What does a miscarriage feel like? What to know about the signs and assessment

First, it is important to note that a miscarriage is a situation in which a pregnancy naturally stops developing, never developed in the first place, or the fetal heartbeat stops at some stage. Several medical situations fall under the definition of miscarriage, including a chemical pregnancy, a blighted ovum, and others. In such cases, if the miscarriage occurs by week 12 of pregnancy, it is considered an "early miscarriage." Miscarriages between week 12 and week 23 are late miscarriages. To help make sense of the confusion, we have gathered the information you need to know about miscarriage in the following article.

How can you recognize a miscarriage?

A miscarriage, unlike situations involving recurrent miscarriages and the like, manifests as light and sometimes heavy bloody discharge, in some cases accompanied by cramping or a reduction in pregnancy symptoms. However, in some cases the woman feels nothing, and an absent fetal heartbeat is discovered only at a routine follow-up examination. When discussing how the pregnancy ends during miscarriage, remember that the vast majority of miscarriages occur in the earlier stages of pregnancy. If a miscarriage occurs when there is not yet fetal tissue, or only a small amount, the pregnancy can be ended with medication. However, if the miscarriage occurs later, when there is a fetus in the uterus, surgical evacuation under general anesthesia is required. This is a procedure in which all pregnancy tissue is suctioned from the woman's uterus.

The main point

After the miscarriage, an ultrasound should confirm that the uterus is empty of pregnancy tissue to avoid retained tissue. Women with a negative blood type need an anti-D injection to prevent antibodies that could cause direct harm during a future pregnancy. Within about two weeks after uterine evacuation, the woman should see a gynecologist for follow-up to ensure the uterus is clear of all pregnancy tissue. If it is not completely clear, she should undergo operative hysteroscopy under general anesthesia. In most cases, becoming pregnant again after a miscarriage is possible without any problem. Yet although the physical consequences of miscarriage are not major, the emotional injury can often be painful.

This is general news information and is not a substitute for personal advice from a doctor or dietitian.