How do I know if I'm having
an early miscarriage?
The most common signs and
symptoms of miscarriage are
vaginal bleeding and strong
period-type cramps. The
bleeding can vary from light
to heavy, perhaps with blood
clots, and may come and go
for a few days.
Sometimes, symptoms settle
down and the pregnancy
usually carries on. This is
called a threatened
miscarriage. There is some,
limited evidence that
treatment with progesterone
may stop a threatened
miscarriage from happening.
Progesterone is not offered as
a routine NHS treatment, but
it may be worth asking your
doctor about it.
Unfortunately, though, if a
miscarriage is really under
JOY FEELINGS MAG
way, it will usually take its
course.
With any bleeding or pain in
early pregnancy, call your
doctor, or your hospital's
early pregnancy unit (EPU)
or out-of-hours service.
You'll find more advice and
support in our article
about what to do if you think
you're having a miscarriage.
Some early miscarriages are
discovered only during a
routine pregnancy scan. A
scan reveals an empty
pregnancy sac, where the
embryo should be. This is
called a missed or silent
miscarriage. You may have
had no idea that this has
happened, in which case it
will come as a terrible shock.
Or you may have had some
symptoms, giving you a
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