Getting Pregnant After Miscarriage

Conceiving After A Miscarriage

Undergoing a miscarriage is a devastating experience that can emotionally and physically handicap couples. Having to cope with the unexpected loss can be difficult, but sometimes, the desire to conceive after miscarriage can motivate the couple to try and make things right.

So exactly how long should couples wait before conceiving again? To give us more insight into this, we will have a look at how and why a miscarriage happens first.

What went wrong?

A miscarriage can happen. What seems to be a smooth-sailing pregnancy can potentially end up in devastating loss. While miscarriage rates remain between 15-20% of all pregnancies, it is important to note that this is indeed real.

A miscarriage happens due to various factors. Sometimes, either the egg or sperm or both, contains certain abnormalities, which makes it impossible for pregnancy to continue. In this case, pregnancy is terminated before viability of the fetus begins due to its weakness to survive.

Another reason why a miscarriage happens is due to a condition wherein the immune system sees the growing fetus as a foreign invader, and is therefore compelled to attack it. This is called autoimmunity. When the woman becomes pregnant, her immune system sets out to destroy the fetus.

As soon as the body detects that something is wrong with the pregnancy, the placenta begins to shrink. This shrinking placenta triggers a rise in prostaglandins – and causes the painful cramping and bleeding associated with every miscarriage.

A miscarriage is said to occur when there is loss of reproductive products before the age of viability – roughly before 20 weeks into pregnancy. It is at this crucial time period when the fetus is most vulnerable to external influences that may produce harmful negative effects on it health and well-being.

Of course, you are not to blame for the loss. Because the occurrence of a miscarriage is so complex, it is hard to pinpoint one particular reason why it happened. This may be due to interplay of various factors, all of which can be avoided getting pregnant after miscarriage.
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When can we try conceiving after miscarriage again?

Most doctors will tell you to wait until after a normal menstrual cycle, or even three cycles, before they give you the go signal. This is done in order to give time for your body to resume its normal functioning and provide time for the imbalance of hormones to return to normal. In some cases, there are physicians who routinely advice couples to wait 6 months up to a year before trying pregnancy after miscarriage.

Ideally though, you can start trying again until you and your partner are both emotionally and physically ready. Your reproductive processes generally return to normal after a month or so, but the emotional grieving may take longer to heal. Here are several tips in order for you to assess whether or not you are ready for conceiving after a miscarriage.

• Allow your body to heal before getting pregnant after miscarriage – this means that if you’re actively bleeding, wait until it stops. This time period will vary from woman to woman, so make sure you let yours completely stop first before trying.
• Having sex may have lost its appeal, or you may even find yourself avoiding it because it reminds you of your previous pregnancy. Whatever it is, it is important for you to communicate with your partner and explore your feelings about it. Dealing with your emotions becomes less burdensome when you seek the support and comfort from your partner.
• The desire to get pregnant again may be overwhelming, but remember to allow yourself properly mourn the loss. The stress of trying hard to conceive after a miscarriage may make sex seem like a chore, or your unresolved feelings about the miscarriage may hinder in what is supposed to come naturally.
• Deciding to try again is a decision only you and your partner can make. Make sure you have talked through your options and choices. If a medical condition was to blame for the miscarriage, seek the advice of your doctor.
• You may be scared to try conceiving after a miscarriage at first. Don’t worry – this is a normal reaction. Fortunately, about 85% of women who had one loss will go on to have normal pregnancies in the next, and about 75% chance of pregnancy for those who has had two or three losses.