FAQs

How common is miscarriage?

Answer

About 20%-25% of all pregnancies will miscarry and this seems to be more common in the first pregnancy.

Women often miscarry before they know they are pregnant, and may have a slightly heavier or later period than usual.

This is nature's way of choosing the strongest, healthiest beginnings for a pregnancy. Even though it can be very distressing and worrying to experience a miscarriage, medical tests to investigate the cause are not usually suggested until a woman has had three miscarriages.

Bleeding in early pregnancy is actually quite common. In about 10% of pregnancies where the woman will eventually go on to have a healthy baby, there will be an episode of bleeding in early pregnancy.

It is important to mention any bleeding to your doctor or midwife, so that they can ensure all is well with your pregnancy.