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Miscarriage, Spontaneous (Completed)

Completed Spontaneous Miscarriage

Today's exams show that you have had a miscarriage. This is the unplanned end of a pregnancy before 20 weeks. When a miscarriage happens, you’re likely to have a wide range of feelings.

Completed miscarriage means that the embryo or fetus, placenta, and other tissues are passed out of the uterus with bleeding.

It’s important to know that you did not cause this to happen. Miscarriage is very common. About 1 or 2 out of every 10 pregnancies end this way. Miscarriage usually takes place in the first 10 weeks after conception. It may happen before you know you are pregnant. It may happen for many reasons. Often the cause is not known.

Miscarriage is not your fault. It didn’t happen because you did something wrong. Sex or exercise does not cause a miscarriage. These activities are safe unless your healthcare provider tells you to stop. Even a minor fall won’t cause a miscarriage.

It appears that your miscarriage is complete. This means that all tissue from the pregnancy should have passed out of your uterus. If some of the pregnancy tissue is still in your uterus, you will have more cramping and bleeding. The bleeding can be light spotting or like a period. It's usually not heavy. You may also pass some tissue.

After you have recovered, you should be able to get pregnant again. Before trying, talk with your healthcare provider.

Home care

After you go home:

You may not feel well for a few days. Your body is going through changes. You will have mood swings.
You may have some cramping and bleeding, but it shouldn’t be severe.
When you are ready, you can start to go back to your normal routine.

Until the bleeding stops fully, to prevent infection:

Don’t have sex until your healthcare provider says it’s OK.
Don’t use tampons. Use pads instead.
Don’t use douche.

Having a miscarriage is stressful and upsetting. It's natural to feel sadness or grief. Partners grieve, too. It may help to talk about your feelings with family, friends, a counselor, or spiritual advisor.

Follow-up care

See your healthcare provider in 1 to 2 weeks for a checkup. If you had an ultrasound, a radiologist will look at it. You will be told of any results that may affect your care.

If you have cramping and bleeding for more than a few days, call your healthcare provider. You will need another exam. Your provider might need to take out the tissue with surgery. This is to prevent infection in your uterus. Or you may be given medicine to take at home. This will help the rest of the tissue come out of your body.