A miscarriage is the spontaneous loss of a pregnancy before 20 weeks of gestation. Understanding the typical duration and characteristics of bleeding can help individuals know what to expect during this sensitive time. This article provides information regarding bleeding duration and patterns.
Typical Bleeding Duration
The duration of bleeding after a miscarriage varies significantly. Most commonly, bleeding lasts about two weeks, but can extend up to a month. The heaviest bleeding typically occurs within the first few hours to days as the uterus expels pregnancy tissue. Lighter bleeding or spotting often continues for one to two weeks before resolving completely.
For very early miscarriages, bleeding and cramping might only last a few hours, resembling a heavy period. The overall length can differ even from one pregnancy loss to another for the same individual.
Factors Influencing Bleeding
Several factors influence how long miscarriage bleeding lasts. The gestational age of the pregnancy plays a role; later miscarriages result in heavier, longer bleeding due to increased tissue. For example, a miscarriage at 10 weeks involves more bleeding and tissue than one at 5 weeks.
The type of miscarriage also affects the bleeding timeline. In a complete miscarriage, where all pregnancy tissue has been expelled, bleeding may resolve quickly. An incomplete miscarriage, with some tissue remaining, can lead to prolonged or intermittent bleeding as the body attempts to clear its contents. A missed miscarriage, where the fetus stopped developing but no symptoms occurred, might involve delayed onset of bleeding that could be prolonged once it starts.
Medical interventions also impact bleeding duration. With expectant management, bleeding can last up to two weeks or longer. When medication is used to expel tissue, heavy bleeding often begins within two days and subsides in three to five hours, with lighter bleeding continuing for one to two weeks, and occasionally up to three weeks. A dilation and curettage (D&C) procedure, which surgically removes tissue, results in light bleeding or spotting for one to two weeks, though some individuals may experience it for up to three to four weeks.
Understanding Bleeding Patterns
The characteristics of miscarriage bleeding can change over time. Bleeding might begin as light pink or brown spotting, then progress to heavier flow with cramping, or it could start suddenly with significant blood loss. The heaviest flow typically occurs as the uterus contracts to empty its contents.
The color of the blood can vary, ranging from bright red, indicating fresh blood, to pink, brown, or even dark, coffee-ground-like discharge, which suggests older blood. It is common to pass blood clots during a miscarriage; these can range in size from small to as large as a lemon. Additionally, individuals may pass gray or white tissue, which consists of pregnancy-related material. These bleeding patterns can fluctuate, with periods of heavier flow interspersed with lighter spotting, and may stop and start over several days.
When to Seek Medical Attention
It is important to recognize when miscarriage bleeding warrants immediate medical attention. You should contact a healthcare provider if you experience excessively heavy bleeding, defined as soaking more than two sanitary pads in an hour for two consecutive hours. Passing very large blood clots, such as those the size of a golf ball or lemon, is also a sign to seek care.
Other concerning symptoms include severe abdominal pain that is not relieved by over-the-counter pain medication. Signs of a possible infection, such as a fever of 100.4°F (38°C) or higher, chills, or a foul-smelling vaginal discharge, require prompt evaluation. Dizziness or fainting, persistent severe pain on one side, or shoulder tip pain could indicate other complications and should be assessed by a medical professional.