Miscarriage at 9 Weeks: 5 Top Signs You Should Look For

Last updated on July 27th, 2018 at 12:50 am

At 9 weeks into your pregnancy, you may only be experiencing mild abdominal cramps from time to time.

Mild cramps in your abdomen are not uncommon for a lot of women during pregnancy, as your hormones are elevated (estrogen and progesterone) and there is an increased blood flow to your womb, vagina area, and cervix.

A heightened blood supply to these areas causes your vagina to spot easily during pregnancy. Sexual intercourse, vaginal examinations, a Pap smear can cause women to spot while pregnant.

The truth is, if you are nine weeks pregnant and having a miscarriage, you will likely experience vaginal spotting and belly cramps too.

A miscarriage is defined as the loss of your baby before 20 weeks pregnant. If your pregnancy has been uneventful for weeks now and you develop cramps and spotting, it’s natural you will be disturbed.

Here is an email I received from one of my readers

Hi Dr. Dunn

I live in the United States and am having abnormal feeling and need your help. I recently got pregnant for the first time some weeks ago (My doctor says am 9 weeks pregnant). And I’ve been excited about it. I am 24 years old and started feeling different yesterday.

I see blood mixed with my vagina discharge and  im wondering if its okay or not. During my last visit to my doctor, he say there is nothing wrong and pregnancy is going as expected.

Is this something i should worry about?

Here’s another

I’ve missed my period for more than a month now and my last ultrasound confirms that im pregnant. I’m experiencing strong cramps in my belly and i feel like throwing up. I am also having back pain in the morning that seems to be getting worse.

I’m worried im losing my baby, is it possible? please reply.

Just like these women, if you are nine weeks pregnant, the thought of losing your baby can be devastating.

In reality, if you’ve come this far into your pregnancy, the risk of a miscarriage is quite lower than the first two months of pregnancy.

After just missing your period (4 weeks pregnant), miscarriage rates are as high as 22 – 50 percent. As you pass through each week of pregnancy, your chances of losing your baby decreases.

Will I feel pregnancy symptoms during a miscarriage?

If you are nine weeks pregnant, it means you’ve missed your period for about five weeks now and should be experiencing pregnancy symptoms.

Some symptoms you will experience at 9 weeks are

• Breasts becoming very heavy and easily noticeable
• Pain in your back (though most likely felt later in pregnancy)
• Stretch marks on your breast as they grow bigger during pregnancy
• Increased urge to pee
• Mild cramping pain in your tummy

If you are nine weeks, you should not panic when you get these signs because these are normal pregnancy symptoms.

In fact, if you “out of the blue” stop feeling these symptoms, there is a possibility your pregnancy is no more viable. This is much more likely when you experience vaginal blood loss with clots or fetal tissues, back side pain and stomach cramps.

This article explains the causes, rates, risk factors, signs and symptoms of miscarriage at 9 weeks, when to worry and what to do.

Top 3 Signs Of A Miscarriage

At 9 weeks, your baby is growing, and the heart chambers are now completely divided. Your baby is about the size of a grape.

If you think you have a miscarriage, these are symptoms you will experience

1.  Feeling “not pregnant”

Most mothers, especially women that have not gotten pregnant before, will not be sure about pregnancy symptoms and when they disappear.

If you are pregnant, it’s important you observe for changes in your breast, vaginal discharge, looks, and mood. During pregnancy, your breast becomes bigger and may be very painful when touched. You may also feel nauseous and even throw up especially in the morning.

If you suddenly stop feeling this way, it means you will need to check yourself with your doctor.

The main reason you will have pregnancy changes and symptoms is elevated estrogen and progesterone that occurs after you become pregnant.

Both estrogen and progesterone levels will fall to levels before pregnancy if you lose your baby. While it may not be something serious, bleeding and cramps will mean a quick visit to your Obs/Gyn.

2.  Vaginal bleeding

First of all, if you are nine weeks pregnant, spotting may occur and may not always mean something is wrong. This could happen after you had intercourse or recent vaginal trauma.

Secondly, it’s important you know during a miscarriage, vaginal bleeding may be mild, moderate or severe and it’s difficult to assume it’s not a miscarriage.

If you have vaginal spotting, it’s vital you understand it’s your doctor’s decision on whether you are okay or not; And not yours. So, quickly inform your doctor.

In fact, vaginal bleeding in the commonest sign most women who miscarry will experience. This does not imply vaginal spotting means you’re losing your baby. About 30 percent of expectant mothers will spot in the first trimester and most of these women, it’s nothing serious.

What to do?

If you experience mild spotting after you’ve had sexual intercourse with your lover, it’s possible you are bleeding from a vaginal or cervical tear.

But you can’t be 100 percent sure, so it’s important you get checked and examined by your doctor.

If you are experiencing vaginal bleeding and pouring like your menstrual period, there is a chance its a miscarriage.

At nine weeks, you may also begin to see parts of your baby coming out with sometimes thick blood clots.

Finally, if you are Rhesus negative, it becomes all-important to see your doctor quickly (especially in the first 72 hours). This is necessary to prevent long-term pregnancy complications by receiving anti-rhesus immunoglobulin.

3. Abdominal cramping and back pain.

Because you are pregnant, you will have pain or mild cramps in your belly that will worsen as your baby increase in size. Back pain is common too, especially in the latter stages of pregnancy.

However, if you start bleeding with fetal parts coming out, cramping and back pain means you are having a miscarriage.

The best option is to get checked by your doctor.

Why will miscarriage happen at 9 weeks?

1. Genetic anomalies (the commonest)
2. Advanced age more than 35 years
3. Smoking
4. Alcohol
5. Diabetes
6. Hypertension
7. Infections
8. Abnormal uterus
9. Drug abuse

What is the likelihood of miscarriage at 9 weeks?

If you are nine weeks pregnant, it’s possible you may have a miscarriage. Though, studies show that it’s not very common.

According to Checkpregnancy, only 3 percent of women at nine weeks will end up in a miscarriage.

What does miscarriage look like at 9 weeks?

Still worried, let us know if we can help.