Miscarriage is defined as the spontaneous loss of a fetus before the 20th week of pregnancy (after the 20th week, it is called preterm delivery). Miscarriage is sometimes referred to as spontaneous abortion, although it has no relation to a medical or surgical abortion. According to the Mayo Clinic, 10 to 20 percent of known pregnancies end in miscarriage, with most occurring before the 12th week of pregnancy; the clinic speculates that the actual percentage may be much higher, with many miscarriages occurring so early that the woman never knew she was pregnant.
Bleeding
Often the first sign of a miscarriage is vaginal bleeding or spotting, which may be accompanied by abdominal cramps or low back pain. It's important to note, however, that spotting and bleeding is fairly common during early pregnancy, and some women continue to have light menstrual periods throughout their pregnancy. Vaginal bleeding indicates the possibility of or potential for a miscarriage, but is not a definite indicator. Nonetheless, if you experience vaginal bleeding during your pregnancy, even if it's just light spotting, you should contact your doctor right away.
Passing Tissue
Another possible early sign of miscarriage is passing tissue or clot-like material through the vagina. In some cases you may also pass a gush of fluid, which may be accompanied by pain or bleeding. Your doctor will want to analyze any passed tissue if it's possible to bring it to his office; while he may not be able to define the cause of the tissue passing, he can at least use the sample to help rule out a potential ectopic pregnancy, which can be a life-threatening condition.
Septic Miscarriage
While most miscarriages happen because the fetus is not developing normally, they can sometimes happen as a result of infection. This is known as a septic miscarriage. Signs of a possible septic miscarriage include fever, chills, body aches and thick, foul-smelling vaginal discharge. Contact your physician immediately if you notice any of these symptoms.
