Are you concerned about miscarriage? This page can help you learn how to recognize the signs of miscarriage, but if you have any questions about whether or not you may be miscarrying, you should contact your obstetrician or gynecologist immediately.

The content in this page is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Please contact your doctor before using the information presented here.

Pregnancy is an exciting, yet nerve-wracking, time. Every twinge or pain may prompt concerns about the health of your pregnancy. Miscarriages occur in anywhere from 10-25% of all clinically diagnosed pregnancies.http://www.americanpregnancy.org/pregnancycomplications/miscarriage.html While this means that most pregnancies proceed normally, miscarriage is not uncommon.

A miscarriage is defined as a "spontaneous abortion before 20 weeks gestation".http://www.americanpregnancy.org/pregnancycomplications/miscarriage.html Most miscarriages occur in the first trimester, and most of these occur because of a problem with the fetus.http://www.americanpregnancy.org/pregnancycomplications/miscarriage.html/ref Most women who miscarry go on to have subsequent healthy pregnancies.<ref>http://www.americanpregnancy.org/pregnancyloss/mcgettingpregnantagain.html

The signs of an early miscarriage include:

1. Vaginal spotting or bleeding, which may be either red or brownhttp://www.mayoclinic.com/health/miscarriage/DS01105/DSECTION=symptoms
2. Pain or cramping in either the abdomen or lower backhttp://www.mayoclinic.com/health/miscarriage/DS01105/DSECTION=symptoms
3. Leaking or gushing fluid from the vaginahttp://www.mayoclinic.com/health/miscarriage/DS01105/DSECTION=symptoms
4. Tissue passing from the vaginahttp://www.mayoclinic.com/health/miscarriage/DS01105/DSECTION=symptoms

You should contact your doctor if you experience any of the signs of miscarriage. Even though these signs don't mean that you are miscarrying, only your doctor will be able to tell you for sure.

A miscarriage that occurs between the 13th and 20th week of pregnancy is referred to as late miscarriage. They are uncommon, accounting for only 2% of all miscarriages.http://se.babycenter.com/pregnancy/griefandloss/understandinglatemiscarriage/ Late miscarriages have the same signs as an early miscarriage. Cramping and lower back pain are more intense with later miscarriages, which may feel like actual labor. Vaginal bleeding may include clots and be heavy.http://se.babycenter.com/pregnancy/griefandloss/understandinglatemiscarriage/