Every Loss Matters
Understanding and Managing Miscarriage
Understanding and
Managing Miscarriage
Every Loss Matters
YOU ARE NOT ALONE
1 in 4
women will experience a miscarriage in their lifetimes.
80%
of all miscarriages occur in the first 12 weeks of pregnancy.
1 Million
miscarriages occur in the U.S. every year.
It’s Okay To Ask Why
While miscarriage is common, it can be deeply painful for people who are working to build their family. It’s natural to ask why it is happening, and just as important to remember: it’s not your fault.
You are not at fault
Miscarriage is almost never caused by something you did. Routine activities — like working, exercise, sex, a mild fall, and eating spicy foods — do not cause miscarriage.
Your body at work
When a pregnancy starts, cells divide quickly to make an embryo, and sometimes the embryo doesn’t develop the way it should. Your body notices this, and the pregnancy stops growing.
Effect on future pregnancy
Most types of miscarriage don’t affect your chances of having a normal pregnancy in the future. If you have more than two miscarriages in a row, you may be at greater risk of future miscarriage. You should consult your health care provider about your risk of future miscarriages.
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DURING A PREGNANCY LOSS
What Is a Miscarriage?
During a miscarriage, the pregnancy leaves the uterus through the cervix and the vagina.
Symptoms may include heavy bleeding, passing small or large clots or some grey or white tissue, cramps or abdominal pain, and back pressure or pain. These symptoms may be minor or severe, and they may last a few days or weeks. Each person’s experience and circumstances are unique.
A clinician can do an ultrasound image of the uterus to help find out what is going on.
If a miscarriage has already started, it is not possible to stop your body from continuing to pass the pregnancy tissue. Regardless of whether the miscarriage has started or not, there are options available to help complete the process.
What Are My Care Options?
There are three treatment options to manage a miscarriage, also known as pregnancy loss
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Expectant Management
Watch and Wait
This involves waiting for the body to pass the pregnancy tissue on its own. It may take several weeks for the pregnancy tissue to pass out of the body. It usually then takes a few more weeks before the miscarriage is complete and the pregnancy hormone is zero.
People who choose this option ...
People who choose this option should be prepared for some unpredictability in their symptoms and time to resolution. In studies, many who initially choose this ultimately decide to complete their miscarriage with medications or procedures, which is perfectly fine. You can determine your own timeline for treatment so long as you are safe.
Medical Management
Prescribed and Predictable
Taking medications prescribed by a health care provider at home that will help expedite the work of the body to pass the pregnancy tissue.
PEOPLE WHO CHOOSE THIS OPTION ...
People who choose this option often do so because they hope to avoid a procedure and interactions with procedure rooms, but need a more predictable, timed, and expedited course than what is expected with the natural miscarriage process.
Surgical Management
Uterine Aspiration
Historically known as a Dilation and Curettage or D&C, this is a surgical procedure that is done in either a health care provider's office or hospital and uses a suction process to remove any pregnancy tissue that has not already passed on its own.
What to know ...
There are no incisions with this procedure.
You Have Options to Alleviate the Suffering Quickly.
There are three treatment options to manage a miscarriage
This involves waiting for the body to pass the pregnancy tissue on its own. The timeline for when this process begins and how long it will last is different for each person, but generally it takes a few weeks for all the pregnancy tissue to be passed out of the body. People who choose this option should be prepared for some unpredictability in their symptoms and time to resolution.
In studies, many who initially choose this ultimately decide to complete their miscarriage with medications or procedures, which is perfectly fine. You can determine your own timeline for treatment so long as you are safe.
Taking medications prescribed by her doctor at home that will help expedite the work of her body to pass the pregnancy tissue. People who choose this option often do so because they are seeking a more natural experience, but need a more predictable, timed course.
Also known as a D&C, this is a surgical procedure that is done in either a doctor’s office or hospital and removes any pregnancy tissue through a suction process that has not already passed on its own. There are no incisions with this procedure.
There Is No “Right Way”
No one-size-fits-all answer for miscarriage management
There is no “right way” to feel after a miscarriage — each person has a different relationship with their pregnancy. For many, miscarriage takes a significant physical and emotional toll and leaves them with feelings of sadness, depression or even guilt. For others, there may be feelings of relief. All of these feelings are normal. There also isn't a one-size-fits-all answer for miscarriage management. How you choose to manage your miscarriage can help bring a sense of control back into your life. Talk to your health care provider, other people you trust, and choose the best option for you.
You Have Options to Help You Move Forward.
Everyone should have access to safe and effective options that are right for them to manage their miscarriage and alleviate suffering.
When to Consider Getting Pregnant Again
if you feel ready, go for it!
After a miscarriage, people often wonder when it is safe to try to become pregnant again. Both your emotional well-being and your physical well-being play a part in this decision.
Unless otherwise recommended by your health care provider or needed for test results, there is no need to wait to try to conceive after your miscarriage treatment is complete. In fact, studies show that trying soon after a miscarriage is safe and not more likely to result in another miscarriage than waiting.