An early pregnancy loss is any loss before 20 weeks gestation, but many early losses occur in the first 12 weeks of pregnancy.
Sometimes women develop bleeding and cramping and some cervical dilation; in these cases, a miscarriage is likely to happen. This may occur naturally, but in other cases a procedure called a dilation and curettage (D&C) may be necessary to remove tissue from the uterus.
Sometimes, we discover through ultrasound that the baby no longer has a heartbeat, but there have not yet been any symptoms of a miscarriage, such as bleeding or cramping. In these cases, some women choose to wait at home for the pregnancy to pass naturally; in other cases medication is prescribed or a D&C is needed. Your healthcare provider can help with these decisions.
You can read more about different types of pregnancy loss on the links below:
Ways to Remember Your Baby
If you lose a pregnancy while you are at home, you can hold a memorial service at your house, or or arrange for a memorial service at a funeral home. Some families may choose to bury the remains at home, in a garden or planter, and others may choose burial in a local cemetery.
Below are some other things you can collect to remember your baby:
- Labels from your doctors appointments, or hospital bracelets
- Sonogram pictures
- Pregnancy test results
- Pictures of yourself when you were pregnant
- Cards or flowers you received
- Recognition of Life certificate