If your doctor told you that your baby’s heart has stopped beating, you may be experiencing a missed miscarriage or an incomplete miscarriage.
You may have just found out that your baby’s heart actually stopped beating several days ago (or a couple of weeks ago) and you are just now beginning to see the earliest signs of delivery (see symptoms of a miscarriage for a complete listing, but includes seeing blood and/or pieces of tissue passing from your vagina).
A missed miscarriage occurs when your baby has already died, but the actual birthing process either has not yet begun or isn’t fully complete.
If your baby is younger than about 12 weeks gestation, you may be given three options for delivery:
If your baby is older than about 12 weeks gestation (about the beginning of the second trimester), you may be given these options for delivery:
- artificial induction (medication)
- D&C
- D&E
- if you’ve been given a different option, please click on “Birth Methods” and find the option that has been recommended for you
You are invited to share your story here as well: please remember that sharing your story at stillbirthday is a way to express your feelings and share your experiences with other mothers – it is not to diagnose, treat or answer any medical questions.
You might visit our farewell celebrations for ideas to celebrate your baby.
