Miscarriage
Unfortunately, not every pregnancy progresses as expected. A miscarriage refers to the loss of a pregnancy before 16 weeks of pregnancy. This occurs in approximately 10% of all pregnancies. The chance of miscarriage increases as you get older.
A miscarriage cannot be prevented. You also cannot cause a miscarriage yourself, for example by lifting heavy objects or having sexual intercourse. If something goes wrong during the early development of the pregnancy, the pregnancy may end in a miscarriage.
Signs of a Miscarriage
Vaginal bleeding and/or abdominal pain are usually the first signs of a miscarriage. However, not every pregnancy that involves bleeding or abdominal pain will end in a miscarriage. Sometimes there is another (harmless) cause for these symptoms.
Once bleeding has started, it usually takes between a few days and two weeks before the miscarriage occurs. This is the case for 7 out of 10 women. For 3 out of 10 women, it takes longer than two weeks before the miscarriage occurs.
Unfortunately, it can also happen that your body does not yet show any signs of a miscarriage, but an ultrasound scan shows that the pregnancy is no longer viable. This is called a missed miscarriage. In this situation, your body has not yet recognised that something has gone wrong with the pregnancy.
It is also possible that no heartbeat can be seen during your first ultrasound scan. This does not necessarily mean that you will have a miscarriage. If you are less than 6 weeks pregnant, it is normal that a heartbeat may not yet be visible. For this reason, we will always schedule another ultrasound scan 1 to 2 weeks later in this situation.
A pregnancy test can still show a positive result after a miscarriage, because pregnancy hormones often remain in your body for some time.
f it is confirmed that you have had a miscarriage, there are 3 options:
More explanation and information about miscarriage and the different options can be found here.
A pregnancy test can still show a positive result after a miscarriage, because pregnancy hormones often remain in your body for some time.
f it is confirmed that you have had a miscarriage, there are 3 options:
- Expectant management: allowing the miscarriage to happen naturally
- Medication: inducing the miscarriage with medication at home
- A procedure in the hospital (curettage)
More explanation and information about miscarriage and the different options can be found here.
When should you contact us immediately after a miscarriage has been diagnosed?
- If bleeding continues with many blood clots or if you are unsure about the amount of blood loss
- If you have constant severe pain
- If you have a fever (above 38°C)
- If you are worried or have any questions, you can of course always call us.
Emotional impact
A miscarriage usually happens unexpectedly, and the grief that follows can be profound. Everyone processes a miscarriage differently, and the length of time it takes to cope with it can vary from person to person.
Alongside feelings of sadness, you may experience other emotions such as guilt, disbelief, anger, a sense of emptiness, feeling that your own body has failed you, or jealousy towards other pregnant women. If you need support in coping with a miscarriage, you are always welcome to contact us.
Do you feel that you need additional support because, for example, you are finding it difficult to come to terms with your miscarriage or continue to feel emotionally affected? Please have a look at Coaching and Psychological Support, where you can find help and guidance.
