How is a miscarriage diagnosed?
There are different ways to diagnose a miscarriage. Health-care providers often ask a woman to “watch and wait”—doing nothing for a few days to a few weeks—to be sure that she is really having a miscarriage. There are other things your health-care provider may do to tell if you are having a miscarriage. Keep in mind that you may not need all of these tests listed below; it will depend on your situation and what your health-care provider feels is best for you. • Pelvic exam where the health-care provider places her or his fingers inside your vagina and a hand on your belly to feel the size of the uterus, and whether or not the cervix is open, or dilated. • Ultrasound exam using sound waves to produce a picture of the uterus and pelvic area. • Urine and blood tests like Beta hCG (a hormone in your body that increases when you are pregnant). Beta hCG levels decrease when you are having or have had a miscarriage. • Looking at any tissue or clots that you passed (if you were able to collect
