What Is a Miscarriage?
A miscarriage is the loss of a developing embryo or fetus during the first 20 weeks of pregnancy. If pregnancy loss occurs before 13 weeks, this is sometimes referred to as an early miscarriage.
Miscarriage is more common than you may think, with researchers estimating around 1 in 4 pregnancies end in miscarriage.
When to Seek Help
Symptoms of miscarriage can vary greatly depending on the pregnancy, gestational age, and prevalence of other pregnancy symptoms.
The following table outlines the most common miscarriage symptoms, emphasizing when you should speak with your doctor if you’re concerned about your pregnancy.
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Common Miscarriage Symptoms and When to Speak With Your Doctor |
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Normal Early Pregnancy Symptom |
Typical Sign of Miscarriage |
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Breast tenderness |
Yes |
No |
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Nausea |
Yes |
No |
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Spotting or bleeding |
Yes |
Sometimes - monitor closely and speak with your doctor if bleeding increases in volume or is accompanied by pain or cramping. |
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Cramping |
Yes |
Sometimes - monitor closely and speak with your doctor if cramping intensifies or is accompanied by heavy bleeding. |
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Lower back pain |
Yes |
Sometimes - monitor closely and speak with your doctor if pain intensifies or is accompanied by heavy bleeding. |
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Heavy bleeding or clot-like ‘tissue’ passing |
No |
Yes - contact your doctor immediately. |
Common Miscarriage Signs
Spotting or Bleeding
The most common sign of a miscarriage is vaginal bleeding, which can range in volume from light spotting to heavy bleeding (heavier than a period).
This symptom can sometimes be confusing, as some light spotting and cramping are normal in early pregnancy — especially around implantation, after intercourse, and after vaginal exams.
If you are actively planning a pregnancy, it’s a good idea to start tracking your cycle and symptoms in a diary or cycle-tracking app (like the Mira App). Regular cycle tracking can help you stay in tune with your body and understand when you’re most likely to experience implantation bleeding.
For the most accurate insights into your cycle and symptoms, we recommend tracking your hormones directly. This can be done with Mira’s Hormone Monitor, which can help you chart your fertile window and ovulation date with lab-grade accuracy.
Cramping and Lower Back Pain
Light, mild cramping is common throughout pregnancy and is not typically anything to worry about.
However, you should speak with your doctor if you experience any of the following:
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Intense pain or cramping in the pelvic region
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Intense lower back pain
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Pain or cramping that intensifies over time
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Pain or cramping that comes and goes in waves
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Pain or cramping that is accompanied by fever, chills, heavy bleeding, or passing of tissue through the vagina
Tissue or Clot-Like Material Passing
During a miscarriage, it is possible to pass what appears to be pregnancy tissue or clot-like material through the vagina. Blood clots are typically dark red in color and can vary in size. Pregnancy tissue may be grayish-white, pink, or brown.
When tissue or blood clots are passed during a miscarriage, it is often accompanied by cramping, contractions, or a sense of pressure in the pelvis. Depending on how early you are in your pregnancy, you may not notice a distinct ‘passing’ of tissue, especially if it is mixed with blood.
If you are pregnant and experience abnormal bleeding or what appears to be passing tissue, seek medical advice straight away.
Sudden Loss of Pregnancy Symptoms
Pregnancy symptoms, such as nausea and breast tenderness, may go away if a miscarriage has occurred. This is because, after a miscarriage, the body no longer produces high levels of key pregnancy hormones (such as human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) and progesterone).
While it’s normal for pregnancy symptoms to fluctuate in early pregnancy, if there is a noticeable and sustained change — particularly when paired with other symptoms like bleeding or cramping — this may indicate that the pregnancy is no longer progressing.
If you’ve noticed a sudden loss or absence of pregnancy symptoms, speak with your doctor. They can assess your symptoms and run further testing if needed to check on the health of your pregnancy.
Can You Have a Miscarriage Without Knowing?
Yes. It is possible to have a miscarriage without knowing. This is called a ‘silent’ or ‘missed miscarriage’, and it occurs when the embryo or fetus stops developing, but the body does not immediately recognize the pregnancy loss.
As a result, typical miscarriage symptoms (such as bleeding and intense cramping) do not occur. At the same time, some pregnancy symptoms (such as breast tenderness and nausea) can linger for a few days and even weeks.
Missed miscarriages are often discovered at a routine ultrasound, which may reveal a lack of fetal growth and no heartbeat. Blood tests may also show declining or plateauing hCG levels, which indicates that the pregnancy is not developing as it should be.
Did I Have a Miscarriage? Quiz
If you are pregnant and concerned about your symptoms, this ‘Am I Having a Miscarriage Quiz’ is not a medical miscarriage test, but is designed to be used as a self-reflection guide to help you:
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Understand your symptoms and what you’re experiencing
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Assess the severity of your symptoms
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Know what to do next and when to speak with your doctor about the health of your pregnancy
We would also like to note here that if you have experienced a miscarriage, or think you may have miscarried, know that it is not your fault.
Although incredibly painful, miscarriages are unfortunately common, with an estimated 1 in 4 pregnancies ending in miscarriage. In the vast majority of cases, a miscarriage is caused by a genetic or chromosomal abnormality, both of which are beyond your control.
It’s okay to grieve and feel sad about the loss of your pregnancy, but you should not allow yourself to feel guilty. Miscarriage is not your fault and you deserve compassion, support, and space to heal.
Miscarriage Test Online: What Your Quiz Results Mean
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Miscarriage Test: What Your Results Mean |
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High (17-23 points / number range from quiz) |
If you scored between 17-23, your results suggest a high likelihood of miscarriage. Your symptoms, and the timing of your symptoms, are consistent with miscarriage. Next Steps:
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Moderate (5-16 points / number range from quiz) |
If you scored between 5-16, your results suggest a moderate likelihood of miscarriage. Your symptoms, and the timing of your symptoms, could be related to miscarriage — but they may be too mild or not consistent enough to clearly indicate miscarriage. Next Steps:
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Low (0-4) |
If you scored between 0-4, your results suggest a low likelihood of miscarriage. Your symptoms, and the timing of your symptoms, are not consistent with typical miscarriage symptoms. Next Steps:
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Am I Experiencing Implantation Bleeding or Did I Miscarry? How Can I Tell the Difference?
Implantation is when a fertilized egg attaches itself to the lining of the uterus. When this happens, you may experience some light spotting.
The following chart highlights the key differences between implantation bleeding and miscarriage symptoms.
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Implantation Bleeding or Miscarriage |
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Implantation Bleeding (Normal) |
Miscarriage Bleeding (Seek Medical Advice) |
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Timing |
Typically occurs 1-12 days after ovulation (before a missed period) |
Often after a missed period and a positive pregnancy test. |
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Color |
Light pink or brown |
Bright red and/or dark red |
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Volume |
Very light, spotting only, not enough to fill a pad |
Moderate to heavy, may soak a pad within a few hours |
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Clots |
Rare |
Common |
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Duration |
A few hours to 1-2 days |
Moderate to severe |
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Cramping |
Mild or absent |
Moderate to severe |
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Accompanying Symptoms |
No other symptoms |
Back pain, heavy cramping, passing of tissue, loss of pregnancy symptoms (such as breast tenderness and nausea) |
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Pregnancy Test Impact |
May still test negative if taken before a missed period |
May remain positive for days after a miscarriage |
How to Confirm a Miscarriage at Home
It is not possible to diagnose or confirm a miscarriage at home. However, you can watch for the signs and symptoms of miscarriage, which may indicate a miscarriage is currently occurring or has already occurred.
Common symptoms of miscarriage include:
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Heavy bleeding or spotting
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Intense cramping in the pelvic area
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Back pain
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Passing of tissue and/or blood clots
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Loss of pregnancy symptoms (such as breast tenderness or nausea) that were previously present
If you think you have experienced a miscarriage, it can be tempting to take a pregnancy test. However, it’s important to note that the pregnancy hormone, hCG, can remain in your body for days and even weeks following a miscarriage. This is why after a miscarriage, pregnancy tests are not recommended, as your result may appear positive even if your pregnancy has technically ended.
Again, only a doctor can confirm whether or not you have experienced a miscarriage. This is typically done with an ultrasound, pelvic exam, and in some cases blood testing.
What to Do if You Suspect a Miscarriage
If you think you might be experiencing symptoms of miscarriage, it’s important to stay calm and take appropriate action. This involves:
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Contacting your OB-GYN, midwife, or healthcare provider.
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Follow their advice and instructions, making sure to attend any physical evaluations and appointments.
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Avoid douching, using tampons, and engaging in sexual activity until bleeding stops and you feel ready.
At your appointment, your doctor may do any of the following to assess the health of your pregnancy:
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Evaluate the timing and intensity of your symptoms.
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Check your cervix with a pelvic exam.
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Conduct an ultrasound scan to check pregnancy tissue and heartbeat.
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Conduct blood testing to check your hCG levels.
Following your exam, your doctor can provide further guidance on whether or not you have miscarried and what you should do next.
What Not to Do
The thought of miscarriage can be emotional, and it’s normal to feel sad, worried, and anxious about what might happen.
Before you speak with your doctor, it’s important to avoid self-diagnosing, pregnancy tests, and unhelpful miscarriage or pregnancy content online.
It’s also important to be kind to yourself and not assume guilt or blame. If you do go on to have a miscarriage, it is not your fault and in most cases, there is nothing you could have done to prevent it.
Emotional Support After a Miscarriage
If you’ve experienced a miscarriage, allowing yourself time to heal and grieve following your loss is essential for your emotional health.
The grieving process looks different for everyone, but here are some practical actions you can take to find comfort and healing:
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Acknowledge your loss and give yourself permission to grieve.
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Speak to a loved one about how you’re feeling.
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Be kind to your mind and body by engaging in creative and relaxing activities.
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Join a pregnancy loss support group to connect with others who understand what you’re going through.
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Consider seeking help from a counselor if you are struggling to manage your feelings of grief on your own.
If you are actively trying to conceive (TTC) and want to try again, you should wait to have sex with your partner until all of your miscarriage symptoms have gone away.
It may also take some time for you to feel emotionally ready to try again. It’s important to maintain an open dialogue with your partner during this time, making sure to wait to plan a pregnancy until you’re both ready.
For further guidance on the best way to go about planning a pregnancy following a miscarriage, consider speaking with your doctor or a hormone health specialist for personalized support.
Final Thoughts
Miscarriage is a deeply traumatic experience, and it’s important to remember that it is not your fault. It’s also important to remember that you are not alone.
For further support and guidance following a miscarriage, we recommend checking out the following resources:
Frequently Asked Questions
How will I know if I've miscarried?
Only doctors can diagnose a miscarriage with a pelvic exam, ultrasound scan, or blood test.
However, it’s important to be aware of the common signs of miscarriage, which may include heavy bleeding or spotting, intense cramping in the pelvic area, passing of blood clots or tissue, and sudden loss of pregnancy symptoms.
If you have experienced any of these symptoms, it’s important to speak with your doctor as soon as possible for further guidance and assessment.
I am pregnant and spotting, have I miscarried?
Light spotting is normal throughout pregnancy and is not always a sign of miscarriage. However, if spotting intensifies, continues for more than 1-2 days, or is accompanied by other common miscarriage symptoms, it’s important to speak with your doctor for further guidance.
What does a miscarriage look like at 3 weeks?
Symptoms of early miscarriage (i.e. miscarriage before the 13th week of pregnancy) often involve vaginal bleeding, stomach pain or cramping, and a sudden loss of pregnancy symptoms — such as nausea and breast tenderness.
What does a miscarriage at 10 weeks look like?
Symptoms of early miscarriage (i.e. miscarriage before the 13th week of pregnancy) often involve vaginal bleeding, stomach pain or cramping, and a sudden loss of pregnancy symptoms — such as nausea and breast tenderness.
