Miscarriage is the loss of a pregnancy before 24 weeks.
Approximately one quarter of pregnancies ends in miscarriage. This is around a quarter of a million pregnancies in the UK each year. The vast majority of miscarriages (80%) occur during the first 12 weeks of pregnancy. A pregnancy can end so early on that the woman may not yet have missed a period, or been aware of the pregnancy.
The majority of women who have a miscarriage go on to have a successful pregnancy next time.
If you have been affected by the loss of a baby in pregnancy, whether recently or long ago, The Miscarriage Association can offer information and support.