Patient education: Pregnancy loss – Discharge instructions (The Basics)

What are discharge instructions? — Discharge instructions are information about how to take care of yourself after getting medical care for a health problem.

What is pregnancy loss? — This is when a pregnancy ends before a person has been pregnant for 20 weeks. (A normal pregnancy lasts about 40 weeks.) Pregnancy loss is also called "miscarriage."

What might happen during pregnancy loss? — You might have bleeding, belly pain, and cramping. Your uterus might have fully emptied itself, or you might be waiting for this to happen on its own. Or you might get medicines or surgery to empty your uterus. Your doctor or nurse can talk to you about your options.

How do I care for myself at home? — Ask the doctor or nurse what you should do when you go home. Make sure that you understand exactly what you need to do to care for yourself. Ask questions if there is anything you do not understand.

You should also:

●Take your medicines exactly as your doctor told you to, if you were prescribed any.

●Take medicines to relieve pain if needed. Examples include acetaminophen (sample brand name: Tylenol), ibuprofen (sample brand names: Advil, Motrin), or naproxen (sample brand name: Aleve).

●Get plenty of sleep. Allow yourself to rest when you need to. Accept help from others if they offer it.

●Try to get regular physical activity when you are ready. Even gentle forms of activity, like walking, are good for your health. Try to get outside a little each day.

●Wait 2 weeks before you have sex or put anything in your vagina, unless your doctor or nurse says otherwise.

●Talk to your doctor or nurse before you start trying to get pregnant again. It's generally safe to start trying again as soon as you feel ready. But it's normal if it takes some time for you to feel ready again. Your doctor or nurse can also talk to you about whether you can do anything to lower your chances of having another pregnancy loss.

●Take care of your emotional health. It's normal to have lots of different feelings after a pregnancy loss. It might help to talk to your partner, family, or friends. Some people also find it helpful to join a support group. This is a way to connect with other people who have been through something similar.

What follow-up care do I need? — Your doctor or nurse will tell you if you need to make a follow-up appointment. If so, make sure that you know when and where to go. Your doctor or nurse might want to do an ultrasound (a type of imaging test), or blood or urine tests.

When should I call the doctor? — Call for emergency help right away (in the US and Canada, call 9-1-1) if:

●You are bleeding so much that you feel very weak or like you might pass out.

●You have signs of infection – These include a fever of 100.4°F (38°C) or higher, chills, severe belly or vaginal pain, or bad-smelling vaginal discharge.

Call for advice if:

●You have bleeding that soaks more than 2 sanitary pads in an hour for more than 2 hours.

●You have pain that does not start to improve after you have passed pinkish or grayish solid material.

●You have a fever of 100.4°F (38°C) or higher without other symptoms.

●Your vaginal bleeding gets much heavier.

●You feel very sad, anxious, or depressed.

●You feel like you might not be safe at home.

More on this topic

Patient education: Pregnancy loss (The Basics)
Patient education: Coping after pregnancy loss (The Basics)
Patient education: Repeat pregnancy loss (The Basics)
Patient education: Dilation and curettage (D&C) (The Basics)
Patient education: Bleeding in early pregnancy (The Basics)

Patient education: Pregnancy loss (Beyond the Basics)
Patient education: Amniocentesis (Beyond the Basics)
Patient education: Chorionic villus sampling (Beyond the Basics)
Patient education: Dilation and curettage (D&C) (Beyond the Basics)