What to Do During and After Having a Miscarriage at Home

It's important to know the signs of miscarriage. According to the Mayo Clinic, symptoms may include:

• Vaginal spotting or bleeding
• Pain or cramping in your abdomen or lower back
• Fluid or tissue passing from your vagina

If you experience any of these symptoms, consult with your doctor as soon as possible.

If your miscarriage occurs naturally without intervention, this is referred to as expectant management. This can be a waiting game for you as you wait for your body to process things on its own. You may experience some spotting or bleeding along with cramps or severe abdominal pain. This is normal but varies from woman to woman. In fact, some women have no outward symptoms of the miscarriage.

If you are having a miscarriage at home, your doctor will likely want to wait a few days to see if your body starts labor on its own. This is known as a natural miscarriage. During this time, you’ll be on an emotional roller coaster and likely start feeling deep loss and grief. A mom we’ll call Donna said this about waiting: “It’s not knowing if it is real or not, that’s the hardest part. Until you get confirmation that your baby is gone, you just stay in denial, fighting what you know is true.”

Not everyone waits for a natural miscarriage. Your doctor may prescribe medication such as misoprostol that will help the uterus contract. This aids your body in expelling the fetus and all birth tissues through the cervix.

Whether you have a natural miscarriage or take medications to start the process, your body will go through a process similar to labor. You will likely start with spotting that will lead to bleeding. Over time, you will have cramping that will ultimately lead to contractions. Try not to eat anything during this process as it can make you feel nauseous. Your body won’t be able to devote the metabolic energy needed to digest food. It’s best to stick to ice chips and popsicles if you feel you need an energy boost. Be prepared for the pain of labor.

You can take over-the-counter pain medication to help with cramping pain. If you need something stronger, your doctor will be able to prescribe something. Remain hydrated and use a heating pad to ease some of the pain. Be sure to stock up on super-absorbent pads to help collect the blood and tissue.

The fetus may be smaller, but your body is going through the same process of dilating and contracting muscles. With the contractions, your body may expel blood clots and tissue. Contractions will get closer together until they are on top of each other. Once all the tissue has passed, the contractions will ease up but not go away immediately. All of this can take hours to occur.

Bereavement doula Susie Conradtold Mom.com to be prepared for the unexpected. “You may or may not see your baby. Some people don’t expect to see a baby. When their baby is born, it can be startling,” she said.

If you have already been to the doctor who confirmed the fetus was not viable before the miscarriage, you were likely given a kit to collect tissue for testing. If you are able to collect the tissue, this could help doctors understand why you had the miscarriage and take precautions for future pregnancies.

You’ll want to rest a lot after the miscarriage. Your body has gone through a very strenuous process and will need time to recover. Expect that you’ll continue bleeding for a week or so after. Make sure you have a strong support group around you who can help you process the grief. While it can be easy to want to just be alone, do your best to talk to those you can trust. Make an appointment to see your doctor in the week following the miscarriage.

Your doctor will look inside your uterus to check for retained tissue. Be aware that heavy bleeding, chills, a fever, and foul-smelling discharge are signs of an infection. See a doctor immediately if you experience these symptoms.

Conrad further reminds us that even when the miscarriage itself feels mild, you body will take time to rebound. “Your body will be physically exhausted for the weeks to come, and you can easily overdo things," she said. "Take it easy and give yourself time.”