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Q&A: Miscarriage chances after 12 weeks?

Is it true that once you're past your third month you don't have to worry about miscarriage?

Re: Is it true that once you're past your third month you don't have to worry about miscarriage?

The Bump Expert

The majority of miscarriages do take place in the first twelve weeks of pregnancy. The medical term is “early miscarriage,” and the cause is usually chromosomal abnormalities in the fetus. It's far less likely -- but still possible -- for a pregnancy to fail after those first three months. A miscarriage between weeks twelve and twenty is less likely due to genetic problems with the baby and more likely the result of something amiss in the mother’s body, such as a structural problem with the uterus or an incompetent cervix. (All not your fault!) Luckily, these problems are rare.

Regardless of your stage of pregnancy, try your hardest not to worry. There will always be things you can't control, both in pregnancy and parenthood, so focus on what you can can -- eating right, exercising moderately and getting lots of rest.

Paula Kashtan | May 04 , 2009 2:06 PM

Q&A: Miscarriage chances after 12 weeks?

Just wanted to say....it can happen. I miscarried at 13 weeks 3 days. I had what is called a missed miscarriage, which comes with no signs or symptoms. I saw and heard the baby and it's heartbeat at 9 weeks, and at 13 weeks, there was no heartbeat. I am now 16 weeks pregnant, and am anxious about sharing the news. It can happen again. I am a really health conscience person. I eat really healthy, I exercise regularly, I don't drink, I don't smoke, and I have been taking all my prenatal vit including my folic acid for about 2 years now. Miscarriage can happen and in my opinion, there isn't much you can do. Whatever you do, don't blame yourself. I don't even know if there is a safe time. I figure I will have to share my news in the next few weeks, I can't hide the bump much longer!

Feb2010! | September 09 , 2009 10:59 PM

Q&A: Miscarriage chances after 12 weeks?

I just had my doctor's appt. yesterday at 13w 2d, and during the ultrasound the doctor told me that my chance of miscarriage was now below 1%!! VERY comforting information! :-)

kiannello | September 22 , 2009 9:38 AM

Q&A: Miscarriage chances after 12 weeks?

I had a miscarriage at 18 weeks. It was devistating, but some how some way my family and I got through it. It is VERY rare, and as my doc calls it "bad luck." I am now 14 weeks pregnant and thinking positive a having faith in the statistics that say it most likely won't happen again. Just take a deep breath ladies and know most likely after 12 weeks your fine!

skatingami | August 13 , 2010 3:27 PM

Q&A: Miscarriage chances after 12 weeks?

having had 8 miscarriages I must say it is possible to have one after 12 weeks but i had 7 out of 8 before 12 weeks. best of luck

baby3onway | December 27 , 2010 10:11 PM

Q&A: Miscarriage chances after 12 weeks?

"Just wanted to say....it can happen. I miscarried at 13 weeks 3 days. I had what is called a missed miscarriage, which comes with no signs or symptoms. I saw and heard the baby and it's heartbeat at 9 weeks, and at 13 weeks, there was no heartbeat. I am now 16 weeks pregnant, and am anxious about sharing the news. It can happen again. I am a really health conscience person. I eat really healthy, I exercise regularly, I don't drink, I don't smoke, and I have been taking all my prenatal vit including my folic acid for about 2 years now. Miscarriage can happen and in my opinion, there isn't much you can do. Whatever you do, don't blame yourself. I don't even know if there is a safe time. I figure I will have to share my news in the next few weeks, I can't hide the bump much longer!" I would just like to point out on this post that while the "missed Miscarriage" was found at 13 weeks 3 days it is likely that the baby's heartbeat had stopped prior to twelve weeks unfortunately. I hate even talking about this, but it has happened to so many of us :( I am on my third pregnancy and my two misscarriages were both before 12 weeks, I am hoping that this is my time, as I have entered my 12th week and heard the heart beat yesterday. Again, I agree that it can happen later in pregnancy but I agree with the first post that it is likely not due to baby at that point. good luck to all.

maidopo | October 13 , 2011 10:00 AM

Q&A: Miscarriage chances after 12 weeks?

The majority of them are under 12 weeks but it can definitely happen after 12 weeks. I have seen it happen before. You should never overlook this at all. Malpractice lawyers Toronto

jb4522jb | November 08 , 2011 6:47 PM

Q&A: Miscarriage chances after 12 weeks?

I miscarried at 17 weeks (it was a missed miscarriage) and it was completely devastating. We heard a strong heartbeat at 8 weeks and at 12 weeks, but during the 12 week ultrasound they detected increased nucal fluid. This is generally caused by chromosome abnormalities, but in my case it was not. I had a CVS done and they tested for every possible chromosome abnormality , including through a "microarray" which was supposed to look for even the most obscure abnormalities. Everything came back perfect, they told me I was having a healthy baby girl (they know the sex when they do these chromosome tests) and told me to come back in a month for the next regular check up because everything looked great, and the increased nucal fluid was likely a fluke (my words , I dint know exactly why they said they thought it had occurred) and would naturally resolve itself. It turned out not to be a fluke , because when I went back at 17 weeks there was no heartbeat. because it was a missed miscarriage , I had to actually go through an abortion , which wasn't able to be done for 4 days after I found out the baby had died because a doctor who did abortions further into the pregnancy could not be available until then. After the abortion, they tested the remains to determine the cause of the fetal demise and determined that it was due to major problems in the development of the lympathic system. The whole experience was an emotional rollercoaster. It took about a year and a half for me to feel emotionally ready to try again, luckily I was only 30 when the miscarriage happened, so hopefully now we'll get pregnant soon and have an easier pregnancy this time around :)

jacquiemccourt | November 14 , 2011 10:37 AM

Q&A: Miscarriage chances after 12 weeks?

I think that it is true and it is true if you think about natural miscarriage.I am wondering what do you think about Seattle breast augmentation because I have a friend who asked me about this and I don't really know what can I tell her .

Starky20 | January 07 , 2012 12:24 PM

Q&A: Miscarriage chances after 12 weeks?

I misscarried 2 weeks ago at 18 weeks. We saw the heartbeat at 8 weeks, 12 weeks, and 15 weeks. I delivered my precious baby boy at 9:19pm on January 6th. I never knew how common it was to misscarry in the second trimester, but apparently its more common than doctors like to inform people about. I did get to find out it was a boy and we got to name our son. I was blessed with the time I spent with him and hope our next pregnancy will go smoothly.

hthr62084 | January 23 , 2012 12:33 PM