‘MISCARRIAGE IS SOMETHING THAT NEEDS TO BE TALKED ABOUT OPENLY'

Going through a miscarriage can be a sad, scary and lonely experience – made worse by the fact it is rarely openly discussed

- SUSANNA GALTON

WHAT IS A MISCARRIAGE?

The loss of a baby in the first 24 weeks of pregnancy is a miscarriage. Sadly, they are very common, with most occurring during the first trimester – the first three months of pregnancy. These early miscarriages can happen before a woman even realises she’s pregnant. In most cases there’s no reason why. It just happens.

Losing a baby in pregnancy is a deeply personal tragedy. It affects people differently and some women can – wrongly – blame themselves. If you lose a baby through miscarriage you’ll probably need help to come to terms with it, no matter how far into your pregnancy you are when it occurs.

A late miscarriage occurs after the first three months (but before 24 weeks) in the second trimester. It’s less common than a first-trimester miscarriage and is seen in one to two per cent of pregnancies. If a baby dies at or after 24 weeks of pregnancy, it’s a stillbirth.

Bleeding is a common sign of miscarriage. It doesn’t necessarily mean you’re having a miscarriage, but if you have any vaginal bleeding in pregnancy, with or without pain, contact your midwife or hospital urgently.

OTHER SYMPTOMS OF A MISCARRIAGE INCLUDE:

Cramping and pain in your lower tummy.

A discharge of fluid and/or tissue from your vagina.

No longer experiencing symptoms such as nausea and breast tenderness (although these symptoms can reduce or disappear altogether after the first trimester).

WHAT CAUSES A MISCARRIAGE AND HOW CAN I PREVENT ONE?