Miscarriage is the spontaneous loss of a pregnancy before 20 weeks of age. Unfortunately, this occurrence is very common among women. About 10%-25% of pregnancies end in miscarriage, and after that you may feel anxiety, sadness, and confusion about trying to get pregnant again. The most common cause of miscarriage is a chromosomal abnormality and is unlikely to recur. Most women who have had a miscarriage are usually able to get pregnant again and give birth in a healthy way, as long as there are no serious risk factors. Only about 5% of women have two consecutive miscarriages.
Step
Part 1 of 2: Recovering from Miscarriage
Step 1. Wait a month or two before you try to get pregnant again
You may find it difficult to cope with your emotions after a miscarriage, or you may feel that you need to get pregnant again soon to forget the event. Some women feel lost and want to fill the void by trying to get pregnant again a few days or weeks after the miscarriage. But it's best to give your body time to recover and rest by waiting at least one to two months, or two periods, before trying to get pregnant again.
- Physically, it only takes a few hours to a few days to heal from a miscarriage, and your period will return in four to six weeks. But you shouldn't rush the grieving process, and allow time until you've fully recovered from the loss.
- Some health practitioners recommend waiting up to six months before trying to get pregnant again. But there are no studies that confirm the need to wait that long to get pregnant again after a miscarriage. If you are healthy, have passed one menstrual period after the miscarriage, and are ready to get pregnant again, you don't have to wait.
Step 2. Be aware of any health problems or other complications resulting from the miscarriage
Ask your doctor about the risks or complications that may result from a miscarriage.
- Some women experience a molar pregnancy or a molar pregnancy, which is a benign tumor that develops in the uterus. A grape pregnancy occurs when the placenta develops into an abnormal number of cysts and prevents the pregnancy from developing properly. If you've had a molar pregnancy, it's best to wait six months to a year before trying to get pregnant again.
- If your miscarriage was the result of an ectopic pregnancy (pregnancy outside the uterus), or you have had an ectopic pregnancy before, your doctor will examine your fallopian tubes to make sure that one or both of them are not blocked or damaged. If your fallopian tubes are blocked or damaged, the risk of an ectopic pregnancy increases.
Step 3. Ask your doctor about the possible risks if you have had two or more miscarriages
Women who have had more than one miscarriage should have an examination to determine if there is an underlying problem, before trying to get pregnant again. The doctor will perform tests:
- Hormonal factor test: Your doctor will check your thyroid level, and possibly prolactin and progesterone levels. If the results are abnormal, the doctor will give you medicine and test you again later to check your progress.
- Hysterosalpingogram: This is an examination to determine the shape and size of the uterus, as well as any existing scars inside the uterus, including polyps, fibroids, or septal walls. All of these conditions can affect the implantation of new eggs during In Vitro Fertilization (IVF). So your uterus needs to be checked to see if these problems are present or not. The doctor will also perform a hysteroscopy inside the uterine cavity, which is an examination with a small camera through the cervix.
- Other potential tests are blood tests, DNA tests from both partners, or ultrasound.
Step 4. Check for and treat any infection
To make sure you can get pregnant smoothly after a miscarriage, check for infections such as sexually transmitted infections, and treat them before trying to get pregnant again. Some infections can increase the risk of another miscarriage, including:
- Chlamydia: This is a Sexually Transmitted Infection (STI) that usually has no symptoms. If you or your partner is suspected of being infected, check and treat it before returning to the program of pregnancy.
- Infections in the uterus or vagina: The doctor will check for possible infections in these areas and prescribe treatment.
- Listeria: This infection is caused by consuming unpasteurized cheese or milk.
- Toxoplasmosis: This infection is transmitted through dirty fruit, vegetables, and meat. Cook the meat until done and thoroughly wash all fresh fruit and vegetables. Wear gloves when you clean the cat litter and garden, because cats carry this virus in their intestines.
- Parvovirus: This is a viral infection that can cause miscarriage, although most women who are infected can have normal pregnancies.
Step 5. Seek therapy or counseling if you are feeling emotional or sad
Your doctor may be able to recommend a support group or counselor for you and your partner to go through the emotional process of miscarriage. Sharing with people who have experienced the same loss can also help you find peace and closure. Going through the grieving process with your partner can also strengthen your relationship and better prepare both of you for the next pregnancy program.
You can also seek support from family and friends. Sometimes, having people close to you who will listen to your worries and fears about trying to get pregnant can also help calm them down
Part 2 of 2: Preparing for a New Pregnancy
Step 1. Maintain a balanced diet and a healthy weight
To reduce the risk of another miscarriage, you should eat a balanced diet that contains four food groups: fruits and vegetables, protein, dairy, and whole grains.
- Make sure your daily diet consists of five servings of fresh or frozen fruit; protein such as meat, fish, eggs, soy, or tofu as much as 170 grams or less; three to four servings of fresh or frozen vegetables; six to seven servings of whole-grain products such as bread, rice, pasta, and breakfast cereals; and two to three servings of dairy products, such as yogurt and hard cheese.
- You should also maintain a healthy weight for your age and height. Don't be overweight or underweight. You can calculate your Body Mass Index using an online BMI calculator and determine how many calories you should consume per day to maintain a healthy weight.
Step 2. Exercise daily, but avoid strenuous activities
As you recover from a miscarriage, avoid strenuous exercise and focus on light activities, such as walking, yoga, or meditation. Doing regular exercise every day will make you feel healthy and fit, and ensure that your body is in the best shape and ready to get pregnant again.
Doing gentle exercise such as yoga can also help you reduce stress or anxiety that may be felt as a result of a miscarriage. Stress must be managed properly to keep you healthy and ready to welcome pregnancy
Step 3. Take a daily prenatal vitamin and folic acid supplement
Maintaining a balanced diet and a healthy weight with exercise will provide your body with essential nutrients and minerals. Prenatal vitamins and supplements such as folic acid have been shown to reduce the risk of miscarriage, premature birth, and low birth weight for gestational age. Talk to your doctor about folic acid supplements to help you recover from a miscarriage.
Folic acid supplements can reduce the risk of neural tube defects such as spina bifida, in which the spinal cord does not develop normally. If you are pregnant, your doctor will usually prescribe a folic acid supplement
Step 4. Do not consume alcohol, caffeine, and cigarettes
Research shows that consumption of alcohol, cigarettes, and caffeine can increase the risk of miscarriage.
- Limit or cut alcohol from your diet. Women who drink alcohol daily and/or more than 14 units of alcohol per week have a higher risk of miscarriage. Limit to one or two units of alcohol a week or stop drinking altogether while you are trying to conceive. If your partner is a heavy drinker, the quantity and quality of his sperm may be significantly reduced.
- Be careful and reduce smoking or stop smoking while you are carrying out a pregnancy program.
- Pregnant women are advised to limit caffeine intake to 200 mg per day, or a maximum of 2 cups of coffee. You need to know, caffeine can also be found in green tea, energy drinks, and some types of soft drinks. Caffeine is also found in some herbal remedies for colds and flu, and in chocolate. Reduce the consumption of caffeine, especially when you want to carry out a pregnancy program.
Step 5. Avoid all drugs and drugs, unless absolutely necessary
Avoid all drugs and drugs if you are planning to become pregnant, unless your doctor recommends certain drugs to treat infections or other health problems. Avoid over-the-counter medicines and herbal medicines. Herbal medicines are not regulated by the Food and Drug Supervisory Agency (BPOM), so you should always consult your doctor before taking herbal medicines or other medicines.
- If you are taking antibiotics for certain infections, wait until the antibiotics wear off and the infection clears up, then start a pregnancy program.
- If you are taking medication to abort an ectopic pregnancy, wait up to three months after the methotrexate treatment is completed before starting a pregnancy program.
- If you are being treated for a certain disease or infection, wait for the treatment to finish before you enter a pregnancy program.
