What Causes a Loss of Pregnancy Symptoms?

If your pregnancy symptoms disappear, it might be normal—or you could be experiencing a miscarriage.

While the disappearance of uncomfortable symptoms of pregnancy—such as sore breasts, nausea, and food aversions—may be welcome, you might also worry that it signals a miscarriage.

Sometimes, unfortunately, it does, especially when accompanied by cramping or bleeding. That said, a loss of pregnancy symptoms doesn't always mean something's wrong. Certain symptoms might naturally disappear or fluctuate as your pregnancy progresses.

If you notice a sudden change in how you're feeling, it's important to check in with your health care provider. They'll talk you through what's happening, examine you, and conduct any necessary tests.

Keep reading to learn more about the association between loss of pregnancy symptoms and miscarriage at 7 weeks, 10 weeks, 15 weeks, and more.

Photo illustration of women reading pregnancy test

Photo illustration by Michela Buttignol / Getty Images

Common Signs of Pregnancy

Everyone responds to pregnancy differently. Some people will have every symptom in the book, while others only experience a few. It's also possible to have no pregnancy symptoms at all in the early stages.

While the signs of pregnancy vary depending on the individual's body, they might include the following:

  • Missed period
  • Feeling tired
  • Food cravings or aversions
  • Increased urination
  • Mood swings
  • Nausea and vomiting (called morning sickness)
  • Swollen or tender breasts
  • Constipation
  • Bloating

Loss of Pregnancy Symptoms

Many people experience pregnancy symptoms more acutely during the first trimester, and they decrease as you progress into the second trimester. For example, according to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG), food aversions, nausea, and fatigue may subside in the second trimester.

Morning sickness usually begins before 9 weeks, and it often extends through the third month of pregnancy, going away around 14 weeks. It may involve nausea and vomiting, but don't get fooled by the term "morning"—queasiness can last all day long or come and go throughout the day.

Some pregnant people fear a sudden decrease in nausea indicates a pregnancy loss, but keep in mind that morning sickness usually stops naturally during mid-pregnancy. Its cessation is normal and not usually a sign of miscarriage on its own.

If your pregnancy symptoms disappear entirely before the end of the first trimester, it isn't necessarily a sign of miscarriage, but tell your physician to be on the safe side.

Could It Be a Miscarriage?

Miscarriage happens in around 15% of clinically recognized pregnancies. Most miscarriages occur during the first trimester, with the most common cause being a chromosomal abnormality in the embryo. There are two key symptoms of miscarriage: vaginal bleeding and cramping.

Vaginal Bleeding

Bleeding doesn't always indicate miscarriage. It's common for some pregnant people to experience a small amount of intermittent spotting, and many go on to have healthy babies and otherwise normal pregnancies. Sometimes, however, bleeding does indicate a pregnancy loss.

Miscarriage bleeding might look like this:

  • Pink, red, or brown blood
  • Can range from light spotting to a heavier flow of blood
  • Passage of clots and tissue from the vagina
  • Typically heavier and longer lasting than menstrual bleeding; it might get progressively heavier

If you're experiencing any bleeding during pregnancy, immediately inform your OB-GYN.

Cramping

People experiencing a miscarriage may experience cramping in their abdomen, pelvis, or back. Typically, cramping pain occurs at around the same time as the bleeding. In general, the pain of a miscarriage is often worse (but similar to) the discomfort experienced during a normal period. 

Other Common Signs of Miscarriage

Other signs and symptoms of a miscarriage may include:

Because some pregnancy hormones remain in the blood after a miscarriage, it's also possible to still experience the physical symptoms of pregnancy after a miscarriage diagnosis.

Loss of pregnancy symptoms, like morning sickness and breast tenderness, might indicate miscarriage when combined with vaginal bleeding and cramping. Talk to your health care provider with any concerns.

When to Call the Health Care Provider

While the loss of pregnancy symptoms can indicate miscarriage, it might also be part of your normal pregnancy progression. If the disappearance of pregnancy symptoms happens alongside other possible signs of miscarriage—especially vaginal bleeding or cramping—then the combination presents greater cause for concern.

Signs of miscarriage should never be ignored in the hope that they'll simply go away. Your physician will be able to determine if you're having a miscarriage, so call them if you're concerned.

Miscarriage is common, occurring in about 15% of recognized pregnancies, and the pregnant person isn't to blame. Indeed, chromosomal abnormalities that make the fetus incompatible with life account for about half of first-trimester miscarriages.

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Sources
Parents uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
  1. Changes During Pregnancy. American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.

  2. Morning Sickness: Nausea and Vomiting of Pregnancy. American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. Reviewed 2023.

  3. Miscarriage matters: the epidemiological, physical, psychological, and economic costs of early pregnancy lossThe Lancet. 2021.

  4. Time-varying effects of signs and symptoms on pregnancy loss <20 weeks: Findings from a preconception prospective cohort studyPaediatr Perinat Epidemiol. 2018.

  5. Assessment and management of bleeding in the first trimester of pregnancy. J Midwifery Womens Health. 2009.

  6. Early Pregnancy Loss. American Academy of Family Physicians. Updated 2023.

  7. Early Pregnancy Loss. American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. Reviewed 2023.

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