Signs and symptoms of a miscarriage

Is brown discharge in early pregnancy a sign of miscarriage?

Brown discharge in early pregnancy is usually old blood, and on its own, it is not automatically a sign of miscarriage. Common causes include implantation bleeding finally making its way out, irritation of a sensitive cervix from sex or a pelvic exam, or leftover blood from before pregnancy. If the spotting is light, brown or rust-colored, and not paired with strong cramps, it often ends up being harmless.Get more urgent if the color shifts to bright red, the amount increases to period-level bleeding, or it comes with pain, clots, or tissue. Any new discharge in pregnancy is worth at least a quick check-in with a provider, but brown alone is more of a keep-an-eye-on-it signal than a panic-now one.

How long does miscarriage bleeding usually last?

How long miscarriage bleeding lasts depends on how far along the pregnancy was and your own body, but a rough pattern looks like this:- Very early loss (chemical pregnancy): Bleeding may last a few days to about a week, often similar to or a bit heavier than a normal period.- First-trimester miscarriage (after 5–6 weeks): You may have several hours to a couple of days of heavier bleeding and cramps, followed by lighter bleeding or spotting that can drag on for 1–2 weeks.If you are soaking pads for more than a few hours, passing large clots, feeling dizzy, or your bleeding suddenly gets heavier instead of lighter, get seen quickly. Bleeding should trend down over time, not stay at full blast.

Do miscarriages always start with spotting first?

No. Miscarriages do not always send a warning shot. Some start with light spotting that slowly ramps up; others hit straight away with heavy bleeding and cramps like a sudden, intense period. Very early miscarriages can look exactly like a normal or slightly heavier period, especially if you did not know you were pregnant yet.There is also missed miscarriage, where the pregnancy stops developing but you have little to no bleeding at first. That is why bleeding patterns alone cannot confirm or rule out miscarriage. If you have a known pregnancy and anything about your bleeding, pain, or symptoms makes your gut scream something is off, that is enough reason to ask for bloodwork or an ultrasound.

Can stress cause a miscarriage?

Everyday stress, exams, work drama, and the general horror show of the world are not known to cause miscarriage. Miscarriages are most often linked to chromosomal issues with the embryo, structural problems in the uterus, hormonal issues, blood clotting problems, or infections. Those are things you cannot fix with a bubble bath.Extreme, ongoing stress or trauma can affect your health overall, but people do not miscarry just because they were anxious, busy, or upset. The idea that you caused a loss by not being chill enough is sexist nonsense used to blame women for biology. If a miscarriage happens, it is not because you worried too much.

Do you always have heavy bleeding with a miscarriage?

Not always. Many miscarriages do involve heavier-than-period bleeding, especially once the body starts fully passing pregnancy tissue. But very early losses can look like a slightly heavier or just oddly timed period. Missed miscarriages can involve little to no bleeding until your body finally starts the process, which might be days or weeks later.Red flags are less about a specific volume and more about change: bleeding that is stronger than your normal period, soaking pads quickly, paired with pain, clots, or feeling unwell. Light spotting alone may or may not be connected to a loss. When in doubt, asking for labs or an ultrasound is about getting answers, not being dramatic.If you are staring at your underwear or pad wondering if this is normal, you do not have to figure it out solo. You can bring all of it to Gush and talk through your questions, patterns, and fears with someone who will actually take you seriously.