Post-Miscarriage Bleeding: What to Expect After a Loss

Question
QUESTION: I had a miscarriage at 12 wks on 8/12/07.  Three weeks later I am still spotting.  Only it isn't constant.  After two and a half weeks of spotting I had no spotting for three days, then spotting again for a day and a half, then no spotting then spotting again.  What is going on? Any ideas, I just want my body to be normal again.

ANSWER: Hi Marriette,
         Did you have a natural miscarriage or did you go into theatre for a D&C (this is where they put you under a general anaesthetic and scrape your uterus to make sure everything is out)?

Thanks
Sarah

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: It was a natural miscarriage, my ob acutally came to the emergency room (where I was bleeding quite alot) He did an exam and cleaned some more stuff out of my uterus, he thought he had everything.  Another question, if it takes longer to stop spotting does that mean that it is going to take longer before I have my first period?
Thanks
Marriette

Answer
Hi Mariette
         If a complete clean was done (although this is done blind, so they can only do the best they can) then it's a case of waiting until the spotting stops. It may be from minute fragments left, which will break away. The main thing is that it's just light bleeding & it's tailing off, which is a good sign! If your spotting is accompanied by any nasty smell then contact your doctor straight away. Prolonged bleeding with offensive odour can be a sign of infection.

Your body has undergone a huge trauma & it seems the later the miscarriage, the longer the recovery could be. It's only natural that you'd want to get back to normal as quickly as possible, but these things take time & it's not been a month yet.

Your periods are connected to ovulation rather than spotting, so as soon as your body ovulates you can expect your period as normal. It can take around 6-8wks for your normal cycle to kick in & don't worry if your periods are a little scant for a few months.

I hope this has helped. Do look after yourself & take this time to heal yourself physically & mentally.
I wish you all the best

Kindest Regards
Sarah