Miscarriage at 12 Weeks: Early Manifestations and What to Do
Last updated on July 26th, 2018 at 05:39 pm
For first-time moms, especially women that have been through a great deal to get pregnant, it’s very difficult to grasp why a miscarriage will happen.
If you are expecting a baby, there are many body changes you should expect, and most of these body changes are common in a lot of pregnant women.
Back pain, increased weight, vomiting, body weakness and breast pain with tightness are common symptoms that you will experience during early pregnancy. Then again, you may experience vaginal bleeding too, and it may indicate something serious.
At 12 weeks pregnant, spotting and cramping at your lower abdomen may cause you to worry about “losing your baby through a miscarriage”.
The truth is, at 12 weeks into your pregnancy, the chances of a miscarriage are very slim. Most women that conceive and are expecting a baby will likely not have a miscarriage after 12 weeks of pregnancy.
If you are already spotting, you should know that, apart from a miscarriage, there are other possible reasons you will have a reddish or dark blood from your vagina.
In fact, in early pregnancy, minor vaginal bleeding or reddish discharge is common in about 30 percent of pregnant women.
At 12 weeks of pregnancy, your vaginal epithelium and cervical wall are super-sensitive, and this is expected because of increased blood flow and hormonal changes that happen during pregnancy.
A minor injury from vaginal examination carried out by your doctor or midwife can cause vaginal spotting. Some other women will notice spotting after a rough sex with their husband or partner.
While light spotting may signify trauma to your vagina and cervix, women at 12 weeks that unfortunately have a miscarriage also experience vaginal bleeding. So, if you are expecting a baby and notice vaginal bleeding, it’s essential you get a clean bill of health from your doctors.
This article explains causes, rate, symptoms, and signs of miscarriage at 12 weeks pregnant.
Warning Signs Of A Miscarriage
Whether you have a light or heavy vaginal bleeding, if you are 12 weeks pregnant, it’s important you inform your doctor, and also, run necessary test to determine if your baby is okay or not
Here”s an email I received from one of my readers (Luciana)
Hi Dr. Dunn
I’m 41 years old and this is my 6th pregnancy. During my previous pregnancy, I had a miscarriage at 7 weeks. Because of this, after experiencing signs of pregnancy, I quickly had a pregnancy test done and informed my doctor.
2 days ago, I noticed bleeding from my vaginal that is bright red and I’m wondering if am about to lose my pregnancy again. Initially, I had mild cramps and now I have light bleeding.
Unlike the previous miscarriage, spotting is lighter and I do not have severe cramps. Should I be worried?
Just like Luciana, spotting and cramping in early pregnancy can cause panic. Here are symptoms of miscarriage you should expect at 12 weeks.
1. Vaginal bleeding with or without blood clots
Remember that at 12 weeks is not unusual for women to experience minor vaginal bleeding. While this is true, it’s difficult to tell if spotting is due to miscarriage or not.
Most times, a heavy vaginal bleeding at 12 weeks means you are likely having a miscarriage. Quickly see a doctor to ascertain the status of your pregnancy.
Rhesus negative women have an additional risk of multiple miscarriages in the future if they become sensitized by a Rhesus positive baby. To prevent this, your doctor will request you take an injection, commonly called RhoGAM, that helps prevent complications in your next pregnancy.
Another reason to worry if you are bleeding is the presence of fetal-looking-parts in your panties. This is an obvious sign that it’s a miscarriage, so, see your doctor quickly for help.
2. Abdominal cramps and back pain
Pain in the lower abdomen and back are also a common sign of miscarriage in early and late pregnancy. At 12 weeks, you should be concerned if you have vaginal bleeding and belly cramps together.
Cramping abdominal pain that is sharp with back discomfort occurs because of uterine contractions to expel your baby out from your womb.
3. Loss of pregnancy symptoms
At 12 weeks pregnant, you’ve also experienced symptoms of pregnancy like increase breast size and heaviness, breast tenderness, increased white watery discharge, back pain, increased weight, vomiting, and nausea.
These symptoms are quite common in the first and second trimester of pregnancy, and if you suddenly begin to feel “not pregnant” due to the disappearance of these symptoms, it could be due to a miscarriage.
What causes Miscarriage at 12 weeks pregnant?
If you are suspecting you have a miscarriage or you’ve already been informed by your OB/GYN doctor that you have a miscarriage, its normal that you need to know why it occurred in the first place.
The truth is, a majority of women (about 40 – 50%) in the first 12 weeks of pregnancy will have a miscarriage because of abnormal change during cell division and exchange of genetic materials.
When you get pregnant, your egg and that of your male partner (the sperm) fuse together and exchange genetic information. An abnormal chromosome from either the man or woman will cause abnormal baby and subsequently a miscarriage.
Because most miscarriages are due to chromosomal abnormalities, it’s highly unlikely that you will have a miscarriage because of what you did or did not do. So, don’t accuse yourself.
Apart from chromosomal abnormalities, older women, especially those more than 40 years are at a higher risk of having a miscarriage.
In fact, between 35 and 45 years, the chance of having a miscarriage is about 25 – 35%. Worst still, after 45 years, 1 out of 2 pregnant women will have a miscarriage.
Other causes of miscarriage are smoking, taking an excessive amount of alcohol, too much daily consumption of caffeine, strenuous body exercise, direct trauma to your pregnant belly during an accident, and severe vaginal infections.
What to do if you have miscarriage symptoms?
If you are pregnant, miscarriage at 12 weeks symptoms are vaginal bleeding (heavy or light), cramps at your back and abdomen, sudden loss of pregnancy symptoms and body weakness.
If you experience any of these symptoms, it’s important you see a doctor. During your ANC visit, your doctor will request for an ultrasound to determine f you baby is okay. If your baby is not affected, you doctor request for an extra time off stressful activities and ask you for plenty of bed rest.
In the event that your pregnancy is no longer viable and you are bleeding heavily, your doctor performs minor surgery to remove remaining fetal tissues form your womb. This is through the use of D & C or manual vacuum aspiration.
What does miscarriage look like at 12 weeks (picture)?