very obvious if miscarriage after 8 weeks?

[Nausika]

I'm sorry if this seems a silly question - this is my first pregnancy and first post. I can't stop myself buying pregnancy tests to check every week if I'm still pregnant - a bit expensive and I want to stop! But I can't bear the thought of going round thinking I'm still pregnant when I might not be - I'm going to see a midwife in a week's time so I know I can ask then but this seems a long time to the whirlwind in my mind! So in the meantime would love to pick your brains. If you have a miscarriage after 8 weeks will you definitely have persistent obvious bleeding (I've had v. light spotting once last week and a couple brief pangs in belly). If you're no longer pregnant, might pregnancy tests still test positive because of leftover hormones? Thank you!

Unfortunately people can have missed miscarriages where there are no obvious signs and the only way to find out is at a scan.

I am 6+1 today and know how horrible it is. I am really trying not to worry anymore as it is all out of our control so the only thing to do is try and relax and keep healthy but I know it's easier said than done.

Could you book in for an early private scan to reassure you a bit? I'm doing that and it's £75 so I think it's worth it.

Is there a time at which the threat of missed miscarriage decreases?
Every day I worry about this, as you would just never know...

They can manifest quite late on, i had a mc at 13 weeks for eg.

You need to have an early scan to put your mind at rest.
Is there any chance of getting an early scan next week?

Thank you - it's nice to hear from someone having the same worries and to know I'm not a crazy person! I will have a scan when I'll see the midwife on Friday so I guess I'll know soon enough. I should just try to relax until then, I know...

i am 8+3 with my first and went for a private viability scan on friday. All looked fine and a heartbeat was seen. The lady who scanned me said that if all looks ok on a scan at 8 weeks then the chances of anything going wrong from this point were Quote: "very small indeed"

Knowing this has made me much more relaxed so if you can afford to do this i would recomend it 100%

Hope this is of some help

Unfortunately the BHCG hormonone can remain present in your system for some time after a pregnancy has not worked out, so a positive pregnancy test cannot tell you 100% if your preganancy is still viable.

However - and this is by no means a sure-fire way of telling - if the line is getting fainter and taking longer to appear each week that might imply that that the pregnancy is no longer continuing.

But to be honest, the only way to tell for sure is with a scan. If you're having bleeding your local EPU will almost certainly see you for a TV scan.

I hope it all works out for you.

my last miscarriage was at 10w+5 and resulted in a ERPC. I was testing strongly positive on tests for about 4 weeks afterwards.

A positive test cannot tell you how viable your pregnancy is. A viability scan at 6-8 weeks can be useful. If a heartbeat can be detected at 8 weeks then viability is considered somewhere around the 90% mark. Less obviously if you have had previous miscarriages.

if you have had spotting i suggest going to your local hospital and requesting an appointment with the EPAU nurse or unit and see if they will do a scan. They will usually do one if you are spotting.

good luck.

hello im 12 weeks today and realy scared of miscarriage i have had no morning sick ness but have had tierdness n tender brest but in the past couple days my brest have gone soft again and i have short but sharpe paains in my stomach but no bleeding does anybody know wat this can mean please write back

Lisa- it could just be your uterus expanding. If you're worried at all call the number on the front of your notes for the MW team.

Nausika, why not book yourself a private scan as recommended by fudgecat? I am going for one this week when I'll be 8 weeks and it's the only thing that will put my mind at rest - seeing the heartbeat and knowing it's growing in the right place.
Money well spent in my opinion (it's costing £100).
Your GP can recommend a good local private clinic to you.
Good luck and stop worrying, stress and worry aren't helping your growing baby!

Hi Nausika - I think it's important to note that every woman's body handles mc's differently. I've learned this in my experience of having 4 mc's. All of them happened very early on and bleeding occurred immediately. Some women have had missed mc's and later mc's but I have not so I'm led to believe that if I make it 8 weeks, then chances of anything happening are VERY slim. How far along are you?