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Q&A: Miscarriage warning signs?

What are some warning signs of a miscarriage?

Re: What are some warning signs of a miscarriage?

The Bump Expert

The only way to know for sure if you’ve had or are experiencing a miscarriage is to be examined by your doctor, but it’s always good to know for yourself what kinds of symptoms you should look out for. Here’s a rundown of some of the major warning signs:

[ ] Heavy bleeding
While many women experience spotting at some point during their pregnancies, you should ask your doc if you’ve noticed any clotting. (It’d look like heavy bleeding, followed by tissue.)

[ ] Loss of pregnancy symptoms
Often the only sign of pregnancy loss is the sudden disappearance of pregnancy symptoms altogether (morning sickness, sore boobs, etc.). If you suddenly don’t “feel pregnant,” you may want to look into it.

[ ] White-pink mucus-y discharge

[ ] Pain or cramping in the center of the lower abdomen or back
A tired back or occasional discomfort is normal, especially for pregnant moms, but if your pain persists, don’t ignore it. A good way to gauge what is or isn’t normal is to compare your pain to normal cramps you might get during your period. If the pain’s much stronger, you should probably get checked out.

[ ] Weight loss

[ ] Painful contractions
Some women experience more than just cramping. If you’re experiencing painful contractions between 5 to 20 minutes apart, this could be the sign of premature labor.

If you’ve experienced any or all of the above symptoms, call your doctor immediately to schedule an exam and seek further advice.

Find more info on miscarriage and pregnancy loss at the American Pregnancy Association.

Amy Stanford | July 10 , 2009 10:00 AM

Q&A: Miscarriage warning signs?

I did not have a single "sign." Today would've been 10th week of a very healthy pregnancy, no weight gain, perfect hormone levels. I didn't have morning sickness, aches, spotting; everything was perfect. I went in yesterday to hear a heartbeat and the doctor said the embryo died at 6 weeks and 5 days. This type of missed miscarriage is exceedingly rare. They gave me medicine to initiate evacuation, they no longer do D & C, only if this medicine doesn't work. I also got strong narcotics and anti-nausea medicine. Bleeding started within 2 hours of inserting 4 pills down there, then vomiting and awful pain. I've been bleeding since and on Tuesday will go to doc to confirm that D & C is not needed. M/C came completely out of the blue for me as I did not have a single symptom! My body still thinks it was pregnant 3 weeks after the embryo was already dead; crazy!

mdluvs10is@aol.com | March 26 , 2010 10:50 PM

Q&A: Miscarriage warning signs?

for me, the bleeding was the most tell tale sign - after 10 weeks and a heartbeat, the baby just stopped growing. Obviously I had an ultrasound to confirm prior to the D&C. The bleeding was not heavy and I didn't notice tissue - just seemed like a light period. And, the pregnancy symptoms went away almost magically - which made me feel guilty for being so heartbroken over the miscarriage and yet feeling so much better physically without pregnancy symptoms. it's a complicated business.

almostJohnson | April 05 , 2010 11:21 AM

Q&A: Miscarriage warning signs?

i was only a few weeks and i didn't know i was even pregnant i had very bad pains in my stomach which wouldn't go away i thought i might have been my period but it was a miscarriage the pain started to get worse and worse then till the point where it was that bad i couldn't stand so even if you are trying make sure you get a check up by the doctors

sarahrobert | June 25 , 2010 4:41 AM

Q&A: Miscarriage warning signs?

First of all I never had many symptoms throughout the pregnancy. No nausea, no tiredness, just hungry and sensitive nipples - i thought i was lucky! I was 9 weeks when I started spotting brown on the Saturday. Turned into full on bleeding later that day with cramping. Went to ER, cervix was closed. Told me to come back if it got worse. Sunday it got worse! more blood & more painful cramping which became contractions. Back to the ER - Bloodwork done to check HCG levels. Monday more blood & contractions & an Ultrasound. Said it looks like only 5 weeks size not 9. Results inconclusive whether it was a miscarriage or just normal 1st trimester bleeding. Tuesday more blood and contractions, took T3's as directed by Doc. Wednesday even more blood and ridiculously painful contractions. did bloodwork and then went straight to doc for results. The Hcg did drop from Sun to Wed, so I finally had an answer: "yes this is a miscarriage". So then we were talking about how long this pain would last and that i'd have to go back to the ER and ask for a D&C, when i stood up and felt a gush. went to the toilet and sure enough - big clots like a cherry! Blood like crazy dripping down my leg, very scary. Showed the doc and then she said "well I guess you don't need a D&C now, looks like you passed it yourself!!" Went home. Today is Thursday and the bleeding is way less. Still some clotting and cramping but it looks like this nightmare is over. It's so sad though!

Debberella | July 29 , 2010 12:11 PM

Q&A: Miscarriage warning signs?

I was 9 weeks when I lost the baby. I had gone in for my first Doctors appointment at 8 weeks and they did an ultra sound. The baby was too small and had stopped growing at around the 5 week mark. I then had to go in for a blood test and a follow up one two days later. I had to wait 4 days to find out if the baby was healthy or not. Just agony! The result weren't good and it showed that the baby had died. I didn't have any morning sickness during the pregnancy. I was just very tired, had soar nipples and oh, the exhaustion. I didn't have any cramping, I just felt little twinges of pain here and there, but it would go away. My body wouldn't miscarry, so my Doctor to me I needed to go in for a DNC. It has been over a week and I am still bleeding, but the pregnancy feeling is gone. This has been the most painful time of my life.

erikasells4you | August 17 , 2010 4:14 PM

Q&A: Miscarriage warning signs?

I was 5 weeks when I started bleeding. It was very light bleeding, so I did not even think about a miscarriage. I had bloodwork done and my HCG levels were going down. Went to get a second ultrasound and my uterus was completely empty. I never had any real pregnancy symptoms and feel like this should have given me a clue that something was wrong. I have been in agony ever since. I feel ashamed, depressed, like a big failure.

nancyucsc | August 22 , 2010 12:50 AM

Q&A: Miscarriage warning signs?

Our little one stopped developing around week 8. However, I didn't have any symptoms until I was 12.5. I had some brown discharge around noon Tuesday that turned pink/light red by the time I went to bed. I woke up Wednesday morning around 2am with burning cramps that kept getting worse. By the time I'd talked to my doctor and gotten to the hospital for an ultrasound, I was having contractions every 4 mins. The bleeding started later that afternoon.

Mrs.Sykut | September 23 , 2010 12:50 PM

Q&A: Miscarriage warning signs?

I was 5w 4d and started spotting a light brown. A day later, it was on and off, but still light. I called the nurse and was told it was implantation bleeding. The next day, I had heavy bleeding and I just knew it was over. I went in for an u/s and there was nothing but a small sac. When my heavy bleeding started, my sore boobs weren't sore anymore, which I knew was a bad sign too. This is about the worst feeling to lose something I would already have done anything for.

jmnagle | November 17 , 2010 5:51 PM

Q&A: Miscarriage warning signs?

Hi, my honey & I had thought I was going into week 10 of pregnancy & I went to bathroom only to wipe & see a tinge of pink. I waited about 15 hours & I started to get menstrual type cramps & small bright red clots. I went to ER, US indicated an empty sac and only about 5 weeks along. No heartbeat. ER doc said "it looks like your baby is dead". I went to follow up with my OBGYN, she says she can't rule it as a m/c. My HCG levels is over 9000 & it could be implantation bleeding or I lost a twin. any other women experience this?

palmtopliger | December 31 , 2010 5:24 PM

Q&A: Miscarriage warning signs?

My Husband and I lost our baby at 7 weeks. My symptoms were this: severe cramping in my uterus and back, almost as if it was throbbing pain. Reduced mobility from the pain. Some bleeding, not heavy as a period but would drip out when sat on toilet. I passed several blood clots that were small, never passed the baby tissue. I experienced a migraine on the last day of the bleeding and alot of extra mucuos in my head and lungs. I bled and experienced the cramping for 2 days. Went to the Clinic the monday after christmas (i lost the baby on Christmas), I got my hormones level tested to find it was at 2800 (supposed to be 7500 for a 7 week baby). The next day tested my blood again to find it drop down to 1200. I go in for a D & C this wednesday to get the tissue removed. After the 2 days of cramping and bleeding, I had zero pregnancy symptoms. It was as if nothing happened, and I'm back to being not pregnant. Its very frustrating when you try for a year and a half just to lose the first baby you were able to conceive. This is a struggle us as women are forced to deal with if we to jump into the next phase of life. I wish everyone good luck in their journey's. My husband and I will be trying again as soon as we are able too.

allisonbelanus | January 03 , 2011 1:34 PM

Q&A: Miscarriage warning signs?

I also had not had the known symptons. I was 13 weeks when I just felt something wasn't right. I had been very sick with this pregnancy. More so than I remembered being with my son, who is now 12. I had a little brown spotting, which I was told was normal but I went to the ER anyways. Because of paperwork issues, I had not yet been in for my first prenatal visit. I knew when the tech did the ultrasound in complete silence that the baby didn't make it. The baby had stopped developing at 6 weeks- I was 13 weeks!! My body had done nothing to rid the baby. I also took the anal pills- nothing. After a few days, they gave me pills to take orally. After a day of taking them, I was thrown into what felt pretty much like labor. I was on the floor, double-overed. It took me well over a week to pass all the blood and tissue. Looking back, I would have insisted on a D&C. That was a terrible, drawn-out experience. I just couldn't believe that the baby had died so early, and I carried the baby for over a month without so much as a sign. I am now pregnant again, 5 weeks. I am scared and worried. As I had no symptons with my previous miscarriage, I just feel like I won't know if this baby doesn't make it. I was rear-ended at a stoplight yesterday and was taken to the ER. It brought back raw memories of my last visit to the ER. I am just praying that this baby is healthy and that my pregnancy is going well. I will have my first prenatal appt by week 9 this time. Paperwork or not.

angel0977 | January 15 , 2011 2:43 PM

Q&A: Miscarriage warning signs?

I was so happy to be pregnant. Finally, my husband was ready to have a child. I was 5-5 and had a morning pee. There was light pink spotting. I didn't think anything of it, since that is normal. Later that day I had some cramps, also normal. I got home after work and had another pee. I had red red blood. Went to the doctor did a pee test, she told me I had a urinary tract infection, and she perscribed some anti-biotics. I expressed my concern of a MC, she dismissed it. All evening my bleeding got heavier. The doctor told me UTI infections also cause blood. 3am the next morning I was so scared for baby I couldn't sleep anymore. I ended up passing large clots, and my sore boobs were back to normal. Doctors don't always know best. She should have examined me and sent me for an U-S. Listen to your body, usually it's right.

chantypants | January 21 , 2011 2:21 PM

Q&A: Miscarriage warning signs?

I had brown spotting yesterday, and couldn't sleep last night because of pressure and slight cramping. (I'm at 7 weeks.) The blood was heavier this morning, with small clots, and my breasts are suddenly not tender. I already had my first prenatal appt scheduled for this afternoon, so I'll still go in, though I'm certain it will be a much different appointment than I'd anticipated.

mawyche@gmail.com | May 04 , 2011 7:53 AM

Q&A: Miscarriage warning signs?

Okay.. I must must must tell my story. According to my LMP I am almost 9 weeks. I had an HSG done by my fertility specialist on April 25th. I got pregnant shortly after that. They did vaginal ultra sounds and checked HSG levels, everything looked good. Last week (week 7) My fertility specialist said it doesn’t look like there is any fetal development and referred me back to my OBGYN. He agreed with the fertility specialist diagnosis and scheduled me for a D & C. The day before the D & C we went for one more ultra sound just to make sure. The technician said everything looked good (no fetal development), but she said why rush? She asked us about our HCG levels. We haven’t done any in a while to see if they dropped. So they took blood. The next day they called, my HCG levels went up. (June 6th- 47 thousand & June 15th- 55 thousand) We have another ultra sound next Tuesday. I have had no spotting, cramping, or bleeding. My question is, can this happen to people? Can their baby develop slowly? My doctor is so convinced I’m going to miscarry that he said he’ll eat my chart if the baby develops.

queenofsnow | June 17 , 2011 9:57 AM

Q&A: Miscarriage warning signs?

I miscarried between 4 and 5 weeks in early July and became pregnant again two weeks later. During the pregnancy that resulted in miscarriage, I had some lower back pain and assumed that this was an indication. I am now 6 weeks pregnant and had the same lower back pain (with hip pain) around 4-5 weeks again, and have had it a day here or there since then. My doctor said these pains are completely normal, as the uterus is growing to accommodate the embryo. She told me I should feel as if I am getting my period, and this discomfort is caused by progesterone, which is sustaining the pregnancy. My doctor also told me that the lower back and hip pain is due to the stretching of round ligaments to prepare the body for the baby! :) So for all of you worryworts out there (like me!)... take comfort in knowing that lower back pain and cramping is not always a sign of impending miscarriage. Much luck to all!!

melissabride2be | August 16 , 2011 4:23 PM

Q&A: Miscarriage warning signs?

Hi to all out there who have experienced the hurt and loss... Its not an easy path to walk. I had gone through 3 IUI's in 2009. My last IUI was done in November, and on December 26th I was informed by lab results from the doctor that I most definitely was pregnant. Though i didn't know how far along I was. I went in 3 weeks later to find that I had a gestational sac measured at 9weeks but a yolk sac at about 5wks..no fetal pole. They called it a blighted ovum. All of a sudden during those days I had very sore bbs then nothing. The loss of the symptoms scared me. I never had morning sickness. Well I'm getting married this coming may and surprise surprise I just found out on the 25 of august that I was indeed 5wks,6days pregnant. I have pcos and was anovulatory. This was a natural pregnancy, most definitely a shock!! Well I'm here at 7 weeks now and nervous and scared out of my mind that I'm losing this baby... My symptoms keep coming and going.. I go for my 2nd U/S to hopefully hear the heart beat... I still think of that would have been baby in 2009. It makes me crazy... I don't want to hurt again... I keep hoping ill see that beautiful HB this coming week.

khelger86 | September 07 , 2011 10:27 AM

Q&A: Miscarriage warning signs?

I started bleeding (not too heavy, but enough to scare me) on 12/12. I spent 3 hours waiting in an ER before they got me back. They poked, prodded, handed me Rx for prenatal vitamins and discharged me before the Dr. had even talked to me!! After going to a 2nd ER and receiving much better treatment, I was told my quant was lower than expected of a 10 week pregnancy and the ultrasound revealed a 6wk embryo with out a heartbeat... they keep saying I must have my dates wrong and I have to redraw my blood tomorrow. I'm sorry, but I keep track of these things, I am not an idiot we were ttc and I know when we did conceive. So now I cannot sleep I am scared to death to have my blood drawn because I feel it deep down inside of me that they are going to tell me I have to have "the procedure." WTH?! I am very angry and scared right now. Let all of the crack heads, welfare tramps and abusive scum of the earth pop out babies like pez dispensers, but normal, healthy, hardworking people cannot keep theirs. I know I will get over this eventually and we can try again, but I am so upset and angry right now that I am becoming depressed and irrational. I even hate the people who are trying to console me... texting me all day "I'm so sorry, if you need anything let me know..." I need my baby to be ok... is that in the cards?! I know they mean well, but I would rather not think about anything right now. God be with all of us going through this hell right now.

amberldunla8 | December 14 , 2011 11:23 PM

Q&A: Miscarriage warning signs?

I had cramping my entire pregnancy and spotted one time (pinkish/brownish). I was diagnosed with a missed miscariage and was told my baby stopped growing at 7 weeks (I was 9 weeks). I had no idea I was miscarrying. Had a D&C 5 days later because my body wouldn't release my baby on its own (natural miscariage).

jonesdouglas | January 25 , 2012 11:44 PM

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