What is a miscarriage?
A miscarriage is the loss of a pregnancy before 24 weeks, with most miscarriages actually occurring during the first 12 weeks of pregnancy. Unfortunately, miscarriage is very common, affecting one in five pregnancies. There are different types of miscarriages:- ‘silent (missed) miscarriage’ – Some women have no symptoms at all and the miscarriage is only diagnosed by the absence of the fetal heart when they are given an ultrasound scan. Incomplete miscarriage – Some women will bleed and may have pain. An ultrasound will show remaining products still within the womb. Complete miscarriage – Some women will bleed and may have pain, then it settles. An ultrasound will shows an empty womb cavity. Blighted ovum – Some women have no symptoms at all and the miscarriage is only diagnosed by the presence of an empty sac within the womb when they are given an ultrasound scan.
