How long does early miscarriage bleeding last

• Types
  • What are the different types of miscarriage?
• Prevention
  • Can miscarriage be prevented?
• Related Resources
  • Related Resources - How Long Does a Miscarriage Last?

A miscarriage can last anywhere from hours to weeks.

A miscarriage is the loss of a pregnancy within the first 20 weeks of conceiving. It’s also called pregnancy loss or spontaneous abortion. Every miscarriage is different, and the experience varies from person to person. Early-stage miscarriage may happen without the woman realizing it and before she knows that she was pregnant. Symptoms may seem like a regular monthly cycle and end quickly. However, for most women, miscarrying takes a more noticeable course. A miscarriage can last anywhere from hours to weeks. While a woman may have only light bleeding and cramping, another may bleed for several days. Usually, the physical process of a miscarriage happens gradually and resolves within 2 weeks. After a miscarriage, it can take up to a month or more for the body to physically recover. Periods may return in 4 to 6 weeks. Pregnancy hormones may linger in the body for a couple of months. The psychological effects of a miscarriage may have a long-term effect on the body and mind.

What are the different types of miscarriage?

Different types of miscarriages include:

• Threatened miscarriage: The symptoms of threatened miscarriage include light bleeding and cramping. With medical care, the patient may be able to prevent miscarriage. For threatened miscarriages, doctors may recommend bed rest or hormone injections or address other medical conditions in an effort to save the pregnancy.
• Inevitable miscarriage: Bleeding, spotting, and cramping indicate that a miscarriage is inevitable.
• Missed miscarriage: This is when an embryo dies but no tissue leaves the body. The patient may not even realize that they had a miscarriage until medical tests are done.
• Incomplete miscarriage: In this condition, an embryo dies, and some fetal tissue is passed but some remain in the womb. This may cause a lot of bleeding and cramping. Incomplete miscarriages usually require medical intervention to remove the remaining pregnancy tissues. Medication or a surgical procedure can remove the lingering material if it doesn’t leave the body naturally.
• Complete miscarriage: This is when the body has released all tissues related to the pregnancy. There may still be bleeding and cramping as the uterus empties.
• Septic miscarriage: It is a rare condition, but an untreated miscarriage could develop into a serious infection of the uterus.
• Recurrent miscarriage: Some women experience multiple miscarriages (this is also rare). It’s best to discuss repeated pregnancy loss with the doctor to identify possible causes and determine a treatment plan.

Can miscarriage be prevented?

Below are a few common ways to prevent miscarriages:

• Avoid drugs, alcohol, and too much caffeine.
• Get regular checkups throughout the pregnancy.
• Address any health issues that may impact your pregnancy.
• Take prenatal vitamins.
• Make healthy lifestyle choices: Eat nutritious foods, get plenty of sleep, move your body regularly, try to manage your stress levels, and follow doctor’s recommendations on maintaining a healthy pregnancy weight.
• Make sure to take only the medications recommended by doctors. Any over-the-counter medicines and supplements should be prescribed by the doctor.
• Protect the belly and be extra careful to avoid physical accidents.

SLIDESHOW

References

How Long Does a Miscarriage Last? : (//www.momtastic.com/pregnancy/652153-how-long-does-a-miscarriage-last/)

//www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/pregnancy-loss-miscarriage/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20354304

If a miscarriage has begun, there is nothing that can be done to stop it. Any treatment you have will be aimed at avoiding heavy bleeding and infection. 

A discussion with the doctor or nurse will help you to work out which treatment options are best and safest for you.

On this page:

• No treatment (expectant management)
• Treatment with medicine
• Surgical treatment (curette)
• Waiting for treatment
• After a miscarriage

No treatment (expectant management)

You can choose to wait and see what will happen. This is called 'expectant management'. If nothing is done, sooner or later the pregnancy tissue will pass naturally. If it is an incomplete miscarriage (where some but not all pregnancy tissue has passed) it will often happen within days, but for a missed miscarriage (where the fetus or embryo has stopped growing but no tissue has passed) it might take as long as three to four weeks.

While you are waiting you may have some spotting or bleeding, much like a period. When the pregnancy tissue passes, you are likely to have heavier bleeding with crampy, period-like pains. You can use sanitary pads and take pain relieving tablets, such as paracetamol.

If your miscarriage is incomplete, with just a small amount of pregnancy tissue remaining, it’s probably best to take a wait and see approach. But if there is heavy bleeding or signs of infection you will need treatment. 

If the tissue does not pass naturally or you have signs of infection, the doctor will recommend a dilatation and curettage (D&C). You and the doctor can discuss and decide the preferred option for you. 

Things to know

• There are many reasons why some women prefer to wait and see. It may feel more natural, it may help with the grieving process or it may give you more of a sense of control.
• Some women become worried or frightened when the bleeding gets heavier, especially if blood clots, tissue or even a recognisable embryo is passed.
• Usually, the wait and see approach takes longer than any other approaches such as surgery or medication. Sometimes bleeding can last for up to four weeks.
• Although excessive bleeding and blood transfusion are very rare, they are slightly more common with expectant management than with surgery.
• A few women still need to have surgery – sometimes urgently – if they develop infection, bleed heavily or if the tissue does not pass naturally.
• The waiting time can be emotionally draining for some women. 

Treatment with medicine 

Medicine is available that can speed up the process of passing the pregnancy tissue. For an incomplete miscarriage, the medicine will usually encourage the pregnancy tissue to pass within a few hours. At most it will happen within a day or two. For a missed miscarriage, it may happen quickly, but it can take up to two weeks and, occasionally, longer.

• Medication is not suitable if there is very heavy bleeding or signs of infection. It is usually not recommended for pregnancies that are older than about nine weeks.
• If the tissue does not pass naturally, eventually your doctor will recommend a dilatation and curettage (D&C).

Things to know

• The pregnancy tissue will pass between four to six hours after taking the medicine, during which time you may be in hospital.  After a few hours, if the pregnancy hasn’t passed, you may be sent home to wait. This will depend on where you are and which hospital you are in. 
• The medicine has side effects which usually pass in a few hours but can be unpleasant, such as nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, fever and chills. The tablets can be swallowed or dissolved under the tongue, or inserted in the vagina.
• After receiving the medication there may be some spotting or bleeding like a period. When the pregnancy tissue passes, you are likely to notice heavier bleeding and clots with strong cramping, period-like pains. You can use sanitary pads and take pain relieving tablets such as paracetamol.
• Some women may need stronger pain killers or a pain relieving injection.
• A few women still need to have surgery, sometimes urgently, if they develop infection, bleed heavily or if the tissue does not pass. 

Surgical treatment (curette)

A D&C (or ‘curette’) is a minor operation. The full name is dilatation and curettage. It is done in an operating theatre, usually under general anaesthetic. There is no cutting involved because the surgery happens through the vagina. The cervix (neck of the uterus) is gently opened and the remaining pregnancy tissue is removed so that the uterus is empty. Usually the doctor is not able to see a recognisable embryo.

The actual procedure usually only takes five to ten minutes, but you will usually need to be in the hospital for around four to five hours. Most of this time will be spent waiting and recovering.

You may have to wait a day or two to have a curette and sometimes, while you are waiting, the pregnancy tissue will pass on its own.  If this happens and all of the tissue is passed you may not need to have a curette.

A curette is done in the following circumstances:

• You have heavy or persistent bleeding and/or pain.
• The medical staff advise that this is a better option for you; this may be because of the amount of tissue present, especially with a missed miscarriage.
• This is an option you prefer.

Things to know

The risks of a D&C are very low, but include:

• some pregnancy tissue remains in uterus. This can cause prolonged or heavy bleeding and the operation may need to be repeated
• infection needing antibiotics
• damage to the cervix or uterus. This is very rare (around 1 in 1000) and, when it does happen, it is usually a small hole or tear which will heal itself
• excessive bleeding (very rare)
• anaesthetic risks. These are very low for healthy women, but no anaesthetic or operation is without risk. 

Waiting for treatment

If you have heavy bleeding with clots and crampy pain, it is likely that you are passing the pregnancy tissue. The bleeding, clots and pain will usually settle when most of the pregnancy tissue has been passed. Sometimes the bleeding will continue to be heavy and you may need further treatment. 

You should go to your nearest emergency department if you have:

• increased bleeding, for instance soaking two pads per hour and/or passing golf ball sized clots
• severe abdominal pain or shoulder pain
• fever or chills
• dizziness or fainting
• vaginal discharge that smells unpleasant
• diarrhoea or pain when you open your bowels.

What to do while you are waiting

• You can try to rest and relax at home.
• Usual activity that is not too strenuous will not be harmful. You can go to work if you feel up to it.
• If you have pain you can take paracetamol.
• If there is bleeding, use sanitary pads rather than tampons. 

After a miscarriage

• It is usual to have pain and bleeding after a miscarriage. It will feel similar to a period and will usually stop within two weeks. You can take ordinary painkillers for the pain. Your next period will usually come in four to six weeks after a miscarriage.
• See a doctor or attend a hospital emergency department if you have strong pain and bleeding (stronger than period pain), abnormal discharge, (especially if it is smelly), or fever. These symptoms may mean that you have an infection or that tissue has been left behind.
• Try and avoid vaginal sex until the bleeding stops and you feel comfortable.
• Use sanitary pads until the bleeding stops (do not use tampons).
• All contraceptive methods are safe after a miscarriage 
• See a GP (local doctor) in four to six weeks for a check-up.

Anti-D injection after a miscarriage 

It is important to have your blood group checked. If you’re RhD negative and the fetus is RhD positive this can cause problems for future pregnancies. This is because the fetus’s blood cells have RhD antigen attached to them, whereas yours do not. If small amounts of the fetus’s blood mixes with your blood, your immune system may perceive this difference in blood cells as a threat and produce antibodies to fight against the fetus’s blood. Once your body has made these antibodies they can’t be removed. This is unlikely to have caused your miscarriage and is more likely to affect future pregnancies. Women with a negative blood type usually need an Anti-D injection, which will stop the antibodies forming. 

Future pregnancies after a miscarriage

One of the most common concerns following a miscarriage is that it might happen again. However, if you have had one miscarriage the next pregnancy will usually be normal.

If you do try for another pregnancy, try and avoid smoking, alcohol and excess caffeine as they increase the risk of miscarriage. It is recommended that all women take folic acid while trying to conceive, and continue until three months of pregnancy. In your next pregnancy you are encouraged to see your GP and have an ultrasound at about seven weeks. If ultrasound is done too early in pregnancy the findings are often uncertain and cause unnecessary worry.

Feelings and reactions

There is no ‘right’ way to feel following a miscarriage. Some degree of grief is very common, even if the pregnancy wasn’t planned. Partners may react quite differently, just as people can respond differently to a continuing pregnancy. Feelings of loss may persist for some time and you may have mixed feelings about becoming pregnant again. Some friends and family may not understand the depth of emotion that can be attached to a pregnancy and may unreasonably expect for you to move on before you are ready.

Some couples decide that they want to try for a pregnancy straight away, while others need time to adjust to their loss. If you feel anxious about a possible loss in future pregnancies, you may find it helpful to talk to someone about this. If it’s difficult to speak with your friends and family about these issues, your doctor, community support group and counsellors can provide information and assistance. 

Related information

• Bereavement services at the Women's
• SANDS Miscarriage, Stillbirth and Newborn Death Support Tel: 1300 072 637 (24hr Australia-wide)
• Australian Centre for Grief and Bereavement Bereavement Counselling and Support Service
• Provide feedback about the information on this page

Disclaimer

The Women’s does not accept any liability to any person for the information or advice (or use of such information or advice) which is provided on the Website or incorporated into it by reference. The Women’s provide this information on the understanding that all persons accessing it take responsibility for assessing its relevance and accuracy. Women are encouraged to discuss their health needs with a health practitioner. If you have concerns about your health, you should seek advice from your health care provider or if you require urgent care you should go to the nearest Emergency Dept.

What is bleeding like in early miscarriage?

Do you bleed a lot with an early miscarriage?

How much bleeding is in an early miscarriage?

How will I know if miscarriage is complete?