What is Threatened Miscarriage

Threatened miscarriage is when you have bleeding from your vagina during the first 20 weeks of pregnancy but the pregnancy does not end. Your doctor will do tests to make sure you are still pregnant.

The cause of the bleeding may not be known. This condition does not mean your pregnancy will end, but it does increase the risk that it will end (complete miscarriage).

Follow these instructions at home:

• Get plenty of rest.
• If you have bleeding in your vagina, do not have sex or use tampons.
• Do not douche.
• Do not smoke or use drugs.
• Do not drink alcohol.
• Avoid caffeine.
• Keep all follow-up prenatal visits as told by your doctor. This is important.

Contact a doctor if:

• You have light bleeding from your vagina.
• You have belly pain or cramping.
• You have a fever.

Get help right away if:

• You have heavy bleeding from your vagina.
• You have clots of blood coming from your vagina.
• You pass tissue from your vagina.
• You have a gush of fluid from your vagina.
• You are leaking fluid from your vagina.
• You have very bad pain or cramps in your low back or belly.
• You have fever, chills, and very bad belly pain.

Summary

• A threatened miscarriage is when you have bleeding from your vagina during the first 20 weeks of pregnancy but the pregnancy does not end.
• This condition does not mean your pregnancy will end, but it does increase the risk that it will end (complete miscarriage).
• Get plenty of rest. If you have bleeding in your vagina, do not have sex or use tampons.
• Keep all follow-up prenatal visits as told by your doctor. This is important.