be referred to a hospital for tests. In most cases, an ultrasound scan can determine if you're having a miscarriage. When a miscarriage is confirmed, you'll need to talk to your doctor or midwife about the options for the management of the end of the pregnancy. Often the pregnancy tissue will pass out naturally in 1 or 2 weeks. Sometimes medicine to assist the passage of the tissue may be recommended, or you can choose to have minor surgery to remove it if you do not want to wait. After a miscarriageA miscarriage can be an emotionally and physically draining experience. You may have feelings of guilt, shock and anger. Advice and support are available at this time from hospital counselling services and charity groups. You may also find it beneficial to have a memorial for the baby you lost. You can try for another baby as soon as your symptoms have settled and you're emotionally and physically ready. It's important to remember that most miscarriages are a one-off and are followed by a healthy pregnancy. How common are miscarriages?Miscarriages are much more common than most people realise. Among people who know they're pregnant, it's estimated about 1 in 8 pregnancies will end in miscarriage. Many more miscarriages happen before a person is even aware they're pregnant. Losing 3 or more pregnancies in a row (recurrent miscarriages) is uncommon and only affects around 1 in 100 women. Page last reviewed: 09 March 2022 On this page
The loss of a baby through miscarriage can be very distressing. A miscarriage generally occurs for reasons outside your control and nothing can be done to prevent or stop it from happening. Most women who have had a miscarriage will go on to have a healthy pregnancy in the future. What is a miscarriage?A miscarriage is the loss of your baby before 20 weeks of pregnancy. The loss of a baby after 20 weeks is called a stillbirth. Up to 1 in 5 confirmed pregnancies end in miscarriage before 20 weeks, but many other women miscarry without having realised they are pregnant. Common signs of miscarriage include:
If you think you are having a miscarriage, see your doctor or go to your local emergency department. Many women experience vaginal spotting in the first trimester that does not result in pregnancy loss. What are the types of miscarriage?There are several types of miscarriage — threatened, inevitable, complete, incomplete or missed. Other types of pregnancy loss include an ectopic pregnancy, molar pregnancy and a blighted ovum. Threatened miscarriageWhen your body is showing signs that you might miscarry, that is called a 'threatened miscarriage'. You may have light vaginal bleeding or lower abdominal pain. It can last days or weeks and the cervix is still closed. The pain and bleeding may resolve and you can go on to have a healthy pregnancy and baby. Or things may get worse and you go on to have a miscarriage. There is rarely anything a doctor, midwife or you can do to prevent a miscarriage. In the past bed rest was recommended, but there is no scientific proof that this helps at this stage. Inevitable miscarriageInevitable miscarriages can come after a threatened miscarriage or without warning. There is usually a lot more vaginal bleeding and strong lower stomach cramps. During the miscarriage your cervix opens and the developing fetus will come away in the bleeding. Complete miscarriageA complete miscarriage has taken place when all the pregnancy tissue has left your uterus. Vaginal bleeding may continue for several days. Cramping pain much like labour or strong period pain is common — this is the uterus contracting to empty. If you have miscarried at home or somewhere else with no health workers present, you should have a check-up with a doctor or midwife to make sure the miscarriage is complete. Incomplete miscarriageSometimes, some pregnancy tissue will remain in the uterus. Vaginal bleeding and lower abdominal cramping may continue as the uterus continues trying to empty itself. This is known as an 'incomplete miscarriage'. Your doctor or midwife will need to assess whether or not a short procedure called a ‘dilatation of the cervix and curettage of the uterus’ (often known as a ‘D&C’) is necessary to remove any remaining pregnancy tissue. This is an important medical procedure done in an operating theatre. Missed miscarriageSometimes, the fetus has died but stayed in the uterus. This is known as a 'missed miscarriage'. If you have a missed miscarriage, you may have a brownish discharge. Some of the symptoms of pregnancy, such as nausea and tiredness, may have faded. You might have noticed nothing unusual. You may be shocked to have a scan and find the fetus has died. If this happens, you should discuss treatment and support options with your doctor. Recurrent miscarriageA small number of women have repeated miscarriages. If this is your third or more miscarriage in a row, it’s best to discuss this with your doctor who may be able to investigate the causes, and refer you to a specialist. What are the signs of a miscarriage?A miscarriage can occur suddenly or over a number of weeks. The symptoms are usually vaginal bleeding and lower tummy pain. It is important to see your doctor or go to the emergency department if you have signs of a miscarriage. The most common sign of a miscarriage is vaginal bleeding, which can vary from light red or brown spotting to heavy bleeding. If it is very early in the pregnancy, you may think that you have your period. Other signs may include:
What should I do if I think I’m having a miscarriage?If you are concerned that you are having a miscarriage, call your doctor or midwife for advice and support. Keep in mind that many women experience vaginal spotting in the first trimester of pregnancy that does not result in a miscarriage. If you are alone, consider calling your partner or a friend for help and support. If you have very heavy bleeding, strong pain or feel unwell, call triple zero (000) or have someone take you to your nearest emergency department. How is a miscarriage managed?Unfortunately, nothing can prevent a miscarriage from happening once it has begun. What happens now depends on your own health and what is happening to you. Each approach has benefits and risks. You should discuss these with your doctor. Expectant or natural managementAlso called ‘watch and wait’, expectant management may be recommended in early pregnancy. This involves going home and waiting until the pregnancy tissue has passed from your womb by itself. This can happen quickly, or it may take a few weeks. Medical managementYou may be offered medication that speeds up the passing of the pregnancy tissue. You may be asked to stay in hospital until the tissue has passed, or you may be advised to go home. Surgical managementYou may be advised to have a form of minor surgery called a 'dilatation and curettage' (also called a D&C or a curette). This procedure is often recommended if you have heavy bleeding, significant pain or signs of infection. It may also be recommended if expectant or medical management has failed. You may also decide that you prefer this option. This procedure is done under general anaesthesia in an operating theatre. It takes 5-10 minutes once you are asleep. The doctor opens the cervix and removes the remaining pregnancy tissue. How is a miscarriage treated?Once it is confirmed that you are having a miscarriage, your doctor may offer or recommend treatment. There are many options. All have benefits and risks — discuss these with your doctor. If the miscarriage is completeIf it seems the miscarriage is complete, you should still see your doctor for a check-up. You may be advised to have an ultrasound to make sure your uterus is empty. If you go to hospitalIf you go to your hospital’s emergency department, you will be seen first by a triage nurse, who will assess how urgently you need to be seen by a doctor. Depending on your symptoms, you will either be taken in to see a doctor immediately, or you will be asked to wait. If you are waiting to be seen and your symptoms become worse or you feel like you need to go to the toilet, let the staff know immediately. What happens if I miscarry at home?Some women miscarry at home before they have a chance to see their doctor or get to the hospital. If this happens, then:
There is a chance you may see your baby in the tissue that you pass, but often the baby is too small to recognise, or may not be found at all. It is normal to want to look at the remains, but you may decide you do not want to. There is no right or wrong thing to do. Some women miscarry while on the toilet. This can also happen if you are out and about, or in hospital. There is no right or wrong way to handle this. Why do miscarriages happen?Many women wonder if their miscarriage was their fault. In most cases, a miscarriage has nothing to do with anything you have or have not done. There is no evidence that exercising, stress, working or having sex causes a miscarriage. Most parents do not ever find out the exact cause. However, it is known that miscarriages often happen because the baby fails to develop properly, usually due to a chromosomal abnormality that was spontaneous, not inherited. Occasionally, miscarriage is caused by:
What are the risk factors for miscarriage?Women are more likely to have miscarriages if they:
Can you prevent a miscarriage?Living healthily — no cigarettes, no alcohol and little to no caffeine — can decrease your risk of miscarriage. It’s a good idea to avoid contact with people who have a serious infectious illness when you’re pregnant. Who can I talk to for advice and support?Talk to your doctor or midwife for information and advice on what do and how to look after yourself if you experience a miscarriage. Your hospital should be able to provide details of available support services, such as bereavement support. SANDS is an independent organisation that provides support for miscarriage, stillbirth and newborn death. You can call them on 1300 072 637 or visit www.sands.org.au. You can also call Pregnancy, Birth and Baby on 1800 882 436, 7am to midnight (AET) to speak to a maternal child health nurse for advice and emotional support.  Do I need to see a doctor if I had a miscarriage?Call your doctor or midwife right away if you have symptoms of a miscarriage. Getting medical advice and care can lower your chance of any problems from the miscarriage. Your doctor or midwife will check to see if you: Might be losing too much blood or getting an infection.
What happens if you have a miscarriage and don't get cleaned out?Often, some of the pregnancy tissue remains in the uterus after a miscarriage. If it is not removed by scraping the uterus with a curette (a spoon-shaped instrument), you may bleed for a long time or develop an infection.
Do I need to go to the hospital if I had a miscarriage at home?Complete miscarriage
Cramping pain much like labour or strong period pain is common — this is the uterus contracting to empty. If you have miscarried at home or somewhere else with no health workers present, you should have a check-up with a doctor or midwife to make sure the miscarriage is complete.
What happens if you don't complete a miscarriage?Treatment for an incomplete miscarriage
There are 3 options available: waiting for the miscarriage to happen by itself naturally (expectant management) taking medicine to help things along (medical management) having surgery to remove the pregnancy (surgical management).
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What happens if you have a miscarriage and don t go to the doctor
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