Miscarriage

A miscarriage is the loss of a pregnancy during the first 23 weeks.

Symptoms of a miscarriage

The main sign of a miscarriage is vaginal bleeding, which may be followed by cramping and pain in your lower abdomen.

If you have vaginal bleeding, contact a GP or your midwife.

Most GPs can refer you to an early pregnancy unit at your local hospital straight away if necessary.

You may be referred to a maternity ward if your pregnancy is at a later stage.

But bear in mind that light vaginal bleeding is relatively common during the first trimester (first 3 months) of pregnancy and does not necessarily mean you're having a miscarriage.

Preventing a miscarriage

The majority of miscarriages cannot be prevented.

But there are some things you can do to reduce the risk of a miscarriage.

Avoid smoking, drinking alcohol and using drugs while pregnant.

Being a healthy weight before getting pregnant, eating a healthy diet and reducing your risk of infection can also help.

The NHS website offers more support on miscarriage here.


Stillbirth

When a baby dies after 24 weeks of pregnancy, before or during birth, it is known as a stillbirth. Sometimes, a baby can be stillborn and no cause can be found.

Not all stillbirths can be prevented, but there are some things you can do to reduce your risk, such as:

  • Not smoking
  • Avoiding alcohol and drugs during pregnancy – these can seriously affect your baby's development, and increase the risk of miscarriage and stillbirth
  • Not going to sleep on your back after 28 weeks – don't worry if you wake up on your back, just turn onto your side before you go back to sleep attending all your antenatal appointments so that midwives can monitor the growth and wellbeing of your baby
  • Taking folic acid before pregnancy and having a flu vaccine during your pregnancy
  • Limiting the amount of caffeine you consume during pregnancy

The NHS website offers support and further information on stillbirths here.

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