ACOG Practice Bulletin No. 200 on early pregnancy loss
ACOG Practice Bulletin No. 200 defines early pregnancy loss as a nonviable, intrauterine pregnancy with either an empty gestational sac or a gestational sac containing an embryo without fetal heart activity within the first 12 6/7 weeks.
ACOG emphasizes compassionate communication, reassuring patients that early loss is almost never caused by anything the mother did or did not do.
Statistical models show that for a 30-year-old patient who has reached 8 weeks with a confirmed fetal heartbeat, the probability of an ongoing healthy birth is approximately 98%.
Worked example: Reassuring gestational milestones
At 6 weeks 3 days with a sonogram detecting a fetal heartbeat (120+ bpm), the chance of continuing to full term is 96.8%.
By week 12, the chance exceeds 99.2%.
US pregnancy inputs
Fetal Heartbeat
Confirmed presence of fetal heart motion on ultrasound.
CALCULATOR QUESTIONS
ACOG early pregnancy loss probability calculator questions
What emergency signs require immediate medical care in the US?
Seek immediate emergency medical attention if you experience severe abdominal or pelvic pain, shoulder pain, dizziness or fainting, or vaginal bleeding heavy enough to soak through more than two maxi pads per hour for two consecutive hours.
How soon can a couple try to conceive again after an early miscarriage?
ACOG advises that there is no physiological reason to delay attempting conception after an early loss once bleeding has stopped and the patient feels emotionally prepared.