Miscarriage: Signs and Symptoms

Miscarriage: Signs and Symptoms

With the advent of newer technology, many women are being diagnosed early on with threatened or missed miscarriages. In the past, doctors speculate that most women have a miscarriage before they even knew they were pregnant. Most likely because the availability of reliable pregnancy tests was not that high, and the miscarriage usually came about when the normal menstrual cycle should start.

Now, with pregnancy tests ranging from $10 to $25, it’s easy enough for a woman to find out if she is pregnant after 5 days of it happening. Which means that the embryo might not have even started developing yet? That’s usually about the time that a miscarriage can happen. There are many terms for this: “Blighted Ovum” or “Chemical Pregnancy” are common terms, and doctors have others that are longer that I can’t spell properly.

Basically they all mean the same thing. The most common occurrence and meaning, is that an egg was fertilized and began to form into a zygote and start is slow transformation into an embryo. But somewhere along the way, the body decided that there was something wrong with the zygote and that it would not develop naturally. Usually the zygote didn’t fully implant in the womb, or it is absorbed by the womb and stops growing or existing. Sometimes the zygote will continue to grow, but very slowly, and many doctors are able to assess that they will not survive.

This can be confusing for a woman, as often times, the body doesn’t realize it isn’t pregnant anymore. This is still unexplained, but it is most often believed that the placenta, which can live without a baby for up to 8 weeks, still develops and pumps pregnancy hormones through the body. In a failed pregnancy, they can continue up until the bleed, or they can go away almost completely within a week before the bleed.

Essentially though, a blighted ovum will always result in a bleed, which will be much like your normal period. Some will be a little more intense, while others will pass by quickly and easily.

If you have been diagnosed with a threatened miscarriage, or even if you are just looking for signs of a possible miscarriage, I would like to help with giving you some signs and symptoms that can warn you of the impending prognosis.

Please Note** I am not a doctor, or nurse, and nothing can replace a professional. I am only one woman, with the fresh experience of miscarriage, and I feel my experience might bring some knowledge and relief to others.

1. Intuition

There is no bigger indicator of things to come, than your mothers’ intuition. Whether you have been told by a doctor that you will have a miscarriage, or even if you just think you might have one. Your intuition will signal things to come.

It can warn you of something dangerous that is going to happen, or if things will be ok. It will give the answer as to whether you should believe the doctor, or fight against what they say. Often times, a woman’s intuition knows more than the doctors do, and it can sometimes be the only indicator of a problem.

Listen to your intuition. If it tells you something is wrong, or you’ll get a sense that things are not going right inside your body. It’s important never to rule out your intuition, and to always give it a chance. There have been plenty of times that a woman ignored her intuition, and it could have potentially saved a life.

2. Temperature Drop (Goes back to normal)

When you’re pregnant, your body temperature goes up. When your body realizes that you’re not pregnant anymore, and it’s getting ready to change back to an ovulating stage and get rid of the lining in the uterus, your bodies temperature goes back to normal.

Some women don’t notice this as much as others will, and some don’t notice at all. It can be a small sign, but it is no less significant, and can signal to you that an oncoming miscarriage is nearing. Pay attention to how you feel. When your pregnancy hormones were up, you probably felt very hot. When they go down, you might feel a bit cold, even if you wouldn’t normally.

3. Light Cramping/No Bleeding

Often times, some light cramping in pregnancy is normal and shouldn’t signal alarm bells. There are plenty of times when cramping can signal a coming miscarriage though, even if it isn’t bad. This can make it hard to know what to do when you feel cramping.

The best thing, is to check and make sure you are spotting or bleeding, and then to call your doctor as soon as you can. They will have some advice for you until you can get an appointment, and will be able to tell you whether to worry or not.

If you have been diagnosed with a threaten miscarriage, you can generally assume that cramping is the body’s way of signaling you to get ready.

4. Breast Soreness Decrease or Increase

If your breasts are already sore from the pregnancy hormones, then you will most likely notice a decrease in their soreness when a miscarriage is near. The opposite can also be said; if you notice your breast getting sorer, as they would when you near your period, which can also be an indicator of a pending miscarriage.

It is a subtle sign, and not one that should panic anyone. If you suspect a miscarriage will happen, or you are waiting for a miscarriage to happen, a chance in your breast tenderness can indicate to you that your hormones are going back to normal.

5. Fluid Excretion (clear)

Depending on how developed your womb became before your body realized that your were no longer pregnant, some clear fluid can build up inside the gestational sac, and that fluid is usually the first to come out with a miscarriage.

It’s not a widely noted sign of miscarriage, mostly because many women don’t notice it. It is normal in a healthy pregnancy for a woman to secrete clear fluid, and most will just assume that’s all it is.

If you are waiting on a pending miscarriage, you might notice an increase in that clear fluid, which generally means your body is already emptying the old contents and is getting ready to push out the tissues that are in the uterus.

6. Moderate Cramping/Contractions

This is generally a bigger sign of coming miscarriage and is one that all women should be careful of. Whether you are waiting for a miscarriage, or you are in a normal pregnancy, moderate to heavy cramping is a sign that your uterus is contracting. This usually means that it is getting ready to push out anything that is in there.

If you are waiting to miscarry, it is okay to stay home and away from the hospital, as long as you take some precautions. Keep track of how painful the cramps are, if you feel you can bear them, than go ahead and wait. Try to avoid pain relievers that are anything more powerful than Tylenol. Check for bleeding regularly as well.

If things move along and you are ok, then you can continue to let your body carry on naturally, which is the healthiest way for this to happen. If at anytime you feel faint, dizzy or a lot of pain, than make sure to go to the ER. There are plenty of other things that cramping can signal, and you don’t want to take any chances with your body.

7. Brown or Bright Red Blood

Often times a miscarriage will start with some bright red blood. It is important not to panic at that. You just have to keep tabs on it, and make sure it does not continue to be bright red, and then to make sure that it does not get really heavy.

Most of the time, the blood that will comes from a miscarry will be brown and fairly light. Spotting can also start to happen, which is another indicator. No matter what happens, it’s important to remember that doctors are there for a reason, and if you feel any reason to go and see them, don’t ignore it.

8. Brown Bleed/Normal Period Type Bleed

Many woman picture a damn breaking and gallons of blood flowing out when they miscarry. In most cases, it is nothing near that. A miscarriage is considered a failed pregnancy that happens in the first trimester, and often before that. At those times, there usually isn’t that much blood built up, nor is the embryo or placenta fully developed.

What all this means, is that your miscarriage will most likely be just a little worse than your normal periods would be. The main differences being that you knew you were pregnant, and the soft tissue that comes out when you bleed.

If you start to find brown fluid, or darker reddish colored blood with little globs of brown or black soft tissue, that is most likely the products of the womb being pushed out. It is okay for this to happen, but its important to remember not use a tampon and to try and avoid sex while its happening. This way you can avoid getting an infection, or having anything get left behind inside you.

9. Extreme Exhaustion

It is hard to grab this sign sometimes, because many women are often extremely tired in the first 12 weeks anyways. One of the reasons it can be considered a sign of coming miscarriage, is because it happens because your hormones are causing even more havoc in your body.

They just went up because you were pregnant, and now they are dropping quickly because of the loss. If you know that you will miscarry, and are just waiting for the signs, keep track of how tired you are. It can sometimes signal to you that it is almost time.

10. Loss of Pregnancy Symptoms

This sign does not always come, or may not always be noticed, and so it is not a reliable indicator. Yet, it still happens often enough with most women, that it is notable.

You might notice your extra sensory smell starting to fade away, or that you don’t have to pee as often. You might also notice that you don’t have such strong food cravings, or that you might not have much of an appetite at all.

In general, when you notice your pregnancy symptoms starting to go away, it is often a sign that your hormone levels are going back to normal. This is why its good to watch out for it when you think you might be having a miscarriage, or if you are waiting for one to happen.

11. Confirmation Through Ultrasound

Whether you believe you are still pregnant, or even if you have already bleed most of the contents from your uterus, the only sure fire sign that you have miscarried, is through ultra sound and blood tests. The ultra sound will show that there is no embryo, and will also show that the uterus has shed its lining.

They will also be able to check for infection and make sure that you have a clean bill of health, so that you can try again. This is why its so important to continue to see a doctor, even if you’ve already had a miscarriage. They can’t stop you from losing the pregnancy, but they can make sure your next one is healthier and less likely to fail.

Some tips and precautions:

If you have been diagnosed with a Blighted Ovum, Chemical Pregnancy, or Threatened Miscarriage, there are certain things you can do to help prepare yourself.

*First, take some time to do some reading and researching on the prognosis. Knowledge is a powerful tool, and it can help you come to realize that it is no ones fault, and if you miscarry, it is for the best. It is so important to know that it is ok to grieve for a short while, as there was an embryo, even if you didn’t see one. The body just didn’t feel it had the right stuff to continue growing properly.

*Second, take some time to yourself. You need it and you deserve it. Just thinking about a miscarriage can cause so much stress in a woman, and if there is any chance your doctor was wrong, the best thing you can do is not to stress. If your doctor is right, then you still don’t want to stress out, because you can end up making your situation worse.

*Third, take some time to talk with your partner. They are hurting over this too. Many men do not know how to communicate how they feel about things, and will most likely try to go along with how ever you feel. It is important to get your lover to communicate with you about how they feel. Are they sad that you lost this pregnancy? Are they neutral about losing the baby? Do they understand that it is not their fault? Are they up for trying again right away? Or do they feel the need to wait a little while? Its important to make sure your lover knows that you do not blame them, or take blame on yourself. Miscarriage is an unfortunate and uncontrollable fact of life, and it is never anyone’s fault or problem.

*Fourth, make sure to have some Tylenol and if your doctor says its ok, some Ibuprofen available. Every miscarriage is as different as every woman. Some will be extremely painful, and some will pass as if nothing really happened. But just incase you have a rough time; you’ll want to have some pain relief around. Its also good to have some hot compresses or a hot water bottle around, as that can help relieve some of the cramping. Keep an extra pillow tucked under your legs at night, and that will also help. Try to avoid foods that make you gassy, as that will not help the issue any. Also, at your own risk, you could try eating some marijuana. It is illegal in most states, and not recommended by doctors, but can help aide you in relaxing before, after or during a miscarriage. Use it wisely and only as needed.

*Fifth, take some time off work and away from the world. You don’t have to grieve or be sad, or sit and wallow in what’s happened, but your body needs some time to regenerate, and the fastest way is if you get some stress free relaxing time.

*Sixth, talk about it. Talk with your family and friends, talk with other woman who have gone through a miscarriage, and don’t be afraid to share your feelings. Its ok to be afraid or unsure, its ok to want to question the doctor’s judgment, and you should if you feel the need. Talking about what’s happening to you is important and it can help you get through it easier. Don’t be afraid to talk, there is no embarrassment in things that you have no control over.

Warnings Signs that Need a Doctor:

1. Fever

A fever can indicate infection, and you should never ignore it when you pregnant. It could be something as simple as a cold or flu bug, but it could also be as complex as a blood clot in your uterus or an infection in there from old tissue. Make sure to see your doctor or go to the ER if you feel feverish or if your thermometer shows you have a fever above 98.9*

2. Severe Cramping

Severe cramping that leaves you unable to sleep or move, is a big indicator that something is not going right. It could be that your cervix is not opening up right, or that your uterus is contracting to much for some reason. It could also be a sign of ectopic pregnancy, and no matter what it’s a sign of, its means you need to see a doctor right away. Don’t fear the ER; they can save your life.

3. Heavy Bleeding

Your flow may be considerably more than it would normally be during your period, but it shouldn’t be extreme. You should never go through more than two pads a day and it should never be so forceful that it soaks your underwear or pants outside of your pad.

Its obvious to tell what is a lot of blood at one time, and you want to watch out for it. Especially when it is accompanies by heavy cramps. Make sure to see a doctor if you feel your bleeding heavily.

4. Bleeding for more than 14 days

They say that a miscarriage can last up to 3 weeks, but anytime it goes on longer than 2 weeks or 14 days, you should see a doctor. There many be a chance that something has ruptured, and you don’t want to lose to much blood. There could also be a myriad of other problems that can easily be taken care of by a doctor.

5. Dizziness

At any point in time, during a healthy pregnancy or threatened pregnancy, it is important to look out for dizzy spells. They may be small and short lived, or they may be long and debilitating. Both situations require the attention of a doctor.

Make sure that if you have any dizzy spells, that you call your doctor right away. If you can’t get a hold of your doctor, make sure to take a trip to the ER. Even if it doesn’t turn out to be a bad situation, you and your body will be glad that you did.

6. Heavy Vomiting

At any time in pregnancy, you should never be severely vomiting. Some pregnant woman will experience moderate vomiting during a healthy pregnancy, but it should never get in the way of eating or sleeping. If you are experiencing heavy vomiting, make sure to see a health care professional as soon as you can. It might be signaling an infection or other immediate problem.

7. Continuous Bright Red Blood

As with most miscarriages, you will often start out with a bit of bright red blood at first, but it should turn to darker red or brownish color within a few hours. If it doesn’t, you’ll want to see a doctor right away. It means that you have fresh blood coming out of you, which is not a good sign. The blood and tissue that surrounded your womb should be somewhat older, and fresh blood means you have a rupture or cut somewhere that you shouldn’t. Make sure to get it checked out.

8. Depression

Whether its your first or your fifth miscarriage, they can take a toll on a woman’s mind. Some find solace in thinking that there never was a baby, while others know that there was a baby at one point, but that it was lost. With advanced technology, its easier to understand that the body has its reasons for doing this, and for most woman its easier to accept.

That doesn’t mean that its easy for everyone, and even those who are able to accept it, there is still some amount of grieving time. This is ok, and its important to give yourself some time to think about what’s happened. Remember that its not your fault or your partners fault. These are generally random occurrences and if they’re not, your doctor will help you find a way to succeed.

If you find that after a week or so, that you are still sad or can’t seem to shake the negative feelings, don’t be afraid to tell your doctor and seek the advice of a psychiatrist. They are there to help, and if you want to be able to try again, you’ll want to be fully healthy, in body and in mind.

As with all things in life, Miscarriage can be a complicated hurdle to go through, especially if you have never experienced it before. I hope this article has given you some source of hope for the future, and will help you make it through the rough times.