The most common symptom of miscarriage is vaginal bleeding. This can vary from light spotting or brownish discharge, to heavy bleeding and bright red blood. The bleeding may come and go over several days.
Light vaginal bleeding is common during the first trimester of pregnancy (the first 12 weeks), so having this symptom does not necessarily mean that you have had a miscarriage. However, if you have vaginal bleeding, contact your maternity team or early pregnancy unit at your local hospital straight away.
Find maternity services in your area.
Other symptoms
Other symptoms of a miscarriage include:
- cramping and pain in your lower abdomen
- a discharge of fluid from your vagina
- a discharge of tissue from your vagina
- no longer experiencing the symptoms of pregnancy, such as feeling sick and breast tenderness
When to seek urgent medical help
On rare occasions, miscarriages happen because the pregnancy develops outside the womb. This is known as an ectopic pregnancy. Ectopic pregnancies are potentially serious because there is a risk that you could experience internal bleeding.
Symptoms of an ectopic pregnancy include:
- heavy vaginal bleeding (soaking more than one sanitary pad every hour)
- persistent and severe abdominal pain
- pain in your shoulder tip
- feeling very faint and light-headed, and possibly fainting
Symptoms of an ectopic pregnancy usually appear between weeks 5-14 of the pregnancy.
If you experience any of the symptoms above, visit your nearest accident and emergency (A&E) department immediately. If you are unable to travel, you can call up and get advice from NHS Direct on 0845 4647.
Read more about ectopic pregnancies.
Molar pregnancies
Vaginal bleeding can also be caused by a molar pregnancy. This is a pregnancy that has not developed normally, resulting in a mass of abnormal cells within the womb instead of a baby. A molar pregnancy is usually identified during the first ultrasound scan, at 10-16 weeks of pregnancy.
Read more about molar pregnancies.
