Pregnancy is a delicate phase, especially the initial three months. It is a period when most couples experience mixed emotions.
Sometimes there is excitement and thrill, while other times there is stress and anxiety. For some people, the anxiety levels go through the roof when there is a history of miscarriage.
There is a constant fear of the safety and growth of the baby. Even the slightest change in the daily routine or any health concern would scare them.
Several symptoms are misinterpreted as miscarriage. While there are a few signs that need to be looked out for, others are normal.
We have listed four signs that are often misread as signs of miscarriage. Read on to know.
1. Spotting
Spotting is normal in the early stages of pregnancy. For the first three months, the pregnant women may witness blood stains while passing the urine. Bleeding is a sign of miscarriage, but not in all cases. During pregnancy, the blood flow near the cervix increases significantly, which may lead to occasional spotting. Another reason could be placenta implants into the uterus, which is a part of pregnancy. If you witness heavy bleeding or pass a chunk of tissue with blood, then it can be a sign of pregnancy loss. If you are worried about spotting then you can consult your doctor.
2. Cramping
Just like spotting, cramping is also normal during pregnancy. It does not always represent anything serious. Cramping typically occurs due to the expansion of the uterus, which causes the ligaments and muscles to stretch. The pain in the lower abdomen is mostly felt when you sneeze, cough or change position. The episodes of cramping become more frequent in the second trimester. Only if the pain is accompanied by excessive bleeding then you must consult your doctor immediately.
3. Disappearing pregnancy symptoms
Pregnancy symptoms keep changing and even fluctuating in the initial days. Sometimes during the initial days, the signs may disappear on their own and may again reappear after a few days. You may experience a loss in pregnancy symptoms like breast tenderness, bloating, mood swings, and food cravings. There is nothing to be worried about in most of the cases. Even when you are nearing your 12th week of pregnancy, the symptoms may ease up.
4. Low hCG blood test
Doctors often test the levels of the hormone hCG (human chorionic gonadotropin) during pregnancy over a period of time to ensure if pregnancy is healthy. The hCG level generally rises as pregnancy progresses. In most cases, it rises every two or three days during the first trimester. Low hCG is also at times associated with false pregnancy. But there is no need to panic as a drop in the level of hormones is normal during the initial days.
