No, you don't always bleed if a baby has no heartbeat.
Bleeding is not always present in cases of pregnancy loss where the baby's heartbeat is no longer detected. The absence of a heartbeat signifies that the pregnancy is no longer viable, but the physical symptoms can vary.
Here's a more detailed explanation:
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Bleeding indicates uterine emptying: Bleeding typically occurs when the uterus begins to empty its contents.
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Silent Miscarriage (Missed Miscarriage): It is possible to experience a pregnancy loss without any immediate symptoms, including bleeding. This is often referred to as a silent or missed miscarriage. In these situations, the loss is often discovered during a routine ultrasound when a heartbeat is not found.
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Variable Symptoms: The symptoms of a miscarriage, including the presence or absence of bleeding, can vary significantly from person to person. Some women may experience spotting, while others have heavy bleeding. Some might experience no bleeding initially.
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Medical Intervention: If a baby has no heartbeat and bleeding doesn't occur naturally, medical intervention (such as medication or a D&C - dilation and curettage) may be necessary to remove the pregnancy tissue from the uterus.
Therefore, while bleeding is a common symptom of miscarriage, it is not always present, especially when the absence of a heartbeat is detected during an ultrasound.