Miscarriage is the sudden expulsion of the fetus before the time of birth. About 10–25% of pregnancies end in miscarriage. In most of the cases, miscarriage is unavoidable and is the result of fetal abnormalities. Women who have had a miscarriage need time to recover, both physically and emotionally.
Step
Part 1 of 3: Recovering Physically
Step 1. Discuss your recovery with your doctor
You should seek medical attention at the first signs of a miscarriage. Recovery depends on your health and the stage of your pregnancy.
- Miscarriage can be detected by ultrasound. There are several medical follow-up options you can choose from. The right choice is largely determined by personal preferences and the stage of your pregnancy.
- You can let the miscarriage happen naturally if there are no signs of infection. This process takes one to four weeks to complete. Emotionally this is very difficult. Most women choose to speed up the miscarriage medically. Medication can cause the body to terminate the pregnancy and minimize side effects such as nausea and diarrhea. The process takes place within 24 hours in 70–90% of women.
- A surgical procedure may be needed if there is heavy bleeding or infection. The doctor will dilate the cervix and remove the tissue from the uterus. This procedure has the potential to damage the uterine wall, but such complications are very rare.
Step 2. Be prepared for the side effects
Miscarriage can result in certain side effects in terms of physical. Be prepared to experience some of the following during a miscarriage:
- Mild to severe back pain
- Weight loss
- White or pink discharge from the vagina
- Brown or bright red spots
- See a doctor if side effects worsen. You need to make sure any infection or complications are treated quickly.
Step 3. Seek immediate medical attention if you experience more serious symptoms
These symptoms include heavy bleeding, fever, chills, and severe abdominal pain. Call a doctor or call an ambulance for emergency help.
If you have to change pads twice or more in 2 hours, you may experience heavy bleeding. Seek medical help as soon as possible
Step 4. Take all prescribed medications
After a miscarriage, the doctor will prescribe certain medications. Medication can prevent infection and help with pain. Take the medication your doctor prescribes as directed.
- Most of the medications prescribed are aimed at preventing bleeding. The older the gestational age, the more likely it is that bleeding will occur. Your doctor will prescribe medications that are formulated to help blood clot and prevent excessive bleeding. Take all medications as directed. Ask any questions you have to the doctor.
- Antibiotics may be prescribed if the doctor is concerned about the risk of infection. Take the antibiotics as directed and make sure you don't do anything that will reduce the effectiveness of the medication, such as drinking alcohol.
Step 5. Recover physically at home
After treating the miscarriage medically, you should recuperate at home. Talk to your doctor about how to do it.
- For the first two weeks after a miscarriage, refrain from sexual intercourse and insert anything into the vagina, such as tampons.
- When you can return to normal activities depends on your health and the gestational age at which the miscarriage occurred. Talk to your doctor about when is the right time to return to normal activities and what to do to be careful.
- Recovery generally takes a few hours to a few days. Menstruation will return in 4–6 weeks.
Part 2 of 3: Recovering Emotionally
Step 1. Give yourself time to grieve
Miscarriage is a very emotional experience. It's natural to feel lost and need some alone time to grieve.
- The emotions you experience after a miscarriage are normal and may be quite intense. Most women will feel sad or angry. Some blame themselves or those around them even if it is unfair. Give yourself time to feel all those emotions, even the negative ones. One healthy way to process your feelings is to keep your thoughts in a diary during the weeks following a miscarriage.
- Keep in mind that hormones play a role here too. Hormonal responses to pregnancy and miscarriage can increase the intensity of emotions. It is natural for women who experience it to cry for a long period after a miscarriage. Difficulty eating and sleeping is also common after the loss of a baby.
- These emotions are hard to deal with, and you have to allow yourself to feel them fully. Try to remember that these feelings are temporary and that as time passes, you will feel more normal.
Step 2. Seek support from others
A strong support network is very important for women who have just had a miscarriage. Seek guidance, entertainment, and advice from those around you, especially those who have been through the same ordeal.
- Hospital nurses have seen many miscarriages. Talk to your nurse and ask if she knows of a support group nearby. Sometimes it is difficult to make other people who have never had a miscarriage understand this event. Therefore, many women find it helpful to talk to people who have gone through the same thing.
- Try explaining to close people how you feel and what you need from them. There are some people who need a lot of extra support after a miscarriage, while others want to be alone. Whatever tendencies you feel after a loss of this magnitude, it's not wrong.
- There are many resources on the internet to help with miscarriage loss, and some of them provide forums for sharing thoughts with other users. You can try joining hundreds of other women on sites like femaledaily.com or mommiesdaily.com in the weeks following the miscarriage.
Step 3. Be prepared for bad comments
People will say the wrong things to you. Usually, they don't mean anything bad, but sometimes they just don't know what to say. In trying to help, those closest to you may say the wrong thing.
- There are many people who will post comments in an attempt to help you feel better. Maybe they'll say things like, "Lucky you're still young" or "You can try again." They may suggest seeking solace from your older children. They don't realize that comments like these seem to negate your loss.
- Try to deal with these comments without getting angry. Simply say, "I know you're trying to help, and I appreciate it, but comments like that don't help." They really didn't mean to offend and will want to know if their comments have made you sadder.
Step 4. See a therapist
Recovery after a miscarriage takes time. However, if after a few months you still can't get up, you may need the help of a therapist. Miscarriage is a traumatic event. Help from a professional therapist or counselor can help you deal with grief.
- You can find a therapist based on information from your insurance company and ask which doctor the policy covers. You can also ask for a referral from a general practitioner or obstetrician.
- If the issue is cost, therapists and psychiatrists usually offer pricing options. Clinics that provide free or discounted counseling also exist.
Part 3 of 3: Moving On
Step 1. Decide when and if you will try again
Most women can get pregnant again after a miscarriage, unless the miscarriage was due to a specific reproductive problem. The decision you make about trying again is entirely personal and depends on a number of factors.
- WHO recommends that you wait at least six months to conceive again. However, medically, the benefits of delaying pregnancy are few. If you are healthy and feel emotionally ready, you can get pregnant again as soon as your menstrual cycle returns to normal.
- Realize that pregnancy after miscarriage is a worrying experience. There are many women who worry about having another miscarriage. Make sure you are emotionally prepared for the pregnancy before trying again. The number of women who have had two miscarriages in a row is less than 5%. So, you have a high chance of having a smooth pregnancy. Knowing this fact can help some women deal with their anxiety.
- If you've had more than two miscarriages, you should talk to your doctor and get tested for various medical problems that can cause miscarriage. If the problem can be diagnosed and treated, your chances of being able to carry the baby until birth will increase.
Step 2. Learn ways to prevent future miscarriages
Most cases of miscarriage are unavoidable. However, there are things you can do to minimize your risk of miscarriage.
- Adopt a healthy lifestyle during pregnancy. Exercise regularly and keep your weight under medical guidance. Eat a healthy diet and avoid anything that could harm the fetus, such as cream cheese or raw meat.
- Do not smoke or drink alcohol while pregnant. Limit caffeine consumption to one cup of coffee (350 ml) per day.
- Take a daily prenatal vitamin and folic acid supplement.
Step 3. Discuss your plans with your doctor
Any plans you make regarding pregnancy after a miscarriage should be discussed with your doctor. There are no fixed rules that apply to all women who want to get pregnant. Only a medical professional who is familiar with your health record and medical history can suggest extra steps to get pregnant again after a miscarriage.
