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.
What causes a miscarriage?
There are probably many reasons why a miscarriage may happen, although the cause is not usually identified.The majority are not caused by anything the mother has done.It’s thought most miscarriages are caused by abnormal chromosomes in the baby.Chromosomes are genetic “building blocks” that guide the development of a baby.If a baby has too many or not enough chromosomes, it will not develop properly.For most women, a miscarriage is a one-off event and they go on to have a successful pregnancy in the future.