Some signs of miscarriage are bleeding or spotting (finding spots of blood on your underpants or toilet tissue after urinating).  This is sometimes the first sign of miscarriage. Keep in mind that spotting is common early in pregnancy (60% of normal pregnancy have some bleeding).This bleeding may or may not be a sign of a problem with your pregnancy. If this happens, call your doctor or midwife right away so they can determine whether your spotting indicates a potential problem.  About half of the time, it will be a symptom of a miscarriage.

You may also have abdominal pain, which can feel like cramps that are persistent as well as mild or sharp. You may also feel some low back pain or pelvic pressure. Some miscarriages are discovered only during a routine prenatal visit, when the doctor or midwife can't hear the fetal heartbeat or the uterus isn't as large as it should be at your stage. Often the embryo or fetus stops developing a few weeks before you have symptoms, like bleeding or cramping.  If your practitioner suspects that you've had a miscarriage, he or she will order an ultrasound to see what's going on in your uterus and possibly a blood test.

Pregnancy and Infant Loss Support Group
Support group for parents who have lost a baby before, during or in the first year after birth. Monthly meetings, first Tuesday, 7 to 9 p.m.  Call (614) 566-5377 to register and for more information.