In plain words
Early pregnancy loss is the ending of a pregnancy before about 20 weeks. Most early losses happen in the first trimester. It is more common than many people realize, and it is often caused by problems with the embryo's chromosomes. It is not caused by most things a mother did or did not do. Bleeding, cramping, or the loss of pregnancy symptoms can signal a loss. Some losses happen without symptoms and are found on a scan. Grief after a loss is real, even when the pregnancy was early. A mother should call a provider for heavy bleeding, severe pain, fever, or dizziness, and call 911 if she faints or cannot stand. Support after loss can come from a provider, a counselor, or a loss support group.
The deeper version
ACOG Practice Bulletin 200 (2018) uses early pregnancy loss for a nonviable pregnancy in the first trimester, while miscarriage more broadly means loss before 20 weeks. Miscarriage has a clinical incidence of roughly 10 to 15 percent of recognized pregnancies, with a higher rate when subclinical losses are counted. Quenby and colleagues (The Lancet, 2021) estimated the physical, psychological, and economic burden of miscarriage across populations. Chromosomal abnormalities account for most first-trimester losses. Management options include expectant care, medication, and surgical evacuation, selected by clinical context and patient preference, with evidence showing comparable efficacy for many patients. Controversy concerns the value of routine testing after recurrent loss and the quality of bereavement care.
Where it comes up
What mothers here say about early pregnancy loss
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Sources
- American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists — Practice Bulletin 200: Early Pregnancy Loss, 2018
- Quenby S et al. — Miscarriage matters: the epidemiological, physical, psychological, and economic costs of early pregnancy loss. The Lancet, 2021