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 much slimmer than in the very early weeks. Once a heartbeat has been seen on ultrasound, the risk of miscarriage drops compared with earlier in the first trimester. ACOG+1 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 quite common and can affect up to about 1 in 4 women. RCOG+1
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 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. Bleeding and pain can also sometimes be a sign of an ectopic pregnancy, which is an emergency. NICE+1 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. If bleeding is heavy (soaking pads, passing big clots), you feel dizzy or faint, or you have severe lower abdominal pain or shoulder-tip pain, you should go to the emergency room immediately. NICE+1
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, especially if you are soaking pads, passing clots or tissue, means you may be having a miscarriage and need urgent assessment. Mayo NKC Health+1 Quickly see a doctor to ascertain the status of your pregnancy.
If you are Rhesus (Rh) negative and your partner is Rh positive, your doctor may recommend an injection called anti-D immunoglobulin (RhoGAM) after some bleeding episodes, a miscarriage or certain procedures. This helps prevent your body from becoming sensitized and reduces the risk of problems such as anemia and jaundice in future pregnancies. RCOG+1
Another reason to worry if you are bleeding is the presence of tissue or fetal-looking parts in your panties or in the toilet. 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. Mild, occasional cramps alone can be normal, but strong or worsening pain with bleeding should be checked urgently. Mayo NKC Health+1
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. Sometimes symptoms also settle naturally around the end of the first trimester as the placenta takes over hormone production, so your doctor may need an ultrasound to be sure. ACOG+1
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.
Early pregnancy loss is common and happens in about 10–20% of known pregnancies. nawcare.com+1 The truth is, in the first 12 weeks of pregnancy, a majority of miscarriages (about 50% or more) happen because of abnormal changes during cell division and problems with the baby’s chromosomes. Mayo Clinic
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 an 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. Mayo Clinic Health System+1
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 around 20–35%, and after 40 the risk can be as high as 40–50%. RCOG+1 Worst still, after 45 years, 1 out of 2 pregnant women will have a miscarriage.
Other factors that can increase the risk of miscarriage are smoking, heavy alcohol intake, very high daily caffeine intake, uncontrolled medical problems (like poorly controlled diabetes or thyroid disease), being very underweight or overweight, and severe infections. RCOG Normal sex and normal everyday exercise are not proven causes of early miscarriage. RCOG+1
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 if your baby is okay. Your doctor may also do blood tests for pregnancy hormone (hCG) and blood group if needed. ACOG 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 treatment to remove remaining fetal tissues from your womb or allow your body to pass it safely. Options are usually:
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Expectant management – giving your body time to pass the tissue on its own,
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Medical treatment – using medicines like misoprostol (sometimes with mifepristone),
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Surgical treatment – a minor procedure such as D & C or manual vacuum aspiration. ACOG+1
Your doctor will explain the benefits and risks of each option and help you choose what is safe and suitable for you. RCOG+1
What does miscarriage look like at 12 weeks?
At around 12 weeks, a miscarriage may involve heavier bleeding, clots and greyish or pink tissue from the vagina. Some women may see small formed parts, while others only notice clots and tissue. If you are worried about what you are seeing, keep any passed tissue in a clean container if you can, and take it with you to the hospital so your doctor can examine it and guide you. Mayo NKC Health+1
Dr Akatakpo Dunn is a Nigerian medical doctor, sonologist and Medical Director of Verah Clinic & Maternity in Warri, Nigeria. He holds an MBBS from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, a Postgraduate Diploma in Diagnostic Ultrasound (India) and a Professional Diploma in Obstetrics & Gynaecology (RCPI). Through Medplux, he explains women’s health, pregnancy, fertility and ultrasound in clear, practical language so readers can make informed decisions with their own doctors.
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