Free family guide · Warning signs and common problems

Miscarriage: signs and support

ACOG says that in almost every case, miscarriage is not a woman's fault.[1]

Last reviewed: Next review: No outside ads and no affiliate links.

Sources on this page: ACOG; NICHD; NHS; MedlinePlus; HRSA

This page shares what health organizations say. It is not medical advice. It is general information. Talk to your doctor, midwife or pediatrician about your own situation.

In an emergency, call 911.

What it is

NICHD says a pregnancy loss before 20 weeks goes by several names, including miscarriage, early pregnancy loss and spontaneous abortion.[2]

Sources differ

Sources use different week cutoffs:[2][1][3]

  • NICHD says a loss after 20 weeks is called stillbirth.[2]
  • ACOG calls a loss before 13 completed weeks an early pregnancy loss.[1]
  • The NHS says a loss before 24 weeks is called a miscarriage, and after that a stillbirth.[3]

ACOG says early pregnancy loss happens in about 10 of every 100 known pregnancies, and about half are caused by an abnormal number of chromosomes.[1]

It is not your fault

ACOG says work, exercise, stress, arguments, sex, having taken birth control pills in the past and morning sickness do not cause miscarriage.[1]

ACOG says most women who have a miscarriage go on to have successful pregnancies.[1]

Signs

MedlinePlus lists these signs:[4]

  • spotting or bleeding;[4]
  • dark discharge;[4]
  • a gush of fluid, or passing tissue;[4]
  • cramping or low back pain.[4]

MedlinePlus says some people spot in early pregnancy and do not miscarry, but any bleeding should prompt a call to a provider.[4]

When to call

ACOG says to call your provider for spotting or bleeding, a gush of fluid or passing tissue, and to call right away for heavy bleeding or cramping like a period.[1]

After a loss, ACOG says to call right away for heavy bleeding, which it describes as soaking more than two maxi pads an hour for more than 2 hours in a row, or for fever, chills or severe pain.[1]

Support

ACOG names Share Pregnancy and Infant Loss Support as one support group.[1]

HRSA says the National Maternal Mental Health Hotline, 1-833-852-6262, takes calls and texts 24/7 in English and Spanish.[5]

Questions families ask

Did I cause my miscarriage?

ACOG says that in almost every case, miscarriage is not a woman's fault, and that work, exercise, stress, arguments and sex do not cause it.[1]

How common is miscarriage?

ACOG says early pregnancy loss happens in about 10 of every 100 known pregnancies.[1]

Can I get pregnant again?

ACOG says most women go on to have successful pregnancies, and pregnancy is possible as soon as 2 weeks after a loss.[1]

Free from UpOnly Learning. Written for families of every faith. No outside ads and no affiliate links. Every fact on this page comes from the sources listed below. How we source and review these pages

Updated 2026-10-24: first published.

Sources

All sources were opened and checked on the date shown.

  1. American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. Early Pregnancy Loss. Checked October 24, 2026.
  2. Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NIH). About Pregnancy Loss (Before 20 Weeks of Pregnancy). Checked October 24, 2026.
  3. NHS (United Kingdom). 23 weeks pregnant guide. Checked October 24, 2026.
  4. MedlinePlus (National Library of Medicine). Miscarriage. Checked October 24, 2026.
  5. Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA). National Maternal Mental Health Hotline. Checked October 24, 2026.