Miscarriage at 6 weeks: Why Does It Occur?

Last updated on July 27th, 2018 at 05:03 pm

Are you worried you may be having signs of miscarriage at 6 weeks pregnant? Any blood clots or excessive bleeding?

During pregnancy, it’s easy to get confused about the volume of blood loss that is normal. The truth is, at six weeks, there is no normal level of bleeding that may exclude a miscarriage.

If you are six weeks pregnant, you are already two weeks past your period, and your baby is growing as it should.

Though it’s possible you might have vaginal spotting with belly cramps when pregnant, it does not always mean a miscarriage.

Several other reasons you will have spotting (other than a miscarriage) are rough sexual intercourse, vaginal infections, cervical polyps and ectopic pregnancy.

If you’ve passed your 4th and 5th week of pregnancy and still haven’t had a miscarriage sign yet, it’s less likely, though possible, that you will have a miscarriage.

Having said that, about 5 percent of women will still end up having a miscarriage at six weeks.

You should know that the first 12 weeks of pregnancy has the highest rate of miscarriage; More than 80 percent of women who had a miscarriage occurs during this time.

However, your chances of carrying your baby to term increases with each passing week and at the second trimester.

At six weeks, pregnancy symptoms are already being experienced; Pregnancy symptoms at 6 weeks are

• Increased urination
• Vomiting or nausea in the early morning hours (though will occur throughout the day in some women),
• You are getting so tired easily
• Your breast increases in size with nipple itching and dark areola around it
• Change in your usual personality and mood

However, if you start having a miscarriage, you will likely experience vaginal bleeding with or without blood clots, abdominal cramps, back pain, fading of these symptoms and restlessness.

Depending on if you’re bleeding much more than normal, you will experience fatigue, dizziness and a fast heart rate.

The truth is your chances of completing pregnancy decreases significantly if you experience excessive bleeding with a severe abdominal pain.

In most women, at six weeks of gestation, chromosomal abnormality is the most common reason for a miscarriage. This occurs naturally as your body expels an abnormally formed baby.

This article explains the causes, signs, and symptoms of miscarriage at 6 weeks and steps you should take.

How can I know I’m having a miscarriage?

Now you are 6 weeks pregnant and worried it could be a miscarriage coming; Here are symptoms you will experience.

1.  Vaginal bleeding

The is very common in women that have a miscarriage at 6 weeks pregnant. In some women, this bleeding is so light and resolves on its own in a few days; However, in others, vaginal bleeding may be so severe with clots coming out of your vagina.

The truth is if you are 6 weeks pregnant with big blood clots from your vagina, the chances your baby will survive is so slim.

Another symptom is light or severe abdominal cramps in your lower abdomen.

If you are not bleeding, it’s not uncommon for pregnant women to have belly cramps. This occurs because your womb now has an increased blood supply.

However, if it gets intense and now occurs with a period like bleeding and back pain, it’s very likely you are having a miscarriage.

2. You feel you’re no longer pregnant

If you are now six weeks pregnant, it’s normal that you are getting different body changes from your mood, activity to your breast and vaginal discharge.

These changes occur because both estrogen and progesterone are increased when you get pregnant.

Pregnancy signs that are common are vomiting, breast pain, increased vaginal discharge.

Should you start having bleeding, cramps, back pain with fading or absent pregnancy symptoms, it’s important you immediately talk to your healthcare provider.

What to do?

If you experience signs of miscarriage – bleeding, cramps and absent pregnancy symptoms, you ought to tell your doctor.

On main reason you should talk to your doctor is for proper clinical examination and investigation.

One of the tests to be carried out is a Rhesus test that checks if your red blood cells have a protein called the rhesus factor. Don’t panic; it’s not abnormal, more than 85 percent of men and women will have this protein.

If you doctor find out that you do not have this protein (Rhesus negative), you will be injected within three days with an anti-rhesus.

This prevents you from future pregnancy complications that may affect your baby. However, this will not be required should your husband be rhesus negative.

Also, your doctor will request you have bed rest, reduce any form of hard work and take a lot of fluid.

If you are still bleeding severely, a complete evacuation of your uterus is carried out, either through manual vacuum aspiration or a D & C (Dilation and curettage).

Pain medications like paracetamol may be required to reduce your pain.

What causes miscarriage at 6 weeks?

If you already had a miscarriage or having symptoms, it most likely because of a chromosomal disorder.

This usually occurs of the exchange of genetic materials between sperm and egg do not occur the usual way.

You should know a lot of women will confuse a miscarriage for a heavy period. This is called chemical pregnancy and happens if the implanted embryo has a genetic abnormality.

Another reason you may have a miscarriage is a poor lifestyle. If you are drinking too much alcohol, taking cigarettes, or too much of caffeine, there is a tendency you will miscarry when pregnant.

Other reasons for a miscarriage are

• Abnormal uterus
• Chronic illness – hypertension, diabetes, sepsis
• Vaginal infections – chlamydia, gonorrhea, rubella

How often does miscarriage happen at 6 weeks?

The chances you will miscarry usually drops at 6 weeks compared to the fourth and fifth weeks of pregnancy.

Miscarriage rates at 6 weeks pregnancy are about 5 percent, though, as you get into your 7th or 8th week of pregnancy, chances reduce further.

If your doctor notices that you are bleeding at six weeks, he/she will monitor if your HCG (human chorionic gonadotropin) is rising or not.

This hormone multiplies every 48 – 72 hours if pregnant, and a falling level may indicate something is wrong.

Miscarriage at 6 weeks, how long will it take to pass?

If you are already having vaginal bleeding due to a miscarriage, you should know it will take some days to ease off.

This depends on the gestation age of the pregnancy, if it’s a twin or single pregnancy and if you are experiencing severe cramps.

If you are bleeding so much, your doctor will quickly evacuate your womb to prevent further blood loss. This usually stops bleeding, though it’s okay to have light spotting and cramps for a few days after.

What are signs of miscarriage at 6 weeks without bleeding?

It’s possible your pregnancy will end without having vaginal bleeding (missed miscarriage). Signs of a miscarriage without bleeding at 6 weeks are

• Feeling tired
• Passing out parts of fetal tissues
• Severe back pain
• Lower abdominal pain that may be severe
• Vomiting and diarrhea
• Fading pregnancy symptoms

Are you 6 weeks pregnant and worried? Let us know how we can help