Your body is telling you

Psychosomatics of a miscarriage

A miscarriage is the loss of a pregnancy before 22 weeks. It happens in 15–20% of pregnancies, most often early on.

Aizhan LiAuthor of the Ladder method
Updated 7 October 2026

What psychosomatics says

After a miscarriage, many women blame themselves. It's important to say it plainly: most of the time, a miscarriage doesn't depend on anything the woman did.

Psychosomatics here is about something else: how to live through the loss. Grief after a miscarriage often goes unnoticed: “you'll have another one,” “it was early.” But for you, it was a baby.

Grief you haven't lived through and the fear of it happening again then follow you into the next pregnancy. Psychosomatics helps you name this pain and let go of the guilt.

Quick check: what may be behind it

Have you let yourself grieve?
What do you still blame yourself for?
What are you afraid of in your next pregnancy?

What it is

According to the Russian Ministry of Health clinical guidelines (2024), miscarriage happens in 15–20% of pregnancies. It's the most common pregnancy complication, and it most often happens in the first 12 weeks.

Most early miscarriages are caused by problems in the embryo's development, most often the wrong number of chromosomes. The woman couldn't have prevented it, and it's not her fault.

The chance of miscarriage rises with age, with some uterine conditions, with hormonal and autoimmune disorders, and with untreated thyroid problems.

Usually a miscarriage doesn't happen again: after one miscarriage, the chance of carrying the next pregnancy to term is about 85%. If a pregnancy has ended two or more times, doctors call it recurrent miscarriage. Then both partners get tested.

How it shows up

Spotting during pregnancy
Dull, pulling pain in the lower belly and lower back
Cramping pain

Bleeding or pain during pregnancy means seeing a doctor right away.

An OB-GYN looks after the pregnancy and, after a miscarriage, orders the tests.

Frequently asked questions

Was my miscarriage my fault?

No. Most early miscarriages happen because of chromosomal problems in the embryo and don't depend on anything the woman did. Work, sex, worry or carrying heavy bags usually don't cause it.

How do you cope after a miscarriage?

Let yourself grieve. It was a loss, even if people around you say “you'll have another one.” It helps to talk about it with loved ones or a psychologist. Grief you haven't lived through often comes back as fear in the next pregnancy.

When can you try to get pregnant again after a miscarriage?

You make this decision together with your OB-GYN. If miscarriages keep happening, the doctor will order tests. A psychologist can help you work through the grief and the fear of it happening again, so your next pregnancy isn't one long stretch of anxiety.

Sources

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