A miscarriage is a pregnancy loss from natural causes before 20 weeks. As many as 20 percent of pregnancies end in miscarriage. Often, miscarriage occurs before a woman even knows she is pregnant.

Signs of a miscarriage can include:

• Vaginal spotting or bleeding
• Cramping or abdominal pain
• Fluid or tissue passing from the vagina

Spotting early in pregnancy doesn't mean miscarriage is certain. Still, contact your doctor right away if you have any bleeding.

Treatment

In most cases, miscarriage cannot be prevented. Sometimes, a woman must undergo treatment to remove pregnancy tissue in the uterus. Counseling can help with emotional healing. Please call the office if you think you could be experiencing a miscarriage. Blood work and/or ultrasounds may be done to help find out what is happening. Also, if you have Rh negative blood type you will likely need Rhogam.